Here we go - Restoration begins!
Discussion
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...
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...
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!!
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!!
Hey guys just a little update, got almost all the bolts off now (wow some we're tight!), seats out so inner boots out, exhaust rear section off of and drained the tanks tonight....
The more I look actually the better the chassis is! The middle is all looking quite good but I can't wait to see what's actually lurking ....
Just a couple of pics
The more I look actually the better the chassis is! The middle is all looking quite good but I can't wait to see what's actually lurking ....
Just a couple of pics
Oh yeah alun, keen to get things underway!!
Ian-I forgot that side! Only when I took the photo did i notice!
Going to carry on tomorrow night, need to take the fuel lines off tomorrow then work on draining the coolant tomorrow...horrible jobs draining fluids!
I know what you mean lying on the floor-not nice! Need to get her higher really...although the chassis is good I keep seeing pipes which need changing etc...fun fun!
I even managed to get Lucy in the garage to losen me nuts with the air gun...ooherrr !!!
Ian-I forgot that side! Only when I took the photo did i notice!
Going to carry on tomorrow night, need to take the fuel lines off tomorrow then work on draining the coolant tomorrow...horrible jobs draining fluids!
I know what you mean lying on the floor-not nice! Need to get her higher really...although the chassis is good I keep seeing pipes which need changing etc...fun fun!
I even managed to get Lucy in the garage to losen me nuts with the air gun...ooherrr !!!
Just a little update, done a few hours on the car and got the rad out finally! What a pain in the back side that was...!
Fuel drained so got the fuel lines off and the swirl pot out - another nice job...! Is their meant to be something rattling around inside it?!
I changed the fuel lines a few years back when I put a new pump and pre pump filter on but always wondered what the main hoses were like and they are really cracked...have to say its quite frightening working on old cars, had exactly the same on the maser!
Fuel drained so got the fuel lines off and the swirl pot out - another nice job...! Is their meant to be something rattling around inside it?!
I changed the fuel lines a few years back when I put a new pump and pre pump filter on but always wondered what the main hoses were like and they are really cracked...have to say its quite frightening working on old cars, had exactly the same on the maser!
Managed to get a good few hours out in thw garage tonight-ive got a week pass as swmbo is away with work so going to make the most of it!!
Finished off the rear, everything connected at the rear ia now off.
Started on the front and made good progress. ..starting to get some big gaps around the car! Broke the oil sensor taking it off but not the end of the world...I didnt realise how many cable ties were holding the wedge together! Ive cut off hundreds! !
Some more pics...
Sounds strange but its starting to get exciting! Im sure that will wear off! Lol! Cheers chaps, hope you guys want me to keep sharing the updates!
Finished off the rear, everything connected at the rear ia now off.
Started on the front and made good progress. ..starting to get some big gaps around the car! Broke the oil sensor taking it off but not the end of the world...I didnt realise how many cable ties were holding the wedge together! Ive cut off hundreds! !
Some more pics...
Sounds strange but its starting to get exciting! Im sure that will wear off! Lol! Cheers chaps, hope you guys want me to keep sharing the updates!
Problem with the fastest resto is I need to put it all back together at some point...yikes!!
315 llbs ft? Hells teeth that must be useable!! Good stuff!!
I've got to work out if I am going to do any engine work when it is out...it runs really well but don't know if I would regret just painting it all? Need to mull on that plus need to watch the finances through this all!
315 llbs ft? Hells teeth that must be useable!! Good stuff!!
I've got to work out if I am going to do any engine work when it is out...it runs really well but don't know if I would regret just painting it all? Need to mull on that plus need to watch the finances through this all!
The wedge is ready for the body off!! I've got the heavies coming over Thursday evening so fingers crossed I should be posting pics of that process...
As I am ready I decided to sort the fan housing which I modified a few years back but did a temporary job...that lasted 5 years!!
I upgraded the fan to a high flow kenlowe which didn't fit to decided to make it look neater!
First I secured it to the housing - lots of cable ties!
Then fibre glassed it in so it will have no gaps for maximum air flow
Finally I have painted it (it's wet in the pic hence being so shiny) so hopefully will look much neater!!
As I am ready I decided to sort the fan housing which I modified a few years back but did a temporary job...that lasted 5 years!!
I upgraded the fan to a high flow kenlowe which didn't fit to decided to make it look neater!
First I secured it to the housing - lots of cable ties!
Then fibre glassed it in so it will have no gaps for maximum air flow
Finally I have painted it (it's wet in the pic hence being so shiny) so hopefully will look much neater!!
Err....depends if i count the hours in the garage when i tell lucy im working on the car but secretly drinking beer and eating biscuits! 
Realistically - ive done about 5 full evenings and an afternoon so probably about 20 hours? Maybe a little more.
It would be a LOT quicker doing it with someone as some stuff is hard just getting up and then under the car, then back up again...
I cant wait to see under the Body!!
Realistically - ive done about 5 full evenings and an afternoon so probably about 20 hours? Maybe a little more.
It would be a LOT quicker doing it with someone as some stuff is hard just getting up and then under the car, then back up again...
I cant wait to see under the Body!!
Well, super successful evening tonight!!!
Had a great group of mates come over tonight and they were a god send!! Well done chaps!
I videoed it so I'll post it on YouTube tomorrow...very exciting!
Here are some pics....
As you can see, the riggers are bad at the front (as expected) but the rear cross frame is absolutely shot!! It's amazing what lurks beneath...
Chuffed to bits it's off and looking forward to the strip down!
Rad is off being reconned-having a new thermo switch installed rather than the otter
Had a great group of mates come over tonight and they were a god send!! Well done chaps!
I videoed it so I'll post it on YouTube tomorrow...very exciting!
Here are some pics....
As you can see, the riggers are bad at the front (as expected) but the rear cross frame is absolutely shot!! It's amazing what lurks beneath...
Chuffed to bits it's off and looking forward to the strip down!
Rad is off being reconned-having a new thermo switch installed rather than the otter
mrzigazaga said:
I plan on making a cowling out of fibreglass..possibly with two small puller fans as i have a pusher on it at the moment with no cowling..Good idea...Ziga
Hey zig-this was standard on my car as a rad surround just the fan was updated. It worked a treat before just wasn't very pretty as I finished it with metal tape to stop the air gaps! Always kept the car cool though! Never had a hot running problem, even in blistering heat at lemans Gassing Station | Wedges | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff