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Needed a front turrett for my 26....so I made one.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 19, 2019 8:04 pm
by britcardoc
So my son and I are vintage racers and decided to move up to 26s. His frame is nice....mine needs a little love.

I looked everywhere...no one has front turrets I could find. ... So I made one. New beats old. We had a sheet of 14 gauge CR. Metal break, good welder, band saw. So I'm going to salvage the top, brake hose mount and pivot shaft or make one. Insert happy face here.

Some little English guy was "bashing" them out 30 years ago and I have a pretty complete shop and believe I'm smart as him.

Re: Needed a front turrett for my 26....so I made one.

PostPosted: Sat Jul 20, 2019 2:43 am
by britcardoc
another view with pivot pin hole.

Re: Needed a front turrett for my 26....so I made one.

PostPosted: Sat Jul 20, 2019 4:49 am
by Chrispy
Looks pretty good! Surely as good as the 60's one :)

Re: Needed a front turrett for my 26....so I made one.

PostPosted: Sat Jul 20, 2019 9:32 am
by gjz30075
Looks right! Is that a drain hole I see at the bottom, on the side?

Re: Needed a front turrett for my 26....so I made one.

PostPosted: Sat Jul 20, 2019 12:43 pm
by nmauduit
the difficult part remains to weld it back at the proper location and geometry, not rocket science but would require a bit of care in the measurements...

ps: I would have drilled the drain holes further down, it seems that some water can stay in the bottom half inch or so,

Re: Needed a front turrett for my 26....so I made one.

PostPosted: Sat Jul 20, 2019 12:54 pm
by 69S4
Just fill the bottom half inch up with waxoil or similar - it'll be fine.

Re: Needed a front turrett for my 26....so I made one.

PostPosted: Sat Jul 20, 2019 1:33 pm
by billwill
In my opinion the best drain holes are 'half-moons' cut into the outermost bottom edge at least a half inch diameter.

Re: Needed a front turrett for my 26....so I made one.

PostPosted: Sat Jul 20, 2019 1:57 pm
by types26/36
........or if you dont mind the extra weight just box it in.

Re: Needed a front turrett for my 26....so I made one.

PostPosted: Sun Jul 21, 2019 4:18 pm
by britcardoc
Harvested the pivot pin and top cap. Looks so good, think I'll do both sides. Now that I have good patterns.

Re: Needed a front turrett for my 26....so I made one.

PostPosted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 11:34 am
by gus
The closing plate at the end of the chassis crossmember is critical to the stability of the tower.

I would replace that with 14 ga as well

Re: Needed a front turrett for my 26....so I made one.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 26, 2019 12:38 am
by britcardoc
Making a second one. Think it will be a good idea to replace both. Chassis measurements are well known.

Am I right , no one is making this really necessary piece? Hmmmmmmm........

Re: Needed a front turrett for my 26....so I made one.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 26, 2019 2:51 am
by britcardoc
Next is front suspension. Need a set of good or repairable lower wishbones. Have everything else up front from donor cars.

Good start on second turret,

Re: Needed a front turrett for my 26....so I made one.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 26, 2019 7:12 am
by alan.barker
Why not make the new Turrets in stainless steel. Before someone says it can't be welded to the normal steel Chassis it can using Tig. This has been done when replacing Outriggers on TVR 3000S Steve Reid who was a TVR Guru.
Alan

Re: Needed a front turrett for my 26....so I made one.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 26, 2019 8:29 am
by nmauduit
britcardoc wrote:Making a second one. Think it will be a good idea to replace both. Chassis measurements are well known.

Am I right , no one is making this really necessary piece? Hmmmmmmm........


I believe Spyder offers a front chassis replacement part, or at least used to, consisting of the crossmember and the 2 turrets, that they can weld back on a jig.

no affiliations, whatsoever.

Re: Needed a front turrett for my 26....so I made one.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 26, 2019 8:48 am
by alan.barker
I remember that and it will mean all new where it matters. The Crossmember and Turrets could be galvanised. Just remove galvanisation where the weld to Chassis is.
Alan