Guest Posted July 29, 2002 Posted July 29, 2002 Hello all, I picked up my SEiW kit on Friday (just the parts needed for a rolling chassis) and was also given a 1800Q/Zetec build manual. Trouble is nearly all my ally panels are different to those shown in the manual I managed to find (hopefully, the correct) places to put them all (though the transmission tunnel side panels were missing! ). Also the rivet holes were all pre-drilled which is kinda anoying since they don't seem to quite line up when I place the panels in the 'perfect' position. Has anyone else found this or am I being lame? Secondly, I have two brackets that look like they are the cycle wing support brackets (although they are a simple 'V' shape and not the curved ones in the manual). Problem is that there are 3 supports with holes that _look_ as though they're supposed to line up with the holes on the uprights (my Cortina ones had dirt shields ( ? ) screwed on there before) but the holes are about 10mm out. Has anybody else seen this (new?) style? I assume this is so the uprights don't need machining but if the holes don't match........ Cheers, Dan. Quote
Matt Seabrook Posted July 29, 2002 Posted July 29, 2002 Haxsaw I think you may have the brackets for the alley uprights these will not fit the cortina uprights if this is the cast speak to Westfield Quote
Mark Stanton Posted July 29, 2002 Posted July 29, 2002 Double check all your problems and queries with the technical chap at Westfield - Mark Walker - he should be able to point you in the right direction and sort things through for you Quote
ACW Posted July 29, 2002 Posted July 29, 2002 Matt is right you have the alloy type of cycle wing brackets. Talk to Westfield and get them exchanged. Ally pannel holes never line up exactly because of the tollerance required. I replacem mine during a rebuild and carefully used the existing as templates for drilling, and I still needed to run a drill through to get some of the rivets to line up. Quote
Richard Green Posted July 29, 2002 Posted July 29, 2002 There's an easy answer to lining up ally panels ready for drilling: They're called 'skin-pegs' or 'skin pins' or 'lay-up pins' depending on where in the aerospace industry you work. (...and no doubt someone on the Boardromm will contribute another name that I've never heard of....) The pin is threaded and split long ways and when inserted in a hole through two sheets of material (e.g. ally panel and steel tube wall) can be screwed up to grip the panel securely whilst the next hole is drilled. (It becomes obvious when you've got one in your hand) Obviously you don't need to peg every hole - so a dozen pins will be enough to ensure that the largest panel is securely retained whilst being drilled, and whilst being bonded and rivetted. In the car world they are available from Trident at Silverstone for £1.19+VAT each. Trident are on 01327 857822. Usual caveats: NCJASC. HTH Regards all Richard Quote
DavidR Posted July 30, 2002 Posted July 30, 2002 [They're called 'skin-pegs' or 'skin pins' or 'lay-up pins' depending on where in the aerospace industry you work. (...and no doubt someone on the Boardromm will contribute another name that I've never heard of....)] How about "Avdel clips" cos Avdel used to make them Quote
Guest Posted July 30, 2002 Posted July 30, 2002 Thanks for the replies. Pleased to say I told Westfield about the missing panels Monday lunchtime and they arrived Tuesday morning (early!. Can't ask for better service than that I will phone Westfield about the wing brackets and hopefully get them exchanged too. As for the 'skin-pegs', they sound useful except the holes have already been drilled so I guess it's a case of fit the lower panel first and then fit the overlapping one, drilling though the existing hole in the top panel to create a new hole in the lower if it does not line up (if that makes sense). Anyhoo... Cheers, Dan. Quote
Phssthpok Posted July 30, 2002 Posted July 30, 2002 When you buy something it should be fit for the purpose for which it was purchased and, in your example, this is obviously not the case. Rather than re-drill your frame you should return the whole lot to the factory and either A) get them to re-drill a new set of alloy panels or B) replace the whole caboodle. And you should expect a grovelling apology to boot, put up with cr*p service and that’s precisely what you’ll get. If you’d wanted to buy a car with a lot of ill fitting panels you could have saved yourself a whole heap of bucks and brought a Rob*n Ho*d!!! Quote
Richard M Green Posted July 31, 2002 Posted July 31, 2002 Have the holes already been drilled in the chassis tubes as well as in the ali panels? Sounds strange to me as I've only ever been supplied with completely virgin panels: no holes at all. Has something changed at Kingswinford....... Quote
Guest Posted August 1, 2002 Posted August 1, 2002 Seems I've caused some confusion.... It's only the ali panels that have the holes drilled (for the rivets and the larger ones required in the rear bulkhead & footwell). I expect they will probably be ok but it just seemed strange since I would have thought it would be easier to drill them once the panels were clamped in place on the car. That way, you can drill & rivet the bottom panel on 3 sides, say and then fit the overlapping one and drill through both at once, guaranteeing that the holes line up.... I'm starting building on Sunday so will get back if it really is a problem. Quote
Blatman Posted August 1, 2002 Posted August 1, 2002 Be careful. Rivetting the chassis panels onto the car which is not supported on a VERY straight surface that is VERY stable will have the thing twisted. Only very slightly maybe, and it can probably be dialled out with the suspension, but ANY anomalies in the surface that the chassis is resting on while attaching things like panels to it, will not be a good thing.........you'll stress the rivets too......... Me, I'd get the chassis back to the factory and have them put it in a jig whilst attaching the panels....... Quote
Guest Posted August 1, 2002 Posted August 1, 2002 Rivetting the chassis panels onto the car which is not supported on a VERY straight surface that is VERY stable will have the thing twisted Never actually thought about this before. Is it a major problem? If so, I'm suprised Westfield don't insist on fitting the panels themselves, or do they assume that you are using their supplied chassis stands? (I presume these are suitable) Quote
Blatman Posted August 1, 2002 Posted August 1, 2002 or do they assume that you are using their supplied chassis stands? (I presume these are suitable) And what about the floor they're standing on? 100% flat and level? There must be NO CHANCE of movement once work has commenced, or the whole thing could be shot to ****. I'll say it again, though. It may not happen at all, it may be only a little bit, and it may be able to be dialled out with suspension settings, but why take a chance? Proper chassis jigs, including the ones at the factory, are set in several tonnes of concrete, using LARGE steel girders for accurate positioning, and no chance of movement or flex. A G-clamp and some 2x2 won't cut it.......... Quote
Matt Seabrook Posted August 1, 2002 Posted August 1, 2002 Oh dear better go and check mine as I did mine on three piles of tyres. Mine you the second I jump in the car it must twist any way after all the crisps I have eaten watching Mr Westy and Phssthpok debating the virtues of Essex girls. Quote
Blatman Posted August 1, 2002 Posted August 1, 2002 Shouldn't those tyres have gone for "Environmental disposal"? Thats what the charge on my bill said, anyway......... Quote
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