coalnotdole Posted July 9, 2011 Author Posted July 9, 2011 As I mentioned in the last post the rebel had to take a back seat to other commitments for a few days but we've got a few more days available now to try and get some more work done. These photos show the recent work fabricating up new parts and the arrival of a couple of engines, Thanks to phil for putting us in touch with Ian who has helped us out with a selection of engines from which we should be able to build up a good runner. Heating bar for new pedal with Oxy/Acetylene Finished pedal New and old Front Outrigger's Rear Outrigger's With widened top to take Rollbar mounting Some new tat has arrived!
coalnotdole Posted July 9, 2011 Author Posted July 9, 2011 The following photos show todays work: We found the lack of roof stiffening rather worrying so decided to fabricate a bonded in roll-bar hidden inside the B-posts - this is made using the same method and materials as reliant used in the Scimitar. Bending 1" Tube for Rollbar Roof section of rollbar being test fitted These were then clamped and tacked together with the mig. Drivers side lower rollbar section after bending Preparing to pot-weld the joining pegs into the roof section, The pegs are made from 8" lengths of thick-wall pipe. The fully assembled rollbar section prior to space welding the tubes together Passenger side view - the offset is to give clearance around the recessed section of the B post where the doorlock mounts. Front on view. Test fitting prior to adding seatbelt mount Points. We've also made a start on cutting out some of the corroded sections of chassis and fitting the new outriggers: New section let into rear chassis section - whilst this section was cut out i took the opportunity to weld up a crack alongside the spring mounting bush. Patched up the rear crossbrace. new rear outrigger tacked in place rear outrigger - note wider top section which will take the lower mounting for the rollbar and also the seatbelt reels. front outrigger also tacked in situ. Chopping out the area of the passenger side front chassis that had badly corroded from the battery leaking. - will hopefully get all this back together tommorow. The pitting runs along the bottom of the chassis rail as far as the gearbox crossbrace.
garethj Posted July 10, 2011 Posted July 10, 2011 That's a really nice job - well done and stick at it!
Mr_Bo11ox Posted July 10, 2011 Posted July 10, 2011 Lovely work!!!! Those new outriggers look mint! My hat is well off here.
dollywobbler Posted July 10, 2011 Posted July 10, 2011 Excellent. Love the fact that a 'quick bit of work' seems to be more than I could hope to achieve in a year!
coalnotdole Posted July 10, 2011 Author Posted July 10, 2011 Spent today continuing with the chassis repairs, which are now done! we then painted the chassis and suspension components which had been cleaned up over the last few days.
coalnotdole Posted July 25, 2011 Author Posted July 25, 2011 Been busy working on the rebel again the past few days. These photos show some of the recent progress building up the chassis suspension and braking components. Bare chassis (upside down ) Finished lower roll bar section - note mount point for seatbelt. Rollbar sections test assembled Detail view of "B" post section of rollbar Leaf springs going back on New master cylinder new wheel cylinders, ball joints and trunnion bushes General overview of front suspension going back together new brake pipes and wiring loom going back on new rear cylinders front hubs refitted starting to look like part of a car again! Rear view somewhatfoolish 1
coalnotdole Posted July 25, 2011 Author Posted July 25, 2011 Some photos showing progress on the bodyshell: Whilst picking at a small crack a large section of the front skirt/bumper moulding dropped off!. poorly repaired accident damage which was held together with body filler! Photo showing floor repairs replacement stiffening plates under the seats ready to be glassed in. front end jigsaw being reassembled small repairs were needed to both wheel arches where previous accident damage had caused delamination passenger side footwell - had a hole, the old front chassis outrigger on this side was also badly bent so someone must have driven over something f**kin hard! view behind front bumper showing various repairs
coalnotdole Posted July 25, 2011 Author Posted July 25, 2011 Re-uniting the Bodyshell and Chassis: One... Two.. Three! Rollbar in situ - this will be glassed into the bodyshell shortly. rear outrigger and the mounting plate on the bottom of the rollbar rear of engine bay forward view of engine bay How it looks Now: How it looked about a Month ago :
maxpower Posted July 26, 2011 Posted July 26, 2011 i can't wait to see the finished article awesome job
outlaw118 Posted July 26, 2011 Posted July 26, 2011 Epic mate, well done.I reckon I speak for most on here by saying YOU IZ WELDIN GOD.You and Reg Bollox should start Autoshite Repair Services Etc. (ltd)(see what I did there?)
Mr_Bo11ox Posted July 26, 2011 Posted July 26, 2011 Extraordinary pace (and quality) of work!!! Mighty impressive, this Rebel is going the be such a winner chariot when it's done.
coalnotdole Posted July 30, 2011 Author Posted July 30, 2011 A few more photos of recent rebel work: Boot strap supports being glassed in: Rollbar padded out to remove the dent in the roof and prepped for fibreglass. Rollbar getting first fibreglass layer Nice new UNF bolts to hold the chassis down, none of that metric rubbish here. Front support refitted: Steeing box refitted, still waiting for new track rods from Amsteer to complete the steering assembly. Outrigger Bolts, S bolt is where the seatbelt reel will be fitted once the carpet is in. Continuing the replacement of the chassis steelwork we cut out the corroded metal in A pillars. To do this we removed the inner roof moulding. Extra view, this moulding will be replaced once we have glassed in new steel supports. Channel that contained steelwork Corroded section of steel support after removal Drivers side Steelwork position shown on the outside of the car. Passenger side being removed Outside comparison, note hole blown in the wing by the steel expanding. The rotten steel will be replaced soon and hopefully we can start looking at the engine and interior!
Father Ted Posted July 31, 2011 Posted July 31, 2011 I am in awe.Im also amazed how big that chassis looked without the car sat on top.
andrew e Posted July 31, 2011 Posted July 31, 2011 Some excellent work there, I can't wait till the pop-up headlamps and lambo doors are fitted! This thread sums my life up if I hadn't gotten Mrs E up the duff twice. Oh and if Icould still/ever weld. Might you be treating it too new front flexis, seeing as the brake lines were replaced?
RedSparrow Posted July 31, 2011 Posted July 31, 2011 There is so much win here I am going to need a little lie down.
345DL Posted July 31, 2011 Posted July 31, 2011 Absolutely awesome work there. I must admit, I've never seen a Rebel before - I can't wait to see it finished (and you can tell us what 28bhp misery is like!). Keep it up, and keep posting updates!
Mr_Bo11ox Posted July 31, 2011 Posted July 31, 2011 Its amazing what problems can crop up innit, you could buy the mintest rebel in the world and it could still be 6 months or less from having some of the steel reinforcers pop through the fibreglass with rust. You're doing such a thorough job, if you carry on like that theres no way a better Rebel can exist. 193.5/10
Cavcraft Posted July 31, 2011 Posted July 31, 2011 Genuinely stunned by the skills you have and the hard work you've done. Bombing at it's absolute toppest.
gtd2000 Posted August 1, 2011 Posted August 1, 2011 Fantasic work there - was a big enough job changing the driveshafts on my mates Saxo last week...phew
Des Posted August 2, 2011 Posted August 2, 2011 Not hanging around there, I wish I could muster up that level of motivation. Brilliant way to approach fixing up a car, do everything that needs doing in one go rather than years / decades of extended faffing. I've managed it myself once and been rewarded with years of trouble free, passing MOTs in spite of being too lazy to pre-check, just seeing what it might fail on. Going to be a grand little car.To come over all retrorides, Gonna look GR8 all stanced up, and you wanna nitromors the paint off the bonnet get some rust action going down and some stickerbumming.
coalnotdole Posted August 24, 2011 Author Posted August 24, 2011 So its been a while since this thread was updated but there has been progress on the rebel! even if i have been distracted by work and scimitar commitments! so as they say... pictures speak louder than words! Our first attempt to run the best of our engines resulted in a blowing headgasket so we sent the head off for a skim and it came back nice and smooth: Block awaiting a skimmed head (pedantic Relaint purists will be pleased to know this is a 598cc engine! as per original spec) Now with added gasket! Head goes on: With the head fitted we decided to inspect the bottom end and discovered a holed sump! Fortunately the bottom end looked pretty good. I recently spotted a set of Rostyle Wheels off an MG available locally. The price of £15 for 4 reasonable tyres and wheels seemed to good to pass up. They are not quite the same as having the old wheels but the budget is a bit tight to splash out on an all new set of tyres. New brake shoes have been fitted all round as well as new brake pipes, This meant the brakes could now be bled! Finally a photo of the engine now back in place! its so light it can be comfortably lifted in and out of position with 2 people. The following day the rebel moved under its own power for the first time in 20 years. Cheers, Joe scruff 1
gricer Posted August 25, 2011 Posted August 25, 2011 The Rostyles make it look like a Chevette from that angle! Don't like. Keep it stock!
garethj Posted August 25, 2011 Posted August 25, 2011 Brilliant - keep it up! 12348734 / 10 And you've got nerves of steel to keep with the 600cc engine
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