Look what's arrived in my shed!

[iansoady]

Oh no, if Mr Cole likes outfits then I'm in real trouble! Man......

[iansoady]

Just a quick pic showing struts all welded up, painted with toolstation's finest satin black and cutouts made in the side panel to clear the mounting clamps:

[themoudie]

Proper posh Ian, with the Suzuki that's going to be a nimble bit of kit.

May ask, who is going ballast? Or will just be a removable dod of lead ingot?

All the best, Bill

[Moto63]

 Or will just be a removable dod of lead ingot?

I have a builders bag full of old scrap lead that you can use Ian.
The down side of the offer is it would need collecting from my humble abode. 🤦😁
Looking good. Look forward to seeing the next instalment 👍
Cheers, Michael

[iansoady]

I'm going to make a box to fit in place of the seat and use surplus patio pavers as ballast - at least in the first iteration. The blocks are a handy size and weigh 2.5kg each so I'll be able to add / remove as my confidence increases / decreases....

My wife refused to ever get in a sidecar again after a horrific trip back from County Durham to Brum at Christmas in the early 1970s. We stopped to try to warm up at a cafe near Derby and it was only thanks to a helpful lorry driver that I could persuade her back in. Can't blame her actually.

Having said that, she has said how pretty the Steib will look. I'm not sure either of us is agile enough to get in it. Or more likely get out.

[Moto63]

I'm not sure either of us is agile enough to get in it. Or more likely get out.

🤣🤣😁👍

[themoudie]

Aye Ian, hope the back copes with the leaning across and into the chair to load up the slabs. All the best and good health, Bill

[iansoady]

A couple of pics showing the body trial fitted. The worst bit at the moment is that the sidecar body seems to be wider than the chassis was desgned for even though I bought the whole lot together and it's said to be new old stock. So clearance between the shell and chassis is minimal in places.

[iansoady]

Quick pic of the painted body and mudguard. The paint shop (Lee at Painttech in Bromsgrove - https://painttechrepairs.co.uk/) has done a really nice job and the colour match to the bike is just about perfect. I'm leaving it for a week or so to fully harden before applying the chrome strips, tonneau clips etc.

Cost £675 which sounds a lot but given the work involved I think was very reasonable, as was the £40 each way transport by a local man & van. Shiply and anyvan wanted over £150 to take it about 10 miles which is about what I paid to have the whole lot brought from Wisbech to Redditch. And that by a proper bike removal bloke (Phil from Acceleration) who really knows his stuff.

Please ignore all the junk in the shed!

[Moto63]

What junk? All I can see is a lovely red torpedo shaped sidecar body and mudguard 👍
Looking good Ian, all starting to take shape, roll on those sunny days.
£675 sounds very reasonable to me for the amount of work and paint he must have put into it
Cheers, Michael

[themoudie]

Posh! Paint never was cheap and hourly rates, even for cash jobs must have gone up a bit since I had the Ducati 450's tank done for £250-00, plus the paint and petrol proof lacquer that now ethanol is here is essential in my mind.

As for the shed contents, it looks a good deal tidier than many professional "workshops" I've encountered. 

Good health, BillR

[xbally]

Good progress on your project Ian. You have done a lot better than me , even though your project is a lot more adventurous than mine.

[iansoady]

Thanks all. Many a slip.... Literally as I seem to have damaged my (non-bionic) knee so am struggling a bit at the moment. Fortunately the van man & helpers carried the sidecar into the shed for me.

[themoudie]

That's no good Ian, hope rest, but exercise and the old hot/cold treatment eases things off for you.

All the best, Bill