The body off has begun
Discussion
OK spent most of today in the garage, decided to leave the welder alone today and strip off all the suspension instead.
I had real trouble with the trailing arms - not the nub nut that was fine as I had previously bought a 1 metre 3/4 inch drive breaker bar and the proper hub nut socket - that was dead easy.
The problem was on both outboard trailing arm bushes - the bolt was seized solid in the metal tube of the bush. I was determined not to have to saw them off. In the end I gave in and got the saw out.
I knew the drivers side trailing arm bush was knackered - but didn't realise just how bad it was.
Here's the passenger side sawn off.
And here's whats left of the rogered drivers side bush.
This one actually isn't a problem as I have a brand new trailing arm for the drivers side with bush already fitted.
If anyone needs a reference for which top front wishbone is which this may help.
This is on the drivers side - the one on the car is the drivers side on and the one sat on top is from the passenger side.
Thats it. Still got a little bit of welding left to do then its off to the shotblasters.
I had real trouble with the trailing arms - not the nub nut that was fine as I had previously bought a 1 metre 3/4 inch drive breaker bar and the proper hub nut socket - that was dead easy.
The problem was on both outboard trailing arm bushes - the bolt was seized solid in the metal tube of the bush. I was determined not to have to saw them off. In the end I gave in and got the saw out.
I knew the drivers side trailing arm bush was knackered - but didn't realise just how bad it was.
Here's the passenger side sawn off.
And here's whats left of the rogered drivers side bush.
This one actually isn't a problem as I have a brand new trailing arm for the drivers side with bush already fitted.
If anyone needs a reference for which top front wishbone is which this may help.
This is on the drivers side - the one on the car is the drivers side on and the one sat on top is from the passenger side.
Thats it. Still got a little bit of welding left to do then its off to the shotblasters.
Mine's
All done now also.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
will add more pic's later today.
It's all painted also.
Will add those pic's tomorrow, too dark to take photo.
I'm glad I did it as found more problems than expected.
All done now also.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
will add more pic's later today.
It's all painted also.
Will add those pic's tomorrow, too dark to take photo.
I'm glad I did it as found more problems than expected.
Ray S said:
It's a great feeling when you've finished it Chris.We'll have to celebrate 
Ray sIt still feels a long way off at the moment - though I'm sure once the chassis is blasted and coated it will give me a boost.
I spent hours trying to get those trailing arm bolts out - I decided that it I whacked it any harder I'd probably bend the chassis mounting points so it was out with the saw.
Now I have to get the old bush out & fit a new one.
I can't complain, from what others have posted it could have been much worse.
Leigh - looking good. How tight did you find the engine fit?
Its very tight on the V8S with 5mm to spare in many places, particularly underneath with the gearbox & exhaust clearances.
Chris
Edited by Barkychoc on Monday 31st March 13:26
Hi Chris - well done, its hard to make some decisions - but the right one was made. Im still waiting for my handbrake cable, so I started work on the body - new steering bulkhead bush put in on Sunday and a bit of tidying up. I have arranged for 10 people to come round this weekend that body is going back on - I will be ringing them about the cable again tomorrow.
Carry on with the good work - this journey of body off restoration comes in peaks and troughs - you will get a feel fantastic when the shotblasting is done and when cleaning and painting is complete, there is no more oil and grease, its great when you can start walking around your garage again as the chassis gets bigger and the floor gets spacious.
Best Regards
Sean
Carry on with the good work - this journey of body off restoration comes in peaks and troughs - you will get a feel fantastic when the shotblasting is done and when cleaning and painting is complete, there is no more oil and grease, its great when you can start walking around your garage again as the chassis gets bigger and the floor gets spacious.
Best Regards
Sean
Had same prob-when I did trailing arms, bolts fused to sleeves 
tried that then did same as you 
..Keep up the good work Chris.
.Been warming mine up today ready for back on road tomorrow 
...Ray sPic's now posted of finished and painted chassis.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Well I've finally felt well enough to have a bit of a potter in the garage today.
I thought I'd have a go at getting the old trailing arm bushes out of the arms as the drivers side outboard one was shot and I thought it would be a good move to replace the outer one on the nearside aswell (I'm now thinking that as the trailing arms are in good nick I'm going to reuse them both - and hopefully preserve the rear suspension geometry as a result).
Well I have to say its a bit worrying that on closer inspection that all four rear bushes were knackered - I could push the inside of the bush out of the outer sleeve with very little effort. The bushes visually looked OK but the rubber was not bonded to the outer metal bush housing for 3 of them and for the 4th the inner tube pushed out of the rubber.
The only good news is that it really isn't that hard to get the outer tube out of the trailing arm - 2 hacksaw cuts and a cold chisel to cut the bush away between the hacksaw cuts and it came out pretty easily - the outer tube is pretty soft.
I am on a mission now - I have decided that I am going to replace every single bush on the car. It also means with the bushes removed I can get all the suspension components shotblasted.
I thought I'd have a go at getting the old trailing arm bushes out of the arms as the drivers side outboard one was shot and I thought it would be a good move to replace the outer one on the nearside aswell (I'm now thinking that as the trailing arms are in good nick I'm going to reuse them both - and hopefully preserve the rear suspension geometry as a result).
Well I have to say its a bit worrying that on closer inspection that all four rear bushes were knackered - I could push the inside of the bush out of the outer sleeve with very little effort. The bushes visually looked OK but the rubber was not bonded to the outer metal bush housing for 3 of them and for the 4th the inner tube pushed out of the rubber.
The only good news is that it really isn't that hard to get the outer tube out of the trailing arm - 2 hacksaw cuts and a cold chisel to cut the bush away between the hacksaw cuts and it came out pretty easily - the outer tube is pretty soft.
I am on a mission now - I have decided that I am going to replace every single bush on the car. It also means with the bushes removed I can get all the suspension components shotblasted.
Edited by Barkychoc on Wednesday 30th April 20:49
Dave - No!
Well I have really cracked on today - managed to fabricate a new bracket that sits on top of the outrigger on the drivers side for the seat belt - and got it welded on.
Its a good job I checked - the bracket which is fine on the passenger side actually isn't - the bracket was OK but the thread in the nut welded into the bracket was shot - managed to 'persuade' the old nut out with a drill, chisel and big hammer. Welded a new nut into the bracket too.
These are the brackets I mean - the weld is a bit scruffy as I did it twice - I wasn't happy the first time that it was a good weld (it was) and ground it down and did it again with the welder wound up a bit higher.
Nicer weld round the back though
Then finally the brackets that I welded onto the car provided by Sean (Trickjohn) I welded 12mm nuts into - I drilled a 6mm hole either side of the hole, and held the nut in place using a long bolt while I welded one side - once it held I didn't need the bolt. Worked a treat.
#
Had a good day today - once I got going I had the welder settings just right with a really nice zizz going for all the welders out there.
Just a little bit left under one of the corner plates - I need to turn the chassis over and just couldn't be bothered today.
I'm going to ring the blasters tomorrow to see how much notice they need.
Chris
Well I have really cracked on today - managed to fabricate a new bracket that sits on top of the outrigger on the drivers side for the seat belt - and got it welded on.
Its a good job I checked - the bracket which is fine on the passenger side actually isn't - the bracket was OK but the thread in the nut welded into the bracket was shot - managed to 'persuade' the old nut out with a drill, chisel and big hammer. Welded a new nut into the bracket too.
These are the brackets I mean - the weld is a bit scruffy as I did it twice - I wasn't happy the first time that it was a good weld (it was) and ground it down and did it again with the welder wound up a bit higher.
Nicer weld round the back though
Then finally the brackets that I welded onto the car provided by Sean (Trickjohn) I welded 12mm nuts into - I drilled a 6mm hole either side of the hole, and held the nut in place using a long bolt while I welded one side - once it held I didn't need the bolt. Worked a treat.
#Had a good day today - once I got going I had the welder settings just right with a really nice zizz going for all the welders out there.
Just a little bit left under one of the corner plates - I need to turn the chassis over and just couldn't be bothered today.
I'm going to ring the blasters tomorrow to see how much notice they need.
Chris
Edited by Barkychoc on Tuesday 27th May 11:12
Well I've done a bit Dave - I think most people have realised I'm not breaking my neck with this refurb - I'm determined to do it well if I do it at all.
Funds won't allow a break neck speed job anyway.
The chassis, wishbones, trailing arms, swirl pot, fuel tank cradle etc etc are now at the shotblasters, they reckon they will get it blasted in the middle of next week.
Then I have to transport it to the powder coaters which are only about a mile away. Its a bit of a pain using 2 seperate companies but they are both literally just round the corner, and still not being mobile means I don't have to put on people too much to shift it (Thanks Dad)
I have yesterday ordered superflex bushes for all the front end suspension, new trailing arm bushes for the rear and the elusive V8 rear diff bushes also. Also got the Steve Heath £50 full suspension bolt kit - though I think there may be some issues with this its not the dream solution I was hoping for. I can't comment further until the chassis and trailing arms are back.
Also a friend has a fasteners company and he's done me all the bolts I need for £20 except the suspension ones.
I'll need a few extras as the list I had was for a V6 - there are some different / extra on the V8 which I'll find as I go along.
I've started taking the engine to bits but thats another story!
Chris
Funds won't allow a break neck speed job anyway.
The chassis, wishbones, trailing arms, swirl pot, fuel tank cradle etc etc are now at the shotblasters, they reckon they will get it blasted in the middle of next week.
Then I have to transport it to the powder coaters which are only about a mile away. Its a bit of a pain using 2 seperate companies but they are both literally just round the corner, and still not being mobile means I don't have to put on people too much to shift it (Thanks Dad
)I have yesterday ordered superflex bushes for all the front end suspension, new trailing arm bushes for the rear and the elusive V8 rear diff bushes also. Also got the Steve Heath £50 full suspension bolt kit - though I think there may be some issues with this its not the dream solution I was hoping for. I can't comment further until the chassis and trailing arms are back.
Also a friend has a fasteners company and he's done me all the bolts I need for £20 except the suspension ones.
I'll need a few extras as the list I had was for a V6 - there are some different / extra on the V8 which I'll find as I go along.
I've started taking the engine to bits but thats another story!
Chris
OK folks one of the last updates on this thread - as I will be starting a new one called 'The rebuild has begun' !!
This is because I have nearly turned the corner - I got the chassis back from the shotblasters on Tuesday - this showed up a few minor issues that needed welding - a couple of tiny holes on the trailing arm mount tubes - and some holes in the flat rear piece of metal on the fuel tank cradle.
These are all now welded up and the chassis will be going to the powder coaters on Saturday morning.
Ideally I'd have liked to have got the chassis coated straight after blasting but the powder coating company says it won't be an issue provided I keep it dry.
I'm having the chassis, wishbones, trailing arms, diff mount, fuel tank cradle, swirl pot and various other bits powder coated.
I'm had my exhaust manifolds and front pipe blasted aswell so they will be painted with exhaust paint as soon as I can.
I've now returned to work and its really getting in the way of the refurb!
Chris
This is because I have nearly turned the corner - I got the chassis back from the shotblasters on Tuesday - this showed up a few minor issues that needed welding - a couple of tiny holes on the trailing arm mount tubes - and some holes in the flat rear piece of metal on the fuel tank cradle.
These are all now welded up and the chassis will be going to the powder coaters on Saturday morning.
Ideally I'd have liked to have got the chassis coated straight after blasting but the powder coating company says it won't be an issue provided I keep it dry.
I'm having the chassis, wishbones, trailing arms, diff mount, fuel tank cradle, swirl pot and various other bits powder coated.
I'm had my exhaust manifolds and front pipe blasted aswell so they will be painted with exhaust paint as soon as I can.
I've now returned to work and its really getting in the way of the refurb!
Chris
Edited by Barkychoc on Thursday 19th June 21:05
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