I have the same issue as I have one of David Rutherford's hoops to fit on my 1976 Plus 8 chassis.
The problem is that with a bare chassis you have no final reference points without the body fitted. My advice is to do what I have done which is to temporarily mount the hoop one bolt only each side until the body is fitted.
The hoop needs to be aligned so that dampers are in alignment with the top and bottom mountings. Sliding the hoop forward or backwards along the curve of the chassis will correct or make worse this alignment. However, this may not be the final position once the body is fitted. The rubber bushes are there to allow 'give' especially on the move when fast starts, bumps and all the other dymanic activities a suspension goes through takes place.
So my recommendation is this. Align the hoop in the estimated ideal position and drill only one hole each side and leave it at that. Once the body is fitted, it is then an easy job to realign the hoop to ensure it doesn't foul the body and is in alignment with it. Better to have to realign only two bolt holes rather than eight holes.
Remember that 'hand built' means that nothing fits first time and needs fettling!
Happy to speak by phone. PM me.
Last edited by Cheshire_David; 17/01/15 01:29 PM.
