My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

[BHP]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

If anyone is interested, click on this thread HERE !! to see my first encounter with the car, when it had a blown engine !!

[BHP]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

Latest Update !!

The car is all finished and has been delivered back to my dad after I gave it a 50 mile shake down

I re-bled the brakes this morning with the assistance of my misses, and had a little more air out of the system, which is what I thought. The easybleed works good to a point, but nothing like the old fashioned way !!

The automatic handbrake tensioner worked to a point, but I wasn't 100% happy with the 7 clicks on the handbrake, even though it locked the wheel. I removed each rear drum again, and manually rotated the tensioner with a small flat bladed screwdriver and refitted the drum, and went through pumping the brakes 20 times and handbrake up 10 times. I took each drum off about 3 times until I was finally happy with 3 to 4 clicks on the handbrake


The replacement wheel finally arrived today just in time....





So I had the tyre from the damaged rim swapped over and all is good !!

Just took 30 grams to balance the wheel this time





Rather than the 340 grams previously !!





With the wheel and arch liners cleaned, it was time to do the final bit of the assembly....





Starting to take shape !!

[BHP]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

Last piece of the jigsaw was the replacement rear bumper quarter.






Just 3 clips and one screw hold the bumper quarter to the centre piece..

[BHP]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

Few pictures taken on the test flight








Also found a window sticker kicking about in my computer desk, so thought it would be a nice touch to get it on the rear window




It's Saturday night and I've had a busy week on this old girl, so I think the rest of the evening will be spent kicking back with a few beers !!

[@llan]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

Have enjoyed reading this (and the engine build), your attention to detail is a credit to you. Car looks fantastic.

I bought my Smart a few months back as a second car for the work commute, but have been pleasantly surprised how much fun it is to drive. Can't see me being without it now.

[W32 TTF]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

I did front pads discs rear shoes cylinders and rear springs/shocks in 5 hours yesturday and I barely touched a 1/4r of what you have done it it was nowhere near as neat.

Truly Hats off to you fella cracking job and fantastic write up i dont envy you for that amount of work but you must have saved yourself about £500 in labour alone

[BHP]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

Have enjoyed reading this (and the engine build), your attention to detail is a credit to you. Car looks fantastic.

I bought my Smart a few months back as a second car for the work commute, but have been pleasantly surprised how much fun it is to drive. Can't see me being without it now.

Great little cars, and I would think the Brabus version would be pretty special :silvertri

I did front pads discs rear shoes cylinders and rear springs/shocks in 5 hours yesturday and I barely touched a 1/4r of what you have done it it was nowhere near as neat.

Truly Hats off to you fella cracking job and fantastic write up i dont envy you for that amount of work but you must have saved yourself about £500 in labour alone

Thanks for the kind comment

I'm sure the Smart labour rate is around £90 / hour, so I think the whole job would have been a £1000 to £1500 repair if gone through the insurance and a Smart dealer....

My dad has struggled around for the last week on his electric scooter in the rain, so was over the moon when I turned up at his house yesterday uninvited with his Smart car

[Ferrina]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

Yeah, great "how to" and really well detailed. The car is lovely and I hope it serves you well in the miles to come.

[Hogster]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

A great end to a great thread! So glad it all worked out well and that your Dad was chuffed with it!

Well done!


David

[BHP]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

Yeah, great "how to" and really well detailed. The car is lovely and I hope it serves you well in the miles to come.

A great end to a great thread! So glad it all worked out well and that your Dad was chuffed with it!

Well done!


David

Cheers Guys,

If anyone is doing a similar job and wants some hints, tips or advice then PM me or write on this thread !!

I still have a brand new subframe that I'm unsure what to do with !!

Part of me wants to keep it and put in the loft, and part of me is saying move it on and get my money back........ We'll see what develops !!