8 replies to this topic

[Callamm]

Im 17 and currently in the process of restoring a 1976 1275GT with my stepdad!

shes in pretty bad nick as we found it in a farmers field in the middle of the countryside in Gloucester (dont ask how, we just somehow came across her!)
floor, boot, door posts, door steps, inner wing, roof, front wings and valance, rear valance, door frame, doors and a panels all rotted away! (plus all the little holes around the windows) looking back now, i didn't realise i was taking on such a big job as my first project!!
all the floor, boot, door steps and door post are done but not really sure what to do about the roof; the actual skin is in amazing condition in comparison to the rest of the car! but its all rotted around the edges! i have no idea what to do about this because it seems a waste buying a whole new roof when the bulk of the panel is in top shape!
I've bought new heritage wings and front valance, so hopefully that should be a one day job putting them on!
everyones telling me itl be worth it in the end, but im not so sure, so i thought i'd ask the experts ;)
thats the story behind my 1275GT!

Attached Files

•  HPIM4297.JPG   54.77K   25 downloads

Edited by Callamm, 30 May 2012 - 09:25 PM.

[Down&Out]

Fabricate new guttering?

People have done it on here no problem before, dunno the extent of the problem though, upload a photo then people will be able to help you more efficiently!

[waddle]

firber glass roof?

[zengrapefruit]

Convertible? :)

[Callamm]

okay, but its really quite bad at the front of the car and i dont want the repair to be noticable, how would i repair around the edge? you cant get at it from the inside? uploaded a picture at the top; all the orange paint on the roof is filler which was used before i bought it to 'stop it rusting' (clearly didnt work!) beleive it or not my cars only had 2 previous owners!

& i wanted to maintain a metal roof, just for the reason that its strong and i want to keep the car quite standard, with only a few little twist.. thanks for the idea though

[Down&Out]

Not the greatest of photos, but that looks like surface rust, if its holed, you could let in new metal, if its really bad you could fabricate new guttering.

I hope minifcd doesnt mind me borrowing his photos, but this is what he has done. Obviously he didnt leave the roof panel in place, because hes just put a brand new heritage roof in, but the theory is the same, you could let new bits of metal in where needed.







I dont know the extent of the problem but if the roof is fudged the whole way round you might have no choice but to do what 'fcd did and get the whole roof out, do gutter repairs and put a new panel in, but like i say, i'd need to know the full extent (clearer pictures etc)

Let us know how you get on anyway!

[mickeyd515]

ok once you have rust ..... you have rust anything you do with the original roof is just putting of the obvious by the sounds of it do you really want to patch it up do a good job with the rest of car then paint it and get it on the road to find in 6 months time rust is coming through your fresh paint erm wouldnt be me just bite the bullet and get a roof panel or a really good secound hand one there is loads out5 there

[Callamm]

not the greatest of photos; but this is the extent in which the roof has rotted (second photo) .. has spots like this along all the roof- some areas are better than others!

also what do i do about the top of the door frame (connecting to the roof) as this is awful on my car & is the last MAJOR bit of rust on my car! (still loads of 'minor' things to do).. (3rd picture)

another quick question, posting up pictures about the holes around my rear windows, what can a do about these without making them look crap? (1st photo)

Attached Files

•  IMG01083-20120530-2149.jpg   44.71K   12 downloads
•  IMG01059-20120530-2143.jpg   70.4K   12 downloads
•  HPIM4289.JPG   58.34K   12 downloads

Edited by Callamm, 30 May 2012 - 09:16 PM.

[Down&Out]

Well taking minifcd as an example again, you can see where he cut out the rot and let new metal in. There is nothing 'crap' about letting new metal in, its just a case of cutting the rot out as much as neccessary, making a new piece of metal to fit, welding it in flush and then grinding it down. As minifcd has shown, you can make it look as if you'd never had rot there in the first place.

Ive never had to deal with such rust before, and have no idea how much good metal you have left, but just work back till you find a good piece of metal to attach to and then make a piece to fit, weld in etc.

Same idea with the area above the doors, you might have to cut a lot out there because a lot of it will still look like metal, but may well be 'tin foil thick' in the respect that it has corroded itself thin.

Just a disclaimer, i am by no means an expert, but in this situation, it is what i'd do. Plus its far more useful than "make it a convertable"

As for the rear windows, its the same deal, cut a slot out, weld new bit in, grind down, blah blah.

Thats all i can suggest really, i know you dont want to buy a new roof panel and i dont blame you, really costly, i wanted one to replace the roof panel with a sunroof hole in it.

May i suggest, if you dont want to buy full panels, you buy yourself a few large sheets of sheet metal, that way youve got material to work with on making the new pieces to go in.

Edited by Down&Out, 30 May 2012 - 11:55 PM.