920 replies to this topic

[SAL 821X]

Good work Darrren.

I have a full cross member waiting for the van just not sure if I replace the hole thing or just the side I've cut out yet.

I took haven't been in the garage for almost 3 weeks. As you say cold and dark! need to get going though springs looming.

Matt

[grahama]

Excellent work Darren.

[Minidarren83]

Cheers fellas its coming along ok and Matt I would recommend doing the whole panel, if the first half was rusted away you can bet the second half won't be far behind.

Got a little more time today before the darkness I made some more dollies fur the car as my old ones pushed the floor up I will get a picture of them in the next update and I also got a few screwed in the crossmember and a few more tacks so now only needs a bit of hammer work to fit the tunnel and I have decided it would be easier to make the tunnel fit the panel rather than trying to change the shape of a pressed panel so next update should see it all done

Cheers Darren

[brum,brum,mike]

Have you got any ideas on what your planning for the engine, colour etc?

[Minidarren83]

Hi mike yes the engine will be bored out +40 to get rid of the bore wear a 276 cam worked head with larger valves and ports ect other little bits in there and a hif44 as for the car it will be brilliant white with piano black roof carbon headlight rings tail lights and anything else I can make or skin with it ,carbon gp2 wides, flip up front with van pressed grill on custom hinges maybe electric ram too, all black 10" revos fiesta brake conversion full braided brake and fuel lines run internal with battery cable some sort of custom dash in carbon and non mini seats plus anything else I can make from carbon and a home made Union Jack headlining oh and the most controversial thing I'm thinking of power steering just for the fun of it

[brum,brum,mike]

come on then... get on with it ;)

sounds like its going to look good :)

[Minidarren83]

UPDATE!!!

got an early start at work today so was done at 1 so strait in the garage and my first job was to finaly remove all the bracing as the floor is now solid and both steps and sills are on so out it came and this will now bw made into my front subby brace bars, then i pulg welded the drivers side of the crossmember in but my welder was not happy today and was pretty moch spitting at me but got it done in the en,d when it came to the end i decided to seam weld the end tabs down as it was a little short of being flush but as i was welding the inner sill it warped and pulled further away from the tab and like an idiot i just carried on welding instead of pulling the sill out and carrying on











i am bitterly disappointed in this as it also pulled one side down but its done now and i cant redo it so just need to fill in the plug holes and thats side done with after this i could not bring myself to do the other side just put a few tacks in and lots of self tapper and it now ready to weld but it will wait. so to cheer myself up i did this





the main reason for this was when i was cleaning out the car i put my hand inside the quarter and paint was flaking off the waist rail and with a little brushing it looked like this



its not that bad and after some kurust and primer it looked like this and is not that bad and will pass



i still have all the lips and trimming to do but the first trail fit of the pattern wing was good not prfect but good





and then the blackout hit and play was stopped for the day so thats all for now

darren

[grahama]

Darren,

great fit on the cross member you have done a great job there. Nice fit as you say for a pattern quarter, where are the problems with it?? Soon be all welded up !!

Graham

[Carlos W]

Darren, you've got more done in 4 months than I have in 2 years

[Minidarren83]

Darren,

great fit on the cross member you have done a great job there. Nice fit as you say for a pattern quarter, where are the problems with it?? Soon be all welded up !!

Graham

The problem I gave with the crossmember are at the end where the tabs are for the sill I decided to seam weld it but did not out tacks in firsts so the sill just sank away from me and I panicked and just carried on welding I should have known better at this stage of the resto to stop and fix it but hey ho it will have carpet there anyway.

Carlos it has slowed down now for the winter but I do seam to get alot if early days at work so that helps I get more done during the week than at the weekends

[jonny f]

Looking great Darren keep it up!

[Minidarren83]

Cheers jonny I am trying but it's getting so cold in the garage lol

[jonny f]

I know what you mean. Our's has water seeping in at the back with all this rain.

[william_clubman]

floor look good now mate

[hughJ]

Wow Darren, its is fairly moving along. Your doing a brave job! I'm glad I didn't have so much to do.

Hugh