Blue to tango resto

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by D5andy, May 6, 2013.

  1. Also do you need some top hat section- I may have part of one knocking around that you can have that I'm not going to use.
     
  2. Yes please - I need some for above the front jacking point. Was still weighing up where to buy the bits from... Just putting it off ;) let me know how much you have and what you want for it thanks
     
  3. I've just used a foot off the end do there is 3-4 foot left. You are welcome to it for whatever postage is... Also have a sliding door outer sill that you can have too if you can make use of it...
     
  4. Pm'd you, thanks
     
  5. Update on the front beam a few pictures..
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    Brake disk and calliper off..
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    Splash guard and hub off...

    Bought a ball joint separator as my cheapy gear puller was no good for the job of seperating the steering lever from the draglink arm.. Here it is in action
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    Worked a great - couple of mins and it popped out! :chewie:

    Thanks to snotty for the recommendation of the scissor separator
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    Steering knuckle off! Used my gear puller to seperate those as the scissor one didn't reach

    Started work on the offside steering knuckle but the top bolt is giving me a hassle
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    When I turn the nut the whole bearing rotates so I put a spanner on the top - but instead of the nut moving the top part started coming out :mad:

    Then the wife came back and told me off fer sitting in the full sun at midday with the mercury hitting 30+ :eek:

    So now sitting inside like a good little boy :p
     
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2013
  6. Glad you got sorted :). I've never taken the main ball joints off, but it looks like a b*stard of a job...
     
  7. Yep not looking forward to putting the steering knuckles back on the new beam.

    But phew it's done! Got the last knuckle off whipped out the bolts and started booting the thing!
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    The beam moved! Then switched sides ... Repeat until .. Strange noise ...

    Oops undid the retaining bolt of the brake rod didn't actually disengage it..
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    Lucky no harm done pushed it off and it was free!!

    While I was looking down there I realised that the steering lever was going to trap the drag link arm under the top of most torsion bar so I spun the wheel and freed it..

    Queue lots of jumping on... Alternate kicks to each side... And it was off!
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    Walk in the park ;)
     
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2013
    paradox likes this.
  8. Back to the cleaning duties
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    Front end degreasing 90% complete .. Next to clean up the new beam and weld the servo bracket on
     
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2013
  9. Rubber gloves on
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    Rubber gloves off
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    Last edited: Oct 13, 2013
  10. That's a smart looking Beam :thumbsup:
     
    D5andy likes this.
  11. Fabbed this:
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    Then proceed to blow loads of holes in it... Just by tacking.. :mad:
    Seems my disposable gas regulator wasn't giving much gas, at least once I started practicing on my new piece of scrap that's what I discovered... Plus its much harder to weld 1mm metal than 3mm

    Probably shouldn't have started welding today as it was hot and feeling under the weather :rolleyes:

    Feeling quite miserable now, hopefully will be back to full strength tomorrow


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    Last edited: Oct 13, 2013
  12. We all have off days from time to time dude just come back to it with a fresh head another day

    What regulator are you using and are you using co2/argon mix or plain co2?
     
  13. Cheers Para, it was a clarke hobby regulator - I was using the disposable argon co2 mix bottles - it only delivered if I turned it up to 6 and then kept turning until my hand hurt ;)
    I did pick up a hobbyweld bottle (argon co2 mix again) and bought a proper 2 way regulator last week I tried that out yesterday and that was much more reliable.

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    I think that low visibility made it worse plus I panicked and tried to chase the hole - just made it bigger and hotter (I really ought to have known better). I guess my head wasn't in the game - today I will probably restrict myself to mundane grinding jobs until the temperature drops and my sanity returns :rolleyes:


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    Last edited: Oct 13, 2013
  14. Ok banished the demons of Tuesday ... :theforce:

    Decided I was trying to do kungfu before being able to walk :thinking:

    Sooo tried some simple stuff
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    Not great but I am not too worried as the rear valance is good place to practice :p

    Moved on to some more holes around the engine
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    Better but lumpy - next!
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    Nice fit
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    Getting better
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    Quick grind and a splash of zinc later :p

    Ahh that's better :chewie: I think it's time for :burp:




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    Last edited: Oct 13, 2013
  15. It's been a couple of weeks since I stripped the underside of waxy underseal.

    Its still cleanish yay! But it could be my imagination but the rusty bits have got more rusty looking... :eek:

    So I spent today with some wirebrushes, white spirit, por15 marine cleaning and prep and ready on final push to prep the underside.

    Got the engine bay, fuel tank area, rear arches and gearbox area including rear beam done up to prep and ready stage.

    Weather permitting (as its chucking it down now) I will try to get that lot to fe123 stage on the rusty bits then epoxy mastic after its dry ..

    Moving up the van to the front end following the same pattern... Should keep me busy... Picture to follow when there's something worth seeing ;-)


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  16. Rollered some epoxy mastic 121 today
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    Supposed to be grey..
     
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2013
  17. Thats looking good dude
    It will be all worth the effort in the end:thumbsup:
     
    D5andy likes this.
  18. looking nice buddy, well worth all the effort, keep up the good work :thumbsup:
     
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  19. when putting in the beam smear grease on the maten surface s of the beam and chassis , it will slide up a treat , and form a water proof gasket aswell when u tighten up the bolts owen n w
     
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