Well i took a break tonight from working at the car.

My brother and I have been working flat out to tack up the chassis. It took us about 20 hours each to tack it up. The only thing to do now before welding is bend some bar for the rear. Ohh and i don't have the centre tunnel done yet as i don't have a donor car so work will be suspended until after the summer (hopefully not).

Anyway measured the bottom diagonals and found to be perfect not even 0.5mm out. Measured the top diagonals and found to be between 0.5 and 1mm out. Decided to take chassis outside for some pics. Got back inside and as we were carrying it back i heard small creaks . I got a bit worried and measured the top diagonals again. 4mm out!! Felt like kicking the thing to bits. I know its pretty good but after being so particular with every tack and knowing that if i had left it alone it would be ok. Arrrh! A mate reckons that all i have to do is attach a ratchet strap to one end and give it a wee squeze. It might work but might also make things worse what do you think?

The chassis is a 7+4 and looks like it will accomodate any engine size. I'm impressed with the size of the engine bay.

I found a ratchet strap a vital tool to get and keep the chassis straight during tacking and welding

Caber

CLAMP IT DOWN FIRMLY when welding!!!! Believe me, it'll warp like crazy if you don't.

It is amazaing how much steel tube will distort when being welded. However, you did precisely the right thing by tacking it together before fully welding. Even tacks result is residual stress and the creak you heard was probably a tack giving way. I would suggest that 4mm out is nothing to worry about and unless you can see where it moved leave it alone. I have seen production cars that are not built to that tolerance.

John