Thread: My 1955 86" rebuild.

It's warm outside and I'm as dry as , anyway I have made some progress on refitting the transome panel, first I had to remove the angle alloy strengthening strips x 3
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps4c951272.jpg
making sure I marked all the spot welds so I don't confuse myself by drilling extra holes, it had spot welds n rivets along it's entire length and multiples like these
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...psd5eaf235.jpg
after they were removed, I etch primed the mating surfaces and then set about dropping the last/first 25mm of the top angle, to allow it to sit flush under the side panels (both sides) so I clamped it up and knocked it down by placing a 2mm strip of steel clamped underneath,
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...psccb2557e.jpg
it worked not as neat as I would have liked it but after all it cannot be seen anyway here is the panel bumped into place almost an interference fit!! LOL,
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps3e1271c0.jpg
no rivets as yet, I still need to look long n hard at it before committing self to riveting it in place anyway back to it, cheers Dennis

I had a dry trial run with 1 csk solid 3/16"dia rivet, I removed 1/16" off the head, drilled and csk all in one go
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps03db65bb.jpg
before using bucking bar, here it is seated etc, a quick run over the top with orbital sander
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps8f0001de.jpg
and the underside
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps9c50c522.jpg
I reckon I still need to practice more before trying it out on the side panels of my 86" cheers Dennis
ps I'm using the old transome panel, to play with rivets,,.

I have fitted the first of many C'sk rivets to the side of the tub where I had previously drilled out spot welds, I'm reasonably happy with the first attempt
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps30154686.jpg
just needs a little more on the clean up, the back was difficult, as we all know spot welds are never in a straight line, this one was damn close to the bend
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps82a6589f.jpg
I didn't want to relieve the end of the punch making it too weak, that's how the gouge occurred under the rivet, anyway cheers Dennis
ps the good wife is none too keen to hold onto the bucking bar, in this case it's a 14lb sledgehammer LOL

This afternoon I have successfully fitted the C'sk rivets to the tub sides, not being too familiar with Series 1's, I have to keep refering back to my parts pile that I have removed from the seat transome panel, so I don't put a heap of rivets (solid) in and have to remove them again because I forgot to rivet in something else, so far so good no stuff ups.
At present I'm stripping paint off this panel that is riveted to the transome panel
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...psd600b33c.jpg
it is in need of some repairs, so I'm the lookout for some 50 x 50 x 6 x 1.6L so I can clamp it up to the angle iron and square it all up again, once that is done I will etch prime and paint Deep Bronze Green while it's not fitted, that way I'm sure of covering the complete panel with DBG, anyway well that's been my weekend, back to work tomorrow and interstate visitors will slow me down, cheers Dennis

I guess I'm going to have to find something else to do , I've just picked items from the grit blaster, but it's blowing a gale outside
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...pse1abd24d.jpg
the bulkhead inside my No5, wheels etc in rear of 110
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...psb4fc15b6.jpg
grille n rad/supp panel
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps14ad9cda.jpg
damn the wind, as it would be a great drying day for paint, well rego day next month for the other 8 Series + trailers, so I suppose I'd better get a move on, cheers Dennis

Hi Dennis,

I have been following this thread which much interest, and now much jealousy

Keep up the great work!

What a difference a day makes, only a very mild breeze temp in the mid 20's, so I thought a good day for applying spray putty to areas on the bulkhead, trouble is I didn't mix enough LOL silly old goot
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps7033417a.jpg
after cleaning the putty gun, I found a more small areas that will need doing, so I guess I will be mixing some more and soon.
I wanted to make a move on refitting the spare wheel holder that is riveted on the bonnet, but I wanted to apply a coat of Deep Bronze Green before fitting, so I mixed up a small amount of paint/thinners/hardener and applied it
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps91d38339.jpg
I had some paint left over so I put it to good use on this panel and some of it's 2BA screws etc
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps37cd13f4.jpg
still having a very small amount left, I sprayed the remaining dash screws n 2 1/4"BSF bolts
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps9429ed13.jpg
now just waiting for some help so I can hopefully set some rivets, cheers Dennis

After some careful consideration I decided to scrap this panel
http://i659.photobucket.com/albums/u...psd600b33c.jpg
it has too much damage/splits n cracks, I have ordered the material to replace it, I really need to get my head together as I should have ordered the aluminium to replace that panel when I was down at Hancock sheetmetal last Thursday picking up the aluminium for the door tops.
The remainder of the day has been spent using my Mapp gas torch melting the zinc out of the threads (bolts) that hold the door tops insitu, Zinc melts @ 400 degrees, so I knew I didn't have to light up the Oxy/acetylene, a quick rub with a wire brush removed the molten Zinc, let them cool down then run a 7/16"BSF die over the threads to clean them up.
The nuts had a 7/16"BSF tap through them, they all run up n down the bolts easy as, just the way I like it
Back onto the tub, cutting off the excess of solid rivets with a sharp wood chisel, then tap out the butt of the rivet/s, those that were stuck 3/16" dia drill bit soon enabled them to be removed without any damage to the aluminium rails, anyway that was my day, cheers Dennis.
ps I'm getting an itchy trigger finger, what with so much stuff laying about that needs a good coat of Deep Bronze Green,,.
,,.