another few months and some more progress.
doesn't seem like I've done much, but looking back:
the front of the car, under the bumper was rubbed back and given a dodgy spray pack coat of paint, which, unsurprisingly, doesn't match the rest of the car
the indicators were refurbed (with the best available selected from my stock).
headlight surrounds and headlights replaced
George finished the two left side doors, which had rotted out sills and rust around the wing mirror holes. I collected them and rubbed back the primer he had applied a bit too generously to get the black side stripes back, then sprayed yellow to at least make them fit in with the rest of the car. This was dead dodgy as well, I brought out the air gun and attempted to spray from the leftovers George gave me from the original sprint. Having watched George and used plenty of thinner, not being too worried about the final finish, I was pretty confident it was a no brainer, but it appears brains were needed. I used enamel thinners and the paint was a 604 poly. It went on okay, but will need fixing in the future, when the car gets a full reco. Still, at least the car is generally the correct colour !
I refitted all of the door glass, rubbers, fitted new inner and outer weatherstrips. Still got a problem with the right hand rear door striker as the door sits about 3mm proud and wobbles, no more play left to get it to sit closer. I did realise, after fitting the doors, that the hinges were a bit rubbish, too much vertical play due to wear, so that is also on the list of things to do. Doors took forever, but at least the windows go up and down !
then, onto the bumpers. I smile every time I think of top gear getting the rear bumper to fall off their sprint, because they are a bugger of a job to get off with an assortment of hacksaws, vicegrips and skinned knuckles. I stole the decent rear bumper off the red 1850, but I'm still short of a good number plate lamp, I have 5 and only 1 has an intact base. Front bumper was also refitted. I took the time to rub back the inside of the bumpers, treated them with rust converter and sprayed them with black zinc. Captive nuts my ar$e.
Brakes checked and bled
float valves replaced (thanks sprintparts)
Then it was time to invite the local bobby over to do a vehicle ID check. We are so lucky in not having an MoT here, for all he had to do was verify the engine number and VA#, accept $58 and make some pointed observations about it needing a bit more work before it gets back on the road. The historical vehicle club had already visited last January to verify it was in fact, a 1976 dolomite sprint and was pretty much original, so yesterday I went in, paid my $168 to get her registered and picked up the new number plates. So, if I'm careful, I can now legally drive her on the road.
Today's effort was bits and bobs, stripped back the air cleaner, prior to spraying with that dove grey colour. Waiting for the rust converter to work while I type up this.
- engine has at least been running
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- a left a bonnet around here somewhere...
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- 604 poly paint with enamel thinners, who's to know ? Traces of grey primer in the centre of the black stripes as well.
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- brand spanking new number plate
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- rear plate, the exhaust is merely for show, nothing else is under the car.
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- needs a bit of a clean as well. The "to do list" stuck to the car !
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a question: I've been reading about people setting the float levels differently between the front and rear carbs. I'm not sure how this is achieved. Not that I've noticed any problems with the carbs (yet), but how ?
The other bit of news is that we are moving to Adelaide in 6 months. After 17 years teaching here, I'm acutely aware of the declining numbers at the school and professionally, it will be more rewarding to teach my subjects to bigger classes. So, goodbye shed and likely, goodbye stag, both 1850s and the 2500. I intend to hang onto both sprints and, depending on facilities in the new house, possibly,
just possibly the stag.
stu
.
I'm supposed to be driving 800km tomorrow, leaving at 6.00am, and I'm watching men on bikes....aaaaaaargh ! But gee it's a good tour !