Driveway Diaries
Discussion
Just a way of keeping everyone up to date with what's going on our driveways, sheds, garages or (if your posh and don't like the English weather) workshops.
I don't know about the rest of you but I've found it's getting harder to work on cars yourself these days, with the Environment Agency knocking on your door if you dare to do an oil change, the Council slapping an ASBO on you if you use a power tool after six PM, if you live in a rural area you're not even allowed to open your bonnet on your own driveway without some parish curtain twitcher speed dialing your local PCSO (drive off your driveway open the bonnet and reverse back works a treat) and if you dare to be so bold as to make any modification to your car what so ever or express any form of individuality you have to face the wrath of "ze Section 59 reich" who the Puppet Master has instructed to FPN our green and pleasant concentration camp out of reccession.
As well as all that soap box stuff I work a lot. Haven't had two days off in a row for six weeks. So today I decided to get some of the welding done on my Fiat Coupe before rain stopped play. A (-nother) drunken Ebay purchase (can you get a breathiliser lock for lap tops?) the car was an M.O.T failure with a quote three times what the car was worth to repare. I bought another one that had a full service history up-rated bits and and snapped cam' belt. I have already done the CV boots, brakes, exhaust, headlights and other things swapped the leather interior, lowered suspension stripped the rest and sold most of them off for parts. So far the car is under budget but taking it's time due to work. The three areas of welding were the seat belt anchours and the cosmetic pannel on the floor of the car that looks like a jack had gone through it. That pannel of course is not available so I cut the bent one off, straightened it as best I could and used it as a guide to fabricate a new one, two hours later and it's welded in place. the drivers side seat belt anchour is located above the plastic trim that does a stearling job protecting the fuel filter from the elements is a blasted water trap. Once all the rust was cut away I made a plate welded it in place taking care not to set fire to the main loom (what a stupid arsed place to put that!) and drilled several holes in the trim to stop water being trapped in the future. Rain stopped play before I could get to the passenger side, so I'm on here doing this. I'll get back to it in a bit.
Let us know what you guys are getting up to. All the best Rob.
I don't know about the rest of you but I've found it's getting harder to work on cars yourself these days, with the Environment Agency knocking on your door if you dare to do an oil change, the Council slapping an ASBO on you if you use a power tool after six PM, if you live in a rural area you're not even allowed to open your bonnet on your own driveway without some parish curtain twitcher speed dialing your local PCSO (drive off your driveway open the bonnet and reverse back works a treat) and if you dare to be so bold as to make any modification to your car what so ever or express any form of individuality you have to face the wrath of "ze Section 59 reich" who the Puppet Master has instructed to FPN our green and pleasant concentration camp out of reccession.
As well as all that soap box stuff I work a lot. Haven't had two days off in a row for six weeks. So today I decided to get some of the welding done on my Fiat Coupe before rain stopped play. A (-nother) drunken Ebay purchase (can you get a breathiliser lock for lap tops?) the car was an M.O.T failure with a quote three times what the car was worth to repare. I bought another one that had a full service history up-rated bits and and snapped cam' belt. I have already done the CV boots, brakes, exhaust, headlights and other things swapped the leather interior, lowered suspension stripped the rest and sold most of them off for parts. So far the car is under budget but taking it's time due to work. The three areas of welding were the seat belt anchours and the cosmetic pannel on the floor of the car that looks like a jack had gone through it. That pannel of course is not available so I cut the bent one off, straightened it as best I could and used it as a guide to fabricate a new one, two hours later and it's welded in place. the drivers side seat belt anchour is located above the plastic trim that does a stearling job protecting the fuel filter from the elements is a blasted water trap. Once all the rust was cut away I made a plate welded it in place taking care not to set fire to the main loom (what a stupid arsed place to put that!) and drilled several holes in the trim to stop water being trapped in the future. Rain stopped play before I could get to the passenger side, so I'm on here doing this. I'll get back to it in a bit.
Let us know what you guys are getting up to. All the best Rob.
I had a mad born again biker moment a few weeks back and bought a '83 Yammy XJ550 basket case restoration.
So far got it totally stripped down, bought frame paint, sorted chrome bits, black bits and electrical bits into piles. I need to spend lots of time on the tank, side panels and rear plastics which all need stripping right back to bare. At least the bike was complete and all together when I got it so just a matter of restoring all the bits and putting it back together. Plan to do it all myself including the spraying. Helps that I live out in the sticks (Fens) so I don't have to worry about disturbing any neighbours etc, the nearest is about a 3 wood away!. My goal is to get it back on the road for next spring. 
So far got it totally stripped down, bought frame paint, sorted chrome bits, black bits and electrical bits into piles. I need to spend lots of time on the tank, side panels and rear plastics which all need stripping right back to bare. At least the bike was complete and all together when I got it so just a matter of restoring all the bits and putting it back together. Plan to do it all myself including the spraying. Helps that I live out in the sticks (Fens) so I don't have to worry about disturbing any neighbours etc, the nearest is about a 3 wood away!. My goal is to get it back on the road for next spring. So much for more than one day off in a row. I'm sat in an office in Wisbeach covering for someone who sneezed and thinks he has Swine 'flu'. TW@! I have more important things to do. Paint all of yesterdays welding and put the plastic trim back on if there's enough light when I get home. Oh whenever I replace rust with metal I try to use Galvanized Steel as there's no point having to do the job again in a few years time (like I've ever owned a car that long). Gritters will be out soon so it's a wise precaution. Fiat ownership sponcered by Hamerite.
Robert060379 said:
Oh whenever I replace rust with metal I try to use Galvanized Steel as there's no point having to do the job again in a few years time (like I've ever owned a car that long). Gritters will be out soon so it's a wise precaution.
I'm struggling with several aspects around that statementWelding galvanized steel gives off some nasty fumes and it contaminates the weld
You have to grind the galvanize off before welding so preparation takes more time - why not use normal steel and have a shorter prep time and treat it afterwards?
100% agree with your observations, repairing bodywork with galvanised steel is a bad idea for so many reasons.
Mild steel, weld-primer, etch-primer, por-15, waxoyl, seam-sealer and underseal are all your friends, done properly a rust repair should never rust. If you want to galvanise then you need to repair all the rust with plain steel first then get the whole thing dipped properly.
Mild steel, weld-primer, etch-primer, por-15, waxoyl, seam-sealer and underseal are all your friends, done properly a rust repair should never rust. If you want to galvanise then you need to repair all the rust with plain steel first then get the whole thing dipped properly.
I strip a 5mm border around the plate prior to welding and I'm on my driveway so fumes aren't an issue. If I were repairing a concourse car (and had the time) then all that faffing about could be justified but as the old girl's a 96 Fiat Coupe N/A 16V and worth about £600 it's a case of mend and move on.
Hi All. Sorry I've not posted for a while but seeing this thread I thought I could add to it.
I'm currently playing around with a Morris Minor pick-up. It's getting a complete strip down from bodywork to engine. Briefly this is what is happening to it.
Engine out and rebuilt to race standards with lightened flywheel, bored out cylinders to bring to around the 1280cc mark. A close ratio sprite gearbox has been found - a bit like hens teeth so I've told. Thought about the supercharher route but this will probably come later once we see how it runs.
Complete respray in black so the bodywork needs to be perfect - shouldn't be a problem as the guy doing this part of the build used to work for P and A Woods in Thaxted and his Bentley looks great.
The back will be a home grown affair as we are going to turn it into a tipping moggy. It will all sit on black minilite wheels with diamond cut and polished rims. New brakes and suspension to cope with extra power, re-wire and a bigger radiator to cope with extra heat.
Should be interesting when it's finished in about 6 - 8 weeks. Will post a few pics for those that are interested.
Wayne
I'm currently playing around with a Morris Minor pick-up. It's getting a complete strip down from bodywork to engine. Briefly this is what is happening to it.
Engine out and rebuilt to race standards with lightened flywheel, bored out cylinders to bring to around the 1280cc mark. A close ratio sprite gearbox has been found - a bit like hens teeth so I've told. Thought about the supercharher route but this will probably come later once we see how it runs.
Complete respray in black so the bodywork needs to be perfect - shouldn't be a problem as the guy doing this part of the build used to work for P and A Woods in Thaxted and his Bentley looks great.
The back will be a home grown affair as we are going to turn it into a tipping moggy. It will all sit on black minilite wheels with diamond cut and polished rims. New brakes and suspension to cope with extra power, re-wire and a bigger radiator to cope with extra heat.
Should be interesting when it's finished in about 6 - 8 weeks. Will post a few pics for those that are interested.
Wayne
Wryka said:
Hi All. Sorry I've not posted for a while but seeing this thread I thought I could add to it.
I'm currently playing around with a Morris Minor pick-up. It's getting a complete strip down from bodywork to engine. Briefly this is what is happening to it.
Engine out and rebuilt to race standards with lightened flywheel, bored out cylinders to bring to around the 1280cc mark. A close ratio sprite gearbox has been found - a bit like hens teeth so I've told. Thought about the supercharher route but this will probably come later once we see how it runs.
Complete respray in black so the bodywork needs to be perfect - shouldn't be a problem as the guy doing this part of the build used to work for P and A Woods in Thaxted and his Bentley looks great.
The back will be a home grown affair as we are going to turn it into a tipping moggy. It will all sit on black minilite wheels with diamond cut and polished rims. New brakes and suspension to cope with extra power, re-wire and a bigger radiator to cope with extra heat.
Should be interesting when it's finished in about 6 - 8 weeks. Will post a few pics for those that are interested.
Wayne
I've got a gold seal b series, chrome bumper (B GT) crossmember with drilled and groved disks that drop straight into the Moggy bay and up-rate the front end with part shelf bits rather than full on custom. For the period 70's warm rod feel.I'm currently playing around with a Morris Minor pick-up. It's getting a complete strip down from bodywork to engine. Briefly this is what is happening to it.
Engine out and rebuilt to race standards with lightened flywheel, bored out cylinders to bring to around the 1280cc mark. A close ratio sprite gearbox has been found - a bit like hens teeth so I've told. Thought about the supercharher route but this will probably come later once we see how it runs.
Complete respray in black so the bodywork needs to be perfect - shouldn't be a problem as the guy doing this part of the build used to work for P and A Woods in Thaxted and his Bentley looks great.
The back will be a home grown affair as we are going to turn it into a tipping moggy. It will all sit on black minilite wheels with diamond cut and polished rims. New brakes and suspension to cope with extra power, re-wire and a bigger radiator to cope with extra heat.
Should be interesting when it's finished in about 6 - 8 weeks. Will post a few pics for those that are interested.
Wayne
I used to belong to "Fine City Vans" and a guy called Paul Barwood was the first guy to drop a Fiat twin cam and five speed box in a moggy van.
He developed a removable front cossmember that bolted in. The gearbox cover needed some work, but as it unbolted that waas easy. Obviously a new prop shaft as well.
I had the last Morris Van sold by Kennings it was a 71/72 I think. I worked for Duffields and they had run it out of oil and seized it up. They used it for delivering Perkins engines around the boat yards so it had had a hard life!
I modified it with a 1275 GT engine, Fibreglass flip Front, Frenched lights, Riley 1.5 diff, a Hillman Hunter pedal box, A35 sun visor and banded steels etc. They sprayed it for me in truck enamel, which was really shiny for £10. I blew the layshaft out of the standard box
If you are going to be able to use the power you will have to change the rear axle. Paul used a Ford Capri Live axle with welded on mounts to good effect. The Fiat 5 speed box was also very weak on fifth gear as I remember.
Good luck and lets see some pics.
He developed a removable front cossmember that bolted in. The gearbox cover needed some work, but as it unbolted that waas easy. Obviously a new prop shaft as well.
I had the last Morris Van sold by Kennings it was a 71/72 I think. I worked for Duffields and they had run it out of oil and seized it up. They used it for delivering Perkins engines around the boat yards so it had had a hard life!
I modified it with a 1275 GT engine, Fibreglass flip Front, Frenched lights, Riley 1.5 diff, a Hillman Hunter pedal box, A35 sun visor and banded steels etc. They sprayed it for me in truck enamel, which was really shiny for £10. I blew the layshaft out of the standard box
If you are going to be able to use the power you will have to change the rear axle. Paul used a Ford Capri Live axle with welded on mounts to good effect. The Fiat 5 speed box was also very weak on fifth gear as I remember.
Good luck and lets see some pics.
I'm going for a subtle modification at the moment - so it looks like a fairly stock pick up at the front with new back. I think too many get over customised and loose the main appeal which is the simplicity if the original design. But hey each to his own.
It is currently at the engine in one workshop and body in another stage, it should be in primer by the weekend and the engine head is being skimmed with other parts being refurbed as we speak. So hopefully in about a week or so the two halves will be together again and new suspension etc. will be being fitted. Thanks for the tip regarding the rear axle will look into possible power outputs just to see what will be being put through it.
Wayne
It is currently at the engine in one workshop and body in another stage, it should be in primer by the weekend and the engine head is being skimmed with other parts being refurbed as we speak. So hopefully in about a week or so the two halves will be together again and new suspension etc. will be being fitted. Thanks for the tip regarding the rear axle will look into possible power outputs just to see what will be being put through it.
Wayne
Got a Lancia Beta as well, trying to decide if to restore the car or use the 1998cc twink in an X19 (again) or a (Bullet proof) Lada gear (Fiat 131 but made out of two inch thick steel) box and Jag IRS my MGB. Had two days off in a row this week!!!!!!! Squandered it being ill (burned out and slept for sixteen hours) and helping a friend of a friend deal with bailiffs. Got my GPZ out of the shed looked at it and put it back in, did buy some baffleless carbon cans for the old girl though (Section 59 pre-issued). My daily steed (Subaru Justy 120-300 miles a day due to work so the 50+mpg comes in handy) has decided to to finally blow from the front of the exhaust box, got a Stainless Steel race can for my MGB GT in the shed so I'll get the Grinder and MIG on the case tomorrow. Some joker has writen WRX in the muck on the tailgate so a once over with a wet sponge is on the cards as well.
Nearly bought a Ginetta G26 as a track day replacement for my MGB. I was thinking Galvanized chassis and GRP body work = no rust and the Pinto engine would be bullet proof until I replaced it with a YB or something interesting. I was thinking the car would be a slice of cool 80's wedgeiness (Lotus Excell-esque) but no; it was ugly, slow, heavy and the lights didn't pop up. 
Plan B
Plan B
Sad day for my driveway today. I'm selling my MGB as a kit. Too much rust and loss of storeage. The Nissan 200SX powered GT sold (for three time the build cost) and the GSXR Turbo is off to America in a crate. The Fiat Coupe is nearly finished, the Lancia Beta Coupe is nearly started, the GPZ is nearly all the same colour and my trusty Justy has started making driveshaft knocking noises. Got the insurance payout for my Panda R.I.P and was tempted towards the dark side (kit cars, hot rods etc) but I'm not having a midlife crisis (yet). The GT is being collected Monday to help make a Morris Minor quick.
The Nissan 200SX powered GT sold (for three time the build cost) and the GSXR Turbo is off to America in a crate. The Fiat Coupe is nearly finished, the Lancia Beta Coupe is nearly started, the GPZ is nearly all the same colour and my trusty Justy has started making driveshaft knocking noises. Got the insurance payout for my Panda R.I.P and was tempted towards the dark side (kit cars, hot rods etc) but I'm not having a midlife crisis (yet). The GT is being collected Monday to help make a Morris Minor quick. Rob, from reading about your projects/work I think you may have too many things going on at one time mate. This could be where the burning out comes from.....surely if you sold the 'projects' and concentrated on one, due to your enthusiasm and skill, you'd have a great track car and daily driver....IMHO of course.
I got out of breathe just keeping up with what you have got and what needs doing
Good luck with them all though...;)
Kev
I got out of breathe just keeping up with what you have got and what needs doing
Good luck with them all though...;)
Kev
KevF said:
Rob, from reading about your projects/work I think you may have too many things going on at one time mate. This could be where the burning out comes from.....surely if you sold the 'projects' and concentrated on one, due to your enthusiasm and skill, you'd have a great track car and daily driver....IMHO of course.
I got out of breathe just keeping up with what you have got and what needs doing
Good luck with them all though...;)
Kev
That's why I'm having a clear out. I'm down to three cars for the first time in years. I got out of breathe just keeping up with what you have got and what needs doing
Good luck with them all though...;)
Kev
The clear out continues, the Fiat Coupe is on http://www.carandclassic.co.uk I have a few days (possibly turning my phone off) to play and Friday is when the payday fairies come to visit (after being sodomised violently by the Tax man).
What's the weather going to be like?
Bugger!
What's the weather going to be like?
Bugger!
The MGA is in the garage with the front end up on axle stands and no front suspension - the last of which is stripped off the car, sourcing parts now for new swivel pins and trunnions, lever arm shock absorbers to be refurb'd etc etc, before it all goes back together. Then it's a question of whether time and money will permit an engine rebuild over the winter......
MG Mark
MG Mark
Rather like MGMark's lovely A coupe, Lara the Midget is up on stands and wheel ramps while an assortment of "shoulda done it ages ago" jobs are tackled
While fixing the track day induced (allegedly) transmission imperfections I have started to fix the winter planned snags too.
These will include adding a later style pedal box, so I can have a clutch that feels like everyone elses. Repairing a weakness I found in the upper rear's shocker mounts too, but like Mark it seems I'm trying to assess whether I can afford to whip of the head to raise the C.R and gently port the thing too.
On the whole not radical changes but I am missing some fair to excellent topless sports car weather, because of a buggered up clutch
ho hum...
While fixing the track day induced (allegedly) transmission imperfections I have started to fix the winter planned snags too.
These will include adding a later style pedal box, so I can have a clutch that feels like everyone elses. Repairing a weakness I found in the upper rear's shocker mounts too, but like Mark it seems I'm trying to assess whether I can afford to whip of the head to raise the C.R and gently port the thing too.
On the whole not radical changes but I am missing some fair to excellent topless sports car weather, because of a buggered up clutch
ho hum...
Today will start on the final big Ultima job - door mirror fit! Exact postioning yet to be determined to meet type approval regs and still have view from driver seat...
my own fault for going for a different typed than factory recommended.
Must find an excuse to fire her up if the weather holds
my own fault for going for a different typed than factory recommended. Must find an excuse to fire her up if the weather holds
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