| RESTORATION PAGE 3 |
| 15/12/02: Well, just a little update today.Basically, went to collect my top coat today and bought everything else i need to complete the respraying of the engine bay. Came away with: 2 pack top coat, top quality thinners, Tack rags, mask and activator. It probably would have got started today as well if it weren't for this crap weather.Yep winters here for sure....Oh, and im an 18 year old Escy owner now, as it was my birthday yesterday....:-) More soon, as i go to pick the engine bits up on tuesday(17th). |
| 22/12/02: Well, slight snag on the engine front.The original 1300GT block was found to have just enough bore wear at the top to necesitate a rebore, which totally threw me, as i had got everything else ready for the rebuild, thinking that the block would just need a hone. The problem with a rebore is that ya need new pistons as well, and with the 1300GT, they are rare(higher compresion, so everyone and there dog wants them)and rare means expensive. After a few hours sulking, and general, "im getting rid of the fookin' thing", an idea entered my head.1100 and 1300 x-flow blocks are the same.The larger capacity of the 1300's is gained by having a longer stroke, with the use of different crank and rods e.t.c. So seeing as my 1100 was low milege, i decided to strip it down to see if this block would be ok for just honing and not reboring. Once the head was stripped off, only a small amount of carbon build up was found, and there really doesnt seem to be any lip at the top of the bore.When i dropped it off, the engineer agreed that it seemed to be in fine fettle, so hopefully, just a hone and im laughing.Pick it up tomorrow, so ill find out!!!The crank e.t.c is all ready, i really am just waiting for the block.... Elsewhere on the Escy, before i top coat the engine bay, ive found a small patch of rust on the chassis leg, so this will have to be sorted first, or else it will burn the top coat.More soon..... |
| 03/01/03: Well, what can i say, its been an eventful few days....:-) First of all, ive collected the enine bits, and thankfully the 1100 block was ok, so i can now start to build the engine up-Hoorah!!!! The chassis leg has been repaired now, with neat butt welded sections put in, and because the rust was where the x-member bolts to, i had to drop the front suspension.No bad thing, as it gave me an excuse to paint it all and fit the last of the polybushes that i had to fit. Anyway, with that all done, i bolted it all together and today was the icing on the cake!!!!The engine bay finally got its top coats!!!Me dad did the final spraying for me, and i must say a big thanks to him as it looks great.Handy having a dad who used to be a sprayer.... Anyway, thats done now, and i can now finally build the car back up and get it on th road..:-) Piccy below. |
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| 11/01/03: Hi again.Time for another update.Engine bay has recieved another top coat to finish it off, so the dry looking areas on the picture above have been finished, and yes, the area underneath the battery tray reieved a coat of paint.....Anyway, that happened quite a few days ago, so its given me a chance to start the fitting up. First of all i fitted the bonnet release equiptent, followed by all the rubber grommets in the engine bay.The headlights were then fitted, followed by the wiring loom.I still have a few last areas to clean on this.The grill was then fitted, followed by the starter solenoid and the fuse box.And lastly, ive fitted the heater, which was another job that took longer than expected.....So slowly getting there, although pay day cant come around quicker as im dieing to get the engine built up and put in.Need a cam kit and an Oil pump, as well as all service items.Now have a twin choke carb and inlet manifold(thanks to Lee Shaw).So after roughly 4 months, things are starting to come together.Jobs left to do are to fit the rest of the interior (Switch panel, glove box and centre console), fit the gearbox, build up and fit engine, fit all cables and connections, and finally the brakes(service master cylinder, and fit new brake pipes)Getting there, although ive just past my original deadline of mid January.....:-(more soon..... |
| 23/01/03: Well, little bit of progress....All the interior is back in, bar the centre console.This has to be left untill the gearbox has been fitted. My dad is now on holiday for 2 weeks, so hes going to try and get quite a bit done for me while im at school.Today, he steam cleaned the gearbox, sump, engine block and a few other bits, and then painted them for me as well.What a top man!!:-) More soon, with dad exploits;-) |