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| RESTORATION PAGE 2 |
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| 24/10/02: On a roll at the moment.Plenum has now been fitted and is just waiting for its plug welds to be ground flush to be FINISHED. Started off by seam sealing the bulkhead repairs and adding some schultz to stop it from rusting again.The areas where the Plenum mounts were painted with weld through primer. On to preping the Plenum for fitting, firstly, the Plenum was bare metalled and trial fitted for fit, where a few alterations were carried out to make it follow the swage lines of the bulkhead.Once this was done, the heater cowl was removed from the old panel and fitted to the new Plenum,before both were given plenty of rust proofing.1/8th holes were drilled to allow the Plenum to be Plug welded to the Bulkhead, and the welding then commenced.And yes, it was a great feeling when the final weld was completed by my Dad(he does the welding, i do the cutting and prep).And that leaves us at the stage of the welds being ready to be ground down.Strut tops next, and then paint :-) My friend Steve John(www.omj624p.co.uk) came round yesterday, and being the top bloke he is, dropped a servo off for me and also took some piccies of the finished article so ill put them up soon hopefully.Thanks Steve, i appreciate it. |
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| 16/11/02: Hi all, sorry for the long time since the last update.It isnt because im lazy or anything, just because im skint and have been doing lots of overtime to get the Escy back on the road quicker. However, a few ideas have changed, not drastic, but they make sense. Firstly, i was going to buy some RS strut top reinforcements. However, i had a thought about this.They are expensive(for me), my strut tops are original, so it would be a shame to cover them, and also i would be fitting a strut brace, so what would be the point of fitting the strengtheners? Also, before i was going to do everything before putting it back on the road.Not so now. I have to admit that my enthusiasm is waning, so i really need to get the car on the road as soon as possible to renew it. This means that i will carry on with the engine bay resto, new engine and 5 speed box as usual, but the sill and bodge patch on the floorpan will wait untill the cars on the road again, so it will then become a rolling restoration. Back onto track, the engine bay is now ready for rubbing down/ spraying as all welding in the vascinity is now completed. I will hopefully be purchasing the spraying materials tommorow from a guy who is always at the Newark Autojumble. Such stuff as Etching primer, top coat e.t.c. The spraying of the engine bay really is holding me up.Many jobs can be done straight away once it has been sprayed, ie. wiring re taped and refitted, heater refitted, brake servo and pipes fitted, headlights grill e.t.c back on....So, im really desperate to get on with the respray now, especially as im getting paid within a fortnight, so Gearbox, cables e.t.c can be bought, leaving just the engine left to get.Well, im getting one for chrimbo but more on that at a later date. So there you have it, Get me respray of the engine bay sorted, and really i cant see why the car cant be on the road by mid-january. Can i make the deadline? Well it'll be fun finding out....;-).More soon....... |
| 22/11/02: Hi again, been busy with the grinder and a wire brush atachment :-). One inner wing is completly bare metalled and the rest will follow tomorrow. And i dont care if it rains as my garage is now nice and snug, with new radio e.t.c in there so i can work away on the escy to my hearts content. Got the etch primer last week as said, and the top coat is being mixed. So progress is happening now, with Sunday penned on my calender as priming day!!!!Enthusiasm is now building all the time, and i can see a slight bit of light at the end of the tunnel.Still along way to go, but its becoming fun again.....:-) |
| 06/12/02: Well, the Escy is really starting to take shape now. The engine bay is in primer and looks so good its unbelievable. Real motivating stuff. Top coat will be ready for me to pick up on the 15th. Also, ive got an engine, Wahoooooooo!!!!!!! Andy Brannan ( www.escortsport.co.uk ) donated one to me for my favourite price.(Many thanks andy, i cant thank you enough :-) ) The bores seem fine, but im rebuilding it anyway just to be sure.Plenty of spending money at the mo, so Engine will be set upon very very soon. Progress update again soon.... |
| 11/12/02: Well, what can i say, the floodgates have opened.The engne was stripped a few days ago, and found to be in very good condition, with perfect bearings(even though im replacing them anyway).The crank is fine, just needing a polish, and the rest was fine as well.Anyway, because everythings going well at the moment, the bits have been sent away to be refurbished.Nothing serious, just a hone, block reface and a crank polish.I pick it up on tuesday, along with everything to rebuild it apart from new cam(kent BCF2) and Duplex chain.Update soon.... |