Title: Car trouble- Alfa Blog
Post by: Lazy B'stard on June 02, 2008, 12:10:03 am
Well not so much car as owner trouble ::)
Even though the MOT is months away and car was running sweetly I started poking around the front of the drivers side sill and made a big hole.
So just 8 weeks before its long awaited return to Le Mans (it has a faded 1975 LM sticker in the rear window) I decided to sort out the body work after putting it off for years.
Now I know there was some rot in the outer sills, and the rear arches had been 'done' when the car was 'restored' in 1986. I have always intended to do these properly. But I had a bit of a shock when I started to pull it apart.
Whoever did the restoration work ( and judging by the soggy pages of the Bournemouth Echo in the OS front sill it was down on the south coast somewhere) is a bandit! I have never seen such bodgery, tonnes of filler over patches over rust.
So with just five and a half weeks left this is where we are at. Bottom 6 inches of car have been removed. Floors and chassis is still sound but need sills, rear inner arches, rear quarter panels, front lower wings, rear valence and a spare wheel well as well as dozens of smaller repairs.
Also going to need a glass out bare matal paint and there is a new exhaust, wheels, head and cams to fit plus the brake servos need a rebuild as they are both full of fluid.
So five and a half weeks. Will she make it? :...............
What have I done :o
(http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb307/sconefinger/0012a.jpg)
(http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb307/sconefinger/0012.jpg)
(http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb307/sconefinger/0012c.jpg)
Dr S
Even though the MOT is months away and car was running sweetly I started poking around the front of the drivers side sill and made a big hole.
So just 8 weeks before its long awaited return to Le Mans (it has a faded 1975 LM sticker in the rear window) I decided to sort out the body work after putting it off for years.
Now I know there was some rot in the outer sills, and the rear arches had been 'done' when the car was 'restored' in 1986. I have always intended to do these properly. But I had a bit of a shock when I started to pull it apart.
Whoever did the restoration work ( and judging by the soggy pages of the Bournemouth Echo in the OS front sill it was down on the south coast somewhere) is a bandit! I have never seen such bodgery, tonnes of filler over patches over rust.
So with just five and a half weeks left this is where we are at. Bottom 6 inches of car have been removed. Floors and chassis is still sound but need sills, rear inner arches, rear quarter panels, front lower wings, rear valence and a spare wheel well as well as dozens of smaller repairs.
Also going to need a glass out bare matal paint and there is a new exhaust, wheels, head and cams to fit plus the brake servos need a rebuild as they are both full of fluid.
So five and a half weeks. Will she make it? :...............
What have I done :o
(http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb307/sconefinger/0012a.jpg)
(http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb307/sconefinger/0012.jpg)
(http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb307/sconefinger/0012c.jpg)
Dr S
Title: Re: Car trouble- Alfa Blog
Post by: Steve Pyro on June 02, 2008, 10:19:23 am
You'll need to burn lots of midnight oil Si. Good luck!
Title: Re: Car trouble- Alfa Blog
Post by: Kev_mk3 on June 02, 2008, 11:03:36 am
good luck - you will need it!!
Title: Re: Car trouble- Alfa Blog
Post by: BigH on June 02, 2008, 11:06:25 am
Quote
I started poking around the front of the drivers side sill and made a big hole.
No, Doctor S, you made a big mistake.
I think you've broken one of the classic owners unwritten rules. I'm not exactly sure which one, as it's unwritten, but I got a sort of uncomfortable feeling when I read your post, and that usually means one of two things (the second thing hasn't really got a lot to do with motoring, but seems to be happening more often these days).
I'm glad to hear you're dong the job properly though, and I'm sure you'll be replacing the Bournemouth Echo with the Berwick Bugle, or the Tyneside Trombone if there's a copy lying around.
Good luck Johnson.
H
Title: Re: Car trouble- Alfa Blog
Post by: Lazy B'stard on June 02, 2008, 01:33:22 pm
That uncomfortable feeling doesn't have anything to do with that documentary on channel 5 last week does it?
Your not suggesting it was anything other that a screwdriver that penetrated the sill are you?
:) you dirty boy.
Thanks for the support guys- we will make it!
Rear panel has gone on this morning. Now time to start on that inner sill.
S
Your not suggesting it was anything other that a screwdriver that penetrated the sill are you?
:) you dirty boy.
Thanks for the support guys- we will make it!
Rear panel has gone on this morning. Now time to start on that inner sill.
S
Title: Re: Car trouble- Alfa Blog
Post by: Nordic on June 02, 2008, 06:05:01 pm
What a great little car, I would love one of them. I am sure it will look pukka in a few days and I look fowarad to seeing it in about a months time!
The restoration in 86 has lasted pretty well when you consider it was done with paper!
The restoration in 86 has lasted pretty well when you consider it was done with paper!
Title: Re: Car trouble- Alfa Blog
Post by: Lazy B'stard on June 02, 2008, 11:34:34 pm
Don't know about a few days Nordic, maybe weeks!
This weekends progress- rear inner and outer wheel arch on and the outer sill fitted
(http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb307/sconefinger/alfa11.jpg)
(http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb307/sconefinger/alfa111.jpg)
Rear panel on. Time to tackle that drivers side. Doors and bootlid to re-skin this week too :(
Looks like me and Peugeot have a busy time ahead!
This weekends progress- rear inner and outer wheel arch on and the outer sill fitted
(http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb307/sconefinger/alfa11.jpg)
(http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb307/sconefinger/alfa111.jpg)
Rear panel on. Time to tackle that drivers side. Doors and bootlid to re-skin this week too :(
Looks like me and Peugeot have a busy time ahead!
