Restoration R1028

[prop]

A short update
I stripped down the front running gear and removed the sub frame.
Cleaned it all up and derusted and treated everything and painted it, all ready to go back together.
I relined the turbo cut away with new heat reflective mat.
I am now preparing what little rust there is under the wings and sub-frame area.
Work is progressing slowly at the moment but on the right track.

[prop]

Swingin!
I decided to save my old bones so I have slung it from the garage roof so I don't have to crawl about under it.
Don't worry it is supported by other means as well when I am working on it.

I have discovered what I think is a production date on it as I was cleaning it up.

[prop]

Just a progress report.
I am continuing to gather information for the rebuild.
Things are moving very slowly at the moment.
I have got the front sub frame back in, with many new components, new discs, suspension, callipers and brake pipes etc and it is stood on its wheels again having cut it down from the garage roof joists.
The engine bay is sprouting all the pipes and cables needed for the engine connections.
Next job is to take out the rear sub frame and do the few modifications needed on it, and then Waxoil it. Spray under the boot, rear skirt and heel board with Waxoil and then put the sub frame back with new components as needed.
Just a couple of photos from the files

[G96LUE]

Looking really good.

[prop]

I modified a standard 7 1/2 gallon Mini fuel tank by braising in a piece of 8mm copper pipe for the fuel return.(The tank had been empty for many years so no danger of fumes being present to ignite) All the rubber fuel lines are new.
I coated the underside of the body with Dinitrol 3125 and then a final coat of Dinitrol 4941. I coated the rear sub frame with Dinitrol 3125 but not the final Dinitrol 4941 coat as I want to check it out every year and the Dinitrol 4941 makes that difficult I think. The 3125 is supposed to neutralize the rust and keep out the water and the 4941 is then supposed to seal it and stop it washing off. (Time will tell).
As you can see HiLos on the rear as well as the front just in case road humps become more wide spread in the future. Both sub frames have been cleaned and rust proofed and the running gear has now been refurbished and rebuilt and fitted and lots of grease on everything that needs it. So next is rustproofing the interior box sections, inside doors etc.

[prop]

Fitted the headlining and sunroof.
This is the first new headlining I have fitted.
I am very pleased with the results but I would do a couple of things differently next time.
The sunroof is a Rover part as you can see. It was new old stock from Somerford Minis. I decided I would never find an original sunroof so the Rover part seemed to be a reasonable replacement.

[millermilla]

That's the same sunroof I have in my ERA. All looking good

[prop]

Fitted the rear seats, a new rear screen,companion box tops and cards. It is going well at the moment and is looking very smart.(notice the Subaru high level brake light just the right size and colour)
I need my upholsterer now to bind the carpets I have cut.
While he is doing that I will fit the dash.

The block is at MED having a skim and I am waiting for a head from MED to give me 8.5 to 1 compression ratio with my 15cc dished Omega pistons so I can run without an inter cooler. When I get them back they should go straight onto the box (Gearbox info posted earlier but has been deleted for some reason along with other postings)

I notice this site went down again. Does this happen every year?
This time some postings have gone.
The best thing I think is not to post during August and September if the site goes down during that time.

[G96LUE]

The gearbox posts must have got lost between the last backup of the site and movement to the new web provider.
Chris told me that there was about 3 weeks lost.

[an old original]

....but at least I'm back !!!!