Re: That TR7 WIP - More rust and some welding

[cort16]

I thought I'd try to do a work in progress thread on this TR7 after failing miserably to do this on the SD1.

First off, yes this is the Autoshite site bike TR7. The last one to have a shot was a certain cavalier loving discount motor supermarket who frequents this site. He put it up for sale, I bought it, a transporter picked it up and a day later dropped it on my street. The interweb is GR9 indeed.

 

Here it is arriving.

IMG_2069 by cort16, on Flickr

 

It was MOT'd and taxed so I had a few days of joyfully blezzing around although thanks to the 4 speed gearbox it'll only do about 65mph. It goes well up until then though.

I had one terrifying experience of driving it in the dark with one working headlamp, no interior lights and water running down the inside of the screen while the indicators flashed at double (or more speed). I've taken note of those things for later (much later).

 

Right so with the Rover out the garage I got the TR7 in. It fits thankfully leaving me with a free garage on one side. This makes the whole thing much easier as the Rover hogged the whole bloody thing.

IMG_2097 by cort16, on

 

The first thing I thought I'd tackle is the window, which has come out the runner. I found that the rubber bit on the window was knackered and the teeth on the regulator thing was worn. I recon someone trying to force the window up is what caused the window to come off in the first place.

 

IMG_2098 by cort16, on Flickr

 

My plan is to tack a few welds on these teeth and file them back, which will hopefully fix it.

 

Next I thought I'd whip out the broken seat. It came out easy enough but it looks like it's been repaired before (then broke).

 

IMG_2099 by cort16, on Flickr

 

IMG_2100 by cort16, on Flickr

 

I think the best bet here is to cut it all out and weld in some metal. I've got the chance of some cheap leather mx-5 seats but as the seat belt on the TR7 mounts on the seat I'm not sure how this would work with an mx-5 seat.

 

Now the seat was out I started poking around and..

IMG_2109 by cort16, on Flickr

 

Then./

 

 

IMG_2110 by cort16, on Flickr

 

At this point I thought it probably wise to remove the interior and have a look at the other side.

This handbrake centre console bit was a bastard to get off. I had to remove the heater controls and unbolt the handbrake to finally persuade it off.

IMG_2113 by cort16, on Flickr

 

Once I got the interior out I realised that it had been quite a good idea.

IMG_2112 by cort16, on Flickr

 

IMG_2114 by cort16, on Flickr

 

IMG_2115 by cort16, on Flickr

 

To be fair it's not that bad although I'd be very surprised if there's not more to come. MIG wire and sheet steel ordered. I bought this as a project for the winter so the fact it needs all this welding doesn't bother me in the slightest. This may change the first time I get a rogue weld spark in the man banana region.

[rml2345]

Ouch! Looks like deffo needs a tickle from the MIG fairy, but it's a brown TR7 so definitely worth is.

[cort16]

  rml245 said:

Ouch! Looks like deffo needs a tickle from the MIG fairy, but it's a brown TR7 so definitely worth is.

 

I know, what's not to like?

[Cavcraft]

Nice one Glenn, I knew it'd gone to the right home. If you get stuck I think you can still buy the window regulator things, they seem to be an achilles heel on the TR7. Oh, can't remember if I mentioned it but found someone with a good (his words) full stainless sytem for £50 a while back, can try and find his contact info and pass it on if you like?

 

Anyhow looking forward to reading more about your work on the TR, nice to know it's gone to someone who will sort it out.

[cort16]

That's be good if you could pass me his details Billy. Fitting it may be a while a way yet but it's something I'll need anyway. At least my MIG's happy.

[Cavcraft]

Pm'd you mate.

[dollywobbler]

Well, the asking price when it first came up was not exactly high, so I guess some trauma was to be expected. However, it's a bloody rare car these days (everyone wants a Convertible) and it'll be worth sorting out I reckon. Good luck with it!

[cort16]

Right so I decided to attack this with the big wire wheel to see the damage before I start chopping it out.

 

This is the point the rear arm connects onto the body. I'd say this was an MOT fail.

The guy who I rent my lockup recons he fixed loads of these mounting point when they were only a few years old and gave me a couple of tips on the best way re-build it all up. I needed to drop the rear shock and remove that arm before I could start chopping it out and needless to say it put up substantial resistance. I had to chop the head of the bolt as the nut was knackered then chap it through. Sounds easy? It wasn't it took me an hour with a big hammer, chisel and grips to get it out.

 

IMG_2124 by cort16, on Flickr

 

Now I'd won the battle with that arm I moved onto the front. Frilly!

 

IMG_2130 by cort16, on Flickr

 

Obviously the fuel line runs right through the area of weldy choppage so I'd been feeding the unions with wd40 over a few days.

Much to my surprise it came off without snapping. It looks in decent enough shape to go back on too.

 

IMG_0425 by cort16, on Flickr

 

About this time I thought I should invest in some metal. If this isn't enough I've got problems.

 

IMG_0422 by cort16, on Flickr

 

Time for choppy choppy. THe rot in the floor doesn't seem to go any further than the chassis rail on the left although it is double skinned, which may cause me some problems when I try to weld it up. I need to have a think about the best way to do it.

 

IMG_0427 by cort16, on Flickr

 

IMG_0426 by cort16, on Flickr

 

I wanted to get this front crossmember off as the floor rot went up and over it.

 

IMG_2132 by cort16, on Flickr

 

After a prolonged and violent battle it yielded.

IMG_0428 by cort16, on Flickr

 

It cleaned up okay and with a couple of little repairs will go back on the car. I've kurusted it inside and I'll be pumping a load of waxoil back into it when it's done.

IMG_0429 by cort16, on Flickr

 

So that's all the rot at the front chopped out and just read for welding back in. The underseal was 1/2 an inch thick in parts so I spent a long time trying to shift this and getting it clean enough for welding.

 

IMG_0430 by cort16, on Flickr

 

So that's it so far. I'm no power restorer when it comes to these things. If I learned anything from the SD1 is that it's worth taking your time getting it as prepped and clean as possible before welding else it cause problems with the mig such as shit welds and flaming chunks of rust and undereseal flying around going down your shoes, crotch, ears etc.

[RedSparrow]

I take back what I said 6 months ago, it no longer looks in better shape than mine!

Well done with all your hard work.

[vulgalour]

Definitely with the right person, I shall enjoy following this thread.

[cort16]

Not done much on this of late because work's been manic and then I was away pouring beer down my face in Portugal for a bit.

I was off yesterday so decided to spend some quality time with the TR7.

 

Didn't start well. The inner sill was a bit frilly at the front so I cut it out and was cleaning the area at the front when the wire wheel hit the edge of the wing causing it to disintegrate.

IMG_0432 by cort16, on Flickr

 

This was starting to get depressing. Check out the thickness of glen miller on this bit! There wasn't any actual metal on this here it had been built up with a bit of metal tape slapped over the inner wing then smeared generiously . This makes me a bit worried given the amount of visibile wobbly wob all over the car.

IMG_0434 by cort16, on Flickr

 

Now that everything was chopped out I started making up some new bits to go back on. Once I've welded on this lot I'll be able to look at putting the floor pan back in. I've started making the floor pan panel. It looks like it might take a bit of time to make up but I'm too tight to pay £100 a side for replacement ones.

IMG_0436 by cort16, on Flickr

 

Finally I got to get the mig going and welded in the repair section for the inner sill. It's a bit of an awkward fugger as the throttle pedal blocks access. I couldn't be arsed butt welding it in so cut out the grot, slapped some ku-rust around and welded on a patch. You'll never be able to tell once it's undersealled up anyway.

IMG_0437 by cort16, on Flickr

 

I now need to finish off welding in the repair section on the top part of the inner wheel arch, which will re-form the join, which needs to be there for the new floor panel section can go in.

I think this one may take some time!

[Cavcraft]

Nice one Glenn, keep the faith brother!

Pm on it's way, ref. log book.