The next step of the project was to fabricate and install the front engine mounting plate. This required a bit of headscratching, because it was necessary to carve a clearance into the engine block, in order to avoid modifying the front frame bend. As a result, the frame had to pass THROUGH the mounting plate.
I accomplished this by machining a pair of slots into the plate that allowed the tubes to pass through. Next, I welded a brace underneath the tubes that joined and strengthened the three edges of the plate.
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| Shaping the front mount brace |
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| Adding reinforcement braces |
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| Fully Welded |
After the frame was finished, I replaced the wheel bearings with a set of homemade tools. I took the opportunity to upgrade from the old two-piece tapered bearings to single-piece ball bearings.
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| New bearings and a custom-made installation tool |
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| Removing the old bearing race |
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| Knocking in the new bearings |
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| Motor bolted in place |
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| Beginning the wiring harness |
