Gerry
Well-Known Member
Need to start with a simple idea. Everything on the T is tapered, so the HL stands had to be as well. I also wanted the wiring inside and run through the chassis to the lighting units. The HLs are 1915 T replicas that I have modified to take modern bulbs.
Height and width for the HL's was an important factor, so a number of mock ups were done with tape and bits of wood to finalise the position. Now to start on the stands themselves; 2 pieces of 1 1/2" diameter mild steel bar and a lathe. First step was to drill a hole right through the centre of each piece, a none too easy job as they were 11" long. I borrowed a LONG series drill from a friendly engineering shop and set about drilling the holes. As the drill was worth $75.00 I decided to drill from both ends rather than go all the way through in one go.
With the hole completed the bar was chucked up and supported with a live centre in the tailstock. Just a matter of turning a shallow taper on the bar (2-3*, if I remember) over its whole length. All done so the next step was to cut a brid mouth on the thick end to sit on the corner of the chassis rail.
Got the car in the workshop and as a first step levelled it so we could set the headlight up to the same heigh both sides.
With both stands cut to the same length and a bit of fettling they were tacked into place, over the holes I had drilled in the chassis rail.
A quick 'hold them and look and all seemed well.
.......followed by a 'birds eye vies to make sure they were angled the same each side. Although they were set in position using a template I still prefer to use my eyes to confirm thing look right. As sometimes the other parts of the car can be out of line, it can be necessary to tweak things to make them look perfect even if they are not the same as each other
More later
Height and width for the HL's was an important factor, so a number of mock ups were done with tape and bits of wood to finalise the position. Now to start on the stands themselves; 2 pieces of 1 1/2" diameter mild steel bar and a lathe. First step was to drill a hole right through the centre of each piece, a none too easy job as they were 11" long. I borrowed a LONG series drill from a friendly engineering shop and set about drilling the holes. As the drill was worth $75.00 I decided to drill from both ends rather than go all the way through in one go.
With the hole completed the bar was chucked up and supported with a live centre in the tailstock. Just a matter of turning a shallow taper on the bar (2-3*, if I remember) over its whole length. All done so the next step was to cut a brid mouth on the thick end to sit on the corner of the chassis rail.
Got the car in the workshop and as a first step levelled it so we could set the headlight up to the same heigh both sides.
With both stands cut to the same length and a bit of fettling they were tacked into place, over the holes I had drilled in the chassis rail.
A quick 'hold them and look and all seemed well.
.......followed by a 'birds eye vies to make sure they were angled the same each side. Although they were set in position using a template I still prefer to use my eyes to confirm thing look right. As sometimes the other parts of the car can be out of line, it can be necessary to tweak things to make them look perfect even if they are not the same as each other
More later
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