Project Cunning Plan, '82 Merc 280E

[fha772]

I suppose I best post this picture, seeing as I was so over he moon about a stamp size picture in the PPCitP write up...


On another note, I think I've found a solution to the front suspension issues, after doing some t'internet trawling. I've found out that the springs from the diesel version are rock hard, once the coils are cut, because the diesel engine is about twice the weight of the 280E engine.
I have found a pair of diesel springs from a guy on RetroRides, I'm paying him £20 for the pair, so by swapping the Spax springs for these diesel springs, I will gain £15 to my £999 budget*

(*4 Spax springs cost £70, so the front 2 are valued at £35, then replaced with the diesel springs at £20 means a saving of £15)

[mjslonergan]

(*4 Spax springs cost £70, so the front 2 are valued at £35, then replaced with the diesel springs at £20 means a saving of £15)

Can't argue with science...
Well done on big pic, and if you ever decide to sell, the car is now 'Magazine Featured'...

[fha772]

I thought I'd best get this thread moved to readers diaries, seeing as I won't be able to make the 2013 £999...

I've not done much to Cunning Plan lately, as all my time has been taken up with the Merc truck.

But I have took the starter off the other day, for my mate to sort out.

Also, I've bought 1 of those big daft alloy adjustable boot spoilers, to improve the rear traction.
It's come from my local auto factors, it's been sat on top of their shelves for about 10 years, there's about an inch of dust on it, and no mounting brackets, but it was £5, and I've got some off cuts of aluminium plate that I can make some mounting brackets out of.

I've also picked up the diesel Merc springs to cut down, this will be happening in the new year, as I've got sod all time before crimbo.

I'll do a proper update in the near future...

[Renrut]

Does that mean a date has been announced?

ETA - just seen its appeared!

[Relentless Rob]

I won't be able to make the 2013 £999.

Boooooo!

Will you be at Malory?

I was thinking about taking Will' a pair of stabilisers for his Quatro if it's finished by then.

[fha772]

I'll be at Mallory, but with the £999 being on a Sunday there's no way I can have both Saturday and Sunday off in July.

[fha772]

Here's my latest purchase...



Well worth £5, and I got the dust for free!!!

[Renrut]

Bargainous!

Are you going to make it adjustable? Gotta aim for the perfect angle of attack on such a honed racing machine!

[fha772]

The top blade is adjustable, and I'm going to slot the holes in the mounting brackets when I make them, to give me more adjustment.

I'm hoping it helps the handling, I did notice it was a bit light on the back end when I was going round Mallory.

[TeamTotalWankel]

I did notice it was a bit light on the back end when I was going round Mallory.

You'd be better off putting Jamie in the boot next time

[Relentless Rob]

Rig it to a pair of hinges and linear actuators wired to the brake light circuit so you could have a Veyron-esque air brake as well.

[Renrut]

Rig it to a pair of hinges and linear actuators wired to the brake light circuit so you could have a Veyron-esque air brake as well.

Couldn't you just jerry rig up a 5th brake caliper onto it? That would then give fully variable control under braking loads and not just be on/off, use existing hydraulic system. Then you just need to tune the ratio of tilt to the amount of braking with a little adjustable lever arm and job jobbed.

[fha772]

TTW, that's plan B!!

Rob, anything is possible.

Seeing as I'm not entering the £999 this year, my build plan is going to change slightly.
Originally, I was going to put off some things until after the £999.
(For example, I'm planning to make a fibreglass boot and bonnet, this can now happen before Mallory.)

Other things I was going to do a bit more work myself to keep the budget down.
(For example, I was going to make a straight through exhaust centre section out of some old exhausts from the scrap yard, but now I'm going to have a new piece made up by the guys who made my generator exhaust extension.)

The principle will be the same, and it isn't going to become a cheque book build, but by farming out some of the work, and not having to keep such a close eye on the budget, I can get along quicker with the project.

My plan was to get this year's £999 out of it, then go over budget with the build, but now I'm free to crack on.
To be honest, it will still probably be under the £999 budget this year, but I'm now not too concerned.

More soon...

[fha772]

My mate has done the starter, so that's ready to go back on, the reason it had stopped working was the brushes had worn out.
He's put new brushes in it, an he said the solenoid was looking like it was on the way out, so he's fitted a new 1, to save taking the starter out in the future.
It cost me £20, £18 for the new solenoid, and £2 for the brushes, the labour was covered by me using my Hiab to lift a Colchester lathe into his workshop.

More soon...

[fha772]

Just a small update on what's happening...

I think I've sorted my lack if a tacho problem...


I'll be over the yard on Thursday for a little while, and I'll get the starter back on, and hopefully I will have decided which tacho will be going in the car.

Also, on another note, I may have sorted my lack of LSD problem too.
Pete, my friendly local Merc breaker has been in touch, a guy he knows modified a SEC's LSD to fit in his 280CE. But he has now abandoned this project and it looks like I've got first dibs on it!!!

More soon...