The Deadline Approaches...

The Trip Bit...

After the generous donations, we feel like we're on a bit of a roll! On top of this, the Ghanaian Visa's have arrived, and it was a worry that they might not arrive back in time. Also, the 'Carnet' process is pretty much finished.
It is the final meeting of the group next week, after that, the next time Mark and Sue see everyone else will be at the start of the rally. Mark parents have just got back from France, and Mark set his mum to work sewing up the foam strip that lines the desert air filter and he had his dad purchase plenty of engine oil for him from France. Not because the French make particularly good oil, but because its far cheaper! (Mark always was one for a bargain)



The Car Bit...

This post will be a little longer than normal, because I want to add in a few photo so that you can all see how the car is coming along. To see some more pictures, please click here. 


As you can see to the left, the alternator has been fitted and runs directly off the prop-shaft. (There are more photos of this at the link above)

The new cam followers are in and have been machined and heat treated in record time! This has made the car far quieter.Mark has also managed to devise a method for letting more air flow under the bonnet by opening them slightly at the front with a new fix.

Mark has also found space for spare gearbox and diff' oil as well as coolant under the bonnet. He has also got a safe box and is finding somewhere hidden to fit it, but I couldn't tell you where that was!The front and rear bump stops are now nearly finished (right).

A new battery needs to be purchased, but this is low down on Mark 'Vital List'.The new seats need to be installed as the old ones had wood-worm and will not last the endurance distance. The hubs are now finished thanks to Orson who, as I mentioned previously, did a fantastic job.

The desert air filter is now fitted, to cope with the extra high levels of dust on the rally. The exhaust has been wrapped under the bonnet to help keep the temperatures down under the bonnet.

I have spoken to Mark and Sue about the usual 'things they are both most and least looking forward to' section and they told that they were 'far too busy to think' so in summary of that statement I can tell you that they are both getting very excited now about the approaching deadline. They just want to make sure that everything is ready by then!