Blast from the past - Marmite

[steve bain]

Not done much as have been in hospital and am currently recovering which involves having too many drugs in me to be useful! Anyway the fuel tank turned up today. Looks great. Given it two coats of hammerite now too. Quality is top notch and for £100 it's a bargain! Till later

[steve bain]

Passenger side arch welded in. I removed a lot of filler put in by the 'professionals' to cover the distortion created by bad welding!

Anyway, all in and completed now with rear of cill repaired too. Still have to do both sides of the rear valence.



So now the arches are welded in I refitted the fuel tank and fitted the beam back on. Just need to sort the fuel pipes and stuff and hopefully drive her!

Only a small update as on my phone.

[steve bain]

Here's some more before and progress pics.
Right mess. The arch was replaced about 15 years ago with one off a scrapper which has gone the same way as the rest. It was welded in really badly, too much heat and generally distorted the panel with up to a cm of filler in it. Hopefully will just need a thin skim now.



Chop chop



Tacked in. Butt joint this time! Much better

[steve bain]

Not sure what to do with the little dents in the arch. My car wouldn't have these, having said that it is under the bodykit so doesn't matter. Seems like removing them is the right thing to do though. Would these be ok the skim with filler? Or would they need welding first

[james butler]

if your puting the bodykit back on i wouldnt worry about it but if you wanted to some fine skims of filler building up the levels till its filled should be no problem.
i generally treat filler like paint, the more thinner layers the better instead of gobbing it on there. The heat from the filler as it cures causes a lot of expansion and contraction cracks in the filler and can even lift straight back off the metal.

[james butler]

awsome work so far buddy!

[steve bain]

cheers mate. pleased someone is reading!

[G Beats]

I have just had a read more body work I see it is getting you are doing good.Hope you are feeling better now my brother.Peace G Beats.

[steve bain]

just a few updates. Finished painting the fuel tank and refitted all of the fuel bits and bobs, pump, accumulator etc. Just waiting for my nylon fuel lines to arrive, fit them and hopefully drive her. kunifer was a disaster as kinked both pipes where they go through the chassis leg! bled the brakes and fitted the handbrake cables. I also cut down the bump stops and the car has gone down a bit further as it was resting on them.

Plan for tonight is to grind down the welds on the arch and passenger cill and repair the rear valance.

I think we are now on the home straight for paint as nearly all the welding has been done. just a few bits and pieces here and there now. getting married in less than a month now so can see my attention getting diverted a bit.

[G Beats]

OK Coolio my brother I see. You have our blessing and wish you all the very best with you wedding.Peace G Beats.

[steve bain]

Cheers buddy. I did a bit more today. Arch ground back and a skim of filler. Trying to get the filller close so its less for body shop to do. Welded in the repair sections to the rear balance. Just need to grind back. Also cut rust out of boot lid seal seam and repaired.

If I didn't love this car not sure I would do this! It's so bloody rusty! Hopefully be good for a few years after all this work!

It's getting close now to respray. I've been thinking and I may wrap it up and get it sprayed next year in February or so, then I just have to put it back together for the summer. Seems silly to paint it, then let it get wet all winter.

[steve bain]

new 8mm od / 6mm id nylon fuel lines fitted. They were a dream compared to the kunifer! i sleeved the pipes with 8mm id rubber hose around the hole in the chaasis and used the original clamps and rubbers. I will fit the barbs and ear clips tonight and maybe try starting her. maybe.

I also plan on sorting out the cutting of the exhaust so i can get that stainless welded on sat morning.

i will take some pics soon

[G Beats]

OH OK not much left to do now then buddy ?

[steve bain]

so i managed to get all the fuel lines fitted the other day and cut the exhaust up and a local fabricator has welded the stainless for me.

tonight i will hopefully fit it and add fuel and a quick turn of the key later it will fire into life. we'll see.

i will also take some photos as wordy threads like mine suck!

[steve bain]

The exhaust pipe fitted like a dream so very happy. Then added some fuel and after a bit of fiddling, she lives! Whoop! Sounds tappetty as hell though! It's a dx head so hydraulic. I guess I'll be replacing those! Could it just be the high lift cam? Still tappetty even after warmed up. I am over the moon to move her under her own power after so long ! Brakes need bleeding again though.

So no good photos, just took a quick snap before it got dark