1658 replies to this topic

[tedmcedd]

Nice work! the front would be perfect were it not for that gap... you'll sort it though, i know you will! lol im gonna have to get me some sexy catches... hmm....

[Deathrow]

Go on, both of you! You know you want them!

I'll fettle that gap in to submission tomorrow.

[deemo]

Hello Mr progress!
This has moved on since I last had a peek. Nice work
Having a deadline is definitely going to help too. Think I'm going to set one myself now...

[Deathrow]

Hello Mr progress!
This has moved on since I last had a peek. Nice work
Having a deadline is definitely going to help too. Think I'm going to set one myself now...

Cheers deemo .

Yeah, giving yourself little deadlines does seem to help to some degree.

Sadly this week I've had a really bad week on it so I've not really got very far. I'm hoping I'll have the front end welded in place tomorrow, finally! I just want to be really happy with the gaps before I finalise it all.

[Deathrow]

Righto!

I know I've been quiet the last few days and that is primarily because I've been having a huge break down about the fit of my bonnet! However, I've had a good chat with my good friend Pete and he gave me some sound advice which today I have acted on.

I acquired myself a decent bonnet which I knew was straight and the correct dimensions and started to fettle the front end to fit it. It lead me to discover had I not done this my slam panel would have been about 5mm too far back than it should have been.


Overall view.


Passenger side gap.


Driver side gap.

As you can see, the gaps are much better to the steel bonnet so I guess that leaves my fiberglass bonnet being at fault. I'm not sure which way to go with it yet but at least with the steel bonnet I can get the front end in the right place and welded together, then I can worry about bonnet selection later!

Tomorrow I hope to finalise the fettling of the front and start welding it on. A little behind schedule but what can you do?

Thanks for looking and a big thankyou to Pete for putting up with me! I owe you a drink sir!

[Deathrow]

Well got some work done today!


Fettled gaps a bit more, got to a good place with them.


Everything now tacked together.


Passenger side front seams.


Driver side front seams.


Started plug welding.


Other side.


How I left it today as it was aleady 6pm.

Aim for tomorrow is to complete the plug welding, drop the subframe out and do what needs to be done under the wings before seam sealing the lot ready for painting, while the seam sealer is going off I shall start to strip the back of the engine bay, again ready for paint.

Thanks for looking .

[GreaseMonkey]

Nice gaps

I ordered them Aero catches the other day, god they're expensive

[Deathrow]

Cheers .

Yeah they're a bit pricey, mine will be for sale if I decide to keep the metal bonnet.

[jayare]

Gaps are looking much better with the steel bonnet. Hope I can get mine as good as yours,

JR

[Deathrow]

Gaps are looking much better with the steel bonnet. Hope I can get mine as good as yours,

JR

Thanks mate, yeah I guess the fiberglass counterparts just can't cut the mustard in these areas, if you want good gaps, metal seems to be the way to go.

Fettle fettle fettle my good friend! Just don't give up, it seems to be usually if something won't quite line up, something is wrong elsewhere so keep an eye out and don't write any part of the nose off as "done" until it's all looking spot on.

[Deathrow]

Some more done today:


A-panel joins and wing to inner wing joins all welded up.


Welded the front panel to the inner wing, will add some more to this once the running gear is out of the way.


How I left her.

I'm going to head back to the garage once I've eaten my tea. I want to finish dropping the front subframe out so that I can complete the front end welding tomorrow.

Thanks for looking .

[1275 SPRITE]

Looking good now, nice progress on the bodywork front. It will be in paint soon! I bought a fibreglass bonnet too, offered it up to the car, put tight up into the wing / scuttle panel and there was a gap down the opposite side wing (similar to yours) but about 10mm at least. The fit was dreadfull. I dont know how they can be sold as a direct fit because they are awefull. I opted to go back to the original bonnet too.

[Deathrow]

Yeah, they really are a bit dissapointing. Mine fitted great with the fiberglass front but it couldn't be used with a steel front end and end up with good panel gaps, which is pretty important to me.

I'm hoping it will be in paint before too long as well James! I hope yours is too .

Righto, I went back to the garage to finish what I was doing:


After nearly an hour fighting with the steering rack I finally got it all off.


Time to investigate this *gulp*.


But all is well! Just surface rust where the paint has peeled a bit.


This was the worst bit and even this is sound, just needs wire wheeling.


Tucked back away ready for tomorrow.

Got some bits of welding to finish up on the front end then I'll be spending my time dressing all the welds.

Thanks for looking .

[GraemeC]

Looking good bud - cracking on nicely.

Just wish you'd posted these pics about 3 weeks ago - I now realise I've routed my brake and fuel lines slightly wrong!

[Deathrow]

Sorry Graeme! I'd have loved to have posted that picture 3 weeks ago too as it'd have meant I wasn't scraping the edge of my schedule! Haha.

How have you routed them?