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Wednesday 20 May 2009

Progress at last..

Progress has been slow on the Stag due to other commitments but this week I got to grips with removing the outer and inner sills-constantly hindered and wound up by some of the truly shite botches I keep finding on this car,why do people think its OK to weld a patch over rust? do they not realise it will just carry on rusting? found a lot of that on this car some of my particular favorites are the patches braised on- braised? I thought that was something you did to a sheep when you were hungry not something you do to fix your outer sill on,another was a floor repair,a home made patch welded over the anti vibration check strap for the rear sub frame mount great -why go to all that effort to do a really bad job? but Ive been saving the best till last a rear spring hanger made using a paint tin lid! whoohoo wish I had thought of that one-OK I am a shed DIY welder/fabricator mechanic but I some standards!
Above are some pictures of the buggerybollockbotches and the the welcome sight of a new panel in position!
If I wasn't such a stubborn grumpy old bastard this car should really have been scrapped,but I cant bring myself to throw out old grinding discs let alone a piece of 1974 motoring history so bit by bit I will get this car back in shape an on the 10CR
So back to progress- what a bugger of a job it is cutting out an inner sill! but what a great feeling standing back and looking a new one (admittedly held in place by mole grips) getting the tape measure out and checking the car hasn't turned into a banana - all I can say is the tunnel on these cars is bloody strong! -I have got the car supported in six places mind trying to spread the load across as much of the strong bits as possible
Nest stage is to tack inner sill in and check the door still fits! then in with new cross members,floor pans,repairs to rear box sections (rear sub frame mount) spring hanger etc etc
Wish me luck!

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