Austin A35 Project
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 5:22 pm
No pics or blogs really yet, but my "project" is to rebuild my Austin A35 2-door saloon before it is 60 (2019!). Acquired on around 1971 for the princely sum of £5, my little multiple-cream-coloured car was bought home gingerly by a mate when he found the brakes weren't so hot. Rivets digging into drums only have so much braking effect .. but once a few parts were changed (mostly by my Dad's work mates who ran a stock-car team), it became the car I learnt to drive in and my daily for a few years. I would get a few updates and "improvements" as time when by as any 17-19 year old does .. don't they?
Plans are not for a totally standard car, but for one that can cope a bit better with today's traffic and roads .. so rather than 34bhp, and 7" drum brakes, there is a 1330cc Midget engine with MK 3 Cooper head and HIF44, LCB, etc., Midget 1275 gearbox, 3.9:1 diff and Midget brakes to go on. The engine is almost complete. The wish-list is extensive and only limited by my wallet and skills. It's scary when you start to cost things up and maintain a list of how much you have spent .. word from the wise .. don't!
The car has been sat in my mother's garage since the mid 70s when I stopped using it .. I had a core plug blow and kept blocking new ones, then the alternator failed (positive earth one!) and tyres were shot .. plus it was a bit small. Being the only driver in the family I needed something a bit bigger to ferry them around ... so dived in a bought a '64 Triumph 2.5PI Mk I Estate ... which was mistake #1! But that's a different story! Needless to say, I haven't got the Triumph any more.
So my little A35 has languished in the garage being used as a dump and not accessible as there has been more and more junk piled around it making it almost impossible to get to. I did manage to get the drivers door open a few months ago and partially get in and it appears the floor is solid and also the inner sills. One outer is holed with rust so that's go to change at least. There are two patches of rust bubbles on the rear wings behind the leading edges of the bumpers. I haven't been able to get to the nearside of front. It will need a new bonnet which has been bent in! (one sibling on my other to-do list!). Luckily the roof isn't damaged!
Most of the latest paint coat has been scratched off .. which is what happens when you trust your Dad .. and he says "let's get some paint and I'll sort it for you" .. with a foam roller! Now to give him his due it did look OK .. but he really should have prepped it properly .. he worked nights at the time so a lot of this was done while I was working sensible hours and I didn't have the heart to stop him ..
Anyway it will need stripping completely, a shed load of parts replaced (a lot of which I've collected in the past two years!) and an open credit-card!!
More later .. but a little plug for the Austin A30 & A35 Owner's Club, of which I am a member, and already gaining valuable knowledge and access to parts .. http://www.austina30a35ownersclub.co.uk/Join.aspx ...
This one isn't going to end up as an Academy Racer yet ..
Apart from that I have a 1998 Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 TSpark that keeps me busy. It's done just over 205,000 miles (No not a misprint!) and is currently undergoing a head gasket repair .. not sure if this yet classifies as a classic (16 years old?) but with that mileage might be making legendary status soon!
Thanks all and really enjoying some of the posts on here ..
Might see arceye in his Austin A30 Seven one day at the National Rally!
Plans are not for a totally standard car, but for one that can cope a bit better with today's traffic and roads .. so rather than 34bhp, and 7" drum brakes, there is a 1330cc Midget engine with MK 3 Cooper head and HIF44, LCB, etc., Midget 1275 gearbox, 3.9:1 diff and Midget brakes to go on. The engine is almost complete. The wish-list is extensive and only limited by my wallet and skills. It's scary when you start to cost things up and maintain a list of how much you have spent .. word from the wise .. don't!
The car has been sat in my mother's garage since the mid 70s when I stopped using it .. I had a core plug blow and kept blocking new ones, then the alternator failed (positive earth one!) and tyres were shot .. plus it was a bit small. Being the only driver in the family I needed something a bit bigger to ferry them around ... so dived in a bought a '64 Triumph 2.5PI Mk I Estate ... which was mistake #1! But that's a different story! Needless to say, I haven't got the Triumph any more.
So my little A35 has languished in the garage being used as a dump and not accessible as there has been more and more junk piled around it making it almost impossible to get to. I did manage to get the drivers door open a few months ago and partially get in and it appears the floor is solid and also the inner sills. One outer is holed with rust so that's go to change at least. There are two patches of rust bubbles on the rear wings behind the leading edges of the bumpers. I haven't been able to get to the nearside of front. It will need a new bonnet which has been bent in! (one sibling on my other to-do list!). Luckily the roof isn't damaged!
Most of the latest paint coat has been scratched off .. which is what happens when you trust your Dad .. and he says "let's get some paint and I'll sort it for you" .. with a foam roller! Now to give him his due it did look OK .. but he really should have prepped it properly .. he worked nights at the time so a lot of this was done while I was working sensible hours and I didn't have the heart to stop him ..
Anyway it will need stripping completely, a shed load of parts replaced (a lot of which I've collected in the past two years!) and an open credit-card!!
More later .. but a little plug for the Austin A30 & A35 Owner's Club, of which I am a member, and already gaining valuable knowledge and access to parts .. http://www.austina30a35ownersclub.co.uk/Join.aspx ...
This one isn't going to end up as an Academy Racer yet ..
Apart from that I have a 1998 Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 TSpark that keeps me busy. It's done just over 205,000 miles (No not a misprint!) and is currently undergoing a head gasket repair .. not sure if this yet classifies as a classic (16 years old?) but with that mileage might be making legendary status soon!
Thanks all and really enjoying some of the posts on here ..
Might see arceye in his Austin A30 Seven one day at the National Rally!