Day 6 - Starting the Suspension

Saturday 22nd September 2007


The practise is simple...
1) Insert two poly bush halves into the tube
2) Slide a metal tube through the centre of the poly bushes
3) Repeat steps 1&2 on the second bush joint
4) Place wishbone in mounts
5) Fasten with 2 x bolts, 4 x washers & 2 nylocks and torque to setting

In reality this just did not happen, and what a frustrating day! To generalise, the poly bushes were slightly oversize and once assembled the bushes did not fit correctly. The bushes were far too wide for the mounting brackets.

I did not want to modify the poly bushes as these are supposed to be "as designed" for fitment to the Tiger Avon so I persevered and fitted one wishbone to the chassis. Damn, what a hassle!!! I took 1 hour and 20 mins!!! This is no good, there is something wrong here. The wishbones were pigs to install because the bushes were too big. I struggled to get them in position to get the bolts through, and when torqued up the poly bushes 'swelled up'. (SEE PICTURES)

The advice given on the Tiger Owners website was to remember that the SVA test will check to see at least two full threads after the Nylock nut. This wasn't the case with the oversize poly bushes. I have now cut down the insides of the poly bushes by 2mm and they fit snug (thanks to my mechanic mate Simon for the help here).

ONE DOWN, SEVEN TO GO!

Day 5 of the build - finishing the rear panel

Friday 21st September 2007

The rear panel took almost all day. There was alot of cutting and drilling to do before the panel could be fitted. Unfortunately Tiger Racing cut the width undersize so I have used angle brackets to get round this (damn nuisance). The rear panel needed bonding around the edges at the rear as well. With all of the box sections and bracing this took ages!