Thread: I must be insane

So anyway ..... I'm leaning on my elbows on that underlay while I screw that computer plug back together .................................................. .



And notice my elbows are getting damp..................... FFS: You must be kidding, they didn't use a foam as a sound insulator did they ........................................... YEP!!! They sure did

Lovely stuff... Like that horse hair **** they used in the 60's it gets wet, and stays wet FOREVER. Especially trapped under the tar like top part of the insulation. Sweet... .this is why I love tinkering with old cars so much ... There's never a dull moment ....



Nice .... Out with the stanley knife ....



Ok, ok .... Lets get it over and done with .....



Yep, passenger side was dry, but after I cut all that insulation out.....

You know, I don't reckon this car leaks, it was the wettest around the edge where I put my wet shoes on the floor when I climb in and out. This has just been caused by it getting wet each winter and staying wet until summer from peoples feet (I hope).

I was just going to spend 10minutes and run a CB aeriel though


Don't worry, by the time I'm at the back of the car and have 99% of it dismantled, I'm sure I'll stop seeing stuff that I HAVE to fix "while I'm here"

seeya,
Shane L.

At least you found it now rather than later. I wrecked one about the same year as yours that had a floor that was non existent from rust!!


Trav

Originally Posted by dungarover

At least you found it now rather than later. I wrecked one about the same year as yours that had a floor that was non existent from rust!!


Trav

Hey not complaining .... That's life... I figure "**** happens" no matter what you do If I choose to drive 25 -> 55year old cars, there is ALWAYS going to be stuff to be fixed That's half the fun right

You know it looks perfect from above and below .... if I'd waited another 2years from below wouldn't have looked perfect any longer ... 'cos there would be no floors left. It looks like the factory built the floor out of left over patches tacked together .... If it was a pommy car I'd swear it had been patched over due to salt damage. They "overlapping" type floor panels would have lasted mere months before rotting out if driven on salted road

I'm amazed there is any of these left in the UK! I find particually interesting the way they "blanked off" the holes for LHD cars.... Rather than not cutting them out of the body, they punches 'em all out, then tack welded a dodgy looking panel over the top of the hole.... I love a car with some, er, "soul" ....

seeya,
Shane L.

Well that was fun .... I wire brushed the **** out of the floors ... I opened up way fewer holes that I was expecting.





I welded a couple of small patches in ... and some holes closed (including a couple of open factory holes). What an ugly quick and dirty way of patching stuff ( overlapping metal like that)........... Hey it matches the way the floor was made at the factory though

Note: the rusty areas.... where you put your feet when there at there wettest to climb into the car ................... and where your feet sit while your in the car. I reckon all this damage really is just due to water off your shoes .... Imagine if it had leaked with all that water absorbing foam on the floors







It's just a brush painted epoxy paint. I'll scuff it and give it a 2nd coat tomorrow. The most important bit will be seem sealing all those seams in the floor both sides so water doesn't get between them. I might have some sikaflex there I can use.

I'll put the original water water retaining sponge matting back 'cos it does feel nice underfoot, but put two layers of this under it first to protect the floors.

EZ Cool Automotive Insulation heat barrier and noise reduction for cars, trucks, classic cars, street rods and much more

If you read the "before and after" some bloody weirdo nutter down in Australia did fitting it too his crappy old Citroen (that he also found rust in the front floors of ... bloody pommy cars and salted roads) .... you will see it's VERY effective and stopping heat soak.

seeya,
Shane L.

Well the interior fan squeaked liked buggery all day yesterday..... So I figured ... "While I'm here ....



It must be one of these ... so I figured I'd try and drop them out .... Nope, not a hope, so I tried to remove the grab handle above it to see if that would get me access from above ....... that is a part of the dash (yes I now know that anyway)... but found the whole dash then wobbled.......... Well the instrument binacle is only a few bolts...





Great ... Now I see how it all works... it's two completely different systems... heater and air condition ... 3 different fans. And they all are now running smoothly and quietly ....



You can see there will be a barrel fan in the top of the heater box...... It appears to get to the fans I need to release the A/C gas and unbolt the A/C unit disconnect the heater, loose all the coolant and remove the entire heater box and split it in half. You know, I don't think I can be bothered doing that right now. I bet if I put it all back together one of the fans will immediately fail Oh well, I guess I'll then know which of the 3 is ( was ) intermittently the squeaky one.

seeya,
Shane L.

You don't have to degas if u just want to remove the heater you can turn the aircon 90 degrees out of the way. It's fiddly but can be done...I have done it twice now, however it is easier with it out of the way. What I diid with my centre consul was to fit a large piece of Dowell above the window rocker switches and then fibreglassed and painted it all
Brad

Originally Posted by DoubleChevron

Well the interior fan squeaked liked buggery all day yesterday..... So I figured ... "While I'm here ....



It must be one of these ... so I figured I'd try and drop them out .... Nope, not a hope, so I tried to remove the grab handle above it to see if that would get me access from above ....... that is a part of the dash (yes I now know that anyway)... but found the whole dash then wobbled.......... Well the instrument binacle is only a few bolts...





Great ... Now I see how it all works... it's two completely different systems... heater and air condition ... 3 different fans. And they all are now running smoothly and quietly ....



You can see there will be a barrel fan in the top of the heater box...... It appears to get to the fans I need to release the A/C gas and unbolt the A/C unit disconnect the heater, loose all the coolant and remove the entire heater box and split it in half. You know, I don't think I can be bothered doing that right now. I bet if I put it all back together one of the fans will immediately fail Oh well, I guess I'll then know which of the 3 is ( was ) intermittently the squeaky one.

seeya,
Shane L.

Originally Posted by Bradtot

You don't have to degas if u just want to remove the heater you can turn the aircon 90 degrees out of the way. It's fiddly but can be done...I have done it twice now, however it is easier with it out of the way. What I diid with my centre consul was to fit a large piece of Dowell above the window rocker switches and then fibreglassed and painted it all
Brad

Thanks for that. I think I'll throw it back together for now. It's a very basic dash obviously assembled by humans, not a factory... So I'm not fussed ( A few years back I changed the evaporator in my wifes Citroen XM .... It was 17 hours of labour to get it out and back in). I reckon I could have the Rangies out in less than an hour.

If a fan dies, I'll freshen up the A/C with some fresh oil, seals and drier (I have all the A/C gear here to do it myself) and get the heater matrix rodded out while I'm there and replace any "o"rings and heater hoses while the fans are out for new bushes/bearings.

See why I like old cars and passionately hate modern **** so much This Rangie is the most modern car I've ever owned (all my other cars are 30-55 years old). If a mere human built them with there hands.... generally they'll come apart in a similar manner.

seeya,
Shane L.

Just for your info I run lpg in my air con and it's never been better.even though I may get frowned upon by some it's been like that for about 6 years without any problems.