Invalid carriage blue Mk1 Cavalier

[lisbon_road]

This thread continues as well as ever.  Might be a good time to be building in some decent security considering what's happening on other threads?

[beko1987]

Quick release running gear perhaps

[johngarty]

She's looking very sweet. Bet you can't wait to get behind the wheel.

[4wheeledstool]

Looking fantastic, and that door gap is pure automotive porn to me!

Cheers! It certainly pleased me!

This thread continues as well as ever. Might be a good time to be building in some decent security considering what's happening on other threads?

I'll have a think about that - none of my chod gets left outside of a night time, but it's still a good idea!

Quick release running gear perhaps

Ha! Quick release springs would have been nice!

She's looking very sweet. Bet you can't wait to get behind the wheel.

Cheers! Shouldn't be a lot longer now.

 

From July 24th.

 

After a ridiculously early start, I finally got back on with this. Back on four wheels for the first time this year.

 

 

Boot lid now in paint

 

 

Carpets back in

 

 

Fuel is next on the list.

[4wheeledstool]

From July 24th.

 

Fitted the front shocks late morning, not so bouncy any more!

 

 

Back on the car this afternoon, petrol in hand - it was time to get her started. Oil went in, new battery fitted, and water in the radiator (in case of any leaks!). I turned the key and......lots of clicking and occasional slow turning of the engine. The battery is new, so it could only have been a bad earth or a dead starter motor. The bell housing to chassis leg earth strap wasn't very tight, so I tightened it up, and now the motor cranked over nicely. The fuel pump at the front of the engine is gravity fed from the tank, but the fuel line runs up the chassis leg before it drops down to the pump. I only put 5 litres of fuel in, so I needed to make sure it was reaching the pump - it wasn't. A clear plastic tube was inserted into the end of the fuel line, and I syphoned it through, it didn't need much help - now we were in business! After 5 seconds or so of cranking, she burst into life, and with a couple of tweaks of idle + mixture adjustment screws, settled down to a nice even tickover. Belter!

I left it running with the heater on for half an hour or so to bleed the air out, the thermostat was working nicely, and best of all - no leaks of either water or oil.

 

 

 

Flushed with success, I fitted the anti roll bar next. It was something of a faff, but I got there in the end. Another one of those jobs that would have been a lot easier with an extra hand!

 

 

 

^^^ Here you can clearly see the curve the spring needs which made the spring compressor so difficult to get right.

 

All in all, a good day!

[4wheeledstool]

From July 25th.

 

Not a lot to show you today, my time was spent doing up all the front suspension bolts with the weight on the wheels. New split pins were fitted to the steering arm ball joints and the chassis to cross member nuts. After a bit of gassing, I was given my freshly painted bonnet back, so I'll probably fit that and the boot lid next. After that, once the braking system has been filled and bled, I can fit the wings, then it can have its flat and polish.

 

[4wheeledstool]

From July 26th.

 

More stuff that can't be seen today - first all the rear suspension bolts were done up tight. Next all the brake pipe unions were checked for tightness ready to fill the system, then the boot lid went on.

 

 

Before I left, I made sure I could remember how the jack/wheel brace/spare wheel are fitted.

 

 

I need to hijack another pair of hands to fit the bonnet - maybe tomorrow!

[4wheeledstool]

From July 27th.

 

Not a lot to report today, time was short. Filled the gearbox with oil, then had a go at the brakes. The fronts filled nicely under gravity, but nothing at all made it to the rears. Gonna try an easy bleed set up next - or a helper!

Being very careful not to get any on the new paint -

 

[4wheeledstool]

From July 28th.

 

We now have a brake pedal! I've not found any leaks, but I'll give the pedal a good mashing, then check for leaks again before I consider it job done.

A new bonnet stay clip arrived today, thanks to Keith at VauxhallGreenParts. I'd forgotten that the original one had disintegrated when the car was stripped, but luckily he had one left.

 

 

I couldn't resist cleaning the dust off the car -

 

 

 

I'll probably have to clean it again when it goes over for polishing, but hopefully that will be done soon - just need to fit the bonnet and wings now.

[danthecapriman]

Brilliant progress. Good on you for putting all that back up on here too! Looking forward to the finished car, should be early next week at your rate surely?!

[4wheeledstool]

Brilliant progress. Good on you for putting all that back up on here too! Looking forward to the finished car, should be early next week at your rate surely?!

Cheers! I'm at the mercy of the paint blokes for the flatting and polishing before all the trims, bumpers etc can go back on. Hopefully won't have to wait too long!

 

From July 29th.

 

The bonnet went on this afternoon since I had access to a couple of helpful bodies from next door.

 

 

 

I managed to get the panel gaps pretty even, but the final adjustments will be done when the wings go on.

 

 

 

Unfortunately I left the new wing bolts at home, so that's a job for tomorrow now.

[4wheeledstool]

From July 30th - up to date now!

 

Sealant applied to inner wing/wing mating surfaces.

 

 

Lines up pretty well considering this wing came from another car.

 

 

 

 

The other side is good at the front.

 

 

But it stands out from the door a bit at the back.

 

 

I'll have a go at making this better, but I've already had a good play with it. I don't think it's gonna get much improvement. This is the wing that was a little battered and disguised with filler - obviously when it was straightened, it became a little distorted.

[purplebargeken]

That is looking bloody lovely. I imagine that the gaps and so on were so much better* from factory

 

Love it, just love it.

[beko1987]

This is the sex!

[Felly Magic]

Phwoar, rapid progress here, cooking with gas is an understatement, soon there will be all the exterior trim on

[fordperv]

This is bloody lovely, please give it the best security you can get hold of

[purplebargeken]

Will be quite happy to errrr, guard it on a regular basis.

[Pillock]

You say it sticks out a bit, that's probably better than the factory quality control! 

Is there anything going inside the wheelarches to protect them? 

[4wheeledstool]

That is looking bloody lovely. I imagine that the gaps and so on were so much better* from factory

 

Love it, just love it.

Cheers! From the side, the gaps are the same on both sides.

 

 

 

I've seen some pictures of new ones with some shocking panel gaps, but they generally seem to be door related.

 

This is the sex!

Many thanks!

 

Phwoar, rapid progress here, cooking with gas is an understatement, soon there will be all the exterior trim on

Thank you kindly! Hopefully soon!

 

This is bloody lovely, please give it the best security you can get hold of

Why thank you! It's difficult to choose security though - krooklocks, disclocks, wheel clamps are all easy for a pro to sidestep. I suppose they could deter the sort of "human waste product" opportunists.

 

Will be quite happy to errrr, guard it on a regular basis.

Cool! No eating crisps or sausage rolls in the car though!

 

You say it sticks out a bit, that's probably better than the factory quality control!

Is there anything going inside the wheelarches to protect them?

 

I'm probably being a little fussy, but I'd still like it to be better. The only protection for the arches will be a new set of period dealer fit mudflaps. I'll most likely Schultz in there when the paint becomes damaged.

[4wheeledstool]

The black bits at the front were done today.

 

 

Again, it was unmasked along the black to blue line whilst the paint was still soft to avoid cracking/flaking.

 

 

I went away to do some chores, (and play out in other chod) and then went back and took the rest of the masking off. It was then garnished with a pair of nice new indicator lamps.

 

[adw1977]

It's difficult to choose security though - krooklocks, disclocks, wheel clamps are all easy for a pro to sidestep. I suppose they could deter the sort of "human waste product" opportunists.

 

 

I seem to recall a Disklok proving pretty resistant to removal recently.

[4wheeledstool]

I seem to recall a Disklok proving pretty resistant to removal recently.

Fair doos!

 

Not a lot other than cleaning the headlining, door cards+carpet this afternoon. I did remove the lower parts of the dash to re attach the earth wire for the radio though. It had stopped working yesterday, and I knew what the problem was, as it had done it last Summer when I was driving it. I fitted a ring terminal, then used the rear radio mounting threads and a nut to secure it.

When I got home, these were waiting for me on the door mat.

 

 

These are the same style as the original rear plate. The front one that was on the car when I bought it was an 80s plastic one, fitted after a bump. Now we have a matching pair thanks to Tippers.

[plasticvandan]

So many restorations ruined by Patel autospares perspex plates.not this one!

[Felly Magic]

Must resist licking screen!

[lisbon_road]

While you have the car in this state, perhaps the odd hidden switch in the ignition might not go amiss.

 

It might be worth us having a separate thread on security methods, subtle and otherwise.  (Diskloks, chained padlocks around the cross member, and so on.,,,)

 

I do like the colour.  And those 'plates are just perfect.  

[4wheeledstool]

The rear seating is now back where it belongs.

 

 

I didn't get to do much more as I started masking up the windows, rear panel, door handles etc. for the final flat and polish. It begins tomorrow.

[purplebargeken]

Hmmm, that carpet looks a bit dirty

[4wheeledstool]

Hmmm, that carpet looks a bit dirty

It'll get worse before it gets better - its a bit dusty in my unit.

 

No polishing happened today. Unforeseen circumstances saw to that. Not to worry though - I put the front seats back in instead.

 

 

Once the drivers seat was in, I drove it around the yard for a short while. It felt good to be behind the wheel again.

[purplebargeken]

The seats look very plush indeed. For some reason I was expecting vinyl.

[AnthonyG]

Absolutely lovely and a credit to your restoration skills. I can only echo what others are saying about security but I assume it will have a garage to live in?

 

Fairly sure the panel gaps etc are better now that when it was new!