Is this chassis bent? Forum wisdom required!

[Bigbaldybloke]

Can you explain Alan, as far as I have found the position of the window is irrelevant to actually changing the hinges and hinge pin. It is relevant when working on the window motors and door latches and re fitting doors.

[berni29]

I managed to buy some hollow bronze bar on eBay 31mm OD by 14mm ID for not a lot. The od was about a couple of mm bigger than needed and the bore about 1mm smaller, so minimal work on the lathe. I bought myself an adjustable reamer to finish off the bore but probable could just have bored it to the right size on the lathe. The bushes were a light push fit in the hinge bodies but I did loctite them in anyway. The stainless hinge pins came from either Sue Miller or Kelvedon, can’t remember which.

Hi Alan

Thank you very much! I do not have a lathe, but Facebook Marketplace or EBay might be able to help me out haha.

All the best

Berni

[mikealdren]

There's probably a market here for someone with a lathe, I'd buy bronze (or brass) bushes....

[alan.barker]

Hi Bigbaldybloke,
it was several years ago i changed the Hinge Bushes on the door hinges of a +2.
I seem to remember that there was a good position for the window.
Maybe that was for changing door handles.
For sure it can be difficult to unscrew the countersunk screw in the bottom of the Hinge. An Impact Screwdriver can be handy. The Bushes are Trunnion Bushes.
Alan

[Bigbaldybloke]

Hadn’t thought of an impact driver, several times have meant to buy one of those you hit with a hammer, but for some reason have never got around to adding one to my stock of tools. Probably the ideal tool for the long screw in the bottom of the hinge.

As for making bronze bushes for others, if I added anything like a minimal cost for my time they would be so expensive no one would want to buy them!

[berni29]

Hi

It might be by “impact driver” one of the cordless impact screwdrivers might be what is meant. They are brilliant, but overkill unless you drive a lot of screws.

Berni

[alan.barker]

I mean Impact Screwdriver you hit with a Hammer (old school) from 60s.
Alan

[RichardHawkins]

Bernie,

Ask around your local branch of Club Lotus, there might be someone with a lathe who is willing to help.

Richard Hawkins

[berni29]

Hi Guys

After much delay I have rolled the chassis out from under the body this morning, and it is apparent even by eye that the passenger side upright is canted inwards relative to the other side. Not massively but a few mm for sure. I guess that would explain the suspension intrusion. I have not made any other measurements yet but I will do so once the engine and gearbox are out.

I am in touch with a forum member who has a Spyder chassis they may sell to me, so let's see how that goes.......

All the best

Berni

[berni29]

Hi

Here are a couple of pictures of the front turrets. Perhaps you can see the difference from the pictures.

All the best

Berni