| Seam welding. Day 1. |
| The Astra is now off the road for a week. Rob Fairbrother and myself are
doing some major structural work.
Today we removed the bonnet, wings, bumper, engine, front suspension, wishbones, wipers, front brakes, brake lines, fuel pipes, master cylinder, steering column and all wires and pipes in the engine bay. There is nothing left except the shell. Tomorrow we're going to clean all the seams out ready for some welding. We're building up some custom cage to connect the front turrets to the roll cage in the car. Then we're adding numerous strengthening plates. Our favourite plan today was to remove the metal between the engine and where the heater motor goes and then weld some box section in there in its place. Due to a minor accident removing the brake master cylinder it looks like I'm buying a load of bits of Rob so we can have 100% braided brake lines with an adjustable rear bias regulator. Whilst we're at it it'd be rude not to sort the fuel lines as well. I see it as preemptive maintenance. Rather than wait for an MOT to show corroding brake or fuel lines we might as well replace it all now. I'll get some photos tomorrow. You'll like it. The front of the car is just manky metal. The interior is just a heap of wires. An area about the size of the car is covered in parts. It looks like a scrap yard. |