1986 Toyota MR2 - magical flying people...

thats basically the astra method too, although a popular one is "shove some domestic copper pipe up the end and poke it out of the sill"

Oh my! That's a thread and a half already. I think I'm too old to keep up with that many posts!


Ah, Dr Wilkes I presume!

I looked through your thread at lunch time. That's a cool car. When you get your license I want to see a video of you taking that for a ride.

You bring up an interesting point about talent as opposed to learning. Actually I don't know the answer but I've often wondered.
I tend to believe you can learn what ever you like if you really want to do it. There'll be some variation between people but in general I don't see why you (or my missus for that matter) couldn't make panels as well as me. But then I also believe I'm average at making panels. I don't believe I'm anything special.
But then, if you talk to people who know me they'll tell you I'm very unusual and that most people just can't do the things that I do without thinking. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

So that was no help to you. Lets think of it another way.

You don't know what you can do until you try. So try and you'll find out what you can do.
Find a little project on the car that you think is achievable (start small and build up), think it through and get stuck in. Some things won't work or you'll make a total balls of it. But that's fine. You learn the most when things don't quite work out. Just walk away, come up with a new plan, and try again.

I look at each challenge as a puzzle to solve. It starts with the theory "Somebody made this in a massive factory, I must be able to do it with a few tools in the garage". You just have to work out how...

Good luck

James

And remember, most things were done because no one told someone they 'couldn't'.

But things were done BECAUSE they were told they couldn't, too.
While my panel making is on the low side of average, its not difficult if you think it through.

Almost is not good enough especially as its in the wrong direction for the health of the Steel - Copper and Steel are not happy bed fellows as Copper is also a long way from Steel in it's purer states and as formed and welded steel is sacrificial to itself further interaction with dissimilar metals are best avoided when the Steel would be the material sacrificed. Personally I would do as the manufacturers do and use plastic.

Saw this and remember your ramps.



Your ramp are way too low

And this thread is one of those threads what i check every time when it's updated.
Keep up good work.

This is the level of PPE you should be aspiring to...

georgeb , He's wearing a shirt. What a wuss!



You (or somebody) need to inspect the underside and the only way to do that is to lift the car somehow. Ramps are probably safest. Jack and axle stands second. Never go under a car that's only got a jack under it. And don't even think of making ramps. Just borrow some. I only did it 'cos I'm a f@£&*&g idiot.
Your problem is that the car is on grass which tends to be soft so axle stands, jacks and even ramps are likely to sink.

Please be very careful. You might love your car but your car will kill you in an instant if you give it half a chance.

Car boot sale, a fiver.

Yeah, that's the sort of thing. No help if you want to take the wheels off though - then you need a jack and axle stands.
Some cars are too low and hit the front on the ramp before wheel climbs up. Ask the question on your thread and see if the Jag is one of them.

teaboy , how's your oil tank? I'm strangely missing it.

James