, I suspect locals have been encouraging it to visit.....
Thank you. Yes I hope it will all be done well and then at least that bit is finished! I am just a bit nervous about putting it all back together again. I have taken a lot of photos and I have put each major part in plastic storage boxes carefully. All of the various nuts are bolts are in labelled small boxes. While the car is away I can refurbish various small bits and pieces so that it all looks smart eventually. It has really made me sad every time I work in the engine bay (which is pretty often) to see it in such a sorry state. I hope that in a few months I will open the bonnet and smile when I check the oil!philipkearney wrote: ↑Thu Jan 16, 2025 10:25 pm A nice diversion while working in the garage.
Urban foxes are much more confident around humans and take many more risks, probably calculated. I suspect the biggest risks to them in those areas will be dogs and traffic rather than humans. Rural foxes are very different. Very timid and only seen from a distance. The risks for them are somewhat different!
Sounds like a good way forward with the engine bay too. Blasting will really clean it up and give a good base for painting. I'm sure it'll look very smart once it's finished.
Thank you. What a lovely picture!
Actually that wiring looks pretty good. It's only the fabric loom covering that's deteriorated, the actual PVC insulation look fine.
That’s true and I will keep the old loom because there are bound to be some good bits which will give me all the right colours of wire for future repairs or alterations. The outer cover is wet, filthy and mouse eaten. I do wonder how many things actually continued to work as the bullets and bullet connectors were badly corroded.geoberni wrote: ↑Fri Jan 17, 2025 3:25 pmActually that wiring looks pretty good. It's only the fabric loom covering that's deteriorated, the actual PVC insulation look fine.
It's when I see an early car with crumbling rubber insulation so degraded you can't make out any colours that I fear a wiring fire....
Thank you. It's the biggest project I've ever done on this car. As you say, everything is in pretty good condition considering the age. This car did live in Edinburgh for 6 years and I would drive it down to the Borders as well as to Dumfries. I was a medical student back then and posted to Galashiels and Dumfries. However, even as a student I rented a garage so the car has never "lived" outside. Most of the corrosion is from condensation which unfortunately is pretty unavoidable unless the car was in a heated garage!philipkearney wrote: ↑Fri Jan 17, 2025 7:12 pm Very sensible to keep the loom and all the bullet connector blocks. Spares wires in the correct colour and associated connector will be useful. If you label it all, may actually help install the new one. Beyond the fabric covering, the remainder looks in decent order but isn't worth recovering per se.
Your engine bay will look totally different once painted and will make a huge difference. I know you think it looks untidy but seems remarkably solid for the age of the car. The tie plates and inner wings look in remarkably good condition. Another benefit of being further south and not having the volumes of road salt we put up with.
Yes they will. The outer wings are actually going to be replaced. You cannot see in the photos but the wings are corroded in the usual place at the back of the wheel arch. One wing (the near-side) is worse than the other and completely flapping about at the back. Both wings are repairable with enough time and skill but time and skill cost money so it is cheaper to replace them. This is a shame because they are original but I will keep the old wings in the loft. This car has never been repainted but the time has come that something has to be done or it will just carry on deteriorating. As to the inner wings, they look reasonable and the rust appears to be only surface rust but we will not know for sure until the blasting has been done.
Depends where the wet is.
