Thread: My 1955 86" rebuild.

I have been busy on other jobs and work etc, but I managed to slip away yesterday early 0300hrs to retrieve some other parts for my Series 1.
On my last visit I was not equipped well enough to get a seatbox, and at this time of the year it gets cold n dark quick as I found out 2 weeks ago.
This time I had a mate who was chasing a bulkhead, so we combined our efforts and made good on our shopping lists, I needed another seatbox, as mine had too many holes in it (extra rivets holes) and a rarther large split along the bottom edge, I did try to remove this seatbox 2 weeks ago

but I couldn't shift any of the screws that fix the S/box to the sill rail.
This time I took a bannister & wire brush to clean the edges to check for any imperfections, it had just a few minor ones

the next item that I needed was a set of tailgate chains, this little vehicle had just what I needed

Then it was over to Kevin for his shopping list, and a bulkhead was high on his list + mudguards and this n that n more of this n that

we had to use the angle grinder on the wing bolts as they would not undo past 1/2 way, somewhere in it's distant past it has had longer bolts put in place, no damage to the guards, and a short while later it looked like this

and after we had a bite to eat, and some judicious use of the angle grinder we were able to remove the B/head, Kevin couldn't help me as he had just had a operation and was not permitted to lift anything really heavy

on the first attempt to separate the B/head from the windscreen I couldn't move it at all, so I tried a lever and still no movement, we discovered that the windscreen pivots had been welded to the pivot on the B/head, the angle grinder made short work of that and the B/head was off
then load it all up and head off home

cheers Dennis

I always check the B.O.M site every morning and this morning was no different, what I saw LOL I wasn't impressed with, a large rain band stretching from Albury/Wodonga to Goondawindi, damn, I'd better get moving with what I wanted to achieve.
Set up the seatbox on workhorses, remove all the metal speed clips, there were a few that couldn't be moved due to 'Electolysis' & rust

so out with my Dremel tool fitted with a cutting disc,

these are very capable little tools, but you have to remember that it is only for light work, anyway in no time I had a pile of clips cut in halves

My next stage was to grit blast the double alloy panels where the clips locate + all rivet heads and spot welds + any Electrolysis that I could see, here is a clip that has been recycled
a before shot

and after

This is the gun that I use when grit blasting outside the cabinet, it was about $35.00 from super cheap auto, and I can testify that they work very well, I have had this one for around 3 years

The rain was getting closer and I wanted to get as much done as possible so load up the gun with media and get into it, this is what this spot looked like before

and after a quick blast

it is difficult to get right into the corners using orbital sanders or palm sanding tools, so while I had the gun going I went along the edges etc

I started to blast the inside of the toolbox, but a few spots of rain had me scurrying for cover and pack the gear away, it is raining much heavier now, anyway I'm fairly happy with what I've managed to get through today, cheers Dennis

my word you do some good work! Coming along nicely!
where do you purchase your media from?

Certainly very thorough, well done so far

Not much happening today, as we went for a bike ride (bicycle) this morning and arrived home after 1330hrs, a quick lunch, fill the engine and the compressor with the right oils, still to fire it up

I have to remove the exhaust pipe n muffler, coat the nuts n bolts in never seize, then work out how to make and attach an exhaust pipe to route the exhaust out of the shed.
In the meantime while all that is running wild in my head, I decided to do a small grit blasting job on the choke cable assembly, as you can see it is in dire need of a clean LOL

mud wasps have a knack of finding the most in-accessible places to build nests, anyway after a few minutes of knocking the mud out etc, then into the cabinet and in no time it looked like this

nearly good enough to use LOL.
The other parts of the choke assembly were dismantled some parts cleaned on wire wheel (very carefully) as you can't grit blast it otherwise you run the risk of getting grit down the tube where the wire cable goes, and it would most likely cause it to jam.. here are all the bits after grit blasting and cleaning

and in no time it was getting cold n dark, so pack up and close the shed door, cheers Dennis

After checking everything was in place, off to the garage and bought 5lts of Premium petrol, added the correct amount of 'Sta-Bil' to the fuel, connected the battery, turn on fuel tap, apply choke, turn key
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5Pv...ature=youtu.be
I only let it run for a few seconds as it was walking across the floor towards the wall, it will need to be stabilized or dyna-bolted to the floor.
There is a lever under the engine, not sure of what it does, but I'm wondering if it ??? takes a load off the engine by allowing air to bypass the 3 cylinder compressor, anyway time will tell.
All I have managed to do today on my Series 1 is mask up n etch prime the choke warning switch and choke cable, too cold to paint just ask Lotza Landies, anyway cheers Dennis

Haha, you must have a special relationship with your neighbours.

Hi there Dinty

You are a true wealth of knowledge, your restorations are inspirational.

Thanks

Wayne