Practically Classics Forum

Here is the last of my threads that I previously started on another site before finding this one.

I do have a 93 MX5 also along side the Alfa,Saab and MG but its a bit boring really as nothing goes wrong and is it a classic yet.

Thought I would post some pics of my other Ebay impulse purchase from about a year ok. My father in law told me at dinner he always wanted a Roadster so that night I bought one on ebay and told him to clear the garage.
Got it transported down and decided to do a light resto. But after started to strip it down realised there was alot to be done! So started by cutting the rear panel out and the boot floor. Replaced with brand new panels. Then both floors came out (hours of spot weld removing!!!) and new panels went in, but before they could I ahd to replace one out rigger and jacking point plus replace a section of the chassis rail. Small sections of the footwells also needed doing.
Latest work has involved stripping the engine dow as it decided to go the whole hog and do a full respray and nut and bolt resto.
Got all new bushes and new springs for under but need to get ton of old waxoyl off first!
Got a full chrome bumper conversion kit to go on too. The Alfa and the Saab now have distracted me a bit but determined to get sorted for the summer.












Going to get the engine out and do overhaul, but as its a project with my father in law its going to stay standard, although got all poly bushes and new konis to tighten it up underneath.

The rear was in a bad way. Cut boot out and rear panel.

Since welded in boot panel but needed to repair the bottom edge of the rear under the lights.

New panels for this section ar enon exsistent unless you spend £500 a shot on the whole side panel as well.

So set about cutting out the rot to good metal and making my own repair panels. Welded in bit by bit to avoid warp, ground down and then leaded. Since fitted the new rear panel will post pics.





Well the Saab bits didnt get put on and the Alfa did not get its coolant change as I got backon the MGB with my fathe rin law over the weekend and we really made some progress!!

First I welded the new rear panel up where it wraps round the sides to join the rear quarters, leaded it after grinding and gave a skim of filler splashed with some red paint I had about ready for a final rub down -


Also welded in and ground down the rear panel where it meet just by the rear lights area. Again leaded and skimmed wih filler and splashed with paint ready fro final shaping and smoothing. Started recreating the two seam lines at the rear but changed my mind, going for a totally smooth rear end -



Then we dedcided it was time to stip everything underneath ready for the new lower front spring and uprated rear leaf springs and bushes. Firs tto go was front cross member with the discs suspension etc on it. Just 4 bolts and its out thankfully I had been dousing everytthing in WD40 for months in prep, got it on the work bench , time to pop the springs out -

New shorter ones ready to go in

Then started stripping the bits off

Once it was all off gave it a going over with a knotted brush

Move to the rear to get the rear koni's and leaf springs out


Time to get the rear axle out, again thanks to liberal WD it was all just easy spannering


So totally naked under there now (you can see the new boot panel on the right I fitted a while ago)

And finally out with the prop shaft
.
We where going to get the engine out but had no straps for the new hoist. But all ready for scrapping off the old underseal,, POR 15 and then re -waxoyl. Funny how a "light resto" turns into a nut and bold rebuild!!

MGB Porn! I love it!!!

I'm restoring my GT to V8 spec and you have given me incredibly itchy feet for I can only work on mine 2 weekends a month or so when I go home to my parents, here is the linky

http://www.practicallyclassics.co.uk/vi ... f=12&t=759

Like you I have to do some minor welding and then coat the underside in POR-15. The front suspension is aready done! Keep us updated

Just checked out your thread mate, nice work, nothing like a nice coat of POR on the grubby bits!

Small update, completed the engine bay media blast, and also did the rad panel at the same time. Going to Zinc prime it all now and then uncoat and going for red top coat.

Also got all the underseal off the inside of the front wheel arch , slow going other side and back ones to do. Luckily so much of the underside is new there is no underseal to get off lol!!

I see its been a few colours in its life./

Just a few lol!

You can always tell that a car's going to be a pig to restore when the hyenas are circling it when you get it home

(see first photo)

Well been busy couple of weeks and not had the time to post.

Mostly work on the MGB. Bit on the ever relaible MGB. The Alfa has been sitting really nothing done.

First job on the MGB was sandblasting the dash off paint and covering in primer ready for the arrival of the new crinkle paint


When sandblasting the engine bay I found it over all very good. But there was one small section of rot on the left side towards the top. It needed to be cut out and new metal put in. I had covered the whole engine bay in weld through high zinc to protect while I get round to painting, so not problem welding to.
Iused the old "card and dirty finger" to size up the patch as I wanted to butt weld. Covered the patch in weld through to protect the back well. Was not happy with neatness of welding as just could not get enough light wilth the mask on in the garage and difficult angle, I had wanted not to have to use filler at all. But int he end after grinding it did need a small skim to be perfectly smooth. Trying a new filler as Im alway parnoid the normal stuff absorbs moisture if not painted right away. So this one has metal in it so less likely I guess?!? I also put a little filler ins some areas that has some pitting to give a pefectly smooth finish. THen covered it all in the high zinc again ready for normal primer then the paint.













The Alfa loked on jealous of no attention as always

I also did a small repair on the Mazda the same day. I had a 50p size rusty whole in the front wing. I'll be honest I fibreglassed for the moment as its running so well I did not want to take to much time out and I really need to replace the whole wing as crust on the arch too. THe paint match I got from halfords is ever so slighlty yellower than the orignal, but only slight and looks hell of alot better than the hole!


Then it was back tot he MGB.
Both wings needed stripping back of all the old paint (3 different colours!)



As you can see I need to remove a little filler there where it has a dent. I will use my new dolly set and lead it after I think. Done a bit of leading an like the idea of more than adding filler.
Could not resist trying the 2 Rover colours I got on the engine pay as still not decided on colour. I think a Maroon is the way to go, or dark red.


It was also time to start modifying the front end for the chrome conversion. I needed to trim back the chassic rails to allow the new grill to sit further back. I did not have time to cap them off yet, thats the first job this week.

Cracked on again in the evenings this week.

Capped off the chassis rails where the chrome conversion is happening, and decided I wanted to add a little filler to try and get a proper factory finish (not that 79 MGB where that neatly put together lol!)






One of the front wings is not completely stripped. Overall very good just small bit of rot on the inner side that needed fixing









Moved to the rear to add the caps to the lover part of the lights. His is becuase the chrome bumper sits lower than the rubber so a gap needs to be made up.
As is so often with aftermarket they did not fit snuggly so I opted to make them sit level with the body and fill the small gap under the light. I kept the back of the light in to make sure it was all smoothed in correctly as I am getting new ones anyway. Once welded in place I ran a flapp wheel around the lover curve of the light surround to get the cap to match the curve. I then added filler and di a basic smooth in. I will strip the rest of the rear wing completely of paint before final sand down and smooth in

Well the MX5 still is playing up. If I fully depress the clutch in first at lights or similar is starts to engage and the stalls. Then changing from reverse to first it often locks in the gear and takes a few pumps to disengage.
I need to get its sorted just able to drive around it at the moment and have not had time to sort.

That said I have eventually got on the MGB again after a long stall, probably as its warm in the garage and I cannot fit the alfas or the MX5 in.

I got on to turning it on its side with my fathe rin law to attack the old underseal, fit a new jacking point and seam seal the floor pans and boot floor I put in a while ago.

Used the engine crane and 2 straps to winch up on side with some slicks intended for the alfa 75 to protect the side. I was not trying to get completely over ,I wanted it support to stop and panel damage.




Supported the otherside with posts in case the engine crane gave way for any reason.


Transmission tunnel lookk ok going t clean all off though and use a rust paint and the undereal, is Omnicoat a good choice for this?


Not masses to do under the centre of car becuase of the new floor pan, you can see where I started the seam sealer but not finished as was a struggle on anle stands. You can also see the chassis rail repair at top of the pic and where the jacking point is needed.


Inside the wings is coming up clean, again want to rust proof paint then waxoyl.


Really need to crack on over winter, was only goign to be a light resto now its a complete rebuild lol!!