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Phase 2 - Plans

The second phase of the restoration/rectification will consist of a complete stripdown to enable bare metal stripping of the complete bodyshell (including underside) and all components, ready for painting and chrome plating.   Work started in July 1999. 

I see so many US built show cars that are "cheque book" cars.  In other words, someone pays someone else loads of money to produce a top quality car.  And the cars are usually fantastic-ever seen Overhaulin' or American Hot Rod?  So, can I match their quality of work in a small garage with minimal professional help.............lets see.

• The engine crossmember (k member) was dropped down and a snail was found hiding under the chassis rail, trapped on top of the member itself!  How it got there is a good question!  Here are 2 photos, 1 of the old rusty k member and the restored version with red urethane and chromed engine mounts. and the one after is a photo of the rusty thing itself.  This was modified to take air springs. 

• The entire underside was stripped out 

• I then started the long, long, long task of stripping the entire underside of everything, and back to bare metal.  Surprisingly for a 14 year old car, there was no rust whatsoever except for very slight surface rusting in odd places under the wax where stones have obviously chipped it.

• Aluminium floor drain plugs removed and polished (subsequently redesigned).

• All stainless hard lines bought from SUMMIT RACING.   These include all fuel and brake.  All these were bent and formed by various pipe benders that ended up broken because of the force required to bend them (have you ever tried to bend 3/8" stainless line?!!!  Flaring them proved challenging!

• By the 31st August 2000 the underside had been straightened (numerous little dents), etch primed, primed, flatted off and topcoated with the same colour as the car.  

• All brackets from the wheel arches and underside either sandblasted and painted or chrome-plated or custom made out of stainless plate (then polished!).

• Below are the photos of various parts of the underbody and individual parts in before and after condition.  

gearbox crossmember, before and after chroming.

3 views of floorpan

The major part of this phase will be the paintwork, but other things will be tried.  For example, the use of silicone brake fluid throughout (purple and £30 a litre!) .  This fluid is used by the navy, air force etc to stop brakes seizing up when not in use.  It doesn't absorb water.  Front calipers stripped out and thoroughly cleaned.  Rear slave cylinders renewed.  master cylinder and proportioning valve stripped, cleaned and resealed where seals were available.  Then bled out using the RFi technology (reverse fluid injection) with imported tools.  For those who know about the difficulties associated with tandem master cylinder bleeding, you will appreciate this!

Painting and bleeding master cylinder with purple silicone brake fluid