Invalid carriage blue Mk1 Cavalier

[4wheeledstool]

Stripped bare looks lovely, but doesn't it start rusting immediately? When all is welded and clean how will it be painted to last? New cars are plunged into tanks of primer and whatnot. Going to take more than a few aerosols for sure to keep it free for another 40 years.

All the stripped bits are to be treated with POR15, while its OK to paint this onto clean metal with the right preparation, it actually works better on rusty or "seasoned" metal. The metal already stripped clean seems to be taking 4-6 weeks before any surface rust appears, but it cleans off easily with a Scotch pad.

[dollywobbler]

Amazing. I've somehow missed this thread too. FOOL.

[4wheeledstool]

One of my shed neighbours has in the back of his shed a red Cavalier mk1 1600L of the same vintage as yours.  It used to be his father's, and has been off the road for a while but does run.  It looks to be in very good order, with no visible rust - it's some way down his list of projects but he'll get to it eventually.  It's got the reddest interior OF EVAH, and has me quite jealous.

Cool! I know what you mean about the red interiors, see if he'll let you grab a picture of it, and share the unfeasible redness!

[tooSavvy]

L8 entry to 'Kwote O't Year - 2015'

 

".. while its OK to paint this onto clean metal with the right preparation, it actually works better on rusty or "seasoned" metal.. "

 

... that's the whole auto$hite backyard covered, then?

 

 

TS

[4wheeledstool]

Today's instalment - not a lot of reward for the time spent, but its the fiddly bits now.

 

 

My poor drill must be ready to give up soon?

[4wheeledstool]

Just the back of the front valance left up front now, then I'll move onto something quieter for a change!

 

 

Looking forward to getting some paint on there at some point!

[4wheeledstool]

Oily stuff today - rear suspension, axle and rear prop shaft came out in one piece, the only hardship was working out how the handbrake cables were freed from the brake backplates. The manual indicated that the clip was outside the backplate, when it was in fact inside it.

 

 

The car now looks a bit like its floating.

 

 

The old boy's parts hoard was delivered to its new home in Wales yesterday. He let me have whatever I wanted from the hoard - a thoroughly good egg by all accounts - his good lady wife even fed us when we'd finished unloading.

[purplebargeken]

Brilliant

[Spottedlaurel]

The old boy's parts hoard was delivered to its new home in Wales yesterday. He let me have whatever I wanted from the hoard - a thoroughly good egg by all accounts - his good lady wife even fed us when we'd finished unloading.

 

For the fantastic work you're doing on this car you deserve it.

[4wheeledstool]

For the fantastic work you're doing on this car you deserve it.

Cheers! I was really pleased about the free parts, there's not a lot at all that I need to buy now - mainly paint and prep stuff, and the polybush set which I should have soon.

 

Today I've mostly been tidying up, and rearranging things.

 

 

The trailing arm bushes were removed too - a LOT easier than the lower front wishbone ones!

 

[4wheeledstool]

I stole another hour on this on my way home from work. I dipped my toe in on the engine side of things by removing the clutch and flywheel. It's pretty oily back there!

 

 

The clutch friction plate is not far off some of the rivets, but I have another one to go in. I cleaned the masses of shite off the lower flywheel cover, then had to tear myself away to use the WC.

 

 

Unfortunately there was no bog roll in there, so I had to go home - the first inch was cold by the time I could download!

[4wheeledstool]

Got a few more bits done today, the remaining bushes from the rear anti roll bar and panhard rod came off first, closely followed by the brake lines. Incredibly, the brake pipe unions just wound right out, as did the bleed nipples on the brakes. I took a wire brush to the axle, just to see the state of it, and it should clean up nicely.

 

 

This session ended with the engine finally going up on the stand.

[beko1987]

Fuck how have I missed this! If I ever win the lottery and can sack work off/buy a unit I'd love to do this to a car!

 

Following now

[4wheeledstool]

Fuck how have I missed this! If I ever win the lottery and can sack work off/buy a unit I'd love to do this to a car!

Following now

Cheers! My lottery win plans definitely involve sacking off work, and a warmer unit too. And a lot more chod. Then probably some more chod

[4wheeledstool]

Today didn't quite go to plan, but progress was still made. I'd taken the day off work to get the bulk of my Christmas shopping sorted. Shopping done, I jumped in the van and thought I'd head over to the unit and finish the paint removal of the Cavalier's front end. Bugger! Flat tyre! Spare fitted in the pissing rain (no David Banner action) and I was on my way. On arrival, I noticed that the ramp was free next door, I've been meaning to replace the rear ARB bushes on my van for a while now (terrible banging from the rear end) and this was a rare opportunity! So, a couple of hours later than was the plan, I got stuck in.

 

 

The beer phone rang, and I was gone! Theres no reason to do today that which can be put off until tomorrow.

[4wheeledstool]

It took longer than anticipated, but its done.

 

 

I'm hoping to get my suspension stuff sandblasted at work this week - should be a lot quicker than power tools!

[4wheeledstool]

Good news! I got some sandblasted pieces back today -

 

 

Bad news! The offside spring seat on the rear axle has a little bit of rot that needs repairing -

 

 

The other side still has its original paint on it in the same area. (?)

[4wheeledstool]

Other chod took up most of the spare time today, but I did manage to make a repair piece for the spring seat. Just need my mate to buzz it in.

 

 

[4wheeledstool]

New fuel pump was delivered today - its now stashed with the new brake hoses, ball joints, water pump, thermostat etc. waiting for the time to come.

 

 

Some more sandblasting was done yesterday, I'll hopefully get it all painted at the weekend.

 

[purplebargeken]

Surely when this has been done it will likely be the best Cav on the planet. A real inspiration!

[Cavcraft]

I sent a link to this to the original owner's grand daughter and they (her family) are absolutely chuffed with the way things are going.

[HillmanImp]

Just read this for the first time. How is this car so solid for its age? I need to know its secret so that I can ignore it but know what I should be doing to mine. I have worked on 6yr old VWs that are in much much worse condition. GR12 work.

 

Sent from my Hudl 2 using Tapatalk

[4wheeledstool]

Surely when this has been done it will likely be the best Cav on the planet. A real inspiration!

Many thanks Mr. Purplebarge! I'm sure it'll not be the best, but I'd like to think it'll be one of the nicer ones.

I sent a link to this to the original owner's grand daughter and they (her family) are absolutely chuffed with the way things are going.

Cool! I hope they're not too offended by some of the thread content!

Just read this for the first time. How is this car so solid for its age? I need to know its secret so that I can ignore it but know what I should be doing to mine. I have worked on 6yr old VWs that are in much much worse condition. GR12 work.

Sent from my Hudl 2 using Tapatalk

Cheers! The only things I'm aware of that have preserved it so well seem to be low mileage and overnight garaging?

 

Been down the unit again today, more parts have been hand stripped for painting. The stuff I painted yesterday came out very reasonably considering the time of year.

 

 

Behold the blackness up close -

 

 

 

The whole "trying to avoid damaging paint" gig starts here!

[scdan4]

Yum. 

[plasticvandan]

Dont use those brake hoses,I've had nothing but grief from 20_30 yr old nos hoses that swelled up or had gone porus

[sloth]

yeah just get some braideds made.

[4wheeledstool]

Dont use those brake hoses,I've had nothing but grief from 20_30 yr old nos hoses that swelled up or had gone porus

 

Perhaps you were just unlucky? I've used NOS hoses before with no problems.

 

yeah just get some braideds made.

I reckon that's a good call if they do end up being problematic.

 

Got some more bits painted earlier -

 

Springs were awkward, but perseverance was rewarded.

 

 

ARBs were awkward etc....

 

 

Shocks were easy

 

 

Cross member had to be suspended by the bump stop holes to enable it all to be painted in one hit.

 

 

The pile of stuff to be painted black is now a lot smaller than the "done" pile.

[Skizzer]

Wow. Just wow.

[4wheeledstool]

A few more pieces were prepared for painting today. I'll get them painted tomorrow before the weather gets too cold for it. All the painted bits have been shifted out of the way for when the main weldist comes over.

 

 

He hurt his back at work a couple of weeks ago, but hopefully he'll be reet for the weekend......

[beko1987]

I'd be so tempted to put shit loads of layers of wax on those parts of an evening in front of the TV.

 

You gonna take part in a few omgconcourse shows when it's first finished?