Petula , "66" Singer

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Thu Mar 31, 2016 10:50 pm

Bobbycham wrote: Near side window upright also need work
IMG_20160329_115230807.jpg
Lots of little sections like this.
Can't wait to get to the point where there's paint on it.
Bob

I took the opportunity whilst mine was like that to put the small depressions in the rear window apperture bottom corner each side so the water drains away better, same as they did on the very last IMPs

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Mon Apr 04, 2016 3:22 pm

Hello Peter
Do you have a picture of the that deformity? No wise cracks PLEASE.

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Mon Apr 04, 2016 4:09 pm

Best I can show it, difficult to show on a dark colour, especially a dark shiny one, but you get the idea, helps water drain away from the window channel and stops it building up behind the rubber and trim too.
It was something they did on all the very last IMP saloons.

Create the impression by placing a suitably large diameter socket on position and give it a good hit.

004.JPG

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Mon Apr 04, 2016 5:23 pm

Thanks for picture Peter
Are you saying the semicircular indentation at top of white glossy area?
Replaced the whole length of gutter trim section on the car,
Good news at last!
The rear finisher that goes up the rear and over the window & across roof fits really well and needs no repair work.
Decision now is, have it sprayed same colour as car or go with breaking it up by colouring the same as stripe on side of car?
New toys been purchased for rebuild too ,

Bob

.

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Mon Apr 04, 2016 5:25 pm

Yes just the small indent, one in each bottom corner thats all you need.

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Fri Apr 08, 2016 10:10 am

More progress in bodyshop, still amazed to find yet more leadloading deposits as they weld new parts to body, nearly ready to start going over it to skim ready to paint, managed to purchase new clips for rear finisher this week (hens teeth) so i'm led to believe.

P1010057.JPG

P1010060.JPG

P1010059.JPG

P1010058.JPG

And finally the type and era of cars , my daily job is all about,
making new parts (mechanical) for various makes of 1920\30s vehicles.
Not too keen on the rebuilding side , but making the parts is still enjoyable after some 40 years of cutting metal.

P1010051.JPG

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Fri Apr 08, 2016 12:24 pm

Looks a bit like mine did, full of flipping dents and thats what takes all the time removing them properly all rather than replacing panels or just filling them, quite a lot of shrinking and pulling involve, but when you see what can be done its quite amazing.
At least theyre doing it properly.

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Fri Apr 08, 2016 3:35 pm

Yeah ,but bl--dy expensive!

Gone too far to throw in the towel.!
Wouldn't have bothered if l'd known beforehand how it would escalate, shotblasting uncovered alot of trouble, but as you say ,it's being done correctly and will allow the car another 50 years of life .
Bob

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Fri Apr 08, 2016 4:31 pm

This is it when you havent had the car from new or really know of its history, looks ok ish until you take off the paint then you find all the problems, paints very good at covering up, this is why i decided to strip it all off and start again even though someone has had a dabble before when you find an area not quite right you wonder about the rest so its the only way to be sure really, filler has its use for a skim, but not for rectifying 10 mill deep dents.

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Sat Apr 09, 2016 8:12 pm

Your Imp is looking really good, Bobbycham!

I have ambitions to do mine that way too: tin bashing rather than using tons of filler or lead. It takes time and skill. Skills I don't possess yet. But I look forward to learning.

Keep the updates coming.

IM

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Sat Apr 09, 2016 8:53 pm

Purchasing better parts for the rebuild, that's when l will feel better , when i'm actually doing the work myself.

It was originally just going to bodyshop for tart up and respray , then circumstances changed and we decided to get bodywork as 100% as we could.
It will be unique when finished, as l sure most restored Imps are.
Bob

Post by **Lars Hagermark** » Sat Apr 09, 2016 10:16 pm

Bobbycham wrote:It was originally just going to bodyshop for tart up and respray , then circumstances changed and we decided to get bodywork as 100% as we could.

Good decision! The Imp and work looks very good.

617sqn · Post by **617sqn** » Sun Apr 10, 2016 2:35 pm

I'm sure it will be a credit to your wallet, Bob, when she's finished. Most of the people I know never like to mention the all-up costs of their restorations. Because it usually frightens them when its all added up. I've avoided adding up the cost of my shed-shop for the same reason (other than keeping the awful truth away from the wifes ears as well). I knew of a Rover SD1 club member who had her Van Den Plas version restored at a cost of £15,000 and that was back some 12 years or so. It would have been worth half that on the open market. However, it did become the basis for a Vanguards model, so she was "rewarded" for her efforts that way, I guess. Having your pride and joy immortalised in that way must be very pleasing.

Andy G.

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Sun Apr 10, 2016 5:09 pm

I know exactly how much mine cost as i keep it all on file as a running total, my Irish Clan cost me £9000, my Sport £10000 and now my Chamois up to £6000 so far and only halfway on that and that doesnt include buying it to start with, so no way will i get my money back, but its just a hobby so thats not a point and im not particulary bothered anyway about making money on it, i just keep going until its how i want it to be.
Then i give it away and start again.

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Sun Apr 10, 2016 5:36 pm

Don't drink ,don't smoke , don't holiday , it's my project and it'll be how l want it , unique head turning Singer or Imp if you prefer.
Cashier at Halifax is always ready with " not more ? isn't that car finished yet"?
We have Honda Jazz,& Hyundia i10 so Chamois will fit nicely between the two.

Bob

617sqn · Post by **617sqn** » Sun Apr 10, 2016 5:36 pm

I'll put my gloves on Peter, ready to catch it, OK?

Andy G

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Tue Apr 12, 2016 5:53 pm

Back on the rolling frame again, must admit wasn't expecting to see skimming the underside to tidy up joints where new floor pieces have been inserted and dented areas. As Dave said "better to have it looking right once it's up in the air on a ramp"
Overkill or not?.

P1010100.JPG

P1010091.JPG

P1010090.JPG

P1010089.JPG

Bob

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Tue Apr 12, 2016 6:49 pm

If you get the chance why not get it as good as the top.

There should be little drain tubes in the back corners of the floor though, one each side, looks like they filled those in,?
It was a factory mod suggested on a tech note it be done on early cars too.

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Tue Apr 12, 2016 7:21 pm

Drain tubes? would you suggest holes in front of rear wheel arch? picture 2 where it's got filler inboard of hole in sill extension .
Your phrase "drain tube " has puzzled me. Tube from where? to outside of car.
Will question Dave tomorrow about that area.
Bob

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Tue Apr 12, 2016 7:32 pm

Yes just in board of your hole in the sill but in the floor, i will copy the section of tech note and put it here for you, give me a hour.
Then you will see, its to let any water out that may find its way into the void under the rear seat, so you dont end up with a pond under the seat I suppose.
Mines been done and its the same age as yours.

001.JPG

002.JPG

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:36 pm

Thanks Peter for the info, don't think both sides of the floor at that area were complete before restoration so not sure if they were there.
Have decided to put the holes in as you suggest , should any water get in there ,normal road use , going round bends should move water to outer points of car and hence drain out, might make some drain tubes to fit also.
To be honest not really anticipating getting it that wet, but we shall see

Bob

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Thu Apr 21, 2016 8:45 pm

P1010011.JPG

Bit of a strange position Petula was in today, can only assume car was like that while working on sill.

P1010005.JPG

Most of metalwork repairs done so filler work now

P1010004.JPG

P1010012.JPG

P1010009.JPG

Off side of car needed considerably more work than nearside
Windscreen washer holes filled in (got the right holes)PHEW!!!
Sprayer said he was pleased to see car at that point as it's been so noisey with so much angle grinding and linishing going on.
PROGRESS YEAH!!

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Thu Apr 21, 2016 10:05 pm

Did you decide on your final colour choice yet? Original or

custom?
Just got my last few bits from the painter today, maroon, beautiful.

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Thu Apr 21, 2016 10:06 pm

Bobbycham wrote:PROGRESS YEAH!!

That's what we like to hear!

She's coming along rather nicely!

IM

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Fri Apr 22, 2016 8:21 am

Peter , yes chosen final colour scheme, not as radical as earlier posts on this project.
Certainly not original , definitely different but will be keeping the coloured stripe with chrome strips down side of car.
Really modern colour, some will no doubt hate it , but that's not a problem.
All concerned say it will look really "COOL" Frances would prefer another car makers similar colour, but l haven't given in on that.

(yet)

Picture will wait till she's sat back on our drive, early June l would imagine.

Nowhere to put her , garage is full of son's belongings, plus we have builders in so there's a skip on the drive, and only access is through the garage MAYHEM! And plumber has just mailed ,he wants to start work in a few days time, No chance.
Bob

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Fri Apr 22, 2016 11:49 am

Bobbycham wrote:Really modern colour, some will no doubt hate it , but that's not a problem.
All concerned say it will look really "COOL" Frances would prefer another car makers similar colour, but l haven't given in on that. (yet)

I had my 75 Sport done in a modern colour at the time, GM Baccarat mica maroon, did think twice about it as it was Deep Mango which was what made me buy it to start with, a deep reddy brown metallic with a deep shine, but it looked ok and very nice in the sun.
Ive stuck with the original standard now on my Chamois, maroon, I told the painters I wanted it like factory but without the missed bits, and theyve done a grand job.

Some modern colours do look great on IMPs though, like the Rover BRG metallic.

One thing I do like to see is youre going all out to get the body correct and looking as it should, doing your research rather than guessing or the that will do approach, all the small details right, same as Tiker here, I know its a personal thing, but Im not at all keen on custom body mods, flared arches, smoothing over body joints etc, and I do hope you will give it more than 5mm ground clearance?

.

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Fri Apr 22, 2016 1:25 pm

Definitely not being lowered , can't see the point .
Won't say anymore on that subject for fear of upsetting anyone. Each to their own.
Will look fairly standard but with individual addition to MY choice, but with modern colour.
Bob

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Fri Apr 22, 2016 11:23 pm

Looking forward to seeing the car when it's painted.

IM

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Sat Apr 23, 2016 7:50 am

That's two of us then!
Bob

Dogsbody · Post by **Dogsbody** » Sat Apr 23, 2016 8:01 am

Smashing workshop you have

Yours is looking good !
Putting the Stiletto on a "Spit" would have mad sense in hindsight.
I had the box section steel lying around to make one.

When its finished we will have to have a mini meet...halfway between your and my place..

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Sat Apr 23, 2016 9:18 am

Dogsbody wrote:When its finished we will have to have a mini meet...halfway between your and my place..

In the ditch at bend before Sells green (your side) like someone did last week? how do they manage it?
Looked across at your track as we left Whitehall during the week, hoping to see you (chances pretty slim really)
Haven't seen you on 350 yet.
Workshop is across the road from where I work, they do really good repairs there. You're welcome to pop in and have a look
Calne side of Chippenham.
Other than that ,wait till it's back here and pop over.
Bob

Macrootes · Post by **Macrootes** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 7:20 pm

Where did you get the new metal hatch hinges for the rear hatch? Looking for some for my recently restored Caledonian?

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Tue Apr 26, 2016 7:57 pm

Macrootes, I assume your'e talking about the hatch stays (1st item on 2nd page).
In which case Andy, 617sqn on here refurbishes old units and does a really good job of them, drop him a PM. See if he can supply you with a pair.

Bob

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Tue May 17, 2016 5:55 pm

Still in the frame. hard to see progress but it is being worked on every day. Must be getting there?

P5170057.JPG

P5170056.JPG

P5170055.JPG

P5170054.JPG

P5170053.JPG

P5170052.JPG

Soon have space in garage again as garden room is just about finished (can only access rear of house through garage) so needed a walkway
Son and family are moving closer so can have his stuff back as we've been storing it for them , so garage can be de cluttered.
Now only doing a 4 day week (Fri is Richard child minding day) more than enough work for me though.
Bit diverse this week, one min l'm working on E Type parts ,next min l'm working on De Lorean parts ,and at present l'm turning Riley input shafts .
Bob

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Wed May 18, 2016 2:06 pm

Bobbycham wrote:Still in the frame. hard to see progress but it is being worked on every day. Must be getting there?

Flatting a car ready for paint is always like that. It never seems to end and you cannot easily see any signs of progress. But just look at how it's coming along!

Those panels are really getting there. There is not much filler in there either, which is the best way.

Keep up the great work.

IM

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Mon May 23, 2016 7:50 pm

IMG_20160523_094228964_HDR.jpg

IMG_20160523_094117495.jpg

IMG_20160523_094108245.jpg

IMG_20160523_094010942.jpg

IMG_20160523_093958622.jpg

Looking at doors today , really happy they are pretty good to my eye , could be picky and move them forward a tad but probably not worth it.
Ready for them to come off now and next time they're on it'll be me doing it (at last)
Discussed what to do under front lid today (went for the cheapest option) sure to look good though.
what do people do about the metal tags that hold the board panelling in position (covering blower pipe and windscreen wiper motor)in regards painting of them ?
You can only bend the clips so many times before they fracture, do you bend them until you can only just get the covers in position then paint them, or paint them after assembly?

Bob

Dave ' Linwood ' Lane · Mon May 23, 2016 8:18 pm

They are usually body coloured - as you say you can only bend them so many times before they snap off .
I bent mine down permanently drilled a small in the tabs and fitted a small brass stud to each one , board is now held in place using knurled brass nuts - no more bending of tabs .
the only pic i can find with them in

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Mon May 23, 2016 9:12 pm

They will take so many bends ok and if the paint cracks as you do it it will look like an original factory finish

Crap idea, but there you go, it must have been intended you dont removed them more than half a dozen times during the cars life?
The cars werent designed to last 50 years, 10 at the most for the vast majority I would suspect?

In the 35 years i had my Sport those covers came off probably no more than 4 times for maintenance purposes so youre not going to be removing them on a regular basis normally.

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Tue May 24, 2016 4:33 am

Door gaps look pretty good, just make sure your side strip fixing holes are all in line panel to panel before it goes for paint, you might have to move them, better before than after??

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Wed May 25, 2016 3:08 pm

Thanks Peter
Very good point , taking trims in tomorrow for trial fitting , we have found a couple of holes that'll probably need replacing
in correct position, Dave was keen to get doors off , so has been working around that by keeping them on an extra day.

Could make all the difference to appearance .

Got new clips , so been trialing drill size ,think the 4mm is correct as everyone would have a standard 4mm drill, my working sets go up in 0.1 mm increments and 4.1 mm hole is too big for clips to be held correctly, but 4mm is fine,
Bob

Yes it will be green, but which? (Watch this space)

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Wed May 25, 2016 3:29 pm

Yep I increased mine to 4mm for Malcs new clips, thats correct they fit perfectly, Im not one really for increasing the original holes as you slowly get larger, next time 4mm clips wont be available, you cant go back smaller, unless you drill a load more, so up we go to 5mm and so on, thing is with the Chamois side strips they are only 7mm wide, so you cant hide much if you have a wayward or too large a hole with the strip.
You will probably need to redrill them after painting, its surprising how much the paint thickness closes them up, treat the holes with waxoyl too.
Having the strips all perfectly in line will certainly make all the difference, shows youre more a perfectionist rather than a that'lldoist.

Oooh! is it going to be Limelight

??

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Wed May 25, 2016 5:05 pm

Peter
I'm a toolmaker,and have been in precision engineering since training starting at 15 , i'm now 62 . So you should see it when l do some tiling around the house (Have to re position that tile as it's 0.010" higher on that side)

I'm not joking ,it goes with the job.
Thanks for your advice .
Bob

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Tue May 31, 2016 5:27 pm

IMG_20160531_130802916.jpg

IMG_20160531_131510889.jpg

Been in workshop today trial fitting chrome \ stainless trims to car , as Peters advice , needed to move position of a few clip holes and even weld a few up. Need to cut two trims as they are too long as they're not originals to Chamois, just got to try and work out best way of crimping the end to get a half decent end section by the door.
Actually got around to asking about what we wanted about paint finish to lower section of car (floor and under arches)
so that's progress, won't be that long before it's getting some fresh paint on shell .

Bob

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Tue May 31, 2016 6:51 pm

The stainless strips are quite softish so you can trim to length and round off the end profile with a file and then using a suitably shaped wooden dowl as a mandrel gently tap the bull nose end to shape then finally polish up with a buffer or Auto Solvol, the strips only very small in section and should come up quite good?

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Tue May 31, 2016 7:05 pm

Why didn't i just say Peter how do l do this?

Was thinking along the lines of making clamping mechanism for holding the strip and cut and peen it to shape , good idea with dowel to form it round , have plenty of spare sections to try it out on , but only two of the strips that actually need working on, so no room for error .
Few costly bits have disappeared under clutter in bodyshop , so not happy about that as l thought that might happen

, hoping they turn up but looking at sourcing some more. But it's getting new old stock that is the problem but more to the point EXPENSIVE !!!!!
Bob

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Tue May 31, 2016 7:35 pm

When mine went to the body shop and they had the strips for marking out the paint lines etc, I told them they were irreplaceable and if they damaged them or lost any of them they would have to find me some more, which might even mean buying a whole car with them on, they said ok to that we wont be losing them, and they didnt lose them either.
A lot of these bodyshops are used to dealing with moderns where its a phone call to Partco and its the bits there within the hour thats the thing.

In your case they looked on here at your motto, if it goes wrong its your fault not theres?

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Tue May 31, 2016 8:26 pm

Nice one

It is, l should have held on to the bits.
Bob

tiker · Post by **tiker** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 9:05 am

Hi if you can post a close up photo of the trim you may be in luok I have some spare trim that I acquired with the stiletto if its the same you can have it with pleasure if I remember its a half round profile

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 10:41 am

The Chamois side trim on the pre 69 cars with the painted stripe is quite narrow, half round but only around 7mm wide and narrower than the half round strip fitted to the waistline of the original and deluxe Mk1 cars.

Bobbycham · Post by **Bobbycham** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 3:55 pm

IMG_20160601_141442655.jpg

The drain hole on rear sill is the only one on the car, Peter has already pointed out where ones should be positioned in board of this one (in an earlier post) where else are they on the sills? and how many?
Seam sealer being put on today.
Bob