Monoposto Seven Build

The start January 2022

After the successful build of my Super Accessories Special my attention wandered with a view to creating another car. It was not exactly my intention to build another car but the drive to tinker with something else automotive was unstoppable. The idea came as a result of a video I made during the 2021 hill climb season where four Austin Seven special owners got together at Forrestburn. Paul (one of the owners) offered to help me with the design of my new car. That was a fantastic offer, not to be refused as Paul is a prime mover at Vintage and Classic Workshops in Penecuik near Edinburgh.
 
My vision of the car, which is not necessarily shared by Paul, can be seen in this link. Paul correctly thinks the body panel beating required will run away with the available budget (which I am not disclosing here as my wife might read this blog some time).

The  reality hit home fairly quickly, the budget dictates that most of the fabrication work must be done by myself  so the bodywork needs to be as simple as possible (not like the image above). Here is one of the first sketches at a kick-off meeting in my lounge. Credit to Paul Neil-MacLauchlan of Vintage and Classic Workshops (07734 833869).

 


Being a IT geek among other geeky things that I do, I decided to try and convert this into something I can visualise more easily on a computer. Computer models are cheaper than cutting metal and throwing it away type of development. The manikin is dimensionally correct to my body shape.

 
 
Only time will tell if this project has legs, keep checking my progress on this blog.

Index 

Heading Link
The Chassis, Jig and parts 23 Feb 2022
The remote gear change 23 Feb 2022
Brake Drums 23rd Feb 2022
2021
Nov 28 2021 – Chassis Jig
Dec 17 2021 - Early engine position thoughts
2022
Jan 12 2022 - Remote gearbox shifter
Jan 29 2022 - CAD as a general tool to aid design in the project
Feb 5 2022 - Further design work on gearbox remote
Feb 14 2022 - Rear axle drive shaft manufacturing
Feb 24 2022 - Austin Seven brake drums not available at present
Mar 14 2024 – Hydraulic back plates
March 3 2022 - Paul’s Balsa model
April 7 2022 - Progress on the chassis design
April 27 2022 - Further progress on the chassis design Oct 21 - Dec 22
May 8 2022 - Engine mount design and fabrication
June 1 2022 - Chassis design and dev progress
 July 19 2022 - Early development of the pedal box
Aug 18 2022 - Rear shocker mountings
Sept 22 2022- Rear Springs
Sept 27 2022 - Pinion shaft rear axle
Oct 27 2022 - Further development work on remote gear linkage
Nov 29 2022 - Early thoughts on Kin Pin and upright design
 Dec 17 2022 - Early thoughts on the steering
Nov 2022 Final assembly of the rear axle
Dec 20 2022 - Early body panel design
2023
Feb 2 2023 - Front suspension design
Feb 11 2023 - Front suspension progress
Feb 15 2023 - Final tack welding and geometry check of front suspension
March 22 2023 - Further development of rear axle - adding brakes
29 Sept 2023 - Chassis complete
Oct 12 2023 - Firewall fabrication and install 2023
Nov 25 2023 - Bodywork progress, side panels fabricated
Dec 19 2023 - 2CV clutch conversion - early thoughts
2024
Jan 6 2024 - Remote gear linkage (again)
Jan 8 2024 -  Oil pickup pipe, baffle and reinforcing block for securing head long bolt
Jan 24 2024 - 2CV clutch conversion progress
 Feb 7 2024 - Bodywork progress
March 7 -  2024 Dashboard
March 27 2024 Wiring
7 April 2024 - Corner weight measurements
Arril 13-17 2024 Gear stick mods
April 15 - 2024 - Speedo investigation
April 21 2024 - Speedo Sensor mount
April 22 2024 - More bodywork progress
20 July 2024 - Cooling system design
July 8 2024 - Engine block side retention brackets 2024
July 10 2024 Water jacket cover plate
July 15 2024 - Exhaust design
July 20 - 2024 - Compare and contrast with previous build
12 Aug 2024 - Clutch conversion progress - Saucer
20 Aug 2024 - Exhaust progress
16 Aug 2024 - Support work for engine developmen
2 Oct 2024 - Oil pump shim
2 Oct 2024 - Block to crankcase shim
16 Oct 24 - Oil pan and reinforcing plate
26 Aug 2024 Mountain Bike wheels for rear
24 July 2024 - Oil pipes
8 Oct 2024 - Starter Motor
19 Dec 2024 - Windsheild and tool storage


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