LHD Seven

[Egon]

This Zamac is it harder than alu and how high is the temp. for melting it for casting , in a sandmold or what ?

[Jo NZ]

Zamac is mainly Zinc, and can be diecast - it's what Dinky toys were made of. Also called Mazac, and "Muckite" in the old car trade. On older vehicles it's used for door handles, trim etc.

[ScaleMaster]

It's what Hot Wheels, Matchbox, and for that matter, most die-cast cars are made of.

[ScaleMaster]

One of the fenders was slightly damaged during the tear down. (In fact I found several pieces that were broken or cracked at the screw-together points when they were taken apart; probably due to the tightness of the original assembling.)

I also thought they would look more accurate if all the mounting holes were the same. Straight from the kit two "holes" on each fender are actually slots for ease of assembly. I filled them in and redrilled them while fixing the broken piece. I also filled in the holes for the side marker lights and the rather obstinate ejection marks on the underside.

I added seven evenly spaced but different sized holes (larger to smaller front to rear) for letting air out at higher speeds.

[ScaleMaster]

To limit the size and therefore amount of debris that could get through those holes I made rock screens from some fine steel hydraulic filter material. Holes were drilled through the screens and then correlating ones into the fenders.
Small clamps to spread the load were made from 0.004 thick sheet plastic.
The screen assemblies are just sitting loose next to their final placement. Mounting hardware will be made later…

[Roger Zimmermann]

Zamac. Thats a new one for me. Added to the sites dictionary.

If you would restore an US car from the fifties or sixties, you would soon know the advantages but mostly the disadvantages of such a material!

[ScaleMaster]

If you would restore an US car from the fifties or sixties, you would soon know the advantages but mostly the disadvantages of such a material!

Having done two such cars, a '68 Oldsmobile and '73 Chevy, I have to agree with you.

[Roger Zimmermann]

I should have add that in the US this material is known as "pot metal".

[ScaleMaster]

I should have add that in the US this material is known as "pot metal".

Yes it was, that's what we called it back then.
I may be wrong, but I think today's pot metal/Zamac is a better and cleaner material. At least it seems more consistent now than the older stuff.

[ScaleMaster]

Dipstick. All brass.


The stripped down engine block. Since I relocated the alternator to the other side I'll have to address the area it used to mount to.


Painted dipstick, dry fitted to partially reworked and repainted engine block.

[ScaleMaster]

The timing belt had rotted and disintegrated (not that I was going to use it…) so I milled a new one from a black zip-tie. Learning from the last time I was able to make this one even thinner so it will wrap around the cogs easier.

I made this jig for the last Super Seven I built to preload a memory into the belt. It will stay in it for a few days in direct sunlight when possible, (instead of a week like last time). It isn't critical for the belt to hug the jig; the teeth will engage the cogs and lock it in place on the model.

[Roger Zimmermann]

Sometimes unsuspected items can be of a great help!

[ScaleMaster]

Yes Roger, I always am eyeing things for what they could be used for or turned into. I suspect many of us in this hobby filter what we see that way.

The cam cogs were milled to fit the teeth on the belt. Fresh off the mill.

After acid etching.

[ScaleMaster]

I machined the bolts and washers and installed them. They spin free so I can index them when the belt is installed. I also made the idler pulley and some other hardware. Still more to add…

[ScaleMaster]

Oil pump cog… It was also treated to acid etching.