A restoration in pictures and words
- Thread starter 38F3E1
- Start date
jamescharnley
Active member
who's doing the bodywork? Looks to be some interesting cars there.
Bodywork is being done by an old school craftsman who has been doing this for about 30/35 years. Pretty much retired but I managed to talk him into it. Mostly been done at his workshop but car has been moved to GCR in Leicester (hence the workshop full of nice cars) to be jigged which is where he will do the sills etc.
Ian.
Ian.
morris944s2john
New member
The quality of the work is great! Neatly excecutewd butt and plug welds. I bet its not cheap.
The bonnet, wings, doors, door frames and sills all need setting up at the same time to get all the pannel gaps aligned. The most fiddly bit so far. More pictures when done to show the results.
All structural work hopefully completed by the end of next week as the brackets for the jig are hired on a weeky basis and two weeks is sufficient (and expensive enough).
Once this is done we will start to look at the wheel arches themselves. Decided on 9" rear arches so will be cutting and welding on steel extensions. Also want the ability to fit 8" on the front so have decided to beat the current wings out to flare them slightly rather than fitting extensions.
All structural work hopefully completed by the end of next week as the brackets for the jig are hired on a weeky basis and two weeks is sufficient (and expensive enough).
Once this is done we will start to look at the wheel arches themselves. Decided on 9" rear arches so will be cutting and welding on steel extensions. Also want the ability to fit 8" on the front so have decided to beat the current wings out to flare them slightly rather than fitting extensions.
Wings, door, bonnet etc have all been fitted and all pannel gaps are looking lovely
Here's a close up of the bottom of the door to the new sill
Sorting the gaps was the most fiddly work to date. A lot of work had to be done especially to the new sills to get them to fit nicely.
Here's a close up of the bottom of the door to the new sill
Sorting the gaps was the most fiddly work to date. A lot of work had to be done especially to the new sills to get them to fit nicely.
Finally the car was stripped back to just the shell and removed from the jig. It's now sitting on axel stands on the rear torsion bar and front cross bar to keep it nice and straight whilst final finishing is undertaken.
The next few days will involve going over the whole shell cleaning up the welds, making sure all pannel edges are straight and flat, etc. Little details that will finish it off nicely.
The next few days will involve going over the whole shell cleaning up the welds, making sure all pannel edges are straight and flat, etc. Little details that will finish it off nicely.
That completes phase 1, which is the restoration of the shell. I can't possibly get over how pleased I am with the work that has been done.
The car will now sit for three or four weeks before phase 2 is started. Phase 2 is to prepare the shell for track/race/sprint usage. This will envolve some mods to the shell to make sure it meets MSA/FIA approval. Plus a new roll cage will fitted (decided to ditch the old partial cage). Also will be starting to source some nice goodies for the rebuild.
Phase 3 will be repaint and final build.
More to follow once phase two has started to make progress ...
Ian.
The car will now sit for three or four weeks before phase 2 is started. Phase 2 is to prepare the shell for track/race/sprint usage. This will envolve some mods to the shell to make sure it meets MSA/FIA approval. Plus a new roll cage will fitted (decided to ditch the old partial cage). Also will be starting to source some nice goodies for the rebuild.
Phase 3 will be repaint and final build.
More to follow once phase two has started to make progress ...
Ian.
Gearbox was rebuilt two years ago. Engine was completely rebuilt by previous owner about 4 years ago and I had to have a minor top end rebuild last year after, ahem how can I put it, an over-revving incident on track that bent two exhaust valves. So the car will start off with a standard 2.4E MFI engine. It's always made the power it should and runs beautifully so as much as I would like an engine with more poke for now I shall keep what I have. With the car being built very light it's enough to have fun and learn the car, which will probably have different driving characteristics once complete. Mechanical mods this year will be restricted to suspension upgrades (which is track biased already).
Next year, funds permitting, the plan is to build a hot engine for the car (300bhp target??). I'll keep it's original engine, as it's matching numbers, and bolt the hot engine in as required.
Ian.
Next year, funds permitting, the plan is to build a hot engine for the car (300bhp target??). I'll keep it's original engine, as it's matching numbers, and bolt the hot engine in as required.
Ian.
Five weeks since last post but all has not been quiet. Spent time planning phase two and now have a full list of work required. This is now underway. I'll post pictures as work progresses if I can or maybe at the end of the process.
Work decided
1/ Limited chassis strengthening ... seam welding in places plus concentrating on tightening up the front end between the turrent mounts and the front torsion bar ends.
2/ Aluminium fuel tank, still using standard filler, plus front under-guard to protect.
3/ Multipoint bolt in roll cage to FIA/MSA standards. Will have the ability to take the front out and only run the rear bar when using the car on the road. Some other nice features best left till pictures are available.
4/ Dual master cylinder pedal box with adjustable bias plus fly off handbrake.
5/ Heated front screen with left and right filaments.
6/ Poly windows side and rear (flush fitting rear).
7/ Aircraft standard lightweight wiring harness.
8/ Lighter bits (headers, lighter exhaust, starter motor, battery, etc)
9/ There is a plan for some neat wheels but not sure of the timescales yet.
10/ Suspension upgrades (lots - a whole topic on it's own).
Ian.
Work decided
1/ Limited chassis strengthening ... seam welding in places plus concentrating on tightening up the front end between the turrent mounts and the front torsion bar ends.
2/ Aluminium fuel tank, still using standard filler, plus front under-guard to protect.
3/ Multipoint bolt in roll cage to FIA/MSA standards. Will have the ability to take the front out and only run the rear bar when using the car on the road. Some other nice features best left till pictures are available.
4/ Dual master cylinder pedal box with adjustable bias plus fly off handbrake.
5/ Heated front screen with left and right filaments.
6/ Poly windows side and rear (flush fitting rear).
7/ Aircraft standard lightweight wiring harness.
8/ Lighter bits (headers, lighter exhaust, starter motor, battery, etc)
9/ There is a plan for some neat wheels but not sure of the timescales yet.
10/ Suspension upgrades (lots - a whole topic on it's own).
Ian.
simon_70T
New member
Great project Ian, and some nice pics of the excellent workmanship!
I thought I recognised GCR's workshop. Chris always has a nice array of early Porkers and Bimmers lurking in there.
Good Luck with the rest of the build, its spurred me on to get back out in the gararge and get on with mine!
Simon.
I thought I recognised GCR's workshop. Chris always has a nice array of early Porkers and Bimmers lurking in there.
Good Luck with the rest of the build, its spurred me on to get back out in the gararge and get on with mine!
Simon.
Car has now moved to the guys doing the competition bodywork prep. Here's some pictures of recent progress
First the shell has now been fully seam welded
All the welds are still to be tidied up which will be done when the whole car is given a tidy up at the end. Notice how the body has started to surface rust from just sitting around even when kept dry. This will all be removed at the end when it's dipped again and e-coated.
First the shell has now been fully seam welded
All the welds are still to be tidied up which will be done when the whole car is given a tidy up at the end. Notice how the body has started to surface rust from just sitting around even when kept dry. This will all be removed at the end when it's dipped again and e-coated.
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