Various and Sundry!

I think I learned that phrase from "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH".  What a great story!  If I remember correctly, I also learned the meaning of the leeward side from that story.  Cool stuff!

I'm experiencing a strange pause in rebuilding BB.  I discovered that cutting and welding axle shafts is a no go.  So, I had to order some custom ones and have 3 weeks to wait for them.  That reduces the pressure on the pedestrian tasks of reinstalling the brakes, parking brake, exhaust, fuel pump, gas tank, and trunk wiring.

So, here goes the fuel cell:

Turning the fuel line fittings.

There's the fitting in place.  Not the usual method but it should function and I'd rather do some machining than buy fittings.  As Ron Swanson says: "People who buy things are idiots."

And here's cell in place

Next we move on to the parking brake:

This shows the parking brake actuated.  What a relief!  I think I'll do a separate post about that simple victory.

Now, the brakes:

These next pictures show how easy it is to properly flare brake lines!  All that's needed is about 7 evenings and one weekend of practice!  I vastly underestimated this job but learned some things along the way.  

For example, as one friend told me, this is much easier in a vice than under the car!

I look like a good YouTube video here...after about 12 hours of failing!

This is an under the car fitting attempt.  Upon consideration, only one fitting had to be formed on my back.  When I took the other 4 to the vice, it went much more easily.  In fact, "It was piss work, Guv!", as the same friend quoted!

Another British-Japanese connection had to be made at the drive-shaft.  

 There's the adapter after machining and before installation.  Careful inspection will show an extra hole pattern.  It turns out that the MG drive shaft is nearly, but not quite, 4x90 degrees.  Fortunately, there was room for the extra pattern!

I had no idea that I would need a spring compressor and had no time to buy one.  I was happy that I remembered that a lathe cross-slide is driven by a ratio.  Two Allen wrenches served to hold the spring.  I go back to Ron Swanson...

And here begins the exhaust:

This is actually a big worry.  I have many weaknesses in auto work but exhaust is one of the biggest!

The quality of my welds will give witness as to why:

On the other hand, the finished product looks decent.  The Various and Sundry seems to be working out.  The next post will detail installing the axles and road testing.  Fingers crossed! and #funwithcars