When I first started earning a crust at the age of 16 I was trained to use machines, both in the workshop and at college, I've always enjoyed working with them and still have all my own fingers...
Back in Summer I decided it was time we invested in a centre lathe, there were a few reasons for this.
The integrale is of course not a new car anymore and so many come in with bits and pieces missing, on a new engine build this was never going to do was it:
?
With many parts NLA or taking a long time to get hold of you have to take matters into your own hands in order to survive and get the job done:
The same car came in with one of the map sensor nipples snapped off and someone had tried glueing it back on, but the glue had run into the sensor and blocked the hole so when plugged into the scanner there was no reading. The car was needed and map sensors are expensive so the solution was quick, easy and permanent:
A clutch centering tool was also one of the first things I made after not really getting on with the universal ones you can buy:
To be able to make your own precision parts as and when you need them without having the problems involved with sub contracting them out is very satisfying, the lathe is a such a versatile tool it's difficult to imagine work life without it..
Some other bits:
Cheating a bit here, but it did the job:I don't think we'll be winning any awards, but it gets the job done and properly.
