1966 Mk1 cortina GT Exhaust collectors

So after a few hours over the last few days I managed to make a new lower panel and got the fitment just about where I needed it to be



It's tacked in place



Over the next few hours today I dropped more and more tacks on which was ideal in 20 degree heat in the garage and wearing overalls!



Whilst crimping the panel I put a few small dents in which can be skimmed and it'll never be seen again!

I love started to grind back the welds and hopefully I should get it back on this week!

Moving on from the door I started chop the old jacking point out as it looks to pay and the floor has gone underneath







It looks like I chewed it out!

To make the swage I needed to make a former which I did using some old chip board I had laying about






I'd say to make this 5mm narrower than you're after but that might be my technique! It's 25mm wide - is also suggest a stronger wood than chipboard








I had a week off due to getting metal in my eye which was not where I usually keep metal and wouldn't recommend it!

Feeling better I thought I'd glue it together



I didn't grind it back too aggressively it's not the prettiest welding but it's strong enough





I lined the jacking point back where it should be and held it in place for welding



And it's done!

1 more to do!

Hats off to you sir, what you've achieved and the skill you're showing is a real inspiration.
I'll be following along with interest, it's a cracker of a car and I'm sure the finished product will reflect all your efforts.
Looking forward to the next update 😃

I'll sort the previous photos once my laptop is functional as it'll take some time and better than using my phone!

Continuing on from finishing off bits underneath the car so I can start throwing some colour on her I was faced with a bigger of a hole as this one is shaped, has a lip where they meet and it isn't flat despite my terrible picture!



I've been watching some videos on the YouTube and there's a great series where I a guy is restoring a triumph vitesse - he makes moulds in wood then hammers the metal on them to get the shape.

It's a great idea and I'm surprised how we it worked - if anyone is in this predicament I'd recommend doing this








I was do excited I actually forgot to show how it fitted in but this is the end result




Tonight I've started on new fuel line brackets and not use the hooks and clips on the standard cortina as I'd like to go injection one day and they're a bit

They're similar to the brake line type but I've put an m5 but behind

I carried on with the arch lip, firstly cutting the bad stuff out.



I made a strip and folded it like I did a few years ago and then cut it so I could create the curve for the inner piece





It then got welded on to the the car



Once happy I put the finishing strip on







I had a problem with getting into the garage - the door handle fell off mid opening which was awkward!



I had a rummage around and found a gearknob I machined at uni so I drilled it out and drilled it to take the grub screw - it's worked Plus it looks awesome!




As promised the fuel line holders










After the wheel tub was changed a few years ago I had to weld the boot support bracket back on but I wasn't confident enough to do it at the time as I'd only laid basic welds so I gave it a go





Whilst in the boot I tidied up some holes I made when making temp exhaust mounts








In between all this I tidied up the exhaust as I wanted to run the car without being told off by the wife for making too much noise!

This was the worst offender!








I then passed it over to my friend Pete who tiged it up for me





I filmed it but I need to get it uploaded somehow???

As a bonus I have given the bike carb idea a 2nd go because why not! I had to bend it so they actually work!

It's going to be bent up a bit more then welded up and clean the carbs up/ balance them

Thanks Jonesy the shell is in a decent way it just needs a few repairs here and there but nothing that constitutes a new panel bar the nearsise door skin - it's the joys of 50 year old steel!


The nearsise rear door is the last major piece, the underside needs the fuel lines finishing both tank side and engine bay, there's a few small holes on the inner sill that'll take a few tacks, the front wings need a tweak to get them to line up with the sill but again it's a simple job I think...

There's probably more but I'll plead ignorance

Alternator is earthed through the mount to the engine.

If the ignition light comes on it must be earthed to complete the curcuit

That's great Jonesy, what did you use to paint your underside? I'm lookingbat por 15 and I'm not sure whether to go white or black underneath?

I'll have a play with the gauge later!

That sounds well done, I've applied red oxide to mine but I'm not sure if that's the right way to go - there's so many different ways of painting a car but I want it to last.

I could do with a rotisserie! I'm doing everything on my back!

So I had a play with the fuel gauge - thanks for the pointer Jonesy it did register full when earthed.

I removed the sender and found that the body and the lock ring have a lot of surface rust which I've cleaned up and it's sprung into life!

With just over 5l in it's about right!



I've also been given an alternator from a Lipo 1.4 - it's 75amp and I'm a bit worried it'll melt some wires? Any ideas? The one I've got I'd a lucas acr 17amp they do a 48amp which should be ok