Kristen’s Puma Build

After 8 months or so of the engine sitting on the floor of the shed, it was finally ready to go into the car.  It took a team effort of 3 of us to get the engine in but it fits - just!  Now to make a tailshaft; finish the handbrake cable; install the radiator and intercooler along with associated pipework; finish the aluminium panelling like the sides and boot; install the seats; and last but by no means least do all the electrical work!  Phew - from the look of that list - it’s going to be another 500 odd days before I’m finished.

 +  =

Lesson #1 - Don’t buy a clutch alignment tool that doesn’t align the clutch with the spigot bearing.

Lesson #2 - No matter how hard you try or for how long, if the centre of the clutch and the spigot bearing don’t line up, you are never, ever going to get the gearbox on.

Lesson #3 - If you make a special tool (or find someone who already has one - thanks Mike) that is the same diameter as the spigot bearing that can also have an extra piece slide on over the top of it to finish the alignment of the clutch plate all with the pressure plate in place and the bolts done up so that the plate doesn’t move but the clutch plate can be shifted slightly - then that’s the easy way to go!

Lesson #4 -When everything lines up, the gearbox slides on like butter!  Even a little person like me can offer up the gearbox and do up all the bolts, including using the torque wrench in less than 30 minutes all by myself.

Here’s a picture of the final product.  Thank goodness that’s done!!!!

The past 29 days seem to have flown by without much to show for it in terms of completion but I have done lots of small stuff like installing new rear brake shoes; making fuel tank straps complete with trying out differing widths of rubber between the tank and the strap; removing the sump to fishmouth the pipe to discover it’s already been done; bashing the dents out of the sump and putting it back on; and sourcing a commodore fuel pump holder.

Lastly I’ve been trying in vain to put the gearbox back on the engine!!!!!! After nearly 4 hours, the damn thing still won’t go on!  I spoke to a few clubbie friends who suggested that I take the pressure plate and clutch plate off and make sure that the clutch plate actually fits the spline.  Well, it fits the spline.

Now to try and put that gearbox on again!