Brendas Restoration

[nslocomotive2]

Hi Dryad

Thats the thing you start with a list of things to do and the list just grows, Im quite new to this but I'm getting there, good luck and good for you for starting, thats nine tenths of the battle, my problem is keeping going. I recently have been removing the patch, on a patch ,on a patch, on a patch section on the rear floor pan, so I can actually weld the new bit of inner sill in place, I'm now umming and arrhhing about how to make a piece of the inner sill tep where it has rotted out, its a curved section bent into and angle at the bottom, curved angle the last time I made it, was a disaster!!!!!

ok then shots:-
Rear driverside floorpan with the patches cut away the weld line left to grind down.


Next we have the shot of the rear spring hanger and the sill step cut away ready for new pannel.


this shot shows the same area with new panel clamped in place

[Dryad]

Sounds very familiar! The rear inner wings on mine were rust sandwiches - 3 layers thick! I'm keeping all the rust, filler and rusty patches to see just how much there will be by the time I've finished restoring it. As you say, you think you know just how much work will be needed and then you uncover yet more horrors. I've spent £200 on new panels in the last 2 weeks, and have become a regular customer at DSN in Attleborough. (I see you're Norfolk-based too!) Have you considered seeing if there's a panel for the section you need? DSN do most sections of the floor.

[nslocomotive2]

yes I use DSN too, I need to heck there website out, realy I didnt want to spend too much time buyin pannels, but with this section I may be beter off.

Ill take a look latter.

[nslocomotive2]

unfortunately there is not going to be any posts on the progress of brenda for a while, my garage got broken into again !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had been removing my welder each night, but the one night i forgot to bring it in to the house, they bloody well got lucky!!!!!!!

so i am without a welder once again

don't know right now when I will be able to start work again, I will have to find a new location to work on her.

regards
Nigel.

[Dean]

I'm really sorry to hear Nigel. I really feel some things are done to test us occasionally!!! It worries me a little as everyone in the neighbourhood knows I'm doing an old car up, so I just hope I don't attract a similar person!

I hope you get compensated accordingly and you can finally get on with your hobby again.

[IaininTenbury]

Yeah sorry to hear that. Know how you feel.
I've just had my car transporter trailer pinched from outside work, a few weeks back, and still fuming about it. Yes, I always locked it up, but didn't because I was using it in a couple of days and we've got a new security gate at the units where I work, so I wasn't too fussed. Of course the evening when the last person out forgot to shut the gate was when the theiving so an sos came round for a look...
They only have to be lucky once, we have to lucky all the time

[bigginger]

Yup - a couple of years ago I had 2 and a half grands worth of tools (compressor, welders et al) taken from my locked workshop. It's very upsetting - my sympathies to you

[tortron]

I'm really sorry to hear Nigel. I really feel some things are done to test us occasionally!!! It worries me a little as everyone in the neighbourhood knows I'm doing an old car up, so I just hope I don't attract a similar person!
(

easy - also get known as the guy who keeps very big dogs or sleeps in the garage with a bat

[Dryad]

Hey nslocomotive2, did you get the free MIG welder that was going on Freecycle in south Norfolk this morning? It's gone already so I thought it might have been you who snapped that one up.

[rayofleamington]

Sorry to hear about your 2nd break in - that is a prize pain in the rear.
I never leave my welder or any expensive tools in the garage (except once in a blue moon when I've been too tired to carry them) so I sympathise a lot.

An (ex) girlfriend was using my garage and left tools lying around everywhere on the rear access road, garage door open etc.. whilst she went off to the house for a loo break or something. She couldn't work out why I was angry about it! I was just expecting a break in or at least to be on the theives watch list as we get all kinds of trash hanging around the back lane

I found paper and a dirty finger very useful for making templates

cardboard and a marker pen can be more useful - especially if you are marking around a sharp burred edge.

As for the work - you're doing well
My only comment is not to get too carried away cutting metal out all in one go unless you've braced the door gaps etc...
When removing the boxing plate the A-post, B-post and sill are no longer connected, so do a trial fitting of the door every so often when welding things back together.

[nslocomotive2]

HI All, Im back I have a plan, and I'm going to construct a car port in my rear garden to work on her once again. I've been assembling the tools to get started again, next thing is to get myself a new mig and start afresh.

I have quite a bit of work to do before I get to the stage where I can actually start welding again, but I hope by Jan I will be welding once more.

Thanks for all the messages of encouragement it is good to read, Dryad I hope your doing ok.


Ray, yes I was concerned too about the gaps, however the drivers door was almost imposible to shut before I started so i clamped it and packed it into the right place then welded a salvaged peice from the back of a jag in place across the gaps on the inside of the car. but yes when it comes to re-attachment I will be checking the door gaps, non closing doors is one of my pet hates...
as you can see here, some of you might recognise the part.



so hi and Im back with vengence!!!!

[aupickup]

good luck it will be worthwhile

[nslocomotive2]

Damn right it will, waiting for the bus is just insane, when I could have me minor out on the road, the thieving gits aint gonna stop me!!!!!

[nslocomotive2]

hi peeps, work re-started on Brenda as a new welder was purchased this week (number4 (2 stolen, 1 not fit for purpose)). This time im working on her outside, so Im stripping out all her interior completely . As I want to roll her onto her side at some point, I tried to remove the headlining as it would be exposed to the elements, while I work on her......

Headlining now torn

after muttering's of 'thats torn it' and words to such affect. the car was completely striped and sheeted over with a tarpaulin

Next job finish rebuilding the drivers side sill

[Dean]

Nice one. Just think, every little bit completed is another step closer to the end. I've just sprayed mine and boy it feels great.

[nslocomotive2]

cool, I'm a long way off paint yet, here's wot I done today. Having to re-learn how to weld as its been almost a year since i held the torch.
1) this is the inner rear sill now attached to the floorpan.

2) Dreadful welding, but its done

3) The next piece to fill, I need to make a piece for this, guess the next job..

4) Gaps to fill...


The outer sill was just clamped to get the right line on the joints - I hope.

I found it interesting working outside on a sunny day, the sun shines on the inside of the visor then you cant see the damn torch.... but I got round it. Set fire to the grass, and burned my left little finger!!!! Its all coming back to me now

any one got any shots of a repair to this area on a four door, would be really helpful, im having trouble remembering how its supposed to look. right time to wash the soot off my nose.