115/3067 bought back from France

[Kevin Birch]

Had a good day today removing old underseal, and what was left of the glue the Hardura was stuck on with. I don't know about modern adhesives, but somebody ought to look at what was used 50 years ago, as it has been a nightmare to get it off. Hopefully by end of play tomorrow, I will be at the stage where all the strip down will be done, and I can look at starting to do the welding, get it painted and start putting it back together.
Found an unusual bodge on the side of the passenger footwell. It appears a section has been cut out, and a fibreglass panel screwed back in, the only reason I can see for this, as the surrounding metal is not rusty, was to access the starter.
I will probably replace with a properly shaped steel panel, but affix all round, as the plastic one is only self tapped at the top, and stuck on at the bottom.
The small hole, top right of the second picture, is where I suspected the battery earth connection should be, and confirmed by Grant and Christian, so will weld a nut there and move it from the bonnet gutter.

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[Mark1Stu]

That looks hard, soul destroying work there Kev - which you've pushed on and completed. Good to know the more rewarding work is ahead of you. Good luck.

Stu

[Chris_R]

Found an unusual bodge on the side of the passenger footwell. It appears a section has been cut out, and a fibreglass panel screwed back in, the only reason I can see for this, as the surrounding metal is not rusty, was to access the starter.

Is that a bodge or an original feature? I seem to remember reading somewhere that Mk1s had an engine bay access from inside the car for the rearmost spark plugs.

[Christian]

Hi Kev,

Nice work. Reminds me of 2013 when I had the same thoughts about the good old glue. I don't think you could get something similar today, in times of environment protection... But what a shame that my car is still not roadworthy.

The fibreglass-panel is 100% original. And yes, it should give access to the starter. But I didn't manage to dismount my starter before lifting the engine anyhow...
The bigger round hole was originally covered by a grommet. And your hole for the negative lead seems too wide. I would say it's for a 3/8 bolt from memory.

The dented section in front of the fibre panel should be straight. Hard to see on the pic, but I hope you know what I mean.

Christian

[Kevin Birch]

Thanks Christian, you're a star. I wasn't aware that this is original, I knew about the spark plug hole above it, not this big access panel. It makes sense though as the starter is a mare to get to, but not any more. I'll remove the panel to clean up and straighten the metal work, and as Mark says it is soul destroying laborious work, but will look good afterwards.
The remnants of Hardura on your bulkhead (the photo of you in the bay) is what I have, and what I can only describe as being attached with something that must be illegal now, as it does its job!! Probably horse based.
I'm going to get some proper grommets for the spark plug holes, and new ones for the cabling too, all to stop heat geting into the cabin.
Have you recovered your bulkhead now, and if so do yo have photos of it done ?

[VFK44]

Reminds me of a story I read about someone who bought an American muscle car, which he loved using but hated maintaining. Seven plugs could be changed without problems, but the eighth was almost impossible to reach. He described at length the tools he bought and the contortions he went through every year to service the damn thing.

Eventually he had to sell it and buy something more practical. As he sniffed back a tear and watched it being hauled onto a big transportation truck, he was able for the first time to look up under the front wing, and there was a large and convenient rubber flap put there by the maker so you could reach plug #8...

[Kevin Birch]

Bought a 2.8 Ghia X MK2 Granada off my brother years ago. He'd "serviced " it for a few years, but now there was a few problems with it and he left it standing for a few months and decided to sell it. The car wasn't running very well and the gearbox was, in his words "shot". I bought it for £600 , serviced it including replacing the spark plug under the AC compressor which had no electrode left ( you have to unbolt the compressor to get to it) and reconnected the vacuum pipe to the gearbox. The car ran like dream, kept it for 3 years and sold it for £1200. Some people should never put a spanner to a car. Oh yes it came with a spare gearbox, which he'd bought but decided he didn't want to change it, and which I promptly sold

[Grant]

Reminds me of a story I read about someone who bought an American muscle car, which he loved using but hated maintaining. Seven plugs could be changed without problems, but the eighth was almost impossible to reach. He described at length the tools he bought and the contortions he went through every year to service the damn thing.

Eventually he had to sell it and buy something more practical. As he sniffed back a tear and watched it being hauled onto a big transportation truck, he was able for the first time to look up under the front wing, and there was a large and convenient rubber flap put there by the maker so you could reach plug #8...

Bought a 2.8 Ghia X MK2 Granada off my brother years ago. He'd "serviced " it for a few years, but now there was a few problems with it and he left it standing for a few months and decided to sell it. The car wasn't running very well and the gearbox was, in his words "shot". I bought it for £600 , serviced it including replacing the spark plug under the AC compressor which had no electrode left ( you have to unbolt the compressor to get to it) and reconnected the vacuum pipe to the gearbox. The car ran like dream, kept it for 3 years and sold it for £1200. Some people should never put a spanner to a car. Oh yes it came with a spare gearbox, which he'd bought but decided he didn't want to change it, and which I promptly sold

2 absolutely brilliant Stories

[Chris_R]

Some people should never put a spanner to a car.

Never a truer word said. When I see some questions asked, especially on Facebook pages I shudder and think "if you don't know that, you shouldn't be touching it".

[Christian]

Have you recovered your bulkhead now, and if so do yo have photos of it done ?

Yes, but not finished yet. I first covered it with a layer of heat shield. The edges were sealed with epoxy. Then I applied the Hardura. I left the steering column without covering to have access if needed and because I don't like the gum-like sealer which they pushed in there. I'll seal the edges of the Hardura with black heat resistant silicone sealer. I was going to cover the inside of the footwells in Hardura also, but the RH side seems too convex shaped. So I will spray it with 3M 08868, same stuff I will try for the inner wings. 3M states it should have good sound deadening properties and leave a rough Surface, like original I hope...

Christian

[Kevin Birch]

That's nice work Christian, but isn't the silver heat shield supposed to go over the Hardura, although I do like it the your way around.
When do you expect it back on the road?

[Christian]

Yes Kev,
I know that the reflection of infrared heat isn't better than with Hardura only, but I hope that the extra layer gives more heat insulation (concerning heat conduction). Don't ask me what is more relevant in the engine bay: Radiation, convection or conduction. The heat shield is better to install than the Hardura and I think it won't hurt. But I would not be satisfied with the look without Hardura, even if reflection was better.

2950 should be on the road in 09/2018 when it will be 50 years old, but I don't know if I'll be able to accomplish that...

Christian.

[Kevin Birch]

Christian keep plodding along, and it'll be finished before you know it and you'll have a superb example. I've a MK2 Lotus Cortina which is 50 next May, would love to get it finished for then , but sadly no hope, it's still a bare shell, and haven't touched it for 4 months, due to the Interceptor work.

[KaranMK2]

Really good work Kevin, Keep it coming!!!Karan

[Kevin Birch]

Engine bay now stripped as far as I need to go, with all Hardura and thick underseal removed, de-greased and jet washed. Only need to remove the whole front suspension to make it easier to paint the cross member, this should be straight forward as it was rebuilt 2 years ago. Now its time to start putting it back together, which will start with the small amount of welding on each inner wing, and welding the captive nuts used to hold the wheel arch liners on, as the old ones all had sheared off bolts in them. Will be making new liners too, as old ones are past their best, and the seals hard. It looks like the seal is very similar to a mini boot lid seal, which will be cheap to replace. Note the centre of the cross member has never been painted, like the area under the remote oil filter housing, and that the original white paint on the inner wings is more cream than white,much like Eddie;s MK2.

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