Bodyshop update

Popped into the bodyshop yesterday as I had the day off work, winding down from holiday before I go back! I needed to drop the new rear door in, and was greeted by the sight of a nearly bare metal shell! The paint work had lots of microblistering in, and we decided it would be best to bare metal most of the car just to make sure there were no nasties under the old paint.

Interesting to see how the car was built. The whole of the top of the rear wings is lead....... very careful paint removal here, don't really want to have to re-lead the whole car!

Some big dents in the bonnet. Badly filled, now tapped out and leaded and looking as good as new! Strange, a blue bonnet underneath the red paint...........secondhand original?

Sill finished and leaded........... the door shuts are PERFECT now.......... they look wrong on here because they are not bolted in, just resting on the catches!!

Detail of the repaired flared rear wheel arch....... now all metal and lead as opposed to filler and rust!

Also got to see the newly built radiator....... nice job! Brian's keeping it as he needs it to make up the missing mounting bracket for the bottom mount...... looks like Del only fitted one bracket rather than two........ bodger!

Update from the bodyshop and a little trip out!

Its slow going at the bodyshop........ always knew it would be though!! This job is being fitted in around other more expensive jobs to keep the costs down. (thank god!!)

So, one side it now done. Rear arch has been rebuilt (properly, undoing the Del Lines Bodges as we go!) Now all metal and lead, rather than little metal and loads of filler!

Sill is on, just a small repair to do on the front arch where the big dent was. In an ideal world, it ought to have new front half wings. But, being as they are not available at the moment, and I can't afford it either we have elected to dig out the rot, patch and lead them up. In a few years time, they will probably want doing and by then half wings should be back available.

Also had a little time to play with the Radiator. The original car had a MKI engine and a MKI Radiator (Stag units of course) and being as I am using a MKII engine and MKII cooling system, the filler neck on this is too long and fouls the bonnet. Andy modified his bonnet, but he lent me the original radiator from Janey and it has a modified neck. Slightly shorter and over to the side a little....... so everything clears nicely.

You can only get shots like this when its up on ramps and theres no engine in....... you can see where the problem would have been. So, easy fix, we had this radiator rebuilt with a modern 4 core in is, new sides and reused the original top. Looks very nice (so I'm told, havent' actually see it yet!) and at £150 its about the same as a standard 3 core exchange rad.......... bargain!

So to the little trip. The one door on the car that is bad is the nearside rear. Estate doors don't come up very often so we were going to have to re-skin it................. that is until I found a factory original brand new estate rear door on ebay!! Had a bid and won it for £30!!! (seriously, £30!!!!) Only problem was it was a little jaunt to pick it up. So Wednesday evening saw Sam and I walking down the beach............ so come on clever people, where was I?

Fish 'n' Chips for tea................ mmmmmmmmmm.

And after lots of miles........ one brand new rust free perfect Estate rear door!!

And for those who don't know, Redditch to Brighton and back in an evening is a VERY long way!!

Rot and Filler

Update from the bodyshop......... more rot and some filler!

Discovered how the rear arches were pulled, which had puzzled quite a few of us for a while. The rear wing was cut where it joins the rear valance and by the edge of the rear pillar, and the inner was cut behind the arch lip. Pulled out, then plated over and filled........ badly!! Behind this mass of filler is now just rot!

So, all cut out.

Not much left of the orignal metal here!

New inner sill sections

Jacking points will not be reinstated. Waste of time, never jack on the sill anyway.

Rather than replace the strengthener, we elected to repair it. Using brackets made up to reinforce it to the inner. This make is very strong, but allows access to get waxoil and anti corrosive protection into both sides of the box section.

This sides nearly done, dread to think what the other side will be like!

Off to the Bodyshop!!

The day had finally arrived, Libby was going to the bodyshop to have the bodyshell restored. I wish I had the time, skill and patience of Mike Weaver who is doing the 4x4 Stag Estate.............. but I don't! So, I have to pay someone to do it for me!

Collected the trailer, hired from my usual place about 2 miles from the bodyshop........ but 40 miles from home!

As usual, greatful assistance from Bradley................saw it loaded and strapped down in no time.

Once at Brian's, he wipped the screen out for me........ I was dubious about doing this as I have never taken a screen out before and didn't want to break the very rare sundym plus top tint screen!

I turned my back for 5 minutes, and by the time the straps were folded up and put back in the boot, the screen was out!!....... clever chap this is!

Quick push on the ramps and he's off already, the tailgate fit was a bit off........ couple of minor tweaks and it fits like a glove now.......... would be better if it fitted like a tailgate............. d'oh!

Up on ramps gave us all a chance to have a good look underneath. It is as good as we hoped. Here we can clearly see the rear floor modifications, done to allow the twin silencers of the Stag exhaust system.

Inner sills look good...............

By the time we took the trailer back and got home, Colin and Amanda were already there. They were coming down for the WCR40 at Gaydon on Sunday, and staying the night with us. Very pleasant evening, with Sam's home made Spag-Bol......mmmmmmmmmm.
However, we washed the cars before dinner, and I caught Colin with a very suspicious looking bottle........ hmmmmmm

On the way home from work, I dropped in to see Brian............... one sill is off and the rusty bits all in bare metal!!!!............. he really doesn't hang about does he!?!? Anyway, all in all, pretty good.

Inner sill rotted at the bottom, but all pretty good for an original shell.

Front arch which was badly crushed now straight..... just needs a repair now.

Even the roof is good......... we were worried about what was lurking under the vinyl roof...... but its all good!

Final bits to take off

Final fews bits to do to Libby before she goes to the bodyshop. Got to remove one more piece of glass, rear bumper and towbar and remove all the gunky insulation from the inside of the bonnet.

Glass was easy....... 20 minutes and it was out.

Bumper was a swine!! All the captives were no longer captive, had to resort to a mixture of drills, junior hacksaws and an angle grinder............. 2 hours later it was finally off!!

Scraper, some petrol and lots of elbow grease soon saw the inside of the bonnet nice and clean and ready for prep/paint.......... note, MY side is done, Bradley somewhat lacking in enthusiasm!

On a lighter note, it was the Mother-In-Laws (the "out-laws" as I call them!) birthday today! (Happy Birthday Di..... I know she reads this!) so we took her out for dinner last night to the Harvester........... mmmmmm, Mixed Grill!! Anyway, we got the staff to put a candle in her Ice Cream Sundae..........!!!

After weeks of Sam playing me up and hiding my favorite cuddly Giraffe, George........... (long story, don't ask) I warned her she did it again I would have my revenge. She hid it again, so I hung her favorite teddy bear..............

Normal service will be resumed soon, Libby hopefully going to the bodyshop next weekend...... fingers crossed!

Easter Break

Well, its bank holiday weekend again which means 2 things. Camping weekend with the gang, and predictably awful weather forecast for the whole of the weekend! Probably booking to go to the West Wales coast not such a good idea for April then!

Anyway, after a very very long trip on Friday, we all arrived at the site I found, just outside Harlech in Wales. Stunning scenery and a nice quiet little site. Soon got set up and then the fun could begin........... Fish 'n' Chips and beer anyone?

Next morning we woke up to glorious sunshine, not a hint of the torrential rain that was forecast! The views from the site were amazing........ rolling hills and snow topped mountains.

Saturday we went to Port Meirion, the weird village where "The Prisoner" was filmed. Most excellent and interesting day. Sunday we decided to take trip out to Barmouth and the coast road. First thing I found was the biggest Ice-Cream Sundae I had ever seen!!.......... didn't taste very nice though!

Our very own Dave Marshall then toyed with the idea of buying a new hat to cover his receding hairline, he was tempted with this one, but we managed to talk him out of it..............

This cafe was full to bursting, not a spare seat to be had............ all we wanted was a nice cup of tea, but judging from its name, we wondered what else they sold................?

Quick hit on the beach, Dave and Jemma decided to go for a paddle. I offered Dave a bet. Strip off naked and jump in the sea (beyond crotch level!) and I would not only pay his site fees but pick up the bill for dinner that night. He was tempted, until Jemma reminded him she had a use for some of his "parts" later that evening...... he wussed out.

Back to the site, and time to introduce our mascot for the weekend. This is Scooby, the site's Border Collie. Sooooooooo cute, played fetch for hours. Tried to steal her, but I think she liked it there!

Monday morning, after a very wet and windy night it was time to pack up and head home. The trio ready to depart.............. agreeing to meet up at Oswesty Services for a light lunch.

........... and we all made it. Despite being pulled over by the Police, I was not the last to arrive!

Yes ok, ok........ I know. The number plates on my car are not strictly legal as there is'nt a space where there should be one.............but honestly, do the Police in this country have NOTHING better to do than to waste time pulling me over and spending time and money processing default notices because of a space in a number plate?!?! I know the APNR system recognizes it 'cos I got a speeding ticket off a camera last year! So, I have to put the correct plates on, take it to an MOT station, get a form signed and then send it off to the Police in Wales................. So, here is what Plod found so offensive...............

............verses what it now has to read. I know there is a right way and a wrong way, and I understand that we have rules and laws for a reason........... but, next time you see a number plate with italics, or black and silvers on a new car, or bits of tape and screws deforming charactors......... ask yourself, was mine really that bad?!! Or, next time your car gets stolen, or rammed by an uninsured driver, the reason why they can't catch them is because they are busy wasting time and OUR money on things like this............

Daft or what................