PROJECT VK
The engine and transmission are in Ed Guido’s VK wagon project and, after using a laser to help line everything up properly, we’re ready to get the back section of the driveshaft made up by Duggans.
Getting the engine and transmission sitting just right took patience. Among the factors we were juggling was getting adequate clearance for a radiator, having a little wiggle room around the custom-made headers, while working with a 304 block taken out to 355 and a TH700 four-speed auto.
In the end we used an adjustable transmission mount from the Castlemaine Rod Shop, and now we just need the final section of the driveshaft sorted. The front section is a VN sedan unit that we’ve adapted.
CLOCKWORKS
We have a lovely old Mercedes-Benz 450SL in the shop at the moment, which we’re gradually sorting out.
So far as the owner was concerned, by far the most annoying issue was the clock that was staring him in the face every day, making weird noises and refusing to work. Now I’ll be the first to admit that having some thick-fingered mechanic like me working on something as delicate as a clock doesn’t sit right. But since we couldn’t find a working replacement for love nor money, we had to get creative. So I found a couple of non-working spares. One I could use as the test dummy, for me to work on and figure out how it ticks (or not). Then I had two others that between them just might give me enough parts to combine into a working whole.
Believe it or not it worked! I’ve had it hooked up to battery for 12 hours so far, and it seems fine. I’ll give it 24 hours before I throw it back into the car.
It’s amazing what you can do when you invest a bit of time and patience…
The world’s firstever driver permit is thought to have been issued to Karl Benz (yep, that Benz…) allowing him to operate his Motorwagen on public roads. It was issued in 1888 after neighbors started complaining about the racket and the smell.