VW Type 3 engine nears completion

The reassembly of the VW Type 3 engine progressed well since the last post but I had a bit of a delay whilst I worked out how to secure the engine and flex plate, the nut that held the two together had to be wound up to 235lb/ft. I made a cardboard template for a jig that would bolt through the three torque converter holes in the flex plate with a break that would allow me to secure it to a bench and a hole in the centre for the 36mm socket. I am fortunate to have Robert Fox Fabrications on a farm around the corner, they cut it out with their rather large digital plasma cutter and it fitted perfectly. I put a couple of holes in the table I am using for a bench, 1" thick oak top, and backed up the securing bolts with a strip of 6x30mm steel drilled to match. I made three "nuts" out of more steel strip, this time 4x20mm and 50mm long, allowing me to position them behind the flex plate for the securing bolts. With everything on the jig done up tight it was all a lot easier than I'd expected, my new 85-450Nm torque wrench made the job a breeze. Getting that done allowed me to reattach the gearbox, the car is now back on the lift and the engine positioned ready for refitting.