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#Post#: 27460--------------------------------------------------
The Lightweight V8 that Paul built!
By: Yorkie V8 Date: June 18, 2012, 8:41 am
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Now then, further to me intro in t'welcome bit, here is the
story of my Lightweight rebuild and V8 conversion. Now, before
anyone gives me a dry-bumming for destroying a perfectly good
lightweight, let me tell you it wasn't / isn't a perfectly good
lightweight (some other twat made sure of that long before me or
the previous owner grrrr)!!
I did start a thread on t'other forum, but progress is still
ongoing at snail's pace!
The Lightweight after arriving at my home via trailer in May '09
(sincere apologies for the filth in the foreground! :eek:)
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00021.jpg[/img]
My Father-in-law used it to commute to work for a year and then
when the wife gave him her car after buying that thing in the
pic, it was left to rot in the garden for the next 6 years. All
this time I would walk past it and think to myself that one day
I would like to rescue it and fit a V8. One day Father in law
decided time to get rid and kindly gave the Lightweight to me!
It's been on a Q plate since '87, but the chassis appears to be
none-original as it has a DVLA issued number, so I will probably
never find any history (although I haven't tried yet). The
chassis has had a rear quarter civvy style replacement and the
front dumb-iron bracing were missing hence the standard series
bumper and bumperettes (there is a difference - honest!). Most
of the rest of what remained appeared to be IIa, such as the
bulkhead, bonnet and tub and it only has one fuel tank. Big
shame that someone has buggered about with it, but what's done
is done, hence the V8 conversion.
First job was to take off the roof and sell it, so that the LWT
would fit in the garage. Looked better already!
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/17052009157.jpg[/img]
But...look at these for crimes against Lightweightkind :bleurgh
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00143.jpg[/img]
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00140.jpg[/img]
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00145.jpg[/img]
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00379.jpg[/img]
Please don't ban me yet, it does look much more Lightweighty
now, progress pics to follow. :smile1
#Post#: 27466--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Lightweight V8 that Paul built!
By: Yorkie V8 Date: June 18, 2012, 10:10 am
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Few more pics:
Side fuel filler
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00144.jpg[/img]
2.25, 5 bearing petrol enjun:
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00151.jpg[/img]
Then got a V8 - ex 110 with all the pulsair bollox still on it!
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00273.jpg[/img]
So then I left the LWT alone for a few months whilst I
researched some V8 conversion knowledge and found the bits to do
it. I wanted to do it the old fashioned way and keep everything
else "series" i.e. no boingy suspension, no full time 4wd, no
disc brakes, no auto box etc.
So then I got the 4 pot running and fixed the clutch MC and
drove the bugger up down the lane a bit and then took out said
engine and sold it!
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00422.jpg[/img]
Then set about removing the body, checking what was left of the
"Lightweight" under all the bodgery! Not much, but at least I
had something to work with.
Tranny-tipper (tranny in more ways than one :gay:) light
clusters off revealed a second skin rivetted over original
series IIa panels - who would do such a thing!!
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00407.jpg[/img]
Seatbox was homemade from mild steel (now rusty as chuff) with
plywood seatbase :eek: :eek:
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00377.jpg[/img]
more comedy to follow...
#Post#: 27469--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Lightweight V8 that Paul built!
By: Yorkie V8 Date: June 18, 2012, 10:22 am
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Next off was bulkhead and top rail. The former was completely
chuffed beyond repair, but the latter was like new. Both of
series IIa pattern! 8)
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00523.jpg[/img]
Then everything else off to reveal one sturdy shazzy! 8)
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00575.jpg[/img]
Then I fitted rangie/disgay 3.54:1 diffs to oop the gearing
somewhat for't V8
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00589.jpg[/img]
I then cleaned and primed the shazzy ready for satin chassis
black top-coat. Will be waxoyled too. Haven't decided what to do
with that rear x-member yet! It's solid as a rock so might leave
it :-\
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00643.jpg[/img]
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00656.jpg[/img]
more to follow...
#Post#: 27471--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Lightweight V8 that Paul built!
By: Yorkie V8 Date: June 18, 2012, 10:32 am
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I learnt a bit about the V8 conversion and got all the bits to
do it, so set about the job. First was to cut the tail of the
crank shaft to enable the fitting of spigot adaptor for Rover
SD1 flywheel. I used a hacksaw to avoid heating up the seal and
just lightly tidyed up with the grinder (seal looks like it been
leaking a bit anyway).
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00672.jpg[/img]
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00674.jpg[/img]
Then fitted flywheel with spigot adaptor and new bush.
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00675.jpg[/img]
Then went on new clutch plate and the IIa diesel pressure plate.
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00034-20110402-1331.jpg[/img]
#Post#: 27472--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Lightweight V8 that Paul built!
By: Yorkie V8 Date: June 18, 2012, 10:40 am
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This is what happens when you don't cover the engine properly
over winter and mice get into the garage, steal birdseed off the
shelf and make a little home for themselves in the carb inlets!!
:eek: Found one dead though - what a way to go!! 8)
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00688.jpg[/img]
And this might not be to everyone's taste on here, but I love
V8's and wanted mine to look the part, even if it is a low
compression low tuned beast - better for a Landy I say!
:confused:
That paint will always come off the rockers if I don't like it
later.
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00706.jpg[/img]
So, with conversion ring and mountings afixed, time to mate to
SIII box and swing it in. 8)
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00035-20110405-1708.jpg[/img]
more to follow later, comment welcome...I think :confused:
#Post#: 27476--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Lightweight V8 that Paul built!
By: Lightweight Nat Date: June 18, 2012, 11:22 am
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Dude, that's brilliant, really tidy job!! ;D ;D
Making the best of what was a pig's ear I reckon, well done!! I
would say leave the rear crossmember as it's solid, as long as
you are happy with the welding etc, it's not a concours resto so
not worth chopping off. I would trim the ends to be flush with
the bodyline though, unless you are putting wheelarches back on.
:)
#Post#: 27477--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Lightweight V8 that Paul built!
By: mr.scruff Date: June 18, 2012, 11:35 am
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Looks really good Paul, typical attention to detail from one of
the Castleford clan ;-)
Hope the conversion kit gives you as much fun as it did for me.
;D
#Post#: 27478--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Lightweight V8 that Paul built!
By: craigderby Date: June 18, 2012, 11:36 am
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Looks great so far, keep up the good work :thumbs:
#Post#: 27487--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Lightweight V8 that Paul built!
By: Yorkie V8 Date: June 18, 2012, 1:02 pm
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Phew! Thought I was gonna get some stick for the blingy engine!
;D
The quote thing doesn't seem to work for me, but cheers Nat,
yeah I will be chopping off the extra width and after speaking
with retired welder wielding super-dad, might glue some channel
on at either end to make it square, so that I can fit the
military bumperettes. Don't know yet, I've come to love the look
of standard Lightweights and want mine to look a bit more like
one! :(
Cheers Kev, yeah the conversion kit is spot on mate, just need
to fit the remote filter once the paint fully hardens on the
wings. Really impressed!
So the story continues....
Engine now fitted and running! It was pure coincidence (honest),
but the first ever run was done on the royal wedding day last
year when everyone in my village was trying to watch their tv's
rofl There were no exhausts fitted, just fanimolds too! :eek:
Nevermind, plenty of V8's around here, I can hear someone
revving a Cobra replica as I type 8) Noisy bastards!!! :smile1
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00039-20110420-1845-1.jpg[/img]
So now I could start work on a completely new bulkhead! 8) I
wanted this to look exactly like a proper LWT bulkhead, but
obviously with the narrowed footwells. So I had the "goalposts
knocked up by a firm we use at work and bought some footwells
and hingepanels from Les on ebay - really impressed: 8) Note I
used the chassis as a jig the whole time - important that! When
I cut the footwells for the V8, I wanted to keep the same
contours, so that if one day the V8 was ditched, it wouldn't
look too obvious:
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00087-20110624-1806.jpg[/img]
I had to do both sides because my fanimolds are debender 110,
which stick out a bit more than the better fitting early rangey
ones.
Happy with that, so set about making my own dash panel fingy
from scrap from work:
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00104-20110628-1849.jpg[/img]
With that folded and welded in place, I could then make a
cardboard template for the inner section. I bought a late SIII
tranny tunnel flange (steady :eek:) to form a proper looking
shape.
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00114-20110705-1845.jpg[/img]
Then bent the inner section from more off cuts from work (you
see, you can be green even with a V8 8))
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00116-20110708-1831.jpg[/img]
...and then ordered my darling father to weld it all in the
places where I told him to :smile1 I'm crap at welding - want a
MIG!!
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00129-20110723-1730.jpg[/img]
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00131-20110723-1732.jpg[/img]
Then took measurements of the old clock box, looked at pictures
of proper 'uns, drew it up in CAD and had our engineering firm
make me a shiny new box: 8)
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00170-20110913-1403.jpg[/img]
So with that welded on and some holes punched and drilled for
grommets n stuff, I then primed the completed bulkhead ready for
paint. I did consider galving, but all the steel is considerably
thicker than the original and didn't want any warpage.
[IMG]
HTML http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q533/YorkieV8/IMG00202-20111020-1742.jpg[/img]
More to follow...
#Post#: 27492--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Lightweight V8 that Paul built!
By: Dengieboy Date: June 18, 2012, 1:19 pm
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WOW thats looking great already, and top job on the metal work
there :thumbs:
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