Project BFR (1973 Mimosa Sprint)

[straylight]

excellent work mart, thanks for putting up the pics....it all looks, so, organised

very motivational.....

stu

[Mad Mart]

I'm not sure about organised Stu, but I hope it's motivating peoples to get stuck in to their present and long forgotten projects.


So today...the driver's side doors are all fitted up with just me to finish the last bits of the door rubbers (seen hanging below the doors). Hat off to Mary for her perseverance. New bushes arrived this morning so the subframe is now all up together. Could really do with a clutch release bearing for the weekend as it's going to delay my putting the subframe, engine & g/box back in.

Front steering/suspension parts fitted to Subframe:




Doors just about finished:

[MalcGE]

Mart, looks really good but i'm strugling to see what is taking you so long this time

Keep the photo's coming, great material for the club mag

[sprint95m]

Looking really impressive, Mart.

What make and type bushes did you fit?
I refitted the subframe to my car with just the steering rack fitted (the engine was suspended in situ) as it is heavier and more awkward to handle with all the suspension and brakes attached. But I suspect your method is quicker. I chose Superflex bushes because I was very pleased with them on a T2500 I had. Unfortunately I won't be able to say how much they have improved my Dolomite as I have fitted other components too. On the 2500 they made more of a difference than the uprated suspension I fitted later.

[Mad Mart]

I got the standard rubber bushes from Rimmers. I'm going to keep all the bushes as standard.

I'm going to do what I did with SFB ie. mount the g/box to the engine then mount that on the subframe. Then put it on casters & wheel it under the body.

[Neil907]

I chose Superflex bushes because I was very pleased with them on a T2500 I had. On the 2500 they made more of a difference than the uprated suspension I fitted later.

Superflex bushes are very good but what you have to remember when comparing the difference is that new rubber bushes compared to the warn out ones will make a big difference any way. I allways fit superflex bushes because the few new rubber ones I have fitted have turned to mush in no time atall.

[Mad Mart]

Unfortunately I couldn't get hold of a clutch release bearing for this weekend hence engine & box didn't get reunited. But hey, there were plenty of other things to be getting on with.


Gave the bulkhead pad a clean & put the brake pipes and coil back in.




Fitted the headlight mounting bowls/frames and fitted the indicators (the right way round of course ). You have to be very careful when fitting the headlight frames, the pop rivet gun is right next to the paint work on some of the rivets.




Fitted the rear quarter vinyls.

[Mad Mart]

Clutch release bearings arrived this morning, so this evening I spent a couple of hours getting the engine & gearbox ready to go back in (yes, I'm back at work this week).

[newguy]

Starting to really come along Mart Well impressed mate.

[Mad Mart]

Today the engine & gearbox finally got fitted.









Bought some dollies from ebay a couple of weeks ago (the red things under the wheels), thanks to Chris(2Toledos) for the heads-up on those. Took about five minutes to turn BFR around, piece of err,...really easy.



Me contemplating my next move.

[Lee Flintoft]

Wake up Mart, there still loads to do.....

[hutch76]

Looking great Martin. Wish I could find your energy and enthusiasm to do it all again!

[Mad Mart]

OK, so today finished fitting up the nearside rear door (Mary fitted the rubber door seals, delegation you see ). Then off with the back axle & stripped it down.




Rear axle stripped & degreased ready for painting.




Brake drums & backplates stripped & painted. One of the studs is broken, so a trip to the bro-in-laws to use his hydraulic press is on the cards for next week.




Mary refitted the door interiors.

[Mad Mart]

Not much progress these last few days. Yesterday I put the first scratch on the new paintwork. I had to hold my breath for ten minutes otherwise I may have trashed the place. Mike (80Sprint) had sent me a pair of black triangles so I started fitting up the nearside front door & whilst I was trying to put the quarterlight assembly in, the top of the quarterlight caught on the top of the door frame. The car has to go back to the sprayers anyway for them to fit the side stripes & whilst it's there Jon said he would make good any scratches I put on it. Still annoying though.

Today I took the half shafts down to my Bro-in-Law & he pressed the hubs off. Took it up to about 8 ton & then tapped them with a hammer.... Kev, I have some good news for you.

Started to rebuild the back axle this evening.

[Dollyboy]

ahhhh, well, i had faith m8. you're a fine citizen!!! just hope i can return the favor one day

awesome car really, just a great example of what can be done with proper motivation and determination. [have you got some you can put in bottles for me? 2litres of each please!! ]

i went back to the start of this project to remind myself how far this project has come - you both need MBE's or something for this!!!

absolutely love it!