Skoda Rally Blog

…. but finally, there’s been some progress.

The weather has been hideous, and I have to work outside. Today has been the first time when I’ve had all the tools I need, time and decent weather.

Progress has been slow – to make sure that everything will fit perfectly means tiny changes need to be made and then re-checked, and because the cage kit isn’t exactly, er, exact, I’ve had a lot of work to do. However, I’ve managed to get the front triangulation in on the driver’s side, and also trim the A-pillar tube (which runs back to the main hoop) and the main hoop itself – this alone was 10mm too long, and only once I’d gulped and then cut this off did it all start to fit in place properly. Because of the way the cage needs to be welded and fitted, the front triangulation needs to be done completely before the rest of the cage can be trimmed and then welded up. Once that’s done (the main hoop needs to be dropped to allow welding the A-pillar tube fully), the main cage structure can then be returned to its proper position and welded to the front triangulation, and all the other parts put in – door bars, tunnel brace, and then finally the end is done with the rear braces, etc, being fitted.

Which is a long way off, but I’m hoping that tomorrow the weather will hold off long enough for me to get the passenger side triangulation at least fitted even if the tube trimming can’t be finished off (this alone has taken a couple of hours – they had to be altered ‘cos the front part of the tube doesn’t sit totally vertical, so I had got it perfect…. and then had to do it all again!).

Based on my overall progress, the car will be finished in mid 2011. However, if I can keep today’s rate up, it might just be finished by the end of August. The cage, that is, not the car!