bigrod
Posted a lot
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Street, thanks a mill'!
They're as neat as I can make'em (Nowhere near as micron perfect as yours!!), but I can tell you there are a number of 'over-enthusiastic hammer dents' believe me! ;D
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If I have to explain, you won't understand.
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bigrod
Posted a lot
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Y'know, I get a bit embarrassed wih my little updates by the likes of people like Slater and Nightmaresracing who seem to do inordinate ammounts of work in short spaces of time and people like Street and Oldbus who've got immeasureable reserves of ingenuity and always seem to truimph over adversity. I don't mean anything derogatory by that in any way shape or form, hell it's people like you that inspire me and keep me in my garage whenever I can manage it burning the midnight oil and for that I'm eternally grateful. But when I spend all of my available time of an evening toiling over one stupid little piece of steel that just won't fit no matter how many times you hit it with a hammer it makes me wonder if the aforementioned guys, (And they're not the only ones! They're only the ones I could remember off the top of my head!), have some sort of superpower(s)! Here's my updatette.  See this bit...................  I thought it was just about 'bob on' when I last left the car. Last night, I just couldn't get the sodding thing to fit in behind the outer wing. I resorted to 'pie cutting' it which helped right up to the point where the 'panel' broke! Which actually helped a bit more 'cos it took a dimension out of the equation. I had hoped not to have to cut it, but I'm now left with a weld I didn't want across the panel. But hey! it fits!     And in contrast, the other side that I'll be attacking in the not too distant future. If I ever feel down about this, I compare both the inner wings and invariably conclude that it's getting there..............  I can't believe that poxy little bit of metal took me all night!!!  |
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Last Edit: May 2, 2008 8:43:12 GMT by bigrod
If I have to explain, you won't understand.
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Brilliant stuff Rod! If you take a look at the first couple of pages of this thread, then look at this one, it's amazing how this has come together. Lesser people would have given up after seeing all that rot, but now you have all new steel in there! I'm facing a similar thing with my car - I've done one inner and outer wing and floor, and now I have the same to do on the other side! It can get a bit disheartening but like you say, all you have to do is look at the finished side for inspiration. Keep it up mate.  |
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Getting there its good to see steady progress, at least you have something to fasten the wing onto now.
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Last Edit: May 2, 2008 17:33:14 GMT by paulmi16
205 GTi Mi16
205 XS - Now in filmidget's signature
Clio dci 80
I've found in life if someone is an idiot, they generally stay and idiot.
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,965
Club RR Member Number: 71
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I can't believe that poxy little bit of metal took me all night!!! Before you finish the front....... inspiration   |
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The more I read this thread, the more grateful I am that I never took it off Iains hands when I had the chance ;D Excellent work though Rod, cant wait to see it on the road |
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bigrod
Posted a lot
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Before you finish the front....... inspiration Not quite what I have in mind Ian, but I think you know where I'm going with it, (if not then that's cool too!). TBH, my inspiration comes from your's, Phil Jones's PheonixC's and a few others. |
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If I have to explain, you won't understand.
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bigrod
Posted a lot
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The more I read this thread, the more grateful I am that I never took it off Iains hands when I had the chance ;D Yeah, it turned out it needed a damn sight more than I ever thought it would too! I've gotten quite attached to it now though for some inexplicable reason! Excellent work though Rod, cant wait to see it on the road Thanks, but the first stop ain't the road!!! |
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If I have to explain, you won't understand.
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TBH I think its actually harder to repair the car as you are doing it (as std) than it would be to just cut the front off and build a completely new tube chassis section and to hang the outer body on to that.
Trying to repair rusty panels, especially from little peices of steel is mind numbingly hard to do, it would still be difficult even if you could buy new inner wings.
Top marks to you fella for having the balls to do this, cos its a bloody big job!
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bigrod
Posted a lot
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Thanks a mill' BPR! TBH, I did consider just chopping the front off and building something from scratch but I feared the level of 'Fu' that would require would fall well outwith my current rations. Maybe next time huh? |
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If I have to explain, you won't understand.
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But when I spend all of my available time of an evening toiling over one stupid little piece of steel that just won't fit no matter how many times you hit it with a hammer it makes me wonder if the aforementioned guys, (And they're not the only ones! They're only the ones I could remember off the top of my head!), have some sort of superpower(s)! I´m not sure about the others but my superpowers involve a big...  and a lot of...  ;D ;D Great update Rod, keep up the good work. |
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bigrod
Posted a lot
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OB, I do try to use your superpowers, (alot!), but you're obvioulsy much better practised!!! ;D
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If I have to explain, you won't understand.
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bigrod
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,654
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Got a bit done last night. I turned my attentions to this area............  Now, the Richard Lumb bible of Monza repair says that 'Ye shall replace the bracing panel with triangulated box section.'. That's great but for two things. 1) a box section's square right? The 'A' pillar is not. 2) because I've already based the whole inner wing around a length of box section I didn't think I needed to add much more in the way of lateral support. I would however need something to divert the energy away from the existing box section because in a worst case scenario in a frontal crash, that tube is pointing straight at my right shoulder. :shock: So opened a can of inspiration and concluded that I wouldn't need quite as much in the way of 'A' pillar reinforcement and that a little box section would be easier to manipulate than a big bit. That left me with one other dilema. How do I fettle the shape of the box section to meet with the 'A' pillar? I thought on cutting it and just using an 'L' shaped plate, but that wouldn't be very strong. I tried hitting it with a hammer on the ground but that just resulted in sore fingers and a gouge out of my concrete! Then I had the bright idea of squishing it in my vice!! Perfect! Yay!! Pics...................  *coughs* Excuse the mess!!................  Permanently installed.................  And a lick of zinc primer!!!.................   I'll still be triangulating the reinforcement. Once that's done, other than finishing off some of the welding underneath, that side's finished. So I'll be starting on the other side soon!! ETA :- The last picture's reminded me that I might just attand to those two holes just above the chassis leg before I move on to the other side. |
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If I have to explain, you won't understand.
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Great progress Rod! Sorry about the lousy drawing but if you´ve got a bit of spare box section, how about extending it a bit? You could attach your inner sill strengthening box section to the bottom them...if you get what i mean? ;D  You´ll find a lot of the DIY softtops (Deutsch, Bieber and co) were stabilised this way! |
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bigrod
Posted a lot
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Thanks OB!!
Your drawing's not a kick in the harris off what I'll be doing. The only reason I didn't extend it all the way down in a oner is because the 'A' pillar is actually quite an awkward shape and the square section needs squidqed into a diamond shape and slightly bent.
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If I have to explain, you won't understand.
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DutyFreeSaviour
Europe
Back For More heartbreak and disappointment.....
Posts: 2,944
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Great work Rod, good to see this coming together so well! Must admit this place really has added a vast amount of knowledge and spirit over adversity that I wouldn't find anywhere else..... including this build. I thought I had it bad with the saloon - sheesh! Top marks so far - the other side'll just fall into place from here on in |
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Back from the dead..... kind of
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bigrod
Posted a lot
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Friday night, house to myself and a few cans of inspiration. Absolute bliss!!! I think I kind'a dropped the ball with this last week. I thought I was being clever tapering that strengthening piece to make it all nice and neat. And it does make it quite nice, but a PITA when it came to adding the triangulated piece!!!  Also, I had a wee bit of trouble getting a shallow enough angle to be worthwile. If it was too steep it would be an almost pointless addition and I wanted to avoid any water traps too. I think I managed it. I also managed to bo11ocks up the bit that welds directly to the 'A' panel by cutting the chamfer out the wrong way! DOH! Still, it wasn't too bad, I just turned it round and adjusted the top bit to suit. Oh yeah, and I think I gave myself a little bit of Zinc poisoning as I've felt like poo ever since!! Here's the piccy's. This bit need to go here.................  By jove I think it'll fit!!  A little gap, but not the end of the world!! I can fill that in with an offcut.  Well, that won't be coming out for a while!!   And I know I'm not consistent, but I love it when I get pretty welds like this, especially when it's upside down.  Almost time to get cracking on the other side!!! |
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Last Edit: May 12, 2008 11:23:52 GMT by bigrod
If I have to explain, you won't understand.
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,965
Club RR Member Number: 71
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You can cross a strut brace of your Xmas list now - that thing is gonna be nice and stiff ;D
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bigrod
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,654
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You can cross a strut brace of your Xmas list now - that thing is gonna be nice and stiff ;D Rock hard mate, but I already have one so it's getting fitted anyway. |
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Last Edit: May 12, 2008 9:46:32 GMT by bigrod
If I have to explain, you won't understand.
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Looking good Rod, by the time you´re finished it´ll weigh a ton but won´t need welding the next 30 years! |
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