Been a month since I posted any pictures... been busy on putting the Alpine Eagle together, though! Here's some detailed chassis (and a few engine) pictures. More next week!
Engine with the distributor in place and with most of the water and oil pipes fitted.
Chassis rails just finished painting. This is a 'modern standards' paint job and the color will match the final coachwork. Normally, this would have been assembled 'in the white' and would be supplied in primer. The coachmaker would paint the final color on areas visible to the customer. Areas left unpainted included engine, transmission, bulkhead (firewall), steering column, etc. You'll see more on what is 'natural' later.
Rails moved, a few days later into assembly bay. Things start happening fast now!
Front springs fitted with their leather gaiters stitched on 'on a bench.' Much easier than doing it upside-down on a chassis! Front axle fitted with shackles. Axle was pre-assembled last fall and painted as a unit.
Transmission fitted and sphere in place. Sphere is a bronze casting with a steel sphere inside. It carries the entire stress of the axle, which only rests on the rear springs and is, technically, not secured! Note the hangers for the starter and dynamo. No starter on the pre-war cars. It was a later add-on. Armored cars did, however, fit an auxiliary starter in the cabin. And often a Ghost will start "on the switch" which means that a quick flip of the ignition advance from early to late... will cause the magneto to emit one, single spark. Often enough to start the engine running!
Rear Axle perched on its springs with torque tube attached to the sphere. Note concentric brake shoes on the rear axle. Inner is the 'hand' brake and outer is the foot brake. Both were intended to be used while driving. The hand brake had a 30" lever.... a lot of force on the rear drums if you wanted to stop fast! Well, as fast as 2 wheel brakes with tiny rubber contact patches allow...
Another view of the chassis after installation of the rear axle.
Front shock absorbers fitted (friction shocks) and pedal shafts in place. Starting to put some of the small parts on the chassis.
Fuel tank fitted, but not yet plumbed.
A few more coming in the next post. As we get the engine in and start adding pieces to the drivetrain.
Cheers,
RPR