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Post by chrisbailey on May 17, 2018 11:49:38 GMT
Hello everybody,
It's been quite a while since I posted anything on this forum. I think my last post was sometime in 2012!. To fill you in on the details, I bought my VW based Eagle SS in 2006, I was 16 years old and had saved up some money from a summer job. I had envisioned my Eagle SS being the first car I would drive. I had no idea!
I basically had only student cash flow to fund the restoration, this didnt go far. In 2013 I left university and got a job in Cambridge, and so I moved and left the unfinished Eagle at my parents.
5 years later... I have now moved the car to where I live with my girlfriend, its garaged up waiting to be rebuilt in Kings Lynn.
So far I have managed to get a new front beam and the trailing arms are currently with limebug being refurbished.
I thought I had an old build diary on this forum of my efforts up until 2012 but I cant find it so this is me starting again. Keep an eye out for build pictures...
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Post by Peter on May 17, 2018 12:34:50 GMT
Welcome back and I hope you manage to get some work done on your car. July 9th 2012 was indeed the last time on here so here's hoping you stay around this time, missed you bud.
Easy searching, just click on your name in the left box and then your threads, all will be reveled.
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Post by chrisbailey on May 23, 2018 17:08:44 GMT
Torsion arms should be with me next week. Aiming to get the old front beam off this weekend and the new one on.
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Post by chrisbailey on May 27, 2018 14:45:06 GMT
I've got the old front beam off, repainted the frame head where it was looking a bit rough. New front beam also retouched paint. Hopefully I'll get the new beam bolted on tomorrow. It will be fun and games, the fibreglass front end keeps dropping and giving me no access to slide the front beam in or out. I have ordered empi short dampers for the front. This car is going to be lowered so went for the short range dampers. Also got some new seals for when the torsion arms come back (hopefully in the week). Later on I'm going to get an aluminium support made for the front end. I'm going to use the frame head bolts and an L shape bent aluminium panel. I've got some really thick (5mm or so) ally to do this. I think it's just brakes and new tyres for the front and then I can move onto the back.[/a][/a]
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Post by Peter on May 28, 2018 9:20:17 GMT
I've got the old front beam off, repainted the frame head where it was looking a bit rough. New front beam also retouched paint. imgur.com/gallery/w05fDbbHopefully I'll get the new beam bolted on tomorrow. It will be fun and games, the fibreglass front end keeps dropping and giving me no access to slide the front beam in or out. I have ordered empi short dampers for the front. This car is going to be lowered so went for the short range dampers. Also got some new seals for when the torsion arms come back (hopefully in the week). Later on I'm going to get an aluminium support made for the front end. I'm going to use the frame head bolts and an L shape bent aluminium panel. I've got some really thick (5mm or so) ally to do this. I think it's just brakes and new tyres for the front and then I can move onto the back. Did you also get the ball joints for lowered suspensions?
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Post by chrisbailey on May 28, 2018 13:34:20 GMT
Lime bug fit long travel ball joints as part of the reconditioning service. They also powder coat which I'm keen to see how well that lasts. Today I managed to get the new beam bolted back up. It's a real pain doing it on your own, I'll have to touch the paint up in places again. I was hoping to get the steering box back on with the track rods. Turns out I need two track rod ends for the short track rod, seals have split in both ends. I'll also take it as an opportunity to paint the box up before it goes back on. Btw, are the links to my gallery working ?
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Post by Gary on May 28, 2018 20:39:53 GMT
Nope
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Post by chrisbailey on May 29, 2018 8:06:52 GMT
I think they should work now.
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Post by Gary on May 29, 2018 20:38:20 GMT
Still only a blank square !
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Post by chrisbailey on May 30, 2018 8:18:14 GMT
I've embedded the pictures now. I was hoping I could use the embedded gallery feature of imgur however it looks more hastle than its worth.
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Post by Gary on May 30, 2018 21:49:22 GMT
Can see them OK now. Nice work
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Post by terryrob on Jun 3, 2018 9:24:58 GMT
Welcome back Chris, its great to see your SS is going to be back on the road, there really are not that many around judging by how many turn up at stoneleigh. Keep up the good work and keep us posted on progress please.
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Post by chrisbailey on Jun 25, 2018 17:07:40 GMT
The trailing arms have finally arrived. They took longer than I thought but are well worth the wait. I'll hopefully put some pictures up when I fit them next chance I get.
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Post by Peter on Jun 26, 2018 13:44:53 GMT
I know what you mean about getting the beam in on your own, in the end I drilled a hole above the beam and hoisted it up with some cord.
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Post by chrisbailey on Jul 8, 2018 18:33:59 GMT
I haven't made much if any progress this weekend. I had expected to have the torsion arms and the dampers on.
The torsion arm installation turned into a nightmare. The arms were really stiff going in and the bottoms just wouldn't. I managed to get three of them in with a mallet but the last was not moving at all. I ended up pulling the leaves out and tried the arm on its own. Still would not go in. Pulled it all apart to find copious amounts of grit in the beam. I'm not impressed. When the arms were refurbed they didn't wash them properly after blasting. I now have grit in my beam, rollers probably won't last 5 minutes.
I'm not sure what to do next. I have the top arms in and bolted up, not sure if the grit will find it's way into the needle roller bearings though. I also can't remove the arms now without belting them with a hammer.
Any ideas ? I'm going to talk to limebug.
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Post by Peter on Jul 8, 2018 18:38:35 GMT
Chris, could you please reduce the size of the pictures to say, 6" wide as they are using a lot of our space. Also take for ever to open.
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Post by chrisbailey on Jul 8, 2018 18:40:27 GMT
I have a picture which shows the smooth bearing surface of the arm with scratches cut into it from grit. I'm pretty sure it's why there were stiff going in and why the one wouldn't.
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Post by chrisbailey on Jul 8, 2018 18:41:50 GMT
Ok, I'll try and cut the picture size down.
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Post by chrisbailey on Jul 9, 2018 21:05:26 GMT
I don't know how to reduce the picture size, they are just links to the imgur hosting site. They shouldn't be taking space on this forum. If that's not true I'll try and host them somewhere more friendly. Here is a picture of the grit inside the arm. Limebug have said this doesn't usually cause a problem because the leaves block the grit from touching the bearings. I think that's true however there is a guide inside the beam which the grit can and has hit which means the arms don't move smoothly and will eventually cause big problems. I expect I'll have to wash these and the beam out now.
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Post by Peter on Jul 10, 2018 11:24:40 GMT
I don't know how to reduce the picture size, they are just links to the imgur hosting site. They shouldn't be taking space on this forum. If that's not true I'll try and host them somewhere more friendly. Yes, the pictures will appear exactly as on the hosted site so you need to upload them in a reduced size. I usually reduce mine to about 6" wide, not only for uploading but a lot less disc space on your computer, which also takes less time to transfer. The space isn't so much space on the 'Proboards' server which attachments take up, (we are maxed out), as loading time. VGY is a good free alternative I use if you want to look at it. www.vgy.me
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Post by chrisbailey on Aug 6, 2018 12:07:58 GMT
So after a few busy weekends I finally managed to get the front suspension reassembled. I had to remove the front beam again and run degreaser and a pressure washer down the lower tube to get the grit out. I fit the arms and then put the whole thing on the car. I am now looking for some washers to fix up the spindles and waiting to get the front tyres changed.
I still have to clean up the steering box and fit all new track rod ends. Hopefully will have that done in the next fortnight.
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Post by Peter on Aug 6, 2018 15:35:35 GMT
How is the track rod angle, OK or will you need to reverse the rod ends, if you havn't already?
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Post by chrisbailey on Aug 6, 2018 16:32:03 GMT
I'm not sure yet, I haven't actually torque it all up as I'm missing the big washers the hold onto the ball joints. I think the car is going to be incredibly low so might need caster shims too.
The track rod ends are still in the box 🤣
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Post by Peter on Aug 9, 2018 11:17:27 GMT
I'm not sure yet, I haven't actually torque it all up as I'm missing the big washers the hold onto the ball joints. I think the car is going to be incredibly low so might need caster shims too.The track rod ends are still in the box 🤣 You will. I have two on the bottom tubes. I found with 3" drop on sway-aways one was not quite enough and the steering was a bit too 'loose with R&P rack. Sway-aways std to -4" Shorter dampers for dropped suspension Anti bump steer bushes. Double caster shims. HD anti-roll bar. Poly bushes and bearings Citroen C15 R & P steering
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Post by chrisbailey on Aug 29, 2018 20:16:07 GMT
Do you know the dimensions of the upper and lower ball joint pressure washers.
I'm wondering if I can get them from a bolt and fasteners specialist rather than just 've heritage (out of stock anyway).
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Post by Peter on Sept 2, 2018 11:00:56 GMT
The upper one is 27mm wide x 4mm thick with a 12mm clearance hole. I don't have one on the bottom.
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Post by chrisbailey on Jun 28, 2019 11:43:48 GMT
Overdue update.
So I moved house and the eagle SS in finally in my own garage! Since being in the new house I have managed to build the front beam up with new track rod ends, shims and dampers.
I got the rear brakes rebuilt with new hub seals. I've fitted new dampers all round and lifted the nose of the car up as it was litterally sitting on the floor.
Last week I managed to get the engine started for the first time in 6 years. Just put new leads on, new points and threw some fuel down the carb.
My next step is to design and build the wiring loom. I will most likely do it all from scratch using the beetle diagram as a starting point. I want to build it in sections which clip together. I think 4 sections, engine bay, interior, rear light and front lights.
I also need to sort out torqing the hub nuts back on, my wrench doesnt go high enough.
Hopefully have it moving under its own power this summer.
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Post by Peter on Jun 29, 2019 18:03:44 GMT
Still slogging away, GREAT! and your own place too, all going in the right direction. Vehicle Wiring Products will do all and anything you will need. Good idea splitting the harness into sections, use waterproof Molex, they are great and very nee¡at, ordinary Molex 6.4mm spade terminals just don't do it. tinyurl.com/y6bs5qdxI thought I had it simple by routing everything via a central connecting board, dumb idea, too late now but it works, just a lot more complicated and difficult than I thought it would be. So don't do that.
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Post by chrisbailey on Jul 1, 2019 8:44:03 GMT
I liked the idea of having a central fuse/relay/control box for everything, I just cant make it work nicely with the layout of the car. My battery is going in the front as there is not enough room behind the driving seat. I think Ill end up with fuse/relay boxes in the front and back.
I realised that the old VW wiring schematic doesnt make use of relays. The coil and starter solenoid go straight through the key switch. I'm adding relays for all that high load stuff now.
Hopefully have another update soon.
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Post by terryrob on Jul 1, 2019 20:30:38 GMT
Hi Chris Good to see you getting stuck in. As for building your own loom I did mine 6 or 7 years ago. Its not too difficult and like you I wanted more relays and fuses so made up a board with fuse and relay boxes mounted on it, some permanent live ans some ignition live. There was a lot of head scratching and it looks a bit like spaghetti but it all works.
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