danthecapriman

Moar engine bollocks! Nearly there now though, and I must admit I think it looks ace!
 
I followed the great advice you lot gave about the rocker cover. The paint said oil resistant but who knows what could happen to it when it's getting hot oil flung at it? There's no way I'm going to risk blocking oil ways or the pick up pipe so I've stripped the blue off the inside of the rocker cover.
I used a very potent chemical paint stripper, it smelt fucking awfull but it eat right through the enamel and the primer beneath within minutes. This then washed off with warm soapy water and a stiff nail brush. The outside survived untouched so no harm done. Better safe than sorry!
After that had dried off I smeared the inside with engine oil to stop flash rusting since the engine will be sat unused for a few months yet.
Then it got a new cork gasket and bolted in place on the engine. All the bolts were tightened and I've even replaced the two rubber seal washers on the front cam bearing end for new ones. Once it was all tight I painted the bolt heads and washers in the same blue enamel.
 
Various other brackets etc have been put back in place. The cam belt cover got a new '1600' sticker, and I've painted the engine number, casting number etc in silver enamel. Same for the tiny timing marks on the bottom pulley. Finishing touches really, that stand out nicely against the black block and show a bit of attention to detail.
 
IMG_0554 by Dan Clark, on Flickr
 
IMG_0552 by Dan Clark, on Flickr
 
IMG_0551 by Dan Clark, on Flickr
 
IMG_0550 by Dan Clark, on Flickr
 
IMG_0553 by Dan Clark, on Flickr
 
Painting the engine number was a pain, the numbers are very faint and none are stamped in line either!
Not much left now. Engine mounts need to dry properly before I bolt the rubber mounts (brand new) back on and the exhaust manifold. Not made my mind up yet on that. The cast original does look a bit shit tbh, so I might look at a tubular replacement. Any recommendations? It must look good though, no boy racer shit!

Volvo 700/900 turbodiesels are the only diesel cars that I'd ever want to own. Amazing things! 

My V70 was bought by a family trading up from a 2.0 245 estate (?). It had 250k on it.
 
Recently someone on the Volvo Facebook page posted a photo of their V70 derv going past 350k.
 
It took an hour for the thread to become littered with various petrol and diesel models over 300k.
 
But in reality, good maintenance will still be essential for covering moon miles. Your argument to the father should be on the basis of lower mileage cars suffering 'lack of use' issues and that your lower than average annual mileage will compensate for pre-existing high miles.
 
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

Just what I needed to hear I know they go forever, I'm just trying to kick the old man out of a delusion (refuses any car based solely on mileage over ~90k).

If you want one with sub 100k miles you'll be lucky to even find one! I was lucky, mines got 93k but most of them have well over 100k on them by now. They're just that sort of car.
 
High miles doesn't matter on these though. They can take it with ease and basic checks will sort out any potential duffers!
My old saloon went with over 210k on the clock. It's still going now...
My boss had a facelift 740 2.3 with 350k on th clock and that was fine too.
 
Seriously, these cars, it's not worth worrying about mileage at all. I'd buy one on spec/condition regardless of mileage.

I'm not a fan of diesel either, stinking things!
But I'd have a diesel 740! They do sound good.
If spec puts you off, you could easily up spec a diesel using bits of dead GLE petrol cars. Wouldn't be hard and none of it should be hard to find either if you know where to look. I'd imagine doing a good job of this would leave you with a pretty desirable car at the end, and all of it is a simple bolt in job.
 
A set of GLE alloys, and leather/velour seats would make a big difference straight away.

If you want one with sub 100k miles you'll be lucky to even find one! I was lucky, mines got 93k but most of them have well over 100k on them by now. They're just that sort of car.
 
High miles doesn't matter on these though. They can take it with ease and basic checks will sort out any potential duffers!
My old saloon went with over 210k on the clock. It's still going now...
My boss had a facelift 740 2.3 with 350k on th clock and that was fine too.
 
Seriously, these cars, it's not worth worrying about mileage at all. I'd buy one on spec/condition regardless of mileage.

Quick update on the engine.
 
IMG_0564 by Dan Clark, on Flickr
 
Got the exhaust manifold cleaned up. The original heat shield was long gone however, it rusted away and snapped off when I first got the car leaving two sheared bolts where it was on the manifold top.
I filed these down flat, centre punched them and drilled out the remains of the bolts in my pillar drill then used a tap set to cut new threads.
Two odd spare bolts and washers were dug out of my spares box and I've made a new heat shield out of an off cut of 1.2mm steel. It's not perfect or an exact replica (original was a pressed piece) but it looks much better than leaving the broken bolts and it should have the shield so now does!
This was then followed up with some paint.
I couldn't find any barbecue paint locally so I've got some high heat stove paint instead in silver. I thought the black would be a bit much black as the block is black too. The silver stands out nicely I think. No idea how long it'll last but for now it looks good anyway!
After installing the new gaskets and lifting eye I went around with the same paint and touched in all the exposed manifold studs/nuts then painted the last bits of the cylinder head with black enamel.
 
I've also fitted the new temperature sender and HT leads.
The new alternator was the wrong one though so that's going back for a refund! The new clutch is here and looks right and I've got the new rear crank seal too. Just waiting for a new clutch alignment tool, once that's here the engine should be finished in a day or so.

Quick update on the engine.
 
IMG_0564 by Dan Clark, on Flickr
 
Got the exhaust manifold cleaned up. The original heat shield was long gone however, it rusted away and snapped off when I first got the car leaving two sheared bolts where it was on the manifold top.
I filed these down flat, centre punched them and drilled out the remains of the bolts in my pillar drill then used a tap set to cut new threads.
Two odd spare bolts and washers were dug out of my spares box and I've made a new heat shield out of an off cut of 1.2mm steel. It's not perfect or an exact replica (original was a pressed piece) but it looks much better than leaving the broken bolts and it should have the shield so now does!
This was then followed up with some paint.
I couldn't find any barbecue paint locally so I've got some high heat stove paint instead in silver. I thought the black would be a bit much black as the block is black too. The silver stands out nicely I think. No idea how long it'll last but for now it looks good anyway!
After installing the new gaskets and lifting eye I went around with the same paint and touched in all the exposed manifold studs/nuts then painted the last bits of the cylinder head with black enamel.
 
I've also fitted the new temperature sender and HT leads.
The new alternator was the wrong one though so that's going back for a refund! The new clutch is here and looks right and I've got the new rear crank seal too. Just waiting for a new clutch alignment tool, once that's here the engine should be finished in a day or so.

My Connect van
 
bears vinyl-sticker scars just like this Citroen
 
which are only visible at certain angles or when the van has a film of condensation on it.
 
It was previously operated by Sodexo which seems to be a Netherlands based "service company" and owned by an outfit called Artegy which is a vehicle leasing arm of French Bank BNP Paribas.
 
I don't know exactly what Sodexo used it for but it stank of food when I got it and little wriggly things lived under the ply lining. (Quickly burnt!)
School meals or some such (previously public) service perhaps.
 
Doesn't have the glamour of real signwriting for a real outfit like BR. Way of the world, I guess!  http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/92536-br-road-vehicles-c1990-pre-railtrack/page-3

A few spots from the last few days, most of these are from Cornwall, so it's a major surprise that the Lancia is among them!
I spotted the Ka on the way home, you may have to zoom in to see the magnificently barried exhaust.
 

 
This was a Cornwall car and again seemed remarkably rust free.
 

 

 

 

 
This last one I saw in Chesterfield, it's a Polo saloon, very odd.
 

Mehari!
 
Here's a few recent-ish ones from my phone, not sure if I've posted them already, probably not.
 
This old Van Hool was on rail replacement work: 

 
 
I think this was in Winchester, was passing through to go to a wedding.
 

 
 
This E28 is local, and very shonky (look at the MOT history, it's dreadful). Been meaning to get a picture for a loooooong time. It's a 525e Lux under the bodykit, owned by an unpleasant looking couple.

 
Fairway! It's odd to see one of these now the only ones left are in private use.

 
This looks like a shot from Life on Mars. It's not - it's a Viva and Magnum in the corner of a caravan storage yard. These are only really visible from the train line behind the place, though there's a road down the embankment behind them. The opposite corner of the yard used to have an equally mossy Manta B in it but that's been gone for a while.

 

This early Montego in AS racing colours (the coachline is orange over brown) was by a mate's house. Super clean except the lack of wheeltrims. There's a high-ish profile Morris Minor specialist garage a few yards away that might be relevant. Means there's always Moggies floating about too.
 
Early Impreza in not silver.

This week in shite

Why did I say anything!!

Looks like the front to me, the little plastic undershield thing under the front of the engine.

I hadn't seen your reply and had just edited mine!

Quick update on the engine.
 
IMG_0564 by Dan Clark, on Flickr
 
Got the exhaust manifold cleaned up. The original heat shield was long gone however, it rusted away and snapped off when I first got the car leaving two sheared bolts where it was on the manifold top.
I filed these down flat, centre punched them and drilled out the remains of the bolts in my pillar drill then used a tap set to cut new threads.
Two odd spare bolts and washers were dug out of my spares box and I've made a new heat shield out of an off cut of 1.2mm steel. It's not perfect or an exact replica (original was a pressed piece) but it looks much better than leaving the broken bolts and it should have the shield so now does!
This was then followed up with some paint.
I couldn't find any barbecue paint locally so I've got some high heat stove paint instead in silver. I thought the black would be a bit much black as the block is black too. The silver stands out nicely I think. No idea how long it'll last but for now it looks good anyway!
After installing the new gaskets and lifting eye I went around with the same paint and touched in all the exposed manifold studs/nuts then painted the last bits of the cylinder head with black enamel.
 
I've also fitted the new temperature sender and HT leads.
The new alternator was the wrong one though so that's going back for a refund! The new clutch is here and looks right and I've got the new rear crank seal too. Just waiting for a new clutch alignment tool, once that's here the engine should be finished in a day or so.

From today's American Auto Show at Kelmarsh. We went very early, it was dead, I took some photographs and then it began raining so we left, feeling a wee bit robbed of £10.
 
As always photos tweaked and edited to my own taste*.
 






















 

From MOTOR, December 14th 1974.
Apologies for not posting a scan of the original as I don't have a scanner at the moment. I tried close-up photos of the pages but the quality was too poor to use.
In 1974 the whole selection of cars available in the UK could be fitted into just over 6 columns in the original magazine, less than 2 pages of A4 size. The last 2/3 column on the right was for campervans.
This is it, the whole lot ↓ ↓ ↓

 
Instead, I've summarised the published listings below. The missing ones are pretty much just different spec cars of the models listed and an approximation can be made of price.
(Edited line added - in a post below NegativeCreep has found out that the conversion ratio of prices between 1974 and 2017 is 11.1 / £1).
These December 74 cars would have been new on a "N" suffix registration number after 1st August 1974.
 
ALFA ROMEO
Alfasud 1200. £1423
Alfasud 1200 Ti. £1718
Alfetta 1800. £2503
Giulia Super 1600. £1963
GT Junior 1600. £2358
2000 Saloon. £2650
(auto £250)
2000 Spider Veloce. £3043
Montreal 2600 lhd. £4908
Montreal 2600 rhd. £6085
 
AMC. all lhd
Gremlin 5.0. £2636
Hornet Sportabout (!) 5.0. £2856
Matador Cassini 5.9. £3182
Ambassador 5.9. £3262
Jeep CJ5 3.8. £1652
Jeep CJ6 3.8. £1868
Jeep Cherokee est 5.9. £3808
Jeep Wagoneer est 5.9. £3915
 
ASTON MARTIN
V8 5.3. £11349
 
AUDI-NSU
80 LS 1500. £1898
80 GT 1600. £2237
100 GL 1900. £2597
100 Coupe S 1900. £3192
Ro80 "1900" £3531
 
AUSTIN
1100 2-dr. £945
1100 4-dr. £1028
1300 2-dr. £1174
1300 4-dr. £1174 (?!)
(heated rear window £14, auto £141)
1300 Countryman. £1292
Allegro 1100 DL 2-dr. £1287
Allegro 1300 SDL 2-dr. £1396
Allegro 1300 SDL 4-dr. £1445
Allegro 1500 SDL 4-dr. £1556
(inertia reel belts £18)
Allegro 1500 Sport 4-dr. £1636
Allegro 1750 Sport 4-dr. £1672
Allegro 1750HL. £1768
Maxi 1500. £1634
Maxi 1750. £1674
Maxi 1750HL. £1806
1800 DL. £1723
(auto £164)
2200 DL. £1923
 
BENTLEY
Corniche 2-dr 6.7. £17948
Corniche Convertible. £18775
T-Saloon. £13116
 
BMW
2002 2.0. £2650
2002 Turbo. £4221
520i. £3779
525 auto. £4270
3.0 SA. £5301
3.0 Si. £5301
3.0 CSA £7657
3.3L. £8443
 
BRISTOL
Type 411. £9816
 
BUICK
Riviera GS Coupe 7.5. £5123
 
CADILLAC
Eldorado Coupe 8.2. £8169
Brougham 8.2. £8766
 
CHEVROLET
Camaro 5.7. £4763
Monte Carlo 6.6. £4763
 
CHRYSLER
180. £2051
2-litre. £2356
(auto £188)
 
CHRYSLER (AUS) all rhd
Regal sedan 4.3. £2767
Regal Estate 4.3 £2969
Charger 5.2. £2868
C.H. 5.9. £3875
 
CITROEN
2CV6 £899
Dyane 6 602. £980
Ami Super Estate 1.0. £1192
GS Club 1200. £1550
GS Club Estate 1200. £1650
D Super 2200. £2393
DS 23. £2687
DS 23 Safari. £2900
DS 23 Pallas. £2986
SM 2.7. £6691
 
CRAYFORD
Marina 1.8. £2533
 
DAF
44DL Saloon 850. £1255
44DL Estate 850. £1295
66 Marathon 1300 £1630
66 Marathon 1300 Estate. £1730
66 Marathon 1300 Coupe. £1695
 
DAIMLER
Sovereign 4.2 lwb auto. £4801
Double-six lwb 5.3 auto. £5612
Double-six 2-dr 5.3 auto. £6131
Vanden Plas Double-six. £7334
 
DATSUN
100A 2-dr. £1140
100A 4-dr. £1199
100A estate. £1199
120Y 2-dr saloon. £1239
120Y 2-dr. £1320
120Y estate. £1430
120Y coupe. £1434
140J. £1479
160B 4-dr. £1546
160J SSS coupe. £1699
180B. £1618
180B Estate. £1719
180B SSS Coupe. £1895
200GL. £2072
200GL Coupe. £2421
240K GT. £2289
260C. £2555
260C Estate. £2595
(auto £178)
260Z Sports. £3096
260Z 2+2. £3670
 
DE TOMASO
Pantera 5.7. £7208
Pantera GTS 5.7. £8026
Deauville 5.7. £8828
 
FERRARI
Dino 308 3.0. £8340
365 GT4 2+2 4.4. £14266
Berlinetta Boxer 4.4. £16380
 
FIAT
850 Seat. £899
126 600. £853
127 DL 3-dr 900. £1229
128 Coupe 1300. £1670
124 basic 1200. £1356
124 Special T 1600. £1599
124 Coupe 1600. £2274
124 Coupe 1800. £2475
132 1800 GLS. £1989
(auto £140)
130 3200 4-dr. £4999
130 3200 Coupe. £7100 (!!)
X1/9 1300. £2450
 
FORD
Escort Mk1 1100 base 2-dr. £1227
Escort Mk1 1300 Sport 2-dr. £1392
Escort Mk1 1300 XL estate. £1503
Escort Mk1 1300E 2-dr. £1574
Escort Mk1 Mexico 1600. £1755
Escort Mk1 RS1600. £2394
Escort Mk1 RS2000. £1965
Cortina 1300 base 2-dr. £1383
Cortina 1600L 4-dr. £1518
Cortina 2000GT 2-dr. £1791
Cortina 2000E. £2060
Cortina 2000E Estate. £2255
(auto, except 1300, £103)
Capri Mk2 1300L. £1576
Capri Mk2 1600L. £1668
Capri Mk2 2000GT. £1963
Capri Mk2 3000GT. £2243
Capri Mk2 2000 Ghia. £2551
Capri Mk2 3000 Ghia. £2831
Capri Mk1 RS 3100. £2369
Consul 2000. £1849
Consul 2500. £1960
Consul 2500 Estate £2312
(auto £130)
Consul 3000GT. £2352
Granada 3000. £2596
Granada 3000 XL Estate. £2931
Granada 3000GXL. £3045
Granada 3000 Ghia. £3425
Granada 3000 Ghia Coupe. £3878
 
FORD (US)
Mustang II 2-dr hardtop 2.8. £2555
Mustang II 3-dr 2+2 2.8. £2625
Mustang II Ghia 2.8. £3251
Mustang II Mach 1 2.8. £3273
Cougar XR7 5.7. £4328
LTD Brougham 5.7. £4582
Mercury Marquis 7.5. £4677
Thunderbird 7.5. £6575
Continental Mk IV 7.5. £8066
Lincoln Continental 7.5. £8514
 
FORD (AUS) all rhd
Fairmont Sedan 5.0. £3702
Fairmont 2-dr Hardtop 5.0. £3771
Fairmont Station Wagon 5.0. £3840
Fairlane 5.7. £3725
Landau 2-dr 5.7. £5602
Landau Sedan 5.7. £6177
 
HILLMAN
Imp 875. £980
Avenger DL 4-dr 1300. £1308
Avenger S Estate HD 1600. £1644
Avenger GT 2-dr 1600. £1503
Avenger GLS 4-dr 1600. £1702
Hunter GT 1725. £1685
Hunter GL Estate 1725. £1890
(auto £146)
 
HONDA
Civic 2-dr 1200. £1154
(auto £70)
 
HUMBER
Sceptre 1725. £1866
Sceptre 1725 Estate. £2251
(auto £77)
 
JAGUAR
E-Type V12. £3743
E-Type V12 auto. £3937
XJ6 lwb 4.2 £4679
XJ6C 4.2 Coupe. £4811
XJ12 lwb 5.3. £5491
XJ12C 5.3 Coupe. £6009
 
JENSEN
Healey 2000. £2492
Interceptor III 7.2. £8334
Interceptor Convertible 7.2. £9683
 
LADA
Saloon 1200. £981
 
LAMBORGHINI
Urraco 2.5. £10259
Espada 3.9. £15009
Countach 3.9. £19504
 
LANCIA
Fulvia Coupe Rallye S2 1300. £2057
Beta 1400. £1668
Beta 1800 saloon. £2156
Beta 1600 Coupe. £2328
2000 Sedan. £2355
2000 FI. £2647
 
LOTUS
Elan +2S 130 1600. £3246
Europa Special 1600. £3274
Elite 502 2000. £6255 (!!)
 
MASERATI
Merak 2.9. £7821
Bora 4.7. £11473
 
MAZDA
818 1300. £1399
RX3 "2000" £1729
929 1800 estate. £1849
 
MERCEDES
230/4 2.3. £3825 (cheapest Mercedes listed)
240D Diesel. £4235
280E. £4886
280SE. £6743
350SE. £7831
350SL. £6868
450SL. £8442
450SLC Coupe. £10245
600LWB. £20574
 
MG
Midget 1500. £1351
MGB. £1847
MGBGT. £2101
MGBGT V8. £2795
 
MINI
850. £1027
1000. £1108
Clubman 1000. £1169
Clubman 1000 estate. £1254
(auto £153)
1275GT. £1293
 
MORGAN
4/4 1600. £1931
Plus 8 3500. £2683
 
MORRIS
Marina 1300 2-dr basic. £1327 (cheapest)
Marina 1800TC 4-dr. £1725 (most expensive)
1800. £1723
2200. £1923
 
MOSKVICH
412 1500 saloon. £745
412 1500 estate. £849
 
OLDSMOBILE
Toronada 7.5. £5316
 
OPEL
Manta SR Berlinetta 1900. £2097
Commodore GSE saloon 2.8 £4288
Commodore GSE Coupe 2.8. £4395
 
PANTHER
J72 4.2. £7749
De Ville 5.3. £17650
 
PEUGEOT
104 945. £1337
204 1100. £1486
204 Estate 1100. £1577
304 1300. £1613
304 Estate 1300. £1713
304 Cabriolet 1300. £1961
304 Coupe 1300. £2016
404 1600. £1797
404 diesel 2.0. £2114
504 2000. £2242
504 Family Estate 2000. £2491
504 diesel 1900. £2361
504 TI 2000. £2486
(auto £244)
 
PONTIAC
Firebird 7.5. £4763
 
PORSCHE
911 Coupe 2.7. £6750 (cheapest Porsche)
911S Targa Sportmatic 2.7. £8098
Carrera Coupe 2.7. £9000
 
RELIANT
Robin 750. £992
Robin Super 750. £1071
Scimitar GTE. £3194
(auto £210)
Scimitar GTE Overdrive. £3337
 
RENAULT
4 850. £997
5TL 950. £1239
6TL 1100. £1306
12TL 1300. £1443
16TL 1565. £1618
16TS 1565. £1818
16TX 1647. £2085
(auto £197)
15TL 1300. £1752
15TS 1565. £1906
17TL 1565. £2078
17 Gordini 1647. £2650
 
ROLLS ROYCE
Silver Shadow 6.7. £13995
Corniche coupe 6.7. £17948
Phantom VI 6.2. £20153
 
ROVER
2200SC. £2532
2200TC. £2682
2200 Auto. £2690
3500S. £3010
3500 auto. £3168
Range Rover 3.5. £3574
 
SAAB
96 V4 1500 saloon £1722
96 V4 1500 estate £1629
99 basic 2-dr 2000 £2186
99 L Combi Coupe 2000. £2616
99EMS 2000. £2625
 
SKODA
S100 1000. £834
S110R coupe 1100. £1079
 
SUNBEAM
Imp Sport 875. £1226
Rapier 1725. £2131
(auto £146)
Rapier H120 1725. £2427
 
TOYOTA
Celica 1600 5-speed. £2345
Crown Special 2600. £2717
Crown Special Estate 2600. £2724
 
TRIUMPH
Spitfire 1300. £1360
1500TC. £1668
Dolomite 1850. £1938
Dolomite Sprint. £2293
2000 saloon. £2349
2.5PI. £2675
2500TC estate. £2871
(auto £158)
TR6 hardtop 2500. £2236
Stag hardtop 3000. £3342
 
TVR
3000M. £2690
 
VANDEN PLAS
1500. £1950
 
VAUXHALL
Viva deluxe 2-dr 1256. £1357
Magnum 2300 4-dr £1823
Magnum 2300 coupe. £1843
Firenza coupe 2300 (droopsnoot). £2625
Victor 2300. £1923
Victor 2300 estate £2071
Ventora 3300. £2490
Ventora 3300 estate. £2622
 
VOLKSWAGEN
1200. £1089
1300. £1209
1303. £1309
Golf 2-dr 1100. £1294
Golf LS 4-dr 1500. £1654
(auto 1500 only, £117)
Scirocco coupe 1500. £2018
412LS Variant 1700. £1982
K70 1800. £1959
 
VOLVO
244 2.0. £2494
245 DL estate 2.0. £2790
(auto £179)
164E fi 2.9. £3386
(auto £89)
 
WARTBURG
1000 saloon. £811
estate. £923
 
WOLSELEY
Six 2200. £2146

I've only had it three weeks and even I can't believe how fast I've put things right on it.  This little purple car has been an absolute joy to work on.  I'm so glad the Autoshite forces got together to get it into my grubby little mitts, I might be the one doing the welding but it's been a real team effort to get things together so fast.
 
20170711-32 by Angyl Roper, on Flickr
 
20170804-02 by Angyl Roper, on Flickr
 
Hopefully I won't embarrass myself by forgetting anyone, so here goes on the folks that have been involved in rescuing this little trooper with the supply of parts and transport and the car itself:
catsinthewelder, KruJoe, Mike_Knight, dodgytom, Beige 1100, anonymous_user, 320touring, and of course the myriad of comments and words of encouragement from the rest of you.
 
This is what Autoshite is about.  This is the sort of thing I joined the forum for and this is what's brought me back.

That is so so sad, I met John a couple of times, really nice bloke.
 
I parked next to his lovely Cortina at this particular meet in 2015, he is standing up the end with Ken, Seth and Rob
 
Shite Meet 18.10.15 002 by steve wilson, on Flickr

Went to see the Capri today.
 
OH MY FUCKING GOD!!
It's looking seriously good. And they were working away on it when I arrived too which was good!
 
I've had a chat with the owner of the bodyshop and he says it's going very well, very little in the way of problems and it's going together brilliantly. The only thing really was with the new rear quarters, they are repro panels and some of the edges and folds weren't quite as defined as they should be, almost like they were made using old worn tooling. So they've had some additional work to improve this.
I asked him how well the previous place had done the work they'd done. He said it has been done and pretty well too, only criticism was that he thought they had scrimped a bit on the spot welds. So he's gone over it all and doubled them up just to sure. Which is good.
There was one issue however. It seems when the last place sent the car for blasting whoever blasted it did it badly.
There is sadly a fair bit of heat distortion on the bonnet caused by excessive heat building up during blasting. This shouldn't have happened had it been done properly. There's a little bit on the roof too. It's nothing that can't be put right but it's annoying that it's happened.
 
So what's been done?
So far I've spent £2500. This has got me the front end completed with the exception of the front wings being welded on. The nos front panel/valance is fully fitted, both inner wings are finished and the inner wing top mounting bands are both on.
Both rear quarters have been removed in full aswell as the inner lower rear corners and the same for both rear inner arch bowls. One side has been just about fully rebuilt too, the quarter panel is fully welded on as is the inner lower rear corner and arch bowl. The other side is well underway being rebuilt.
Also, there's been various repairs around the car as required.
All this was done in just under two weeks!
When I arrived they showed me the seam where the old rear quarter had been cut off, the strip where the two panels spot weld together (inner frame to outer panel). It was rusty (surface rust only) along the seam and they are treating all this as they go along by cleaning it all back. Good attention to detail I think. Also the inner bits of various panels are being painted/treated as required too.
 
Over the next few days the remaining rear quarter area will be completed and the new rear panel fitted.
This just leaves the two doors, the rusty bit in the tailgate shut area and a few bits around the boot floor. Then of course there's the priming, flatting, and then paint.
It's not a million miles off the paint stage now! Speaking of paint, they asked about colour. He knew I was looking at Miami blue so he had a small sample pot mixed up. It looks lovely so I've decided that's the way to go without a doubt!
 
I did get a few pics but I'm struggling to get them off my work phone for some reason!? Might need to try downloading them on the PC later.
I'm really impressed so far though, unbelievable progress being made and really does beg the question what the last place were pissing about doing, absolute joke!

My mk2 Transit is ex fleet, being ex BBC.
 
IMG_0231 by Dan Clark, on Flickr
 
You can still see the remnants of the old BBC logo and numbers on it in places where it was all removed.
This is what it looked like back in its service days:
 
BBC Radio Manchester O.B. Ford Transit (1985) by Robin Vanags, on Flickr
 
They are/were mobile radio studios and some (like mine) had pretty long service lives. Once retired they were stripped down and flogged off. Mine still had most of its sound and recording gear inside when I got it.
 
 
You can still tell SSE vans easily too if you know what to look for.
Transits and Sprinters are blue, with old fashioned beacon lights on the roof and they often still retain their enormous yellow rear steps.
My old Sprinter was actually metallic blue! God knows why they spent money on metallic paint?
Our older vans were silver, but otherwise the same identifiable features.
Our depot had an A reg Dodge 50 until not that long ago too, still in the original SEB green livery. It lasted so long as it was a test van full of built in instruments which made it expensive to replace hence its long life.
It was getting very rusty at the end though and it got scrapped, despite my best efforts to buy it! I'd love to have an ex SEB Dodge 50, it'd be nice to work for them and have one of their old vans!

Breakfast.
 

It's a 400 mile round trip, I got insurance, half a pack of cigarettes, no gas, no sunglasses and it'll be daylight.