Here we go - Restoration begins!

[matt-man]

So, after putting the car up for sale recently (and deciding that really i cant part with it) i went to give the outriggers a clean and waxoil (as i have done every other year) and much to my horror i have found the worst possible thing...rot.

One side



other side...



It isnt too bad but there is a hole on both sides in the outriggers at the front so i have decided that rather than build a kit car (which was my latest thought) i am going to rebuild the wedge! Plan to do a body off, complete chassis refurbishment and then rebuild...very daunting process before i start but i have to admit i am really excited about the result!

So started last night...its up in the air, feet off and ive started to pull stuff off. I will post pics as i go but i'm in no rush to get it done...

[Dogmanandy]

Good choice to restore, I started mine last year, waiting to get the chassis back from being blasted, hot zinc primed and powder coated, should be this Friday. Hoping to post pics soon. It is daunting yes - never done anything so drastic before but satisfying to breath new life into a quality car. Good luck.

[wooly350i]

Although i like the later curvy sills and arches the only drawer back i feel is the sills dont separate easily like on the earlier cars which makes access to sills alot moře simple, sooo i'll stick with mine then.

[pk500]

best get the body off !

[Toby Tram]

pk500 said:

best get the body off !

That's an unusual looking chassis it has come offhttp://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/imgs/4.gif. Complete with tow bar attachment at the front!

Still at least it's already been galvanised!

Adrian

[pk500]

the chassis was all done at this stage had to send body away to get some gel repaired !

Toby Tram said:

That's an unusual looking chassis it has come offhttp://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/imgs/4.gif. Complete with tow bar attachment at the front!

Still at least it's already been galvanised!

Adrian

[Toby Tram]

Only joking.....I was referring to the trailer!!!

Sorry, bored of working, needed a bit of light relief!

A.

[pk500]

i guessed you ment trailer lol! the real chassis is in the back groun of pic

Toby Tram said:

Only joking.....I was referring to the trailer!!!

Sorry, bored of working, needed a bit of light relief!

A.

[Toby Tram]

Missed that! I always think they look cool with chassis, engine and wheels but no body!

A.

[mrzigazaga]

Toby Tram said:

needed a bit of light relief!

Yes they are much lighter without the engine and chassis attached..

[Toby Tram]

Indeed! Alternatively we could just leave the bodywork off. We generally don't drive them in the wet so why not shed a bit of weight!! Or maybe I should just eat fewer pies!!

A.

[mrzigazaga]

Toby Tram said:

Indeed! Alternatively we could just leave the bodywork off. We generally don't drive them in the wet so why not shed a bit of weight!! Or maybe I should just eat fewer pies!!

A.

Well..The wedge is a power to weight ratio car..And in my quest for more power it was realised that if i shed some weight as im a bit on the large side then i would feel the benefit not only in my well-being but also in the performance of my wedge..I love pies too so i opted for a supercharger...

[Toby Tram]

mrzigazaga said:

Well..The wedge is a power to weight ratio car..And in my quest for more power it was realised that if i shed some weight as im a bit on the large side then i would feel the benefit not only in my well-being but also in the performance of my wedge..I love pies too so i opted for a supercharger...

So BHP stands for 'Baking Hot Pies' in your case then!!;)

A.

[mrzigazaga]

[beacon]

So pleased you decided to hang onto it Matt, always sad to see owners part with their Wedges.

Good luck with the body off, mine has another few years before I do the same at some point.

Beacon

[pk500]

i was sad to let one go last week ! still got 2 wedges and a 500 chim

beacon said:

So pleased you decided to hang onto it Matt, always sad to see owners part with their Wedges.

Good luck with the body off, mine has another few years before I do the same at some point.

Beacon

[400SE Dave]

wooly350i said:

Although i like the later curvy sills and arches the only drawer back i feel is the sills dont separate easily like on the earlier cars which makes access to sills alot moře simple, sooo i'll stick with mine then.

They don't separate at all!!! The mounting plates on the SE's are flat under the body, they don't go vertical behind the sills at all so no need to get them off

[gog440]

pk500 said:

i was sad to let one go last week ! still got 2 wedges and a 500 chim

I was happy that you did lol.
My wife somewhat less happy, she told me it is a silly little car and that it looks like something out of knightrider lol
I am sure that when I have made it look prettier she will change her mind.

[mrzigazaga]

gog440 said:

My wife somewhat less happy, she told me it is a silly little car and that it looks like something out of knightrider.

Cool...Perhaps start calling her KITTen..KITT would be too obvious to start with..

[matt-man]

Cheers guys-can't wait to have it all done. Really it's the work I want to do so that when it is finished it goes for the respray and it's as good as I can make it.

I hate the idea of having a super shiny car which looks immaculate but underneath is a dog.

Lucy is going to shoot me through the process...although good job all the parts go straight to the garage and she won't see them or the bills!!