Progress: Front suspension and steering rack

Here you can see what I am up to now.



Jig for welding suspension mounting brackets.














Trial fitting front suspension.















Shock absorber mounting bracket. Check my cool engine mounts.













Fitting steering rack (Escort Mk2). I made a jig to position the rack, clamp it down and check for bumpsteer. For checking this I attached a laser spirit level to the wheels. Then move the wheels and wishbones up and down along the travel of the wheel (from ride height, to max bump and max droop).

It was a puzzle how to get the steering column pass the alternator and the exhaust manifold. As you can see my car is a left hand drive.






This is gonna be OK.














The two steering rack mounts, seen from rear to front. I made them somewhat stiffer than in the book. The welding has not been finished yet.












Another view. As you can see I used 3mm steel plate which is bent 90 degrees for stiffness. Probably I will add a brace between the two mounts.













Next jobs: Making and fitting rollbar, panhard rod, seatbelt mountings