1954 series 11 black 4 door

[stevey]

not long enough

[stevey]

Well a big step forward today! Some final rear wing fetteling done today then out came the spray gun and the Driver side wings and engine bay were etch primed! Excellent! After closer inspection of the bonnet, David recons its too badly eaten into to bother wire brushing then treating it and then taking an age to fill it all and repair the strengthening braces - so looks like its a good thing that old spare is still up the side of the garage. [frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

I think it would look super in birch grey...... Thats the colour I would have done it if Id kept it anyway

Quite a few runs to sort out in the engine bay now, but at least the primer/painting process is started. Hopefully the next day will see the other back wing finished and perhaps the valences. Still a big job to do on the ps front wing as its getting a whole rear section front another wing let into the back.......

[stevey]

Well I couldnt get over again this week because of work, so left David and my Dad to get a bit more done - cheers guys!!! They managed to get the front valance finished, and what looks like a class repair at the end! Ive also been told that wire brushing the front grill was a bit of a mission, but its now looking great![frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[minor65]

Super job, engine bay and wing looks brill !!

[stevey]

Had a play with the other front wing today. The passenger side wing is the original for the car, but the typical rot had set in along the rear edge, and David, the stalwart that he is said, lets just cut it off and weld in the rear off another wing!!! Nice! And yes he and Dad did just that! (see photos) A cracking job - first the rotten edge was cut off and using another wing (the headlight section was badly rotted on this one) the rear section was cut off and welded onto the original front.

[frame][/frame]

[frame][/frame]

The Passenger door was refitted and the wing trial fitted to check very thing would line up ok before the wing was seam welded back together. This also seemed a good opportunity to see if the replacement bonnet would fit and it looks good![frame][/frame]

Next comes the rubbing down and filling - not fun. Also the passengerside door hinges on the front door are very badly worn and the replacement ones we all have are Minor 1000 and are slightly different so i think ill get some of the bigger pins at some point and repin the hinges - another job to the list.

[minor65]

[stevey]

Got some filler primer to put on the etch primer - didnt know you could get it in grey! looks even better now the engine bay has had a coat. Other jobs completed was the bootlid bottom. It was decided that the outer skin was too thin not to replace,so it was cut out. Luckly David had a repair panel for this, but when tested fitted to the car it was too wide! So it was cut in two and a section cut out of the centre and then welded to the lid. The inner section also needed the same treatment. Again Davids expertise accomplished this tricky repair - massive thanks!!!!! With that .... welding done, I hope! [frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

As Stevey says a very poor boot repair panel that was about 1/4' too long as was the inner one. Very fiddly to fit and the heat of the welder caused warping in lots of directions even though it was done in sections, let cool a bit and then join up the welds. The outer panel was also cut down and a new joddled edge put on it, lots of trial fitting before I started welding. This is a job that my lowlight will need doing when I eventually paint it so good to practice on Steveys!!

[kjm]

Good progress

[stevey]

Right, lots to report. The bonnet and bootlid are now etch primed with the first coat of filler added. I went over yesterday and found rubbing down filler really really boring, so while David went out I took into the roof with strip it discs, a few hours later the roof was back to bare metal! It was really cold last night but with the help of an unorthodox heating method (see if you can spot it in the photo ) the roof was warm enough to etch prime and then filler prime! great progress! next job will be around the boot and door shuts. [frame][/frame]Bootlid[frame][/frame]Halfway though stripping back the roof.[frame][/frame]All stripped[frame][/frame] heating the roof (bonnet also etch primed and filled)[frame][/frame]Etch primed[frame][/frame]Filler primed.

[ian.mcdougall]

might have been easier to put the fan heater inside the car pointing up

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

We considered that, but with no glass in it to keep the heat in and the head cloth covered over by paper to stop it getting covered in overspray - wondered if the paper might go on fire

[stevey]

Been busy again. Got the boot surround back to bare metal and etch primed. Also go the shutlines on the Driverside done at the same time. Got over today as well for an hour or two, painted the floor and behind the dash and boot floor black. Need to get a move on as we've found a painter and the shell is going at the end of the month!!!! [frame][/frame]Boot surround before etch priming - you can clearly see the lead seam at the back.[frame][/frame]Floor nice and shiny, shame no one will see it under the carpets

[jagnut66]

Looking good!

[alexandermclaren]

Floor nice and shiny, shame no one will see it under the carpets 
yes its a shame to cover the new paint. But we all know it's there. And when next we see it out and about,,,,, what will come into our mind?..... that it's got a nice shiny floor under those new carpets,,,,
keep up the superb work

[Wyliecoyote]

Nice work fellas, coming on well!

[stevey]

Well at last the shell is going to the paint shop today. A final quick coat of primer and it goes later on today. Trial fitted all the wings and panels all seemed to fit ok, until we tried the chrome. The top chrome wouldnt line up at all and with the radiator in, the whole radiator support panel looks twisted, so plan B fix the original and use it instead of the replacement, which is every shape! Good thing its only the shell going today
[frame][/frame] Trial fitted

[frame][/frame]
Awaiting the trailer for trip to paint shop

[stevey]

Well , shell is still away but that means i had time with paint brush!!! The radiator support panel was repaired using the bottom of the twisted one, the seats frames are painted as are the inside of all the wings and the bumper valances. Also got the wheels powder coated, although not perfectly smooth they look great for 60 years old![frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

There is a very shiney black shell sitting in my garage Im sure there will be some photos tomorrow!