Plate CP16 Position

[chriseyj]

Hi just a simple question does the top of chassis plate cp16, that holds the steering bush, sit flush with the top chassis rail or just below it. The 10mm cutouts in cp16's top corners would indicate to me that it sits 10mm over the bottom of the top rail. But a picture in the book shows it flush with the top.
Cheers Chris

P.S. Would sikaflexing and riveting this plate on be ok. thought it might look neater.

[HandyAndy]

go by the 10mm cut outs on the sides where it locates under the lip of TR2,
just make it level along TR8, if you look at page 41 diagram fig4.12 you can see where TR5 meets TR8, so basically CP16 fits in between TR2 & TR5.
hope that helps

andy

[HandyAndy]

CP16 carries the stress of the steering column so i would weld it, it also creates a strong connection for the pedal box so must be securely located.

andy

[chriseyj]

Thanks I think I'll weld it and position as you say. Did you stitch weld it on the inside of the foot well or run down the edge on the outside?

Also I need to weld my diff brackets later did you find these distorted much, e.g the 2 plates go out of square from each other due to shrinkage. Any tips?

[HandyAndy]

i tacked welded CP16 into place then welded approx 2 inches on the engine bay side swapping from side to side then top until fully seam welded, tho i used 3mm steel plate so my plate could take a bit more heat than the suggested plate thickness,
just take it slow & allow each stitch weld to fully cool before doing the next one.
As for the diff brackets, again i tack welded (3 tacks = both ends & the middle)
then put the bracket into a vice & clamped the other flat to the vice & fully seam weld, thankfully they stayed "True square".

hope that helps.

andy:)

[londonsean69]

Also I need to weld my diff brackets later did you find these distorted much, e.g the 2 plates go out of square from each other due to shrinkage. Any tips?

I did a few tacks, each about 2" apart. Then filled in the gaps, but would do 1 gap on the RH bracket, then 1 gap on the LH and alternate.

They stayed nice and true.

Sean