RBRR Preperation Part VI

A very busy day yesterday was spent running back, and forth to the blasters in Coventry. With the added promise of a 'drink' to the operative at the blasters if he could turn around the stuff sharpish he pulled off a minor miracle. Thanks to Pearmans for the loan of the pick up we had the chassis, bulkhead, rear tub, sills, and bonnet top at the blasters door at 8.45 yesterday morning. Having dropped that lot off we picked up the door frames, front valance, and front inner arches I had dropped off the previous day;

Having got back to work I welded in a couple of new end brackets in to the valance, and plug welded the left hand bonnet inner and outer arches together, whilst Ron spotted welded the other side;

We had just about finished when a call came from the blasters, 'come and get your stuff, its done'. Barely over two hours had elapsed from dropping the stuff off, and we were back on the way into Coventry to collect;

The only downside of this rapid turnaround at the blasters was that they obviously hadn't had time to etch prime the stuff which meant a fraught drive back the ten miles from Coventry praying that it wouldn't rain. All that bare metal on the back of the pick-up would have turned red rusty in minutes if we had encountered the downpour that happened twenty minutes after we got back.  

RBRR Preperation Part V

The factory reconditioned 948 Coupe engine that came with the car was seized solid so yesterdays task was a strip down and investigation. Having removed the rocker gear and head, and found no head gasket it looks like someone had been here before me looking for the same reasons.

The engine was obviously piston seized as there was a light surface rusting at the top of the bores indicating storage for many years with no spark plugs fitted, and not helped by that missing gasket.

A special tool was sourced from the wood shed, a 948 sized log!

Which made short work of removing those pistons with no further collateral damage;

A quick measure of the crank confirmed that it was well within tolerance, and the shells were hardly marked confirming very low mileage after that factory rebuild.

Even the pistons cleaned up nicely so a quick hone of the bores, and a new set of rings should suffice. The rings were ordered, and should be here this morning. The supplier confirned that they were the last set on the shelf. 948 engine stuff is getting very rare, glad I don't need much more than we already have on stock here.

RBRR Preperation Part IV

First task of the day was to strip out the passenger door. One or two seized bolts were dealt with, and it had a similar amount of rot in the lower frame as the drivers door.

Next I removed the bonnet, radiator, engine bay valances, manifolds, and everything from the bulkhead;

With the gearbox removed and sitting on my bench in the gearbox workshop it left the engine ready to come out first thing this morning;

Which leaves the dash to be removed, and then we are ready for the blasters.

More to follow.

RBRR Preperation Part III (where is that dustpan & brush?)

I didn't get any time out to work on the Coupe on Wednesday due to work commitments (more customer diffs), but I did manage a few hours yesterday.

First task was to strip out the drivers door;

A run round with the Plasma revealed that the frame is just about salvageable, but the rot has gone quite high up into the hinge vertical face. Its worth saving though as early doors are slightly different to later ones.

Next it was off with the roof, which is about the only panel on the car that isn't going to need much in the way of work. Having said that the headlining is in a bit of a state, and that RMS576 (rally light) is a bit on the battered side;

Then it was off with the stripped out rear tub;

Which revealed the chassis, which wasn't as bad as I feared.

And looked even better after a sweep up;

My co-driver turned up then and unbolted the prop, thanks James!

More pictures to follow.

RBRR Preperation Part II (its worse than I remembered)

I had to take time out to build a diff for a customer, and one or two other paying jobs yesterday before attacking the Coupe.

First job was to strip the front end;

Being very carefull not to damage the front valance. Early shape Herald valances are incredibly rare so this one will have to be repaired when it comes back from the blasters;

Next it was out with the Plasma cutter which made short work of the frilly front wings, and outer arches;

With it getting close to going home time I just had long enough to re-visit the back end. The boot floor, and wheel well were way past redemption so a quick wiz round with the Plasma leaving just enough time for a sweep up;

I'm not a fan of the currently available new floor so its a good job I have a decent salvaged assembly ready to go in.

More pictures to follow.

RBRR preperation begins.

Thought it was about time to make a start on the Herald.

Began by stripping out the back end.

Before;

After;

Its a little bit rusty.

More pictures soon.