====== 10: Are We Nearly There Yet? ======

**[[9_2wd|...Continued from previous page]]**

A this point in the build you can throw a few large lumps together and kid yourself that it's nearly finished...

{{ http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/eddie_rebuild_pt2/2007-02-12-01h31m29.jpg }}

See, looks plausible doesn't it?

**In reality there's still about 80% of the work still to do!**

This is approaching the state you see a lot of "unfinished project" kit-cars and the like on eBay - because with a set of panels zip-tied on it can fool people into thinking there's "//just a couple of weekends work//" to do the plumbing, electrics, brakes, interior, etc...

===== So, "no" then... =====

Crack on - get it done!

The front "breakfast panel" was worse for wear, some new fabrication and a bit of Petal's old front panel made their way into it:

{{ http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/eddie_rebuild_pt2/2007-02-03-23h30m18.jpg }}

Tub sat on chassis:

{{ http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/eddie_rebuild_pt2/2007-02-04-05h25m36.jpg }}

But no rivets yet - and all the chassis supports were wrong, meaning I ended up cutting & welding all the supports to correct heights and allow for a little block of rubber under each tub support. 

{{ http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/eddie_rebuild_pt2/2007-02-12-02h31m23.jpg }}

Many hours of work just under there!

The seat box and gearstick both wanted to be in the same place - yes we knew about this when positioning the engine & gearbox, at least I won't have to lean forward to change gears like some Land Rovers!

{{ http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/eddie_rebuild_pt2/2007-02-12-02h29m18.jpg }}

PAS box is very close to the radiator panel and we need that space for a radiator!

{{ http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/eddie_rebuild_pt2/2007-02-12-02h26m33.jpg }}

In the end I ran around the whole back of the panel with a cutting disc, trimming the lip down to ~5mm.

{{ http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/eddie_rebuild_pt2/2007-02-12-02h26m41.jpg }}

I bet the bracket that holds the wing on was on the old bulkhead...

{{ http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/eddie_rebuild_pt2/2007-02-12-02h27m16.jpg }}

I bet the special bolt that holds the roof on was on the old capping...

{{ http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/eddie_rebuild_pt2/2007-02-12-02h29m11.jpg }}

Defender steering column meets total lack of support from Series bulkhead!

{{ http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/eddie_rebuild_pt2/2007-02-12-02h29m55.jpg }}

Fuel filler cowling on wing skin not joined to original tub - cue hours of faffing about making a replacement joiner piece!

Remember I said the rest of the team had an actual race car to be getting on with?

{{ http://fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/s/500/eddie_rebuild_pt2/2007-02-18-14h47m59.jpg }}

In 2007, building a truck with portals was a Big Deal. Having two in build side-by-side was a unicorn being struck by lightning, and we were doing it on zero budget working 36 hour days!

**Onward to [[11_tanks|Tanks For All The Fish]]**