Discussion
Well, here we go, finally. The old girl is back on her own wheels for the first time in at least 12 years.
15X5 wires with the correct backspacing for the Vixen, no spacers needed (probably) sporting 15/65/195 Yokos. Oh Yes.
To paraphrase the movie, At 19:10 on the 27th of July 2012 the Vixen became self-supporting!


Certan amount of suspension geometry tweeking needed
Quite pleased with myself
15X5 wires with the correct backspacing for the Vixen, no spacers needed (probably) sporting 15/65/195 Yokos. Oh Yes.
To paraphrase the movie, At 19:10 on the 27th of July 2012 the Vixen became self-supporting!

Certan amount of suspension geometry tweeking needed

Quite pleased with myself
Edited by Astacus on Friday 27th July 20:04
Thanks all,
It was really a great moment wheeling the car out of the garage for the first time. Had to rush back from work so I could get it out before the light failed!!
Next job is finsh off the diff mounts, then do the gear box seals and bearings and on to the engine. This was rebuilt by the previous owner so hopefully just a strip and check. Hoping to have the engine in by Christmas if at all possible and start on the bodywork in the new year
It was really a great moment wheeling the car out of the garage for the first time. Had to rush back from work so I could get it out before the light failed!!
Next job is finsh off the diff mounts, then do the gear box seals and bearings and on to the engine. This was rebuilt by the previous owner so hopefully just a strip and check. Hoping to have the engine in by Christmas if at all possible and start on the bodywork in the new year
Finally got around to getting some original photographs that teh last owner gave me, put onto CD ROM. So I just thought I would give you the before and after shots. Those of a delicate disposition, look away now!!


This is how it arrived chez Astacus

and now

I am going to sit the body on it in a couple of days
well
you've kind of got to havent you?

This is how it arrived chez Astacus
and now
I am going to sit the body on it in a couple of days
well
you've kind of got to havent you?

Astacus said:
I am going to sit the body on it in a couple of days
well
you've kind of got to havent you?

You need to fix a seat on the chassis so you can hold the steering wheel and make brummm, brummm noises. You know you want to!well
you've kind of got to havent you?

Nice progress, looks like a lot of hard work has gone into that.
GadgeS3C said:
You need to fix a seat on the chassis so you can hold the steering wheel and make brummm, brummm noises. You know you want to!
Nice progress, looks like a lot of hard work has gone into that.
BustedNice progress, looks like a lot of hard work has gone into that.
Even had to buy some new steering parts so I could hook the steering up!!!

It's coming on Matt! Being a tad ahead of you with my own project, I think it is worth giving serious thought to how you intend to tackle the bodywork. I spent the thick end of most weekends from May through to September last summer just grinding out cracks, reparing larger holes and bodged repairs and laying up GRP tissue. At the end of all that effort I still didn't have a finish that was suitable for painting and the truth is I didn't have the skils to get close. I think I saved about £1000 by providing a solid base for the paintshop to finish but I'm not sure all the time and effort was worth it. Just a thought before you embark on the journey.


tomtrout said:
It's coming on Matt! Being a tad ahead of you with my own project, I think it is worth giving serious thought to how you intend to tackle the bodywork. I spent the thick end of most weekends from May through to September last summer just grinding out cracks, reparing larger holes and bodged repairs and laying up GRP tissue. At the end of all that effort I still didn't have a finish that was suitable for painting and the truth is I didn't have the skils to get close. I think I saved about £1000 by providing a solid base for the paintshop to finish but I'm not sure all the time and effort was worth it. Just a thought before you embark on the journey.


Lovely job TTThanks for the advice. Thats rather made me think.
My plan was to try and do the bulk of it but accept that I was going to have to rely on a good body shop to do most of it. My shell is in rather a poor state, with some serious cracking almost all over it, but I do want to keep it. I gave a few moments thought to a spare shell I found for sale on the web, but in the end I wanted to keep as much of the old car as possible.
Making a rod for my own back I know.
I am even considering re glassing in the floor. Has anyone done it? Are floor panels available?? I noticed, when I looked at the old photos a bit closer, that the old floors are not flat, but the rear section is sunk and there is a re-inforcing panel behind the out rigger. Love to hear from anyone who has approached this.
And here we are:

Heres a close up of some of the cracking

looks like there has been some side impact damage

One of the doors has had a lot of work too.
Obviously a bit of a mess, but fixable I hope. Bonnet is not much better. I will get the worst of it done then get it to the experts
Heres a close up of some of the cracking
looks like there has been some side impact damage
One of the doors has had a lot of work too.
Obviously a bit of a mess, but fixable I hope. Bonnet is not much better. I will get the worst of it done then get it to the experts
Edited by Astacus on Friday 17th August 12:19
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