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So, today.... started of productively, ended in failure :/
First, the productive bit. Worked up some courage to rivet the bonnet back together. This is the hammer and snap I've got for the job:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/09/269.jpg
All ready to get started:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/09/270.jpg
And all done, wasn't too bad in the end. I found that about 35psi was a good pressure for my skill level :)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/09/271.jpg
Finished cleaning up the lower dash, I'd treated all the steel to neutralise the rust, then gave it a protective coat of matt black:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/09/272.jpg
And spend a few hours plugging all the wiring into the binnacle. I still have to get some little lamps for the warning lights, as they fitting Autosparks use doesn't accept the LR lamps:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/09/273.jpg
Cheers,
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And now for the failure part of the day.... Started off by fitting the radiator shroud. Was a right pig to get in, I should have hung it over the fan before dropping the radiator in:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/09/274.jpg
I then decided to fill the radiator, to see how many leaks would turn up. I ended up having 4 in the end, the block drain, the bottom hose, one of the block core plugs, (the easy one to get to thankfully), and finally into the sump :(
I was filling the radiator slowly, keeping an eye on the thermostat housing bleed point, eventually coolant could be seen, but the level stopped rising, checked the oil level and it was going up :( Drained the oil, and it didn't look good.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/09/275.jpg
The coolant level didn't drop below the level of the thermostat, so I pulled the rocker cover:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/09/276.jpg
So, looks like I will be pulling the rocker assembly, and fitting one missing core plug! I'll have to back all the head bolts off which is a shame, but it shouldn't take too long to sort. I'll have to fix this bugger at the same time:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/09/277.jpg
Cheers,
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Amazing work....
Sorry to hear about the mishap. I'm sure you'll sort it fine
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Oh well!! It's shame, but going by your thread, i don't see these things will faze you out.
On another note awesome job with riveting.
Nav
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Hi Tim,
I bought a couple of Bearmach replacements. both leaked, only solution seemed to be gorilla-ing them up with a pair of pliers as much as I dared. not ideal but didn't break, strip the threads or leak.. Maybe some other make may be a bit better.
What did you do to treat your exhaust manifold?
cheers
ian
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Hi Ian, Do you mean the block drain you had to hit with the pliers? The manifold is coated with an exhaust paint, goes on quite soft and fluffy, but comes good when heated. (I cooked my one in the over :/ ).
Cheers,
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This lot went off the the galvanisers last week:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/09/364.jpg
Came back with mixed success.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/09/370.jpg
Nearly all the bits that went through the dip line came back really good:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/09/365.jpg
Only mishaps were on one of the firewall supports that's been "tidied up" with a bit of cold galv, (I had a spare set of these from the 109 wreck, and wanted to see how they would turn out).
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/09/366.jpg
The small bits were put through the spin line, (I was told everything would be dipped), and came out quite rough. Fine as far as coverage goes, but not really something I want to bolt/rivet to the car. I spoke to the galvanisers and they said bring the bits I'm not happy with and they will dip them for me.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/09/367.jpg
I temporarily fitted the wind screen frame to the car, this turned out really well, and has no warp in it at all :)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/09/368.jpg
One bit I missed posting from the weekend was the final picture of the dash. I'd had the dash top and wiper cover re-covered a while ago, the dash top turned out great, but the wiper cover was a bit average. The main problem was nothing got tidied up before covering, and the top side which is visible looked terrible. I ended up dropping the wiper cover along with the lower dash off at another place, they tidied up the wiper cover, and put vinyl on the top piece, they also lightly sprayed the lower dash so it would match, (in colour), the recovered wiper cover.
Came out really well, considering the lower dash has it's original covering:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/09/369.jpg
Cheers,
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Tim, with the effort and diligence you've put into this car so far,,, I think you should take up restoring for a living [wink11]
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Thanks Chops, :blush: but I fear it would not be an economically viable business!
Cheers,
