Chassis rebuild and MOT
Discussion
Well............ I am chuffed to bits............full chassis refurb complete at last, and MOT passed with flying colours.
Shot blasted, welded, zinc sprayed, painted/coated, Suspension and brakes fully overhauled, new clutch and spigot bearing, new gearbox seals, new main rear oil seal, sump gasket, rocker gaskets, water pump, and many, many, other items too numerous to list.
Took longer (18mths) than I originally had planned (6-8 mths), I had planned a quick and dirty rebuild, but decided to do it completely and properly, it was well worth it in the end, to go straight through the MOT.....with only 1 comment. "Emissions were very close". As I explained it had done less than a mile to MOT after standing for 18mths, with only a few short start ups in my garage at various check points during the work, not really got up to temperature at all, so, I dont think thats too bad, will probably get much better after a long run !
I'm really grateful for all of the help and advice from people on here, so a BIG thank you to you all !
Just now gonna wait till the start of August for Tax (Wed) seems a bit tight I know, but, gonna have a ball when I do get it taxed ! Did think about getting it taxed now, putting it on and taking a chance, but knowing my luck I would get nicked at the end of the street
, so will wait so that I can enjoy it without any concerns ! And.....if I give everyone in the village who passed by and spoke to me while I was in the garage working on it a promised run out (any excuse), I will have to reconsider my insurance maximum stated annual mileage LOL !
Regards
Graham
Shot blasted, welded, zinc sprayed, painted/coated, Suspension and brakes fully overhauled, new clutch and spigot bearing, new gearbox seals, new main rear oil seal, sump gasket, rocker gaskets, water pump, and many, many, other items too numerous to list.
Took longer (18mths) than I originally had planned (6-8 mths), I had planned a quick and dirty rebuild, but decided to do it completely and properly, it was well worth it in the end, to go straight through the MOT.....with only 1 comment. "Emissions were very close". As I explained it had done less than a mile to MOT after standing for 18mths, with only a few short start ups in my garage at various check points during the work, not really got up to temperature at all, so, I dont think thats too bad, will probably get much better after a long run !
I'm really grateful for all of the help and advice from people on here, so a BIG thank you to you all !
Just now gonna wait till the start of August for Tax (Wed) seems a bit tight I know, but, gonna have a ball when I do get it taxed ! Did think about getting it taxed now, putting it on and taking a chance, but knowing my luck I would get nicked at the end of the street
, so will wait so that I can enjoy it without any concerns ! And.....if I give everyone in the village who passed by and spoke to me while I was in the garage working on it a promised run out (any excuse), I will have to reconsider my insurance maximum stated annual mileage LOL !Regards
Graham
Well done.
About 7 years ago I purchased a 2.8 injection Capri from Ebay (always wanted one in my youth)and spent 8 months working most evenings and weekends restoring her which involved much welding, new panels the respraying her myself and new graphics so I know how hard it is plus expensive too but very rewarding.
I did the 40 mile return trip to work in my S2 yesterday and although a lovely day etc the terrible state of our roads down here makes it a very bumpy experiance, lots count how many times my bonnet popped up plus getting over the speed ramp on the entrance to my works car park was fun, lots of scraping and grinding!!
Anyway well done and enjoy.
About 7 years ago I purchased a 2.8 injection Capri from Ebay (always wanted one in my youth)and spent 8 months working most evenings and weekends restoring her which involved much welding, new panels the respraying her myself and new graphics so I know how hard it is plus expensive too but very rewarding.
I did the 40 mile return trip to work in my S2 yesterday and although a lovely day etc the terrible state of our roads down here makes it a very bumpy experiance, lots count how many times my bonnet popped up plus getting over the speed ramp on the entrance to my works car park was fun, lots of scraping and grinding!!
Anyway well done and enjoy.
Photo's as requested..... Wish that I had taken a few more but didn't !
This is the chassis with welding mostly complete prior to painting.
This is the chassis fresh back from the painters.
Body back on and front suspension rebuilt
[url]
|http://thumbsnap.com/8fxadKiv
Brakes rebuilt.
[url]
Rear end complete and engine in before body refitted. Rocker covers are away for painting...
Rear end close up.
Needs some more work (new screen, hood, and some bodywork but nothing very serious) however, now everything underneath is completed it should be a very sound rolling project which I should be able to keep rolling whilst I get on with the rest.
Someone had put bonnet pins on this car and they were not very pretty, or even well done, they had also left the original pins in place and left them to 'bounce' on the catches. I had intended to refit the original catches and fill the holes in the bonnet, but when I tried to adjust them it was a hopeless task as the catches where knocked about. So I fitted Aero Catches which filled up the holes in the bonnet and made the bonnet secure. I can also lock it now.
This is before with the grotty pins removed.
And this is with the new catches fitted.........open and closed view. Luckily the catches took up the holes made for the pins so I didnt have to do any filling. You can also just see my milky screen.....oops !
Once again thanks for all the help and advice, once you have been through this............. you certainly get to know your car................almost every nut and bolt !!!!
Graham
This is the chassis with welding mostly complete prior to painting.
This is the chassis fresh back from the painters.
Body back on and front suspension rebuilt
[url]
|http://thumbsnap.com/8fxadKivBrakes rebuilt.
[url]Rear end complete and engine in before body refitted. Rocker covers are away for painting...
Rear end close up.
Needs some more work (new screen, hood, and some bodywork but nothing very serious) however, now everything underneath is completed it should be a very sound rolling project which I should be able to keep rolling whilst I get on with the rest.
Someone had put bonnet pins on this car and they were not very pretty, or even well done, they had also left the original pins in place and left them to 'bounce' on the catches. I had intended to refit the original catches and fill the holes in the bonnet, but when I tried to adjust them it was a hopeless task as the catches where knocked about. So I fitted Aero Catches which filled up the holes in the bonnet and made the bonnet secure. I can also lock it now.
This is before with the grotty pins removed.
And this is with the new catches fitted.........open and closed view. Luckily the catches took up the holes made for the pins so I didnt have to do any filling. You can also just see my milky screen.....oops !
Once again thanks for all the help and advice, once you have been through this............. you certainly get to know your car................almost every nut and bolt !!!!
Graham
Well went out for a run yesterday.........first since the rebuild ! Didn't clock the mileage but seemed to use up about £25 in fuel but I did give it some on the acceleration everywhere....almost forgotten how brilliant and loud it sounds on quick acceleration.
Only two issues came up....the gear lever knob came loose LOL, and, I seem to be losing some water from the swirl pot. I know what this is though..I dropped it and bent the rim where the rad cap fits and although I have straightened it up it is far from perfect. The rubber seal on the cap is quite thin and will not take up the slight imperfection.
So, I have a few options....
1. Is to run some solder around the rim and then file it flat and smooth it, solder is hard enough not to be affected by the cap being taken off occasionally.
2. Use some chemical metal to achieve the same result, but that does not appeal to me as much as solder.
3. Buy a new filler neck and sweat it on to the swirl pot, I could, I suppose sweat it on to the existing neck.
4. Longer term I will invest in a stainless version.
Overall, I am pleased that, that, is all that went wrong, and very chuffed with the run out...still smiling today.
Graham
Only two issues came up....the gear lever knob came loose LOL, and, I seem to be losing some water from the swirl pot. I know what this is though..I dropped it and bent the rim where the rad cap fits and although I have straightened it up it is far from perfect. The rubber seal on the cap is quite thin and will not take up the slight imperfection.
So, I have a few options....
1. Is to run some solder around the rim and then file it flat and smooth it, solder is hard enough not to be affected by the cap being taken off occasionally.
2. Use some chemical metal to achieve the same result, but that does not appeal to me as much as solder.
3. Buy a new filler neck and sweat it on to the swirl pot, I could, I suppose sweat it on to the existing neck.
4. Longer term I will invest in a stainless version.
Overall, I am pleased that, that, is all that went wrong, and very chuffed with the run out...still smiling today.
Graham
Gassing Station | S Series | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff