Project No-Flight Update
January 2002
Project No Flight finally has a heart, or at least a place holder for one. I bought a "junk" motor from the local auto recycle yard to use for setting up the motor mounts. It turned out to be an 010 casting 4-bolt main block, so in addition to it's current duties setting the motor mounts, it may see use in the actual motor. I also bought an empty 200-4R trans case (lighter that way) to complete the mock-up power setup.
The motor is mounted using a ridgid front motor plate, mid mount, and trans mount. In addition, you can see a fore-aft limiter strut along the drivers side of the block.
The mid plate and the limiter mount to the new gross member tubes, which were custom fabbed to clear the transmission. Even though the trans "can" drop out from below, since the tunnel will be removable the normal transmission installation will be from the inside of the car.
With the motor location set I was also able to mock-up the steering column and fabricate it's mounts (it ties into the roll cage structure), and install the door side brace bars, which have been dropped and contoured to make it easier to get in and out of the car. You can see the mock-up dash I made for locating the steering using the patterns I got from greasemonkey (thanks!).
Next on the agenda is to finish off the front wheel wells, I need to install the front header bar first so I can locate some mounts for the front of the body before I start cutting away the old wheel panels, and then it's on to the firewal, floor, and new rear wheel well panels ....
