For an Italian entry to Le Mans, in 1969, to be running with a worm and sector steering box instead of a proper rack and pinion is astounding. Even more so is the odd central steering link, which connects the underside of the steering idler to the top side of the Pitman arm... every car I have ever seen has the link horizontal. In any case I am guessing the box and idler are Fiat 600 bits, and that Abarth, which was bought up by Fiat in 1971, was in very constrained financial straights by 1969.
The only other bit of note here is the fact that the brake and clutch master cylinders are buried deep inside the footwell instead of outside where they can be gotten at and adjusted easily, in particular the balance between the two brake masters. So given it will never be seen, I decided not to detail them up with piping and hoses. I won't tell if you don't...
Meanwhile I have made mesh covers for the carburettor airboxes in lieu of the individual little hemispherical mesh bits specified for each throat by the instruction sheet. These proved impossible to make, or at least impossible given my current skill level. This mirrors a couple of online photos of at least one car as it is today, showing square air filters in this location.
Separately, for those of you struggling with the M1.4 X 3 MM screws used by Model Factory Hiro, I have discovered that Amazon will sell you a box of about 800 assorted screws and nuts, M1.0 to M1.8, in various lengths, for under $20 delivered tomorrow. The chassis and A-arm mounting bushings benefit from a slightly longer screw in this application and this is very welcome. Of particular interest is the M1.4 X 10 MM screw which can be trimmed to length needed. Granted the silver head is not countersunk and is 2.5 mm in diameter, compared to the countersunk black screw with 2 mm diameter head, but who is going to complain? Not me if it means it all holds together a little better.
Stay tuned! Progress is being made.
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