Amy's Chamois Coupe

Dave ' Linwood ' Lane · Fri Sep 13, 2013 8:57 pm

Top work going on here folks .
That inner rear arch shows just how crusty it was .

TJB69 · Post by **TJB69** » Fri Sep 13, 2013 9:00 pm

Nice job Scott. Fair play to you
wish I had your skills!!

bdann0875 · Post by **bdann0875** » Fri Sep 13, 2013 9:18 pm

Great job. Wish I could do what you are doing. I can do some welding but not what you have done. Top job there!
Brian

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Sat Sep 14, 2013 9:21 pm

Thanks for the kind words but its not that difficult, the more you do it the easier it becomes, that and buying the right tools but still lots I'd like to get.

Rear quarter off

Inner rear quarter being readied to replace accident damaged one.

Little bit of rust in corner of window to deal with

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Sun Sep 15, 2013 7:49 pm

Was it difficult to remove the rear quarter? Will the same panel be going back on, Scott?

Really excellent work. I love the fabricated repair section you have let into the bottom of the passenger side A-post. Really nice.

IM

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Sun Sep 15, 2013 8:01 pm

Paul

To remove the rear quarter simply drill out the many spot weld and chisel off, I have a NOS rear panel which will make the replacement easy using the spot welder.

Scott

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 9:40 pm

Notching up the injuries on Amy's car - today when removing the last of the rear quarter twisting to break the last of the spot welds holding it when it suddenly released and hit me in the face giving me a nasty 3" cut on the cheek fortunately not too deep.

Line up of the potential culprits

It was the white one

Inner panel removed

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 10:35 pm

Ouch!

Still, I think you are winning this particular battle, Scott.

IM

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 10:43 pm

yeah but at what cost

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 9:00 pm

Want to blank off the vents but can't decide whether just remove them altogether

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 11:26 am

If it were my car, I'd leave the vents. It's up to you, of course.

Nice work!

Is Amy assisting you with the restoration of her car? I am just curious.

IM

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 4:16 pm

Yes, on Monday she repositioned the axle stands while I lifted the shell.

We did discuss colour schemes and interior options while walking the dog

Scott

Dom · Post by **Dom** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 10:12 pm

Great thread! looks like a lovely little challenge you have on your hands here!

be sure to keep us updated with pics! looks great so far!

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 12:04 am

Bought a book on origami so thought I'd give it a try

Couple of folds later and I had this

Little mod - chassis leg boxed in

First trial fit of rear quarter

kilty · Post by **kilty** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 10:16 am

Superb Scott. Not an easy one, deciding on the vents eh? You could just blank them off inside and fill it with waxoyl.

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 10:27 am

The idea was to cut them out, plate over the hole and replace the vents, effectively closing off the vents but retaining the look thus preventing water getting in - well at least via that route.

However, not sure if it would look better smooth.

Scott

basil imp · Post by **basil imp** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 11:29 am

Personally I'd be inclined to keep them for the looks, however most people would never think twice about them

Great work!

impmann · Post by **impmann** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 2:42 pm

My 2p - personally, I think it will look odd without them. I also am not 100% convinced that water can creep up into them in any great quantity, tbh. I agree that the rear box section rots out on coupes, but this is more often caused by water collecting along the U section behind the engine lid and corroding through, in my experience or holes under the rear window surround or water leaks into the car by shonky rear screen seals.

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 3:26 pm

impmann wrote:My 2p - personally, I think it will look odd without them. I also am not 100% convinced that water can creep up into them in any great quantity, tbh. I agree that the rear box section rots out on coupes, but this is more often caused by water collecting along the U section behind the engine lid and corroding through, in my experience or holes under the rear window surround or water leaks into the car by shonky rear screen seals.

Washing the car with a hose certainly can get a lot of water in, lots of work needing done so little improvements easily incorporated at this stage.

Scott

chris d · Post by **chris d** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 6:37 pm

excellent work scott
keep it up
chris d

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Tue Sep 24, 2013 8:42 pm

Good to see the scuttle panel solid

Small section of rust at bottom of A pillar - cut out and replaced

Bottom of inner wings constructed

ChrisBenoy · Post by **ChrisBenoy** » Tue Sep 24, 2013 8:59 pm

Great work Scott, making some rather good progress there.

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Wed Sep 25, 2013 12:57 pm

^^ What Chris said.

I like what you did with the A-post repair. I think my car might need some work to the nearside A-post. I like your whole approach to simply getting on with cutting out the rot and sticking in fresh metal. My hat is off to you.

IM

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Wed Sep 25, 2013 7:41 pm

Rust proofing

Amy has decided the cleaner lines of vent free is the way to go

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 9:48 pm

No progress on Amy's car as I've been playing with my latest project 2003 1.8i MX5 accident damage to osf suspension and wing but otherwise very clean car.

Suspension now changed, panels replaced, timing belt replaced with 4 pce kit, brakes fully refurbished so time to tackle the chassis rails.
Far from rotten even hammering them failed to hole them but signs of internal corrosion going on from the swelling. It might be a couple of years
before it becomes critical but it will happen so might as well tackle it now when it already stripped.

Drilled out the spot welds for the inner section and then cut out the chassis rail.

Folded the inner section and outer panels and spot welded them together - trimmed to fit so the front fit into the front of the chassis leg and
then swings up at rear. Captive nuts and studs welded in.

In position prior to welding.

All welded in.

And then the rain came on

Rest assured next post will be back on topic

Scott

lukesoanes · Post by **lukesoanes** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 11:26 pm

Hi
This thread is amazing last time I looked on it there was a rusty Coupe has someone swapped it for a new shell??

Out of interest the did you use a shrinker/stretcher to make the panel below? if not how did you make it? i've tried several times to produce a flanged curved panel but every time i end up slitting it and welding it back up! yours however looks perfect!

bks974c wrote: B Pillar done but run out of sanding belts

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 11:38 pm

Yes, shrinker/stretcher great little tool

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20-METZ-Shrin ... 996wt_1170

Scott

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Sat Oct 19, 2013 12:02 am

Wow! Serious skills on display there, Scott!

IM

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Fri Dec 06, 2013 10:28 pm

Well where does the time go 2 months with no progess on Amy's car.

Today tidied the garage

and started to clean up the floor ready to weld in the floor edge, until Karen came home and I stopped to give her Imp the once over as taking it for its MOT tomorrow.

Scott

chris d · Post by **chris d** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 9:13 pm

nice work scott
is the English wheel any good
that and a shrinker are on my wish list for xmas
unless your going into panel production

thanks for the comments on libby
keep up the great work
chris d

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Tue Dec 10, 2013 10:09 pm

Chris

Not used it yet, still to get sandbag and mallets to have a go at inner arch.

However can highly recommend shrinker/stretcher as a tool to have.

Scott

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 9:18 pm

Today started on welding in the Keith Lennox Floor edge - very good fitting panel

and finished cleaning the rust from the inner panels and floor.

bdann0875 · Post by **bdann0875** » Sat Dec 14, 2013 9:56 am

This is serious work going into this resto. Well done. Keep us updated. Maybe you will treat yourself to Chrismas Day off from working on the car?

Brian

itsshelby · Post by **itsshelby** » Sat Dec 14, 2013 9:59 am

plenty of work going into that imp,keep up the good work

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Sat Dec 14, 2013 7:55 pm

Thanks for the comments, had enough time away from the Coupe, time to get stuck in.

Today moved onto the front

Decided that the easiest way to tackle the repair was to remove the whole front panel

Leading edge in pretty good order

Inner arch sound

Cleared up

Leading edge removed

Started cutting out rusty bits

Made some space by sticking the door and rear quarter on, almost looks like a car again

Post by **Lars Hagermark** » Sat Dec 14, 2013 9:40 pm

Thanks for posting all this. I think you're doing a very good job with the car.

I've bookmarked this thread for when I get down to my 2 saloons, both probably in need of similar work.

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Sun Dec 15, 2013 8:15 pm

Today made some repair panels and got them welded in, removed remains of wing. Somedays there seems to be little to show for the work done

chris d · Post by **chris d** » Sun Dec 15, 2013 8:18 pm

great work scott
should be a cracking car when its done
keep it up
chris d

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Sun Dec 15, 2013 8:55 pm

chris d wrote:great work scott
should be a cracking car when its done
keep it up
chris d

Well it will be rust free - even where you can't normally see

I don't plan on restoring this one again.

It would probably have been easier starting with a less rusty one but then it wouldn't be "Turner" just another Imp.

Amy has some interesting ideas for him

Scott

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Mon Dec 16, 2013 6:15 pm

Really excellent work Scott.

Is it difficult removing panels like the front panel and wings?

I ask because I would prefer to remove mine, as it would really help me to get the rot out of all the nooks and crannies. Do I just need a spot weld drill or three and a lot of patience?

Keep up the brilliant work.

And please keep the pictures coming.

IM

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Mon Dec 16, 2013 8:29 pm

Paul

Removing the front panel and reusing not really a viable option unless you are replacing the wings anyway, the wings I would imagine nearly impossible to remove and reuse.

Scott

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 12:23 pm

Ok, Scott. Thanks. I think that my wings are okay, so shall leave well alone.

IM

jetmech · Post by **jetmech** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 9:06 pm

I really hope that I wont have to go to these lengths when I eventually restore my wifes Imp, but threads like this help to convince me that what ever I find will be repairable.
Keep up the excellent work and thank you for sharing the progress with us.

Simon

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 10:21 pm

This weeks progress

Inner arch is solid but rather than try to remove the surface rust decided to replace

First use of english wheel to produce

Scuttle panel although initially appears ok when wing remains removed bottom edge a bit thin so

Reconstruction

Modified so any water is directed away from the scuttle edge

Drain channel then added to let any water out

Weld cleaned up really nice

Floor edge replace again nice fitting panel from Keith Lennox

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 11:12 pm

Stunning work, Scott.

The car's shaping up brilliantly!

IM

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Sat Dec 21, 2013 9:20 am

A panel coming together

Wing support panel back in

Made up inner wing return and shaped it using shrinker/stretcher to match new wing.

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Sat Dec 21, 2013 9:27 am

First trial fit looking good

Rest of lip welded in

Wing fitting

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Sat Dec 21, 2013 10:11 pm

Today cleaned up the welds

Still some welding and cleaning up to do but will be easier when its inverted.
Couldn't decide whether to have a go at rear inner arch or start on the other side

in the end did neither and started strengthening the crossmember and trailing arms for local members rally replica

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 8:37 pm

Been putting of inner rear arch - finally decided to give it a go.

1st attempt seems a bit wide

Marked out metal for repair

Don't have sandbag or mallets so improvised

Metal bashing begins

English wheel was very effective at removing hammer marks but not right shape

In the end realised need more practice needed so resorted to cut and shut

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 9:04 pm

Birthday and Christmas got in the way of play but not totally without Imps

they even included rust on the wheel arches

which BKS does not have

Finished of the floor

Moved onto rear parcel shelf which has areas of pitting due to being in contact with damp underfelt.