stradacab Posted June 5, 2011 Author Share Posted June 5, 2011 It doesn't feel like I've done much on it this week, but I just remembered that I did the brakes on the Ascona Thursday and the windscreen on Saturday, so I have been "Opeling", just not so much on the GT/J. I have finished welding up the nose cone, mainly repairing the flanges, welding up some un needed trim clip holes and derusting. As it isn't going to be fitted yet I've moved back to the "a" pillars to start work there now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted June 8, 2011 Author Share Posted June 8, 2011 Offside "A" post and scuttle repair Only about 2 more years of this fiddly welding crap to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monzta Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 Only about 2 more years of this fiddly welding crap to go! Look at the bright side, when you are done with the car you will be a Jedi Master Welder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickappy Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 good work, all worth it in the end mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devil Fish Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Look at the bright side, when you are done with the car you will be a Jedi Master Welder he already is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted June 9, 2011 Author Share Posted June 9, 2011 (edited) he already is! More like a Jedi idiot! . . This car has rusty bits I've never come across before, and lots of bits everywhere, just look at the state of this pedal box! So more cutting and quite a bit of effort tonight to make a new plate that is strong, watertight and tidy (especially as when the soundprofing is on no-one will ever see it again!!) I must be mad. Just have to finish the side bit of it tomorrow and move on to the next disaster area! (Your weld-thru primer is excellent by the way Darren, do you have any more?) Edited June 9, 2011 by stradacab 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monzta Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 What! ? I have never EVER seen a Manta rust at that location, that is simply just weird!? Well, it is bound to be good once finished, you really are doing a great job on the looks of things, hope that i can do it just half as good on my A series. Haven´t welded on a car in 3-4 years by now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devil Fish Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 no sorry, left it all in your garage...don't think it was massively expensive though (was an ebay job iirc) rusty pedal box... can't wait to see what else has rusted on this... windscreen rubber? Rear quater glass? place your bets now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted June 10, 2011 Author Share Posted June 10, 2011 I hope that I have found all of the major bits. The car in now practically all stripped, if it is there I should have seen it. There is no trim or sound deadening etc for it to hide under, but you never know!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PassMeTheGun Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 My GT/J 400R has rusted through the top of the pedal box as well, I thought it was normal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steel Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 wish ide know i could have cut out the panel around the pedal box complete it was 1 of the few areas not rotten to the core on the exclusive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted June 12, 2011 Author Share Posted June 12, 2011 My GT/J 400R has rusted through the top of the pedal box as well, I thought it was normal! I've checked the original brochure and the Haynes manual and they definately didn't come from the factory like that -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have moved down to the footwells and floor. My problem here is that replacing the floorpan would be no good because most of the damage is around the bulkhead. I have seen rust in one corner, over the legs or along the seam. On this car, yep, you guessed it, it's rotten everywhere! I am doing it in areas so it will be a bit more "platey" than I would ideally like but I'm trying to leave as much in as a guide instead of chopping it all out at once. Using the car as a pattern is further hampered by the fact that it has been welded more than once before and bashed about to get MOT plates in. The cardboard plate is now cut, shaped and welded in. I need to do the floor over the jack point and close the front off while trying to keep it looking as close as possible to original That repair in just the corner alone is going to take 5 plates. I then need to move up to the top and then over to the chassis leg tops. It isn't like the shell is a basket case, just that it involves work in a lot of areas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devil Fish Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Come on Fred lets go for a drive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keith1200 Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 (edited) :lol: :lol: Edited June 13, 2011 by keith1200 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapierdave Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Come on Fred lets go for a drive PMSL I thought the older 2 slot "B's" were less prone to rust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted June 14, 2011 Author Share Posted June 14, 2011 (edited) I've finised that bit! Been going fo rexactly one month (not sure if that as any relevance, just thought I'd mention it) A splash of etch primer to stop it surface rusting whhile I continue across the floor and bulkhead Edited June 14, 2011 by stradacab 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieH Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Top quality repair there mate keep up the good work and the pictures coming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted June 16, 2011 Author Share Posted June 16, 2011 (edited) The last two nights work.. That nasty washer bottle are where they always rust and it is such a bitch to repair! I've done loads of these, and this is the best I've managed so far (and remember it had a bashed and welded on MOT plate on before I started too) So this is letting in the base of the washer bottle area... Bringing in the A panel And that horrible double curve across the panel seam. Inside is on display so you have to consider the bay too. I'm happy enough to live with that..... Edited June 16, 2011 by stradacab 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted June 20, 2011 Author Share Posted June 20, 2011 I've closed the top of the inner arch, repaired the last bit of the pedal area and moved on to the inner wing at the side of the servo. Cut it out and had a poke. I'm going to need to do another plate on the bulkhead, make a folded piece to replace the seam and the plate the wing. Maybe I'm tired but I seen to be at the "finding lots more bits of welding stage" and couldn't get into it tonight.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieH Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 Unfortunately you need to go through that stage , but you will get through it ............. it only took me two years with mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted July 4, 2011 Author Share Posted July 4, 2011 Right! now that the silly distraction of Billing is out of the way.... I finished the inner wing to bulkhead before Billing but had to take a week off to get the Ascona ready! Welded the other floor plate in, and will join the two tomorrow night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted August 2, 2011 Author Share Posted August 2, 2011 Update time, it's been a while! Went to Greece for two weeks straight after Billing so there has been nothing much done for a month! There's o rush though I have closed the footwell up and made the last plate up to finish the front off. The repair to this front bulkhead, floor and inner arch has involved 26 separate plates I have had to cut, shape and build up. I reckon the result looks as factoryish as possible in view of the fact it's a big repair. Have put a coat of etch primer to protect it. I will do inside when I have picked up a few pinholes on the floor. The other side doesn't look so bad so I'm hoping that will be a bit kinder to me! Next up is a repair to the seat mount before attacking the rear of the sill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monzta Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 Looking good mate great progress and great work on the welding ! Wish i could weld like that Keep them pictures coming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted August 6, 2011 Author Share Posted August 6, 2011 (edited) On Thursday cut out and plated the thin floor around the drivers side seat mount, I need to grind off where the seat mount sits in the floor Moved back the the offside rear sill. Didn't bother with a "before" pic, you know what a crunchy sill looks like! This car is rotten in all the ususal places but just a bit more rotten so that you end up having to repair all the metal that the bit of metal you want weld to welds to! So here the outer sill, web and inner sill along with the floor beneath the rear seat and the inner wheel arch need repair...... The inner rear sill was so bad the jack point had torn when I lifted the car. I saw another forum member removed and made this piece up on a bronze Cavalier he repaired and decided that I would drill the spots and do the same (great place to get ideas this!) Besides its a relativley easy panel to fab if you are patient. On the downside I know that the nearside sill is MUCH worse!! Edited August 6, 2011 by stradacab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieH Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 some good fabrication skills there bud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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