rogerguzzi Posted May 27, 2023 Share Posted May 27, 2023 3 hours ago, John Bonnett said: Go on Brad, remind me. And what made you change the firing order? Fantastic looking engine bay, a real credit to you and the care you have taken with the rebuild. Beautifully done. And me as to how you did it? Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrookster Posted May 28, 2023 Share Posted May 28, 2023 6 hours ago, RedRooster said: If anyone wants to know more about that I'll explain later. Of course we want to know more. Spill the beans man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRooster Posted May 28, 2023 Share Posted May 28, 2023 First it helps to have enough things going up and down which you do on a V8. Now a bit of history on the small block Ford or SBF as it is generally known. Originally cylinders 7&8 fired consecutively which was fine in a car as the speed varies all the time. However when used in marine applications the speed is generally constant, this caused harmonics to be set up and Ford had a lot of warranty issues with wear. So roughly late 60's early 70's they moved the firing order so 1&2 went bang bang which were closest to the damper. This is the reason most V8s sound like tug boats. What I did with my cam grind was to revert to the old firing order which no one stocks anymore, I don't think I'll be at full power very long anyway. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bonnett Posted July 4, 2023 Author Share Posted July 4, 2023 A bit of a morale boost 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escadrille Ecosse Posted July 4, 2023 Share Posted July 4, 2023 Brrrm, brrrm... Excellent stuff John. Looks like progress to me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bonnett Posted July 4, 2023 Author Share Posted July 4, 2023 1 hour ago, Escadrille Ecosse said: Brrrm, brrrm... Excellent stuff John. Looks like progress to me Thank you. I'm four years into the project now, so having it moving under its own power was a real milestone and something to which, I'm sure, every single one of us here can relate, and perhaps even more so than the first start-up. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamish Posted July 4, 2023 Share Posted July 4, 2023 Fantastic John. That’s brilliant. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted July 4, 2023 Share Posted July 4, 2023 3 hours ago, John Bonnett said: I'm four years into the project now That’s gone quick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bonnett Posted July 5, 2023 Author Share Posted July 5, 2023 9 hours ago, Nick Jones said: That’s gone quick Frighteningly quick Nick and sometimes I'm quite daunted at what a long way there is still to go until I look at how much work has gone into it to get it this far. That helps to put things into perspective. I'm hoping for completion next year in time for La Coupe Florio in St Brieuc in September. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bonnett Posted August 31, 2023 Author Share Posted August 31, 2023 The buck for the front end has taken an inordinate amount of time because I have made a lot of subtle changes to the curvature in order to produce the visual effect that I'm after and more crucially, something that I have a better than evens chance of reproducing in metal. The attached photos show the artist's impression, the buck and the buck with paper draped over it to give an idea of how it might look. I think we're there now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John I Posted August 31, 2023 Share Posted August 31, 2023 That is a labour of love and will look beautiful. Just jealous of that workshop there’s masses of room and a few big tools to make you drool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted August 31, 2023 Share Posted August 31, 2023 Coming on well John. You get to do some more of your favourite part now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamish Posted August 31, 2023 Share Posted August 31, 2023 Wow !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escadrille Ecosse Posted September 1, 2023 Share Posted September 1, 2023 Very, very impressed at that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bonnett Posted September 1, 2023 Author Share Posted September 1, 2023 Thanks Chaps, it always gives me a great boost to receive such kind words and encouragement. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerH Posted September 1, 2023 Share Posted September 1, 2023 Am I green with envy - not in the least (honest) (really) Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRooster Posted September 1, 2023 Share Posted September 1, 2023 What you got in the back of your shed John? Nice work as aways, hope you bring it around one day so I can have a poke around. RR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bonnett Posted September 1, 2023 Author Share Posted September 1, 2023 3 hours ago, RedRooster said: What you got in the back of your shed John? Nice work as aways, hope you bring it around one day so I can have a poke around. RR Brad, good to hear from you. You mean the other side of the doorway at the far end? That's the Machine Shop If all goes to plan, the project will be finished during next year in time for the Coupe Florio in St Brieuc in September. Perhaps we could arrange to see you there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRooster Posted September 2, 2023 Share Posted September 2, 2023 The other door in my garage got commandered by the boss as a tack room Will try for the Coupe work allowing, perhaps we could see you here the building site is almost done... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bonnett Posted September 2, 2023 Author Share Posted September 2, 2023 5 hours ago, RedRooster said: The other door in my garage got commandered by the boss as a tack room Will try for the Coupe work allowing, perhaps we could see you here the building site is almost done... Your garage is as big as Ikea so I'd doubt if you'd miss an odd section or begrudge it to your long suffering Nicole. September is a long way off but it would be nice to meet up one way or the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spit131 Posted September 4, 2023 Share Posted September 4, 2023 On 7/4/2023 at 5:01 PM, John Bonnett said: A bit of a morale boost Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bonnett Posted October 29, 2023 Author Share Posted October 29, 2023 I notice my last post was back in September so here we are a couple of months later with a quick update. Although I was under the impression that the buck for the front end was done and dusted it became apparent that some of the stations weren't quite right and needed reshaping to allow the curves to follow through and this took quite a bit of time but the buck has to be right because if it isn't then there's no hope for the finished panels, so time well spent. With the remedial work on the buck completed , the first bit of metal shaping took place and this is the section immediately adjacent to and rearward of the headlight and because of the large amount of shrinking needed, it was, I thought, potentially, the most difficult sub-panel of the whole front end but in the event, everyone of them has fought me to the bitter end so there was nothing to choose between them. The section containing the bulge which I was expecting to be a doddle wasn't (and isn't) because even though the plywood hammerform was tightly clamped, the edges of the panel distorted into a wavy line. I wrongly decided that the edge needed stretching which was totally wrong and I ended up with the wavy edge ten times worse than it was before I started. It did of course need to be shrunk so I have made a start and the situation is slowly improving. So here are a few photos of the piece parts which will eventually be welded together to make the skin for the forward hinged bonnet. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bonnett Posted October 29, 2023 Author Share Posted October 29, 2023 PS The diagonal stripes on one of the panels are caused by low tack tape which is the first stage of making a flexible shape pattern. This is useful in ensuring that two panels have the same curvature. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escadrille Ecosse Posted October 29, 2023 Share Posted October 29, 2023 Seriously impressive. And good to see more progress, especially given the battle required Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamish Posted October 29, 2023 Share Posted October 29, 2023 Very impressive work John. the woodwork on the”buck” alone I am in awe of. but the follow up metal work is just wonderful. just amazing John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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