1977 Vauxhall Cavalier 1.6 GL

good stuff! are they sized to screw underneath a standard schutz gun ?

I thought it was about time that I made a start on the last of the filthy clean ups -





Ran out of time to get any further, but the plan is to clean and paint it, fit new gaskets and seals, replace the water pump, fuel pump, clutch, thermostat + carburettor. Should be a pleasant job once all the muck has gone!

As usual that looks fantastic.
The CIH isn't a "pretty" engine at the best of times mainly due to being non crossflow unit. However I'm sure it'll look its absolute best once you have finished with it.
Keep going mate, this is gonna be superb once its finished.

Had another day away from this today, but good stuff happened! I'd planned to get my exterior paint sorted yesterday, but it didn't happen. This afternoon I took my fuel flap to a top bloke in Stoke, who matched me up some paint, and supplied some epoxy primer.



It always feels like a milestone has been passed when I have my paint.

When I got back home, the dizzy cap, rotor arm, points and condenser bought off of ebay (for a whopping 10 queenheads) had arrived.



Work is getting in the way of this for a couple of days now, but should be back on it on Sunday.

A recent introduction to a panel beater type bloke has yielded a solution to my dented bodywork. He's just handed his notice in at work, and has a free week. I've been removing paint from the dented areas in preparation



In other news, my rear axle is now back where it belongs -





Three click handbrake too - must be on a roll!

Metal finisher Jim finished his magic on my panels today - the new old stock door had taken a bit of a beating during its long period of storage, but now filler won't be needed.



The drivers side wing was pretty good to start with - just a storage dent on the side, a dent on the top at the front, and a welded up aerial hole at the back. Some badge holes have been welded up too. (the wing came off a Manta)



The passenger side wing had taken a knock where the bumper had been pushed into it, but all good now. The upper rear of the wing looked really good, but I found out it wasn't so good when I cleaned the back of all paint and sealant. It was like a topographical model of the Alps. Someone in the distant past had "repaired" it by belting with what looked to have been a pickaxe, then applying a large amount of filler. It did look good though! My man did his best for many hours, and now only a very small amount of filler will be required along the back edge to make it good.



A bit more work was done on the rear quarter, so just the unpleasant task of stripping all the rest of the paint off remains before it can have its shiny new coat.

looks like a mixture of hammers, dollies, slappers and panel file? proper old school!

Most of today was spent cleaning the backs of the newly straightened wings.





90% of the paint and rust was buzzed off quickly with a poly abrasive disc, the fiddly bits that couldn't be reached with that took a LOT longer with a drill and assorted attachments.
After a tickle of Mig to sort out a small crack in the nearside one, they'll get treated with the grey stuff.

I've had very good results degreasing engines with petrol and a paintbrush.

Great progress btw.