NeilR

Yes, but a bit more of a K frame to clear the new steering shaft. There is also structure missing above the gearbox, that will close in the tunnel. As noted previously, we need to be mindful not to make the front and rear too stiff, as we are trying to create a more linear torsional performance.

Perhaps this picture will provide clarity as to the layout I've been talking about:

Latest:

I keep looking at those big RHS sills and thinking ... 'hole saw = lightening holes!'.

Added a couple more tubes and the steering universals arrived ... the universals themselves are not long enough to get the angularity to where we hoped, so there will be some steering column angle, but less than the original. Now we are just waiting for the pillow bearing - 9/16" was not available locally, so it's coming from the UK. Sadly it may not arrive before I head off to Scotland for a holiday.

This is roughly the projected steering link and front structure tubes. You can see the ingress into the wheel area - I think we'll be OK. We'll actually have to shorten the rack, fortunately this is not much of a problem as we'll machine another flat on the shaft further down, taking about 10" out of it. The top universal joint will back onto a pillow ball bearing. which will support the end of the steering column shaft.

We do tend to get used to things that initially seem odd (note to self - no comments about marriage!), however we have a chance to correct this and hopefully the angular displacement may make the car a little safer in a frontal impact.

Recent work complicated by my own ineptitude - I assumed both side of the chassis were the same, when I know they are not. Current state of chassis: Below working out steering column angles, having a straight shaft would be rather uncomfortable - you can see part of front bracing added too. Also note legroom for 6'4" driver. New steering arrangement will involve two universal joints and a short intermediate shaft.

Good to know that you fitted! As for suspension, yes we could have changed it. I could not find a Rotoflex suspension and we could have made our own ... but then we run into problems. As it is I can get the car on the road as a 'rebodied' Herald ... if I changed the suspension the car becomes an individually constructed vehicle and has to pass far more challenging rules including emissions.

Well we could go all the way through and use the std Herald length.

Bryant Park can be run as a short loop, which they do for variety. Fintry is still longer and more interesting to me than Rob Roy - the MG car club venue.

Northern lights would be wonderful to see. The club I am a member of (Gippsland Car Club) has its own track, which will provide enough challenge. There are a number of different layouts, but the two more common are:

It strikes me that the longer rear link of the Herald is slightly better for reducing the amount of toe change ... correct me if I am wrong.

This is the big reason for this project, my son William. At 6' 4" and a solid 100kg, he's not what you'd call the ideal size for a Spitfire ... luckily the Herald is a bit longer. Even so we're replacing the last outrigger to get an extra 80mm behind the driver. This created more challenges in how to mount the trailing links, until we realised the Spitfire links were shorter, but if we used them as planned we'd lose the rear toe adjustment: If this looks a little unfinished at the sill tube (which is 75 x 50 x 2), let me explain that the rearward protruding sill tube gets boxed in to the outrigger and becomes the roll hoop mounting point - we need it a long way back because of the tall driver. However this suspension mount meant no toe adjustment, so a search through a breaker's yard and we got these, which we laid next to the Triumph part. : The longer one is our choice due to three things: 1. the adjustment is at the chassis end (top of pic) and seems a structurally better solution. 2. the wheel end is a sealed spherical bearing with lovely dust cover. 3. The wheel end is crimped, not welded. Splitting the tube had the end falling out and the tube was thus easy to shorten. It will be tig welded back together when we decide on the length of the link.

Thank you very much, that is really quite helpful and certainly sounds quite exciting! We do not have the wheel arch problem as such, but too much movement certainly adds a lot of toe change. I think we'll be on the rubber at around 700kg - the Herald chassis is a bit heavier and we have added a lot of steel to it. Besides this is my 21YO son's car and whilst we both enjoy a hillclimb, I think this will mostly be driven on country road and to a cafe! I'll be visiting Scotland in May and hope to visit Fintray, perhaps I will see you there?