Project plastic car (Scimitar GTE)
Discussion
Ew. Who could possibly want to bother with one of those?
You will suffer electrical pain unless/until you go through the whole car with soldering iron, proper bullets and heat-shrink, as well as replacing the earth straps and the main battery/starter leads (arc welder cable works well).
A more powerful alternator and fresh, heavier wiring for it will make a big difference, too.
You will suffer electrical pain unless/until you go through the whole car with soldering iron, proper bullets and heat-shrink, as well as replacing the earth straps and the main battery/starter leads (arc welder cable works well).
A more powerful alternator and fresh, heavier wiring for it will make a big difference, too.
Thanks Ironing man!
Now that the engine runs, I have started poking around at other areas, one of those is the electrics.
Last week I had, tail lights working, engine electrics (obviously!) The rear wiper, the radio, the brake lights (permanently due to a duff switch!), the interior lights, some of the dash lights and power to the front dipped and main. What I didn't have was indicators, hazards, heater fan, reverse lights and front wipers.
Now the front wipers are probably an internal fault as the unit heats up as soon as its connected. The indicators are a bit of a mystery as is the fan. All the fuses check out okay, I cant finds the flasher relay for the indicators? I found a row of three relays, one clearly does main beam, one clicks when you tug on an earth lead to the cigar lighter, don't think that's right?! And the other doesn't react to anything but swapping the units around with the main beam one, seems to show that they all work (which is very odd for Lucas parts).
To give myself best access, I decided to take the dash apart...
Then I realised you could get the dash top off easily, one thing led to another...
What have I done! Anyway. Loads of access but I have now found that I have lost all power to the rear lights? I suspect I have some wiring issues as most of the component parts seem to work, its just a case of finding were/if the loom is damaged or if its yet more bad earths. My poor old multi meter has never seen so much use.
Further update. I now know why the heater fans don't work, a little research revealed that the fans are normally located in the ends of the front wings, except they aren't, they are in boxes in my shed! A quick trial power feed reveals that both are a bit borked and short out internally. So that resolves that issue.......
Now that the engine runs, I have started poking around at other areas, one of those is the electrics.
Last week I had, tail lights working, engine electrics (obviously!) The rear wiper, the radio, the brake lights (permanently due to a duff switch!), the interior lights, some of the dash lights and power to the front dipped and main. What I didn't have was indicators, hazards, heater fan, reverse lights and front wipers.
Now the front wipers are probably an internal fault as the unit heats up as soon as its connected. The indicators are a bit of a mystery as is the fan. All the fuses check out okay, I cant finds the flasher relay for the indicators? I found a row of three relays, one clearly does main beam, one clicks when you tug on an earth lead to the cigar lighter, don't think that's right?! And the other doesn't react to anything but swapping the units around with the main beam one, seems to show that they all work (which is very odd for Lucas parts).
To give myself best access, I decided to take the dash apart...
Then I realised you could get the dash top off easily, one thing led to another...
What have I done! Anyway. Loads of access but I have now found that I have lost all power to the rear lights? I suspect I have some wiring issues as most of the component parts seem to work, its just a case of finding were/if the loom is damaged or if its yet more bad earths. My poor old multi meter has never seen so much use.
Further update. I now know why the heater fans don't work, a little research revealed that the fans are normally located in the ends of the front wings, except they aren't, they are in boxes in my shed! A quick trial power feed reveals that both are a bit borked and short out internally. So that resolves that issue.......
Edited by interloper on Sunday 14th July 14:27
Long time no update! I decided that I would leave the electrics alone because part of the front loom is disconnected and I wont be putting that back together until I re fit the front bumper and headlights.
So I moved on to the chassis side of things, first up was the rear axle. The wheel studs on the drivers side are fairly knackered and one was loose. So I decided to try and remove the hub to replace them. The hubs on these axles are a fairly tight fit. Firstly I tried my little puller, it started to bend so I stopped. Then I borrowed a puller from work, this was a puller for a Mitsubishi Canter light truck, it too started to bend! And this point I consulted the Scimitar owners forum and I'm now waiting to borrow a certain tool (so job temporarily aborted).
Feeling slightly down I started to look more at the chassis and seat belt mount points. The mounts are toast (actually toast would be more structurally sound!) so I cut them out, then I discovered the bolts that hold them to the chassis had become one with the chassis. After mush umming and arrrrring a big decision was made....
This arrived, 80kg of grown up Meccano!
Which then became this.....
The car was prepared...
And the process began, sort of fission...
We have separation
The chassis really doesn't look too bad but will need a the odd patch here and there, some new brake and fuel lines will be going on then I will have to get it back together....
So I moved on to the chassis side of things, first up was the rear axle. The wheel studs on the drivers side are fairly knackered and one was loose. So I decided to try and remove the hub to replace them. The hubs on these axles are a fairly tight fit. Firstly I tried my little puller, it started to bend so I stopped. Then I borrowed a puller from work, this was a puller for a Mitsubishi Canter light truck, it too started to bend! And this point I consulted the Scimitar owners forum and I'm now waiting to borrow a certain tool (so job temporarily aborted).
Feeling slightly down I started to look more at the chassis and seat belt mount points. The mounts are toast (actually toast would be more structurally sound!) so I cut them out, then I discovered the bolts that hold them to the chassis had become one with the chassis. After mush umming and arrrrring a big decision was made....
This arrived, 80kg of grown up Meccano!
Which then became this.....
The car was prepared...
And the process began, sort of fission...
We have separation
The chassis really doesn't look too bad but will need a the odd patch here and there, some new brake and fuel lines will be going on then I will have to get it back together....
jamiebae said:
With the engine and box that easily accessible isn't it tempting to sling the old boat anchor in a skip and put the engine and box from something more modern in there? A 3.2 V6 from a rotten E Class Merc? 3.2 V6 from an Omega?
Not really.... Yes the old Essex is a bit of a lump but it makes a nice noise and has character, also it fits properly (no need for any fabrication etc). The standard brakes are un vented discs front and drums rear, so they would need upgrading too. There is also the issue of getting into certain events, if I wanted to enter a classic road rally having the wrong engine might be an issue.
Besides if I want to experience a slightly revier six I can just go for a blast in my old BMW.
Time for another update, as you might have guessed things have slowed down a bit since getting the body off. Firstly I went on the hunt for a mig welder and managed to turn a decent old Clarke one on ebay for £70. Then there was the small matter of garage or lack of garage.
I had a gazebo lying around courtesy of the girl friend, its not quite long enough or sturdy enough so I picked up a second one and lashed it to the first then reinforced it. I now have a temporary garage!
Then I injured my shoulder and lost another couple of weekends. Finally I got back to working on the chassis, I have been slowly grinding and cleaning up sections and have carried out my first proper welded repairs.
I have gone from this...
Got busy with the grinder...
And started on the welding...
Who doesn't have a mig in a garden trolley?
I must admit when I bought the car back in May I thought it would have been back on the road by now, at this rate it will be on the road by about 2050, I really must try and speed up a bit!
I had a gazebo lying around courtesy of the girl friend, its not quite long enough or sturdy enough so I picked up a second one and lashed it to the first then reinforced it. I now have a temporary garage!
Then I injured my shoulder and lost another couple of weekends. Finally I got back to working on the chassis, I have been slowly grinding and cleaning up sections and have carried out my first proper welded repairs.
I have gone from this...
Got busy with the grinder...
And started on the welding...
Who doesn't have a mig in a garden trolley?
I must admit when I bought the car back in May I thought it would have been back on the road by now, at this rate it will be on the road by about 2050, I really must try and speed up a bit!
Hi, have enjoyed your posts
im thinking of buying a Scim gte 5A as a daily driver, I like the idea of lifting the body and sorting the chassis properly to get long term peace, do you have an idea of how long it takes to remove the car body? say how many 8 hour days for 2 guys..? would be very usefull to know
hows it going with the work, have you stopped for the cold season?
cheers
Rob
im thinking of buying a Scim gte 5A as a daily driver, I like the idea of lifting the body and sorting the chassis properly to get long term peace, do you have an idea of how long it takes to remove the car body? say how many 8 hour days for 2 guys..? would be very usefull to know
hows it going with the work, have you stopped for the cold season?
cheers
Rob
Time to get the body off is wholly dependent on the state of the bolts and how long it takes to undo any bogging around the seatbelt mounts at the base of the B posts.
If you're planning to get one to use as a daily then, in all candour, you need to find a really good one with a refurbished or galvanised chassis and a nice clean, watertight interior: they're really vey cheap.
See my earlier post about alternators, too.
If you're planning to get one to use as a daily then, in all candour, you need to find a really good one with a refurbished or galvanised chassis and a nice clean, watertight interior: they're really vey cheap.
See my earlier post about alternators, too.
Top work.
The engine swaps going into these cars over on Retro Rides are simply mindblowing.
They seem to tick all the right boxes:
-potential for mental engine swap, as rwd already
-usable body, 2+2
-cheap as chips
-GRP body, so light weight and easy to restore
-loads of info out there
-obvious Royal connection....
-the styling improves with age!
The engine swaps going into these cars over on Retro Rides are simply mindblowing.
They seem to tick all the right boxes:
-potential for mental engine swap, as rwd already
-usable body, 2+2
-cheap as chips
-GRP body, so light weight and easy to restore
-loads of info out there
-obvious Royal connection....
-the styling improves with age!
bobbybo said:
Hi, have enjoyed your posts
im thinking of buying a Scim gte 5A as a daily driver, I like the idea of lifting the body and sorting the chassis properly to get long term peace, do you have an idea of how long it takes to remove the car body? say how many 8 hour days for 2 guys..? would be very usefull to know
hows it going with the work, have you stopped for the cold season?
cheers
Rob
Good stuff 5As are a bit more desirable, lighter, prettier and not silly money. im thinking of buying a Scim gte 5A as a daily driver, I like the idea of lifting the body and sorting the chassis properly to get long term peace, do you have an idea of how long it takes to remove the car body? say how many 8 hour days for 2 guys..? would be very usefull to know
hows it going with the work, have you stopped for the cold season?
cheers
Rob
Getting the body off is a fair bit of work, over on the Scimitar forum (http://www.scimitarweb.co.uk/), all the body bolts are well documented and largely easy to find. Most will be rusty and seized and in most cases the time consuming bit is drilling/grinding them out. To speed this up try and get an electric die grinder (better still an air one if you are going to get a compressor) not a multitool (dremel/ryobi etc) as they really aren't man enough and I wrecked two of them in short succession!
The hardest bolts to do were the seat belt mount bolts as they are in a really awkward area, if they undo brilliant ( you have saved hours of faffing!) if not you will need to grind them out which is bloody awkward.
I probably took a couple of weekends and some evenings doing mine but if I'm honest I probably wasn't using the best tools for the job.
Also don't forget you will need to disconnect the electrics, the steering column and the brake lines!
I must admit I have slowed some what, largely because I'm working out side under shelters and have had other car issues to sort (its no good having your daily driver off the road!). I've also gained another car which needs a small amount of work before it can be MOT'ed and that needs doing as a priority because I don't want too many unusable cars sat around.
The other problem is once I had the body off I really wanted to do everything right, so I'm now slowly stripping the the chassis. The back axle is off the prop,gearbox, engine and front suspension are next.
Next month I will start on scrapping the rest of the old paint off, cleaning it up and re painting the whole frame before remounting the engine etc
Small update, this is were I'm at currently. Back axle off, OS exhaust has parted company with the rather rotten manifold and it currently looks like this....
Any further progress is going to be governed by the weather, what we find needs doing on my better half's project off roader (an MOT failed Nissan Terrano2) and making sure my other cars get through their respective MOTs, one is due in the middle of February the other March.
It could be a busy start to the new year, I really hope the weather calms down a bit.
Any further progress is going to be governed by the weather, what we find needs doing on my better half's project off roader (an MOT failed Nissan Terrano2) and making sure my other cars get through their respective MOTs, one is due in the middle of February the other March.
It could be a busy start to the new year, I really hope the weather calms down a bit.
Finally an update!
Last weekend was dry but unfortunately its been mostly taken up with runs to the tip, we had a bit of a disaster, the water tank in the loft dropped (thanks to the whomever installed it, put it on chip board, which got wet and collapsed). But anyway I don't want to bore you lot with that, I did manage to do something on the car!
I'm stripping the major components off the chassis, (I've cleaned up one end, I may as well do all of it). This afternoon I got the gearbox and starter motor off....
And made an odd discovery...
Excuse the shaky picture, I'm really not good with camera phones/phone cameras! So as well as having a pink gearbox and blue bell housing (it looks black but its very dirty) I have a red clutch, why would anyone paint a clutch, was this a fashionable thing to do at one time?
Anyway just the engine and front suspension to come off, fingers crossed for more good weather next weekend.
This weekends update....
Slow and steady progress. Took the complete NS exhaust off and then tackled the remains (just the manifold) on the OS, got complacent and promptly snapped a bolt, bugger! At least its just one to sort. To be honest I was surprised how straightforward it was. After that I undid the remaining pipe work and hoisted the engine. Actually getting to that point was a bit of a pain, not because of the car but because the hoist is kept around the back of the house and the route to the scim is getting a tiny bit boggy, engine hoists are on big castors and don't like anything other than smooth surfaces!
I pinched the other half's DSLR, so some slightly better pictures for today's efforts.
I'm in two minds whether to remove the front suspension, I will see if I can flip the chassis over with it in place, tomorrow.
Last weekend was dry but unfortunately its been mostly taken up with runs to the tip, we had a bit of a disaster, the water tank in the loft dropped (thanks to the whomever installed it, put it on chip board, which got wet and collapsed). But anyway I don't want to bore you lot with that, I did manage to do something on the car!
I'm stripping the major components off the chassis, (I've cleaned up one end, I may as well do all of it). This afternoon I got the gearbox and starter motor off....
And made an odd discovery...
Excuse the shaky picture, I'm really not good with camera phones/phone cameras! So as well as having a pink gearbox and blue bell housing (it looks black but its very dirty) I have a red clutch, why would anyone paint a clutch, was this a fashionable thing to do at one time?
Anyway just the engine and front suspension to come off, fingers crossed for more good weather next weekend.
This weekends update....
Slow and steady progress. Took the complete NS exhaust off and then tackled the remains (just the manifold) on the OS, got complacent and promptly snapped a bolt, bugger! At least its just one to sort. To be honest I was surprised how straightforward it was. After that I undid the remaining pipe work and hoisted the engine. Actually getting to that point was a bit of a pain, not because of the car but because the hoist is kept around the back of the house and the route to the scim is getting a tiny bit boggy, engine hoists are on big castors and don't like anything other than smooth surfaces!
I pinched the other half's DSLR, so some slightly better pictures for today's efforts.
I'm in two minds whether to remove the front suspension, I will see if I can flip the chassis over with it in place, tomorrow.
Holy thread resurrection Batman! Realised I hadn't updated this in quite a while and there has been progress, slow progress!
So here's an abridged update...
The chassis got thoroughly stripped and cleaned..
And more chassis action...
Welded in a new chassis plate...
Engine re fitted...
Removed hub with broken stud and then cleaned up axle and painted...
Behold nice and shiney, cleaned up, re bushed radius arms...
More to come...
So here's an abridged update...
The chassis got thoroughly stripped and cleaned..
And more chassis action...
Welded in a new chassis plate...
Engine re fitted...
Removed hub with broken stud and then cleaned up axle and painted...
Behold nice and shiney, cleaned up, re bushed radius arms...
More to come...
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