Chassis Unpacked

Okay, so I left everyone on a bit of a cliffhanger.

You'd think that after getting a new, project-blocker part there would be some updates, some kind of work, some type of indication that anything, really, was happening. Shouldn't there be a ton of momentum? It's a new chassis, for chrissake! Why haven't there been any updates on stuff to bolt to it? 

I've come to the sad but unavoidable conclusion that this is going to be a *sloooow* rebuild. It'll take me forever to complete. I'll be lucky if I get to spend more than a few hours a month on the rebuild, and then that's only when I prioritize it over other hobbies and interests. It doesn't help that I've started a new job recently and family stuff frequently intervenes. I suppose one of the benefits I derive from working on this restoration is that I learn to be more zen. I have goals for the project. But recognizing that there are limits -- for good reasons and bad ones -- in life is one of the lessons I'm perhaps meant to learn. 

That sounds a bit pompous. I'm not that busy and I'm not looking for sympathy. I'm just recording the fact that, for me, it's been a challenge to accept that I'm somewhat lazy and I need to temper my expectations.

You might be wondering what a brand-new galvanized chassis looks like. I was, too!

Pretty nice, eh? 

Hmm. Sharp eyed observers will note a small problem, however: 

Is that the power steering bracket mounted on the wrong (i.e. right-hand) side of the chassis? 

Yes. Yes, it is. 

I checked my invoice from Richards. And indeed, I ordered the P38 power steering mount for a left-hand drive model. I have to be honest: this was a huge disappointment that really took the shine off my expensive new arrival. One of the main reasons for ordering a brand-new chassis was to avoid having to do any fabrication work. I was very clear that if I was going to go with the new option, I wanted to give myself every opportunity to have the perfect foundation from which to conduct the rebuild. 

It's therefore really disappointing that the builder put it on the wrong f*&$ing side. 

Were I in the UK, this would be a simple matter to fix. Richards would send someone to collect it, weld the plate on the correct side, and just zinc spray overtop. Job done! Given the current shipping situation however, there is no possibility that it can be made 'right.' Richards therefore offered me a partial refund on the purchase.

I suppose it's manual steering for me, now. 

Anyway, the chassis does look pretty great in its home in the garage. 

That is, at least, until you look at all the crap I had to move out of the way for this photo. :-/

Hoo boy, there's a lotta axles in the background of the photo above! Wonder if that's a clue as to what I'll be working on, next?

I had debated, for a long time, whether or not I wanted to paint the chassis black or do something more creative, like the coolnvintage guys. I am more or less determined to keep the Duffy yellow, which kind of suggests that the chassis should be black as a nice contrast. Right? 

I am not sure if I'm up to painting a freshly-galv'ed chassis. And to be quite honest, I've been kind of dithering on this topic. Once I start hanging things on the chassis it gets difficult to paint. I should really do it now if I'm going to do it at all, right?