184 replies to this topic

[Shifty]

Well, here we go again!!

I've finally bought myself the clubby estate that I should have bought ages ago!!

Its an ebay special(more of that later). Russett brown, 60k on the clock and not too bad really(honest)

Picked it up today (with a little help from Andy and Jay), the seller managed to avoid taking a picture of the bad side one ebay(and not mention it to me on the phone either) so I wasn't entirely impressed. However we did come to an arrangement so its all good now.

Passengers side is good







Its the drivers side where it all goes wrong!!








Oh dear!! I think I'll just replace the entire side panel, will be easier in the long run. Lots and lots of crappy welding as well







The seats are growing on me and the original door cards are under the crappy re-trim




The passengers side doesn't look as bad, its just the usual over sill nonsense.

I've pulled the oversill off the drivers side



I may just buy a full floor pan and cut it down to repair this side, will save messing around.

Other plans are a braker overhaul and just get him back on the road

[Timtom]

What did they do that that drivers side that its bad all the way along?! Bad accident repair?

Funny of them not to mention it though.. i can imagine your reaction when you saw it

[Shifty]

Not entirely happy but, we did a deal so it was all good.

I'm just putting together the parts list for it!!

[minimuk]

Shifty, you sold the red one yet?nice project this one,..what is the engine like? panel repair should be ok for you except the front wing, hard to come by, you reckon you can pull the dent out.

[Shifty]

Red ones gone now!!

Not worried about the front wing, thats pretty easy. Its the whacking big dent on the back that concerns me!!

Engines good, there 60k on the clock, brakes and clutch seem ok.

I'm gonna be sticking in the panel order this week!!

[minimuk]

Red ones gone now!!

Not worried about the front wing, thats pretty easy. Its the whacking big dent on the back that concerns me!!

Engines good, there 60k on the clock, brakes and clutch seem ok.

I'm gonna be sticking in the panel order this week!!

good luck, will be watching and learning

[MigliaMayhem]

Great to see another getting sorted, shame the bottoms on the shell I'm cutting up are shot or you could have had them.

[Shifty]

Well, its time to get busy!!

Not many pics but plenty of progress!!

I started on the drivers side as it was the worst one!!



Passengers side looks fairly original



Attacked it with the grinder and the plasma..





Time for a big hole!!





Big pile of rust!!


Welded in the new floor





New stiffener



New door step



And finally started to repair the lower edge of the rear wing



Hopefully I'll get most of the welding done tomorrow!!

[sonikk4]

That doorstep looked properly bodged Shifty but soo much better now.

[Shifty]

The door step was amazing, it weighed a ton!!

I reckon it was at least 30% weld!! The rest wasn't hugely bad, it just wasn't very good and I wouldn't have been happy driving around not knowing what was underneath me. Seeing what came off it, I know I made the right choice.

[Shifty]

Well had another good day at him today.

Finished off the drivers side, just need to make(or buy!!) a new crossmember end piece.





Undecided about the front wing, its a bit grotty and if I find a reasonable one at Gaydon its days are numbered!!

Next up, its the turn of the passengers side, lots of crappy welding covering the original sill..





The original inner sill was ok and just needed a couple of repairs.





Got off pretty lightly really!!

And then stuck on the new outer sill




Looks good and is very solid now, the welding is about 90% done.

Just the mechanics and body work to be done and he's ready to roll!!

[minimuk]

Shifty,
nice bit of welding, as always!!Amazing what you can do in a day.
Maybe one day I..........nah that won't happen!!!

[sonikk4]

Shifty is that a M Machine inner sill repair section you've fitted there?? If so any good and is it nice fit ie did you have to do much fettling to it.

[Shifty]

The drivers side repair is a actually a full m-machine floor panel that I cut down to the required size. I'd rather do it all in one piece than mess around using an inner sill and then a floor pan.

Its also about the same price as well, the floor pan is @£50 so its not worth messing around with really. Very happy with the panel, nice thick steel and the fit was pretty good, swage lines lined up nicely and was easy to blend in.

To be honest you can't go far wrong with M-machine stuff. If I were being hugely critical, the edge of the outer sill was quite wavy and not straight at all. Not a problem for me, but if you were doing a conkers car then it may be an issue.

[sonikk4]

The drivers side repair is a actually a full m-machine floor panel that I cut down to the required size. I'd rather do it all in one piece than mess around using an inner sill and then a floor pan.

Its also about the same price as well, the floor pan is @£50 so its not worth messing around with really. Very happy with the panel, nice thick steel and the fit was pretty good, swage lines lined up nicely and was easy to blend in.

To be honest you can't go far wrong with M-machine stuff. If I were being hugely critical, the edge of the outer sill was quite wavy and not straight at all. Not a problem for me, but if you were doing a conkers car then it may be an issue.

I found that waviness on my outer sills i bought from them as well so its not a one off then. Again not bothered about that as i straightened out the worst of it.

I just need the inner sill sections on Paddy but judging from what you have said the fit should be good.

Thanks for that.