SambaS in AlpineLE Oh-dearage!

[Sudsprint]

Epic tales these.

[blackbart]

ive just spent 2 hours reading this . what an epic thread .... im absolutely amazed by all the skill and determination to save these cars. top class work. i salute you sir.

[sierraman]

These keep coming out of the woodwork all the time. I'd love to find something like this in a lockup.

[SambaS]

As requested MOAR to come

 

http://youtu.be/gjw3fucF3nM

[captain_70s]

The fact you dared to drive that thing at anything more than 25mph shows a level of insanity and determination I am very much jealous of...

[KruJoe]

Brilliant! Thanks for posting the vid Edd. (Muggins piloting.)

 

That thing drove so bloody well in Wales, despite its hanging looks, you'd never guess it was hiding quite so much grot.

[406V6]

Superb efforts so far. Impressed by the level of Alpine love.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

As requested MOAR to come

 

http://youtu.be/gjw3fucF3nM

Fantastic! If cars could talk, I'm sure this Alpine would be shouting, 'fuck, yeah!'

[vulgalour]

Really?  Because looking at it you'd think it would be shouting "ooh, me 'ip!" or "I'm 92 next year!"

[Simcat]

SambaS will be pointing the Express Talisman south in a couple of weeks for a return visit to Talbot Rehab.

 

The Express is booked in for an out patient appointment, but the main cause for the visit is to further progress the Alpine LE, which remains in intensive care, but is no longer on the danger list.

 

In advance of it's owner's visit, further reconstructive surgery has been carried out.....

 

(as a refresher jump back to p14 to see how things were left in June)  

[Simcat]

The crusty bump stop bracket has been cleaned up and welded back to new metal in chassis rail side.

[Simcat]

Sill end closure panel made up. Whilst there was access for some WD40, we ensured that the bolts that screw into captive nuts holding the axle beam on undid from underneath, as at a later date the very scabby beam and suspension arms will likely get replaced with better used.

 

These bolts can either shear off, or the captive nuts spin - the only remedy being to chop a hole to access!

[Simcat]

The cinnamon car donated this rather convoluted repair section to finish off the inner side of the arch.

[Simcat]

On the inner side some L shaped sections were formed to join arch back to the floor.

[Simcat]

Rear cross member ready to be fitted.

 

This was a used section that came with the cinnamon car, but from a slightly different position, so had to be suitably trimmed and joddled.

 

Also before fitting, the locations for the bumper bracket bolts were carefully marked, and new nuts welded to the inside - not a job that could be done once in place!   

[Simcat]

Not only will rear bumper now be firmly attached, it will sit level as well!

[dollywobbler]

Awe inspiring stuff.

[Simcat]

Some blending over the welds prior to paint.

[Simcat]

Outer half of wheelhouse welded in. The inner and outer have two factory alignment holes, so they can be bolted together to get everything perfectly in place prior to welding. 

[Simcat]

After some final seam sealing, inner arch painted with smoothrite. Once outer quarter is on and painted everything will be waxoyled underneath. 

 

Solid at last - well this corner at least!

[Simcat]

That's it for now - further progress updates in a couple of weeks!  

[SambaS]

Super duper! Looking forward to end of month.

 

Mega ten level thanks,its strange seeing work done from afar on this one

[AlabamaShrimp]

Some blending over the welds prior to paint.

I can't say how amazing the work is you've done so far if I could do a quarter I'd think I was doing a good job.

 

One thing though why has your filler got that the ripple/bumpyness to it? Is it on purpose or have you coated it in something?

[Simcat]

I can't say how amazing the work is you've done so far if I could do a quarter I'd think I was doing a good job.

 

One thing though why has your filler got that the ripple/bumpyness to it? Is it on purpose or have you coated it in something?

 

The factory sealant has quite a rough texture so I 'stipple' the filler to blend in, it works well.

 

First coat is roughly rubbed down to smooth the welds, then a thin skim is applied and just using finger tips dab the surface to create the effect. Any sharp points then just nibbed off once set.

[vulgalour]

Brilliant efforts there on resurrecting the hopeless blue car.  Great to see.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Splendid work!!!!! Theres a lad over on the blue forum who could do with a lesson or two from you on welding up old simcas actually.

[Simcat]

Talisman landed 2am Saturday morning..

 

Some photos from SambaS and Simcat:

 

Half a day spent tweaking and aligning

 

 

And then the welding starts

 

 

More welding

 

 

This is a picture of a Frost product called Cold Front. It aims to reduce any distortion in flat panels caused by the heat transfer when welding. Worked well!

 

 

After a day of welding. On.

 

 

Then we went OCD ! See this rust pitting? Yeah we got rid of that, we all know how those door scabs started !!

 

 

Three of them. Gone. No products, just ground out.

 

 

And then the prep for a mirror finish starts

 

 

And continues... this takes ages!

 

 

That's three days gone, bit more to do tomorrow !

[Parky]

Brilliant stuff!

[Anglevan]

Doing a grand job. Keep the updates coming.

[oldcars]

Loving this, great work.