My new Toy's on it's way!
Discussion
LeeHodges said:
Steve_D said:
Mine was worse than yours.
Wow, Steve, is that your original chassis then? Looking great either way. I can't imagine a chassis that's worse than mine so it must've been a shock when your body came off!.......This we believe is climbing frame tube carefully hidden with underseal
Steve
It is probably fair to say that that chassis was sub-optimal and in need of a little wax oil.....
Climbing frame tube may be stronger than original. That said, if you have gone to that effort, why not just do it properly? Or had they stuffed the climbing frame tube in without lifting the body or welding it?
Steve, clearly that is extreme, but is the "average" chassis (if there is such a thing) that comes into your workshop just in need of outriggers or do you see a fair few "extremely f&&&ed" ones such as in your photos?
Climbing frame tube may be stronger than original. That said, if you have gone to that effort, why not just do it properly? Or had they stuffed the climbing frame tube in without lifting the body or welding it?
Steve, clearly that is extreme, but is the "average" chassis (if there is such a thing) that comes into your workshop just in need of outriggers or do you see a fair few "extremely f&&&ed" ones such as in your photos?
BIG DUNC said:
Lee, did you get the photos I e mailed you?
I did Duncan; I did reply at the time so I hope that came through. Looks great! By the time I get to body on stage, it'll then be carpeting/trimming/painting/electrics stage too, so I'll have to be patient even though it'll look like it's close!
LeeHodges said:
BIG DUNC said:
Lee, did you get the photos I e mailed you?
I did Duncan; I did reply at the time so I hope that came through. Looks great! By the time I get to body on stage, it'll then be carpeting/trimming/painting/electrics stage too, so I'll have to be patient even though it'll look like it's close!I am at the electrics stage. Or more specifically, the sorting out the mess in the passenger footwell stage.
Then I just have to fit the manifolds (should arrive this week) and water hoses and it is time to turn the key.
I am not going to paint it. The paint is not that bad and this is going to be used rather than a show queen. Besides, I am out of budget.
The trim was pretty good. I wasn't going to glue all the carpet down until I have been and got an MOT.
I managed to find some time on Sunday to slip off into the garage whilst my wife wasn't looking. I just needed to finish removing the engine and gearbox mounts and brackets (I supported both and completely removed these to make things easier at lift time) and then had to remove the gear lever and remote. Despite taking out the bolts in the linkage, it wouldn't come away from the lever. I had to remove the four bolts holding the lever and remote as well as the bolt on the end of the remote by the bell-housing. Not sure if this is usual but I assume not. However, off it all came.
Next was to drain the box; as the prop bolts were rounding earlier, I still had the prop on the back of the box and I didn't want it vomiting its contents over my garage floor. Time for my bespoke oil-capture device. However, ingenious as it was(!), the presence of the trolley jack meant I couldn't get it far enough under the drain plug to avoid said vomiting. Time to rifle through the recycling bin for inspiration. Perfect, the Easter Egg gift that keeps on giving...
With the gearbox's stomach pumped, I then used the lift to raise the engine; this was a little trickier than I would imagine using a engine hoist would be as I had to roll the chassis back and forth to release the engine instead of the hoist, if that makes sense. At one point I turned around to see Paddington, I mean my wife, watching me closely after "Body-Lift Gate"!
Still, out it came.
So next is to relieve it of its wishbones, diff/prop, hubs and callipers. Full (ish) steam ahead!
Next was to drain the box; as the prop bolts were rounding earlier, I still had the prop on the back of the box and I didn't want it vomiting its contents over my garage floor. Time for my bespoke oil-capture device. However, ingenious as it was(!), the presence of the trolley jack meant I couldn't get it far enough under the drain plug to avoid said vomiting. Time to rifle through the recycling bin for inspiration. Perfect, the Easter Egg gift that keeps on giving...
With the gearbox's stomach pumped, I then used the lift to raise the engine; this was a little trickier than I would imagine using a engine hoist would be as I had to roll the chassis back and forth to release the engine instead of the hoist, if that makes sense. At one point I turned around to see Paddington, I mean my wife, watching me closely after "Body-Lift Gate"!
Still, out it came.
So next is to relieve it of its wishbones, diff/prop, hubs and callipers. Full (ish) steam ahead!
BIG DUNC said:
Nice pictures.
Is that the body still sitting on top of the lift?
At this rate it wont take you long to strip the suspension.
That will be fully stripped down and stage one complete.
Then the time consuming and expensive phase starts.
Yes Duncan, the body's secreted up in the air, out of the way. I know what you mean about the expensive phase; I'm already mentally putting together a chassis-related parts list and I think the postman's going to end up wearing out the path to my door! Either him or my bank manager. And by bank manager, I mean my wife.Is that the body still sitting on top of the lift?
At this rate it wont take you long to strip the suspension.
That will be fully stripped down and stage one complete.
Then the time consuming and expensive phase starts.
As I was taking mine apart I wrote a list of parts I would need. Everything from nuts & bolts to major items.
One day in Jan, just before the chassis came back, I sat at the computer and spent a couple of grand in one evening. Since then, almost every Sunday eve, after coming in from the garage I have been on line to order something. My wife is on first name terms with the all the local delivery drivers and posties. (& for that matter with all the local motor factors "dear, when you are in town this week, could you just pop in and get...")
One day in Jan, just before the chassis came back, I sat at the computer and spent a couple of grand in one evening. Since then, almost every Sunday eve, after coming in from the garage I have been on line to order something. My wife is on first name terms with the all the local delivery drivers and posties. (& for that matter with all the local motor factors "dear, when you are in town this week, could you just pop in and get...")
Bit of an update. I've had a difficult couple of weeks due to family birthdays and falling the grand total of a few inches onto my rib cage, which resulted in enough pain to keep me out of the garage for the best part of a week. I wish I could say that I was doing something brave or manly, like wresting a criminal, or a crocodile, but alas I was just stretching over a kitchen table... 
However, I have caught up a bit and have now stripped the chassis down completely. It's off to Central for a little TLC.
I now need to somehow get my engine up to Dom for a checkover (not looking forward to that school report), and may get my gearbox and diff checked out whilst they're on the floor. I've just taken delivery of my rear caliper rebuild kit from Biggred, so that's one of the next jobs on the list
However, I have caught up a bit and have now stripped the chassis down completely. It's off to Central for a little TLC.
I now need to somehow get my engine up to Dom for a checkover (not looking forward to that school report), and may get my gearbox and diff checked out whilst they're on the floor. I've just taken delivery of my rear caliper rebuild kit from Biggred, so that's one of the next jobs on the list
David Beer said:
Hi Lee
Iam thinking my outriggers were not done as charged for !
If you remember the gearbox has done maybe 1000 miles since its rebuild. So let’s hope that was done!
Glad you are getting better after your ‘fall’.
Hi David!Iam thinking my outriggers were not done as charged for !
If you remember the gearbox has done maybe 1000 miles since its rebuild. So let’s hope that was done!
Glad you are getting better after your ‘fall’.
Ha, yes, I think we can safely say that they need doing again!
Re: the box / diff checks, I'm just paranoid that I will bolt them back in 'as is' only to find something's degraded due to it's time out on the naughty step!
Hi Lee,
Sorry to hear about your fall.
My diff and gearbox went back in “as is” other than new oil. I don’t see how they will deteriorate in a long layup provided they aren’t full of water. At the end of the day I could not afford to rebuild everything “in case”.
Both my coil and alternator packed up during lay-up despite being new recently before the car came off the road.
Sorry to hear about your fall.
My diff and gearbox went back in “as is” other than new oil. I don’t see how they will deteriorate in a long layup provided they aren’t full of water. At the end of the day I could not afford to rebuild everything “in case”.
Both my coil and alternator packed up during lay-up despite being new recently before the car came off the road.
BIG DUNC said:
Hi Lee,
My diff and gearbox went back in “as is” other than new oil. I don’t see how they will deteriorate in a long layup provided they aren’t full of water.
When I took out the seats and the carpets beneath, the water cascaded from them all over the floor, so I think the water table's high on this one!My diff and gearbox went back in “as is” other than new oil. I don’t see how they will deteriorate in a long layup provided they aren’t full of water.
Podie said:
Good to see another being saved and given the TLC it deserves. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Podie 
Hi folks
I thought I ought to update this thread on progress, if that is the appropriate word here. Truth be told, progress has been running on four cylinders for the last couple of weeks and due to my Aus/NZ trip for three weeks, it’ll cut out altogether. I did float the idea of filling my suitcase with brake parts, hub carriers and wire brushes, but that went down like a dropped socket (more about that later).
So last week I had finialised the stripping of the chassis and divorced the engine from the gearbox, strapping it up ready for Shipley to pick it up and take it to Dom’s. I had to literally hoover it off so that Powers didn’t take one look at it and send it straight back from whence it came.
I have since had a call from Andy at Powers just to have me explain what the score was with it; it was at this point where I had my first dose of “managing expectations” as he seems to think that simply due to the time it’s been standing, it’ll likely need it’s third rebuild in around 1000 miles or so…
Whilst I await the chassis being collected from Central, I’ve turned my attention to those bits I’ve taken off and need further attention. I do seem to be at that well documented point where you wander aimlessly around the garage, peering into boxes full of dismembered parts, wondering what to tackle next before deciding that the best course of action is to make another cup of tea. And maybe take a biscuit with it. I am of the mindset that whilst things are off it may as well be overhauled, so that’s making it a bigger job, but seems the right way to go.
Eventually I decided to strip down the hubs as they had largely been removed ‘wholesale’ from the chassis. This, I have decided, is not always the best way around doing it as sometimes seized bolts are easier to remove with the weight of the car holding things in place!
I almost literally had a shock when I was using my hand grinder to clean off a rear upright; I’ve had this grinder since I renovated my Triumph Spitfire Mk4, way back in Ninteen ninety something, as a fresh-faced collage student (I felt pretty cool driving a Spitfire when most of my friends were blasting around in Vauxhall Nova’s!). Anyway, the thing decided enough was enough and it declared this by way of a huge bang and flash of fire. To my credit, I didn’t drop the thing on my foot, which would have made the socket incident look tame (more about that in a mo).
Once I’d regained control over my bowels, I decided that I should progress onto bush removal. This I did by using a small socket, the upright, a large ‘receptacle’ socket and a vice. It’s a good method, but it does take considerable dexterity to hold in line the big socket, small socket and upright whilst trying to adjust the vice. Inevitably it was before I’d pioneered the process of placing a small hole punch through the end of the bush and into the larger socket to hold those two in place that I managed to flip the (typically) larger of the two sockets into the air and over the front of the bench. Was I wearing my recently purchased steel toe-capped boots? Of course not, I was wearing my 1 micron-thin trainers. The size 20+ socket hit my size 9+ little toe and the next few minutes was lost in a haze of pain and swearing.
After this, I moved on to removing the upper and lower ball joints on a front hub. The lower came off without too much drama, but could I get the upper off? No chance. Even my trusty fork-style splitter and a hammer had no effect. I ended up removing the pinch bolt (oh, and that didn’t want to come off either…) and taking off the cone section. However, despite my undeniable ingenuity, I still couldn’t remove the ball joint. Looks like that will be haunting me over the next three or four weeks until I get time to look at it again.
Sigh. At least the chassis getting collected tomorrow, so fingers crossed that should be getting worked on whilst I am away (although I may block the calls from Powers until I return!)
Sorry for the info-dump.
Have fun!
I thought I ought to update this thread on progress, if that is the appropriate word here. Truth be told, progress has been running on four cylinders for the last couple of weeks and due to my Aus/NZ trip for three weeks, it’ll cut out altogether. I did float the idea of filling my suitcase with brake parts, hub carriers and wire brushes, but that went down like a dropped socket (more about that later).
So last week I had finialised the stripping of the chassis and divorced the engine from the gearbox, strapping it up ready for Shipley to pick it up and take it to Dom’s. I had to literally hoover it off so that Powers didn’t take one look at it and send it straight back from whence it came.
I have since had a call from Andy at Powers just to have me explain what the score was with it; it was at this point where I had my first dose of “managing expectations” as he seems to think that simply due to the time it’s been standing, it’ll likely need it’s third rebuild in around 1000 miles or so…
Whilst I await the chassis being collected from Central, I’ve turned my attention to those bits I’ve taken off and need further attention. I do seem to be at that well documented point where you wander aimlessly around the garage, peering into boxes full of dismembered parts, wondering what to tackle next before deciding that the best course of action is to make another cup of tea. And maybe take a biscuit with it. I am of the mindset that whilst things are off it may as well be overhauled, so that’s making it a bigger job, but seems the right way to go.
Eventually I decided to strip down the hubs as they had largely been removed ‘wholesale’ from the chassis. This, I have decided, is not always the best way around doing it as sometimes seized bolts are easier to remove with the weight of the car holding things in place!
I almost literally had a shock when I was using my hand grinder to clean off a rear upright; I’ve had this grinder since I renovated my Triumph Spitfire Mk4, way back in Ninteen ninety something, as a fresh-faced collage student (I felt pretty cool driving a Spitfire when most of my friends were blasting around in Vauxhall Nova’s!). Anyway, the thing decided enough was enough and it declared this by way of a huge bang and flash of fire. To my credit, I didn’t drop the thing on my foot, which would have made the socket incident look tame (more about that in a mo).
Once I’d regained control over my bowels, I decided that I should progress onto bush removal. This I did by using a small socket, the upright, a large ‘receptacle’ socket and a vice. It’s a good method, but it does take considerable dexterity to hold in line the big socket, small socket and upright whilst trying to adjust the vice. Inevitably it was before I’d pioneered the process of placing a small hole punch through the end of the bush and into the larger socket to hold those two in place that I managed to flip the (typically) larger of the two sockets into the air and over the front of the bench. Was I wearing my recently purchased steel toe-capped boots? Of course not, I was wearing my 1 micron-thin trainers. The size 20+ socket hit my size 9+ little toe and the next few minutes was lost in a haze of pain and swearing.
After this, I moved on to removing the upper and lower ball joints on a front hub. The lower came off without too much drama, but could I get the upper off? No chance. Even my trusty fork-style splitter and a hammer had no effect. I ended up removing the pinch bolt (oh, and that didn’t want to come off either…) and taking off the cone section. However, despite my undeniable ingenuity, I still couldn’t remove the ball joint. Looks like that will be haunting me over the next three or four weeks until I get time to look at it again.
Sigh. At least the chassis getting collected tomorrow, so fingers crossed that should be getting worked on whilst I am away (although I may block the calls from Powers until I return!
)Sorry for the info-dump.
Have fun!
Good update.
Why did Dom think it would need a rebuild despite so few miles since the last one?
I can relate to your strip down process. It took me longer to strip the chassis than it did to separate the body from the chassis.
I was lucky with bushes. I took all the wishbones to my friends workshop and took over his hydraulic press for a day.
Refitting I used the vice in the garage and bent the handle (large bar involved). This was also a tool I have had since 1990 ish when my mates had Novas. I was running around in a scimitar at the time.
Enjoy your holiday.
Why did Dom think it would need a rebuild despite so few miles since the last one?
I can relate to your strip down process. It took me longer to strip the chassis than it did to separate the body from the chassis.
I was lucky with bushes. I took all the wishbones to my friends workshop and took over his hydraulic press for a day.
Refitting I used the vice in the garage and bent the handle (large bar involved). This was also a tool I have had since 1990 ish when my mates had Novas. I was running around in a scimitar at the time.
Enjoy your holiday.
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