Phil, The Shocks and springs are all from a mob called "Autofab race cars" in the US. Good prices, although getting the springs was a saga to say the least! All QA1 shocks and springs except for the take up spring which is AFCO as the QA1's were on back order for eternity. They were supposed to be chrome, but the splash of yellow doesnt look too bad I reckon (lets face it, after a few weeks it'll be covered in crap and no one except for me will know how purdy they are underneath!). After seekig advice from nearly everyone here, and using the online spring rate calculator mentioned in a previous thread, Ive just gone 425 lb front and 400 lb rear, with the take up spring, rather then Ian dual rate spring set up. I dont know how its going to work, so when I take it over to marks for some billy cart races Ill let you know.
At the end of the day I think I should have taken note of the paragraph in the comprehensive build manual that says something like: "Use the recommended componants, other wise youll get yourself into $hit". I had to relocate the front top mounts, and build a new bottom mount. The had to take a notch out of the pivot bolt arm bit as well. I am happy with how its ended up though.
Mounting the tank was interesting. As everyone knows its not really a drop in fit. I made some new straps out of some 50x6mm aluminium I "found" at work. At the back I have welded bolts straight through the frame, to hold. At the front I could use the drivers side threaded insert (I think the one standard mounting point I did use) and welded on a extra braket on the passenger side. My Tank also had a mounting hole on the front left, so I put an extra nutsert in the chassis just above that to hold it all snug (mainly to help when I was making up the straps). I polished up the straps a bit and I reckon they look pretty good. Not as good as alloy tank, but later when the budget allows perhaps. My only concern is if I can get at the rear nuts once the body is on (so I may have to modify). By the way, I reckon the most useful tool(s) I got for this is a set of ratcheting ring spanners. Fantastic for this fiddley stuff
Getting the whole thing off my "coffee table" stand was interesting to say the least. I nearly went the Phil N method of setting fire to the legs, but luckily a mate popped around at just the right time to give me a hand. Went something like this..."Right, how heavy is the front?..not too bad...Ill lift it up and you smash the legs out with a hammer....OK....done...its getting heavy, come here....let it down gently...OK...put it down...$hit its rolling.....grab a brick. Right. good. Now the back...this is the heavy end. You grab a hammer and Ill grab a hammer....right. on the count of three, we wack the legs, and it should drop down nicely...and pull your arm out bloody quick....one to three.....bang...crash....down...beautiful"....and not a scratch to show for it
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Next up Ill finish off the pedals I am most of the way though. Ive got a seat and the wheel in so I reckon Im ready to take churchy on. Im at the top of a big hill here, so I reckon I might go get some practice in.....