So the time has come to do something project related and fun. I've got the 360 and 343 side by side in the garage, and I'm swapping parts from one to the other...freeing up space in the 360 for turbo related goodness.

Today, after work, I got the 343 up in the air, and have been slowly de-340ing it. The exhaust came off, along with various bits from the engine bay. Then the pub beckoned (and an hour or so to put Martin's 262C back together)...after which I got back on the wagon, and got the prop, halfshafts & box out of it.

It's a strong start for half an evening's work...hopefully I'll have the B14 out tomorrow, and I can start on taking the 360 apart.

Anyone got hosting that works, for pics? I need to shout at my hosting people

cheers

James

Yeah, email them to me mate. Good effort too

hi foggy

so you finally got some time to yourself, to start on your cars.

cheers

jeff

Today was a bit slower than planned, due to an interesting combination of catching up on sleep, and spending several hours carefully cutting out the radiator panel to accept the B200's radiator. The top left hand hole was the last one, and I started to lose patience, so it's also the most messy....although in my defence, it's double skinned, and they're evil angles...

(EDIT: Pics on their way via Chris)

Everything is now out of the 343. It's nice and light to push

Given that I still have to swap steering racks (as well as the engine, box, etc), and diagnose why the clutch wouldn't release on the 360 before installing it all in the 343, I think the very best I'm going to manage tomorrow is to get it all fitted, ready to wire up next week.

Still...getting there...

cheers

James

Just got in from rallying round London overnight (I'll put a thread up later, but I've currently been up for 25 hours and counting, and just off to Bealueuieieie, so might not be today) but, in a mad rushed stylee

Linky

http://imageshack.us/ Quick and easy image hosting. Can't wait to see what your doing

Nice progress mate... can't wait til this all comes together, it should go rather nicely in that 343

I would use imageshack....but I have a domain I'm paying for! Sadly the buggers changed the password, and I've been too lazy to sort it out. Will attempt to do so now...

cheers

James

So I got off my lazy arse and sorted out my hosting...

In the air?


There's a lot of space under the back of a 300 when it's empty! I wonder is a small boxer engine would fit...


Up in the air again!


Bonnet-less


B14...but not for much longer!


Bumper removed...


Nosecone removed...


Rad area cut out. A late-model radiator *just* fits. I can't believe I didn't measure this earlier, as I really, really shouldn't have assumed...


Close of play Saturday...B14 out.


Today was a slow day. I got up late, spent three hours on the VOC mess, and then had to go out to dinner at 5:30, so only got around 3 hours spannering in. I tidied up a lot, got the exhaust, bonnet and OS handbrake cable off the 360....and drained it of fuel (for removal of the link pipe on the saddle tank) ready to drop the box. That's the next major job.

Oh...and running it open DP sounded hilarious!

Question for you - the 343 doesn't appear to have the right holes threaded for the 360 box mounts. I'm sure Nessy does..bummer! I'm thinking of using the 340 rear mount. Can anyone see an issue with this?

cheers

James

Good work Foggy! Looks like it is progressing well.

With regards to the 340 box mounts, I'd check what height or spacing the boxes sit at compared to one another, I've not seen many 340 manual boxes mounted, but from memory it could be different. That way the drive train all lines up, so they may have allowed for or adjusted it between the redblocks and Renaults using this method. I may be completely wrong, but it's worth checking, they must have had the two different mounts for a reason!

Also, do the 340 mounts bolt it rigidly, or is there the option of movement and it pivoting, remembering how a B200 balances on it's two engine mounts, supported from the rear by the drivetrain.

Pete

Ta, Pete.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm not too concerned about either of those issues. The height thing can't be much different, and would just make the engine sit at a slightly different angle. However, I'll measure it....just in case it'll cause the TT to foul on the gear linkage. I'm retaining the 340 fuel tank, so no clearance problem there. They're both 'suspended' on rubber cushions. The 340 ones are more prone to failing, but there are year-old ones in Nessy, if all else fails.

If I can make it work with the 'correct' mount without much trouble, I'll be doing that. I might attempt to trouble you for some wiring, Mr F, at some point

cheers

James

Looking cool mate, as for clearance to torque tube, if its roughly the same diameter as the prop on a 340 it will be fine, as there is enough room to extend the linkage to make the throw shorter on my 340 anyhow!!! HAHA.
Just out of interest Fog how long ago was it when we pulled that diff from that 343???
Adam

Nearly two years ago. The irony is, I paid £50 for that box...and this 343 has one exactly the same! I'm not sure I'm ever going to use either diff

cheers

James

Damn I love that 343... good work!

As of tonight, the box, TT, and bellhousing are off the 360. If all goes according to plan, I'll have the engine out tomorrow.

Major issue, though. I've had a good look at the way the 360 engine mounts fix to the chassis rails....and the holes aren't there on the 343. The gearbox mounts, I could get around...this is much more of a problem. Bum clouds, as they say. Anyone got a 360 shell sitting around they can attack with an angle grinder?

cheers

James