Newbie - Restoration Project 1st Post and Photo

[ProjectChimaera]

Managed to get the manifolds off,not a job i want to do again any time soon!

Had 3 bolts that refused to move and one that sheared, had to resort to cutting the bolt heads off which at least leaves a stud behind to be extracted when i can gain access.

What's the opinion on this cat pic, has someone had a bit of a go at removing or is it just decay? Nothing on the other side. Are the cats worth extracting? I'd like to improve the noise eventually but thought i would partially sleeve the rear box. If removing is good whats the best method?

What's the best thought on manifold refit, studs in the bottom row and cut slots in the lower manifold bolt holes?
Last pic of the day, some scary looking fuel pipes, this car just keeps giving doesn't it. Are the pipes from to back normally done in something that looks like big bore metal brake pipe joined at each end with rubber or are the proper flexible fuel pipe all the way through?

BTW thanks to everyone for the advice, offer of parts and assistance. When I've got a bit further and had a chance to fully come up with a plan of attack i'll no doubt be taking up some of the kind offers.

[jojackson4]

Get rid of the pre cats in the manifolds you don't need them

The best of British luck with the rest and keep the photos coming

[Mr Supercharged]

That cat pic is just decay, eventually it would have just worked loose in the manifold and moved forward stopping at the lambda sensor lug. The chassis rail nearest the exhaust manifold in your picture looks rotten, is it? Looking forward to the close up pictures of the chassis, I have this horrible feeling that it is going to be more rust than steel but will keep my fingers crossed for you. Out of interest may I ask what you paid for this car?

[ProjectChimaera]

you can ask Mr Supercharged!
I've tapped away at some of the nastier looking rusty bits and I haven't created any holes - YET!
Blasting isn't particularly costly so will see what it looks like after. Got a good mate who welds and fabricates in his own business so may need a bit of magic from him.

[Mr Supercharged]

ProjectChimaera said:

you can ask Mr Supercharged!
I've tapped away at some of the nastier looking rusty bits and I haven't created any holes - YET!
Blasting isn't particularly costly so will see what it looks like after. Got a good mate who welds and fabricates in his own business so may need a bit of magic from him.

Just to let you know, a lot of the round tubing in the chassis was only 1.6mm thick to start off with. When mild steel rusts it generally has a ratio of 7:1, in other words a 1mm thick rust flake is equivalent to a 1/7th mm loss in wall thickness. The trouble is that you don't know how many flakes have fallen off prior to you seeing it so the only way the really tell what is left is to do some non destructive thickness measurement or drill some small holes which can be welded up after or try and squeeze it to test structural rigidity.

[ProjectChimaera]

Thanks for the rust advice, I will drill a few of the worst bits and check the thickness left. I won't be happy if I suspect an area is structurally unsound. I've no doubt there are lots around that have had partial body lift and outriggers fitted that have lots of hidden areas of concern. Most of the ones on here seem to be of a very high standard. If you are going to the lengths that will be required for this one then we might as well do it right.