1498 replies to this topic

[markyB]

Great work Ben !

[Ben_O]

Thanks everyone!

 

Ben

[deepee71]

Great progress Ben!

Andy

[ger]

[Ben_O]

I put the panels back on today to check the gaps so i can start perfecting them.

 

I do have a couple of questions if anyone can shed any light.

 

The main question is about the bonnet gap.

Here is what i have towards the front. The Wing appears to be too tall at the front. It is a magnum panel so i know that could be the reason. 

So, is this right or do i need to modify the wing tobring the edge down more in line with the height of the bonnet?

 

 

I can, raise the bonnet to compensate because the gap on the front edge is pretty much ok

 

 

The tape is there to hold the front edge of the bonnet over. It moves easily (as you can see, it holds perfectly well with cheap masking tape)

 

The gap down between the bonnet and wing is even if not a tad wide. I'm not worried about the width yet as once the other wing can be put on, i can move the bonnet over if the other side is too narrow

 

 

The gap across the back of the bonnet looks ok. It seems too wide but i think it needs to be that width so that the back corners of the bonnet clear the scuttle when opening and closing the bonnet?? (it just clears with it in this position)

 

 

The back edge of the door looks ok. It's about the right width at the window frame

 

 

And the body of the door too but looks too wide above where the handle goes. Ill see what this is like once i have re-sinned the door.

 

 

I currently have one spacer on each hinge. I tried it with 2 on the top and it improved the gap above the handle but made the rest too tight and opened the gap up too much at the front of the door to the apex panel.

 

The width of the apex panel to door gap is about right

 

 

I need to take the top in slightly and there is room to move the flange over so that will be fine.

The door however does not sit evenly flush from to to bottom as in this picture

 

 

It is ok towards the top but the bottom needs adjusting. I don't really want to start making the hinge holes bigger so i will probably slit the bottom 8"of the flange with the apex panel off and move it in. I can't see it affecting anything else and it would bring it in lovely and flush.

 

This is where i left it today

 

 

So if anyone can shed any light on particularly the bonnet height issue, i would appreciate it. perhaps someone wouldn't mind checking their own to see what it's like?

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[Ben_O]

Today was spent doing little bits and pieces.

 

I started by cleaning the back edge of the Apex panel and the flange that it folds around. And then sprayed them both up with zinc primer.

 

 

 

 

You can see in the last photo that i put 3 6mm holes in the back edge of the Apex panel as i have decided to plug weld it to the flitch.

 

While that was drying, I decided to add some seam welds to between the flitch and the A post stiffener.

Here are the top two

 

 

I don't quite know what happened to the bottom one but it went a bit funny. I just knocked the blobby bit off with the grinder.

 

 

Then i did another 4 on the bottom half.

 

 

I plan to do more of this around the car to stiffen it all up a bit.

 

I kicked the old A post across the floor by accident and noticed something in the process.

 

 

I need to drill a small hole in the new one for the courtesy light switch screw so i promptly did

 

 

I'm glad i noticed that now rather than once it's painted!

 

I then sprayed a little Zinc on the inside of the flitch

 

 

Whilst that was drying, i turned my attention back to the apex panel

 

Here it is clamped back up

 

 

The bolster was to pry gently against the door so that the Apex panel would sit tight to the flitch whilst welding

And then plug welded

 

 

I took the door back off and started folding the edge of the Apex panel over. It's exactly the same process as skinning a door and it is important to take your time, hold the dolly tight against the face of the panel and fold the lip over in sections.

Fold the whole thing over about a 1/4 top to bottom, then repeat taking it over to about 1/2 way and then repeat taking it back all the way. 

My pecking hammer came in handy here as i could use the pecking end to get right in there

 

Here is where i hold my dolly, right on the edge with a fairly firm grip

 

 

Then once finished, i cleaned the edge of the Apex panel back and also the front edge of the door before bolting it back on to check the gaps

 

 

Note all the filler in the bottom of the door, there is tonnes. Oh well, a new skin will go on later.

 

 

I then put on some primer on the edges just to get a better view of the gaps

 

 

It will still need some fettling later but it's close enough for this stage in the game

 

 

Whilst that dried, i made these up 

 

 

Which go here

 

 

 

Then i cleaned the back edge of the a panel up

 

 

Then set about making one of these

 

 

So started off with a flat piece of steel

 

 

Then wrapped it round an old gas bottle to form a cylinder which goes in here

 

 

And welded

 

 

 

Then made these

 

 

Which go here

 

 

Next job was to mod this

 

 

By removing this

 

 

And then weld this in it's place

 

 

 

 

Which goes here

 

 

And that was it for today!

 

Comments welcome as usual

 

Cheers 

 

Ben

[Carlos W]

Wow, that is all

[Ben_O]

Wow, that is all

Cheers mate!

 

It's only little bits and bobs but it's progress and those few bits took me 6 hours! But it's always the small bits that take the time.

[Ben_O]

Just found some before pictures. 

 

 

 

I keep forgetting about back then

[Carlos W]

I bet there was a hole behind the shock mount.

 

I had to trim the lip on the outer wings to get the bonnet gap correct

[Ben_O]

I bet there was a hole behind the shock mount.

 

I had to trim the lip on the outer wings to get the bonnet gap correct

Actually, there wasn't!

 

 

 

It was about the only solid bit about it!

[ger]

I don't suppose you have any pics of the actual process of folding over the a-panel around the stiffner.

 

Ger

[Ben_O]

I don't suppose you have any pics of the actual process of folding over the a-panel around the stiffner.

 

Ger

I don't but i will explain it tomorrow when i have more time.

 

Ill post up here about it

 

Ben

[Hendred]

Wicked as always Ben

[dprac1ng]

It's pretty cool to be able to compare before and after. :) Slight difference in strength and condition! Great job Ben.