Chassis before / Chassis repaired / Rolling chassis
Basically I had a very rusty chassis with most of the outriggers rusted through, a complete rebuild was required and refurbishment/replacement of all the running gear.
The chassis was restored with every outrigger being replaced (yes, it was jigged) it even has the closed in side rails to give it more rigidity. Then powder coated and filled inside with lots of Waxoyl
The new chassis was fitted with new bushes, bearings, spring, brake lines, fuel lines, springs/shocks, brake calipers, trunnions, steering rack, track rod ends, anti roll bar, mounts, basically everything. I does not look much, but cost a small fortune!
Basically I had a very rusty chassis with most of the outriggers rusted through, a complete rebuild was required and refurbishment/replacement of all the running gear.
The chassis was restored with every outrigger being replaced (yes, it was jigged) it even has the closed in side rails to give it more rigidity. Then powder coated and filled inside with lots of Waxoyl
The new chassis was fitted with new bushes, bearings, spring, brake lines, fuel lines, springs/shocks, brake calipers, trunnions, steering rack, track rod ends, anti roll bar, mounts, basically everything. I does not look much, but cost a small fortune!
Engine
I got an engine from a 2500s (rebuilt it) and transfered all the relevant parts from my 2000 unit to make it fit in a Vitesse. After speaking to the TSSC club, Practical Classics and various people who knew some information about putting a 2500 lump in a Vitesse, I eventually worked it all out and got it in. The list is quite long for the things that need to be swapped, like the front and back engine plates, flywheel/spigot bush, dipstick etc The worst jobs were adapting the Vitesse sump to clear the extra stroke length of the 2500s unit and still clearing the steering rack as well. Machining the SU manifold at an angle so the it sits level in a Vitesse (it is originally angled up to allow for the 2500s engine being fitted on a tilt in the original 2500s car) and swapping the MKII Vitesse camshaft over as the 2500s one is milder.
Body on and Engine fitted
Body was reunited with the chassis, this took weeks to get all the panel gaps right as everything has elongated holes and is adjustable, just as well really!! Bonnet lines up with bulkhead, bulkhead with front of doors, rear of doors with rear tub (quite a pain body being in two halves) even quarter light frames are adjustable to windscreen pillars, and so the alignment list goes on. Everything had to be trial fitted before it went for painting for obvious reasons.
Engine was then put in and bonnet now shuts, had to machine the steering rack blocks lower and machine inlet manifold at an angle to stop the carbs fouling the bonnet when shut. There is now plenty of clearance under the bonnet, but it takes time to allow for the extra 19mm stroke from the 2500s engine. It is already quite tight under the bonnet with the original 2000 unit.
Body was reunited with the chassis, this took weeks to get all the panel gaps right as everything has elongated holes and is adjustable, just as well really!! Bonnet lines up with bulkhead, bulkhead with front of doors, rear of doors with rear tub (quite a pain body being in two halves) even quarter light frames are adjustable to windscreen pillars, and so the alignment list goes on. Everything had to be trial fitted before it went for painting for obvious reasons.
Engine was then put in and bonnet now shuts, had to machine the steering rack blocks lower and machine inlet manifold at an angle to stop the carbs fouling the bonnet when shut. There is now plenty of clearance under the bonnet, but it takes time to allow for the extra 19mm stroke from the 2500s engine. It is already quite tight under the bonnet with the original 2000 unit.