Builds Intro: Ugly Betty(so far)

[tmarx]

Since getting back from a long holiday, the progress has been very slow in spite of long hours. The pics tell the story

Tensioner pully needed a new bearing

All done and ready to be installed

Both cleaned and prepped

Done

Clutch release cylinder needed a rebuild kit and some paint

Fortunately the Starter only needed a good clean , some new grease and some paint ..

Before

After

 

[tmarx]

Timing gear cover and crank pully

Waterpump housing

Thermostat housing

Next it was the turn of the crankcase ventcover

After hours of sanding

Finally done

Next up the Rocker cover

After 2 hrs of sanding ..

About 5 hrs ..

 

[bsmith123]

Lots of progress

Wow

You've made some good progress there! Looks great!

 

[tmarx]

Inbetween the sanding and painting odd bits and pieces ..

.. I got a few other issues resolved this weekend. My old shocks were totally shot but I couldn't go buy new untill I had decided on and physically received my new leafs.So I needed a temprory fix.Luckily help came in the form of a friend who gave me a good set of 2nd hand shockies off his 79 ser. Although the shockies could compress and extend further than my old ones, the front shockies needed some modification ...

I cut the eyes from the old shocks

and welded them to the "new" ones. Welding to the shaft-side of the shockies was fine but on the tube-side we had to be very slow & carefull not to get the seals damaged from the heat.
All done and painted...

Obviously nothing is ever plain sailing and so I had to get some custom bushes made. Swambo's hand clearly visible in this regard ....
Note how accurately the mould is made that even the part no #'s are the same

All done

Not too bad for a temporary fix untill my new leafs arrive from the US ?

 

[Roberto]

looking good brother, looks like we r tracking, I hope to have my engine cradled in the frame in a couple weeks. Keep it up!!!

Rob

 

[M5driver]

The questions remains, Theo - do pink bushes give a softer ride?

 

[cruiser enthuiser]

Looking good! You have an eye for detail - that's gonna be a sharp rig when you're done. I really like the paint on the engine; that flat black gives it a cool, stealth look. Might have to try that on mine.

Keep it up!

 

[tmarx]

Thanks guys, much appreciated !

Dan, I doubt it will give a softer ride but you try telling that to Swambo. She sees it as her contribution to our project ..

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Lookin' good! Your eye for detail is much greater than mine!

TK

 

[tmarx]

Thanks !

In spite of the heatwave of the last two days I got a bit done ...
After sanding with 800 grit

.... 1000

..... 1200

.. and finally 1500.

Fitted the crankcase vent cover after all of the last bits were painted

Oil pressure and low pressure cut-out sensors

The result sofar ...

 

[tlc_4play]

Theo ~ you should have that fugly exhaust manifold ceramic coated - then it'll really look cool.
Gr8 work ~ keep it up

 

[tmarx]

Thanks Oom Keith. I was thinking about it but I only have 1 spare exhaust gasket and will rather use it on that elusive 13BT manifold that I have been searching for ...

 

[tmarx]

Time for an update. The bad news first ...

It was almost bone dry and needs replacement

Vacuum pump seal

Both are not in stock in ZA and are now on backorder from Japan. This setback forced me to deviate from my original plans, as the waiting period could be 4 - 6 weeks
Anyway there was enough other stuff to do, where parts/seals/O-rings etc were in stock ...

All done

Fitted

Before ..

After a rebuild

and with the new TRE's all round

Also got around to fitting the rebuilt clutch release cylinder & starter

Next up, a real nightmare

 

[tmarx]

Heeeha got some goodies from Japan recently ....

And so I could finally continue ...

All done and fitted ..

P/S cooler lines etc

And the result

 

[tlc_4play]

Looking good Theo

If I were you I would've had the PS cooler pipe yellow passivated

Horses for courses

It's nearly time to put the tub back on

 

[tmarx]

Keith, I did think about it or at least about painting them silver but honestly I felt the motor was beginning to look a little too much like a Ford with all the silver and black :whoops: In addition and as you know, I have made up my mind on the colour issue and I think the 6H9 will go much better with black bits than silver, especially with stock grey wheels ?

 

[tmarx]

It has been a long time since my last update but not without good reason. First the bastards burglared our home and in the process drugged my loyal late night helper, which eventually culminated in his untimely death a week later

Testing the tyres

Sleeping in after a long nite in the garage..

Go well our beloved friend , you are sorely missed everyday !


Then, no sooner had we finished the last cutting and welding on the tub and then the beater who was helping me decided to do a textbook Houdini. So there I was with only the beating ,crimping, pulling and stretching etc to be done with no panelbeater. What annoyed me the most, is the fact that I realised that my initial idea of a DIY(as far as possible) rebuild, was over. Winter was fast approaching and the Rust Bullet(with a racklife of 12 months, I was told) had to go onto the tub without further delay, so I was in a fix and started shopping around.
Enter Auto Magic M5 body and panel shop !
I had read some very good reviews about them but lets be honest not many good body shops, nowadays enjoy doing restorations inbetween the normal stuff. I phoned Gordon and his enthusiasm for this project was immediately noticed, so I was optimistic. He came to inspect the job twice even bringing his foreman with him during the 2nd visit. We agreed on a price and the work to be done and a day later they collected the tub and all panels.
Yesterday JT and I took the rolling chassis through as I want the alignment etc of the panels to be checked and done on the tub when mounted to the frame. I was pleasantly surprised/shocked when I arrived at the shop !

I had told Gordz about the elusive 6H9 colour that I wanted and in a flash his one guy not only mixed a bit but even sprayed the wiper motor cover, just to see ! The actual result was even better than what I had hoped for

It is Olive Grey but is a lot more green than grey and much darker than in the picture. I cannot wait to see it on bigger panels and eventually the final result
Today the work started in all earnest and we are now back on track

 

[M5driver]

It has been a long time since my last update but not without good reason. First the bastards burglared our home and in the process drugged my loyal late night helper, which eventually culminated in his untimely death a week later

Theo,
Damned shame about your helper. I'm so sorry to hear this sad news.

That diesel donk is looking good! I'd really worry about it looking to "Fordlike" if the block was dark blue

Glad to hear you found a new panel beater - it looks like you could eat off that floor

That new color is AWESOME! I can hardly wait to see pix of the finished work. Lekker!!!

Dan

 

[bsmith123]

so sorry

So sorry about your staffy, I had one and I know they are that soulmate kiid of dog. The bas***ds

figures they used the method they did ---the cowards. Not much else a Staffy can't bounce back from

 

[handcannon]

Real sorry to hear about your helper/best buddy. There are certain dogs that become more than pets, they are family and when something like that happens to them you really hurt. That pic of your son and helper sleeping together sure looks familiar. Occasionally I have to go wake up my son and get amused when the bed covers start moving and this big boxer head pops out from under the covers. We have three adult boxers and eight 1 week old pups now. Too bad you are so far away. I bet your family would enjoy a pup when they are ready for new homes.

Don