Nick's US-spec GT6

[GT6 Nick]

Hot off the lathe and mill, the new thrust bearing carrier is finished. It's deliberately chunky - I could have milled down more of the excess bronze from the ring in the middle, but I left it in case I got the milling stage wrong and had to rotate it 90 degrees and try again. The Conversion Components version was cast bronze. Mine is still bronze, but machined.

As you can see, the new design moves the thrust bearing (Toyo, so Toyota not Triumph) further forward. The Conversion Components kit located it too far rearward, and when we spaced it forward with the steel ring you can see in the background, the bearing hung halfway off the carrier. 

And it fits! The next step is to reattach the gearbox to the engine and get them back in the car. My garage will be a lot less cluttered without an engine, gearbox, crane and bonnet taking up floor space.

 

[JohnD]

Stunning work, Nick, but why do it in bronze?   I've seen steel carriers with some wear on them.

John

[Gt64fun]

GT6 in 1969 flavour, was bronze!

[GT6 Nick]

On 8/23/2024 at 5:44 PM, JohnD said:

Stunning work, Nick, but why do it in bronze?   I've seen steel carriers with some wear on them.

John

I made the new carrier in bronze because the one I copied was bronze, and because it’s easier to machine than steel. I’m not sure what the original Toyota carrier was made of.

[JohnD]

Ah! You have an alternative gearbox that wot not of!

[Nick Jones]

20 hours ago, GT6 Nick said:

I’m not sure what the original Toyota carrier was made of.

Pretty sure mine are cast iron.

[GT6 Nick]

Big day yesterday. Firstly Gav Cass, a local certifier came over to look at the GT6. Background - to put a modified vehicle on Queensland roads often requires an engineering inspection. Swapping to RHD is a biggie, but Gav also asked about documentation for the cupronickel-nickel brake lines, AP front brakes and the tubular front wishbones, all from Canley Classics. I've emailed them, but I bought those components a decade ago so I'm not sure Canleys will be able to help. Worst case scenario would be changing to steel brake lines (a pain but straightforward) and getting copies of the front wishbones manufactured in Australia. All doable.

Gav also talked me through the certification process - the regulations and standards, and what tests are needed. They test the brake performance and balance on a local drag strip!

The same day Gav came over, the engine went back in. After. A. Year. The gearbox repair took about five months, and it took another five months for me to figure out that the machine shop wasn't going to make a better clutch bearing carrier. A month to buy a lathe and mill and figure out how to use them.. and two days for me to make a new carrier.

That frees up a lot of garage space! I've plumbed up the clutch and it feels fine. Next I'll reattach the starter motor and drive shaft and test it. 

Edited September 5 by GT6 Nick
Made it betterer

[Escadrille Ecosse]

Big steps forward. 

Your certification progress sounds quite onerous. Although testing at the drag strip is a bit more 'practical'. 

I see I'm not the only one to put labels on things to remind me. 

 

[Nick Jones]

Sounds possible, if a bit of a ball-ache. Presumably you didn’t do this before - is that because it wasn’t a requirement then or just didn’t get around to it?

RHD conversion hardly a biggy - just bolt on the factory bits?

Really good to see it progressing  - hopefully this might encourage another Australian GT6 owner…

[GT6 Nick]

2 hours ago, Nick Jones said:

Sounds possible, if a bit of a ball-ache. Presumably you didn’t do this before - is that because it wasn’t a requirement then or just didn’t get around to it?

RHD conversion hardly a biggy - just bolt on the factory bits?

Really good to see it progressing  - hopefully this might encourage another Australian GT6 owner…

The RHD conversion shouldn't pose a problem because I used a factory RHD rack and the original column. The steel frame behind the dashboard, and the brace between the column and bulkhead were second hand from Steve Attenborough.

The regulations haven't changed, but I just hadn't been far enough along to bother talking to a certifier. Dave Pearson's replied and says that they don't have design drawings for the wishbones, so I might have to get reproductions made here in Queensland. Specified grades of steel and tube wall thickness, milled and bored bush eyes, crack testing. There are plenty of low volume car modifiers hereabouts, so this sort of thing is pretty commonly done.