Minor roadster

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Westcountryman
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Re: Minor roadster

Post by Westcountryman »

Here are a few more pics of my tourer/roadster. I managed to reduce the JPEG file size.
She started out as a 1959 two door saloon. When I got her she was a wreck and there was water inside which had rotted out the floor. That was 16 years ago.
Her name is Bluebell.
Attachments
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1569167441_tmp_IMG_0271.jpg (1.55 MiB) Viewed 5981 times
Westcountryman
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Re: Minor roadster

Post by Westcountryman »

Just a few more pics. I did all the welding and preparation but the respray was professionally done in 2 pack. The seats are from a later car but the door cards and other bits of trim are home made. I did all the mechanics and electrics myself which was very satisfying. So far it has been trouble free motoring over the summer.
Attachments
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1569167711_tmp_IMG_0242.jpg (1.04 MiB) Viewed 5981 times
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1569167667_tmp_IMG_0239.jpg (1.23 MiB) Viewed 5981 times
1569167625_tmp_IMG_0232.jpg
1569167625_tmp_IMG_0232.jpg (1.4 MiB) Viewed 5981 times
cadetchris
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Re: Minor roadster

Post by cadetchris »

Now that’s what I am talking about. She looks great I must say
cadetchris
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Re: Minor roadster

Post by cadetchris »

Now that’s what I am talking about. She looks great I must say
MarkMan900
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Re: Minor roadster

Post by MarkMan900 »

Westcountryman wrote: Sun Sep 22, 2019 5:02 pm Just a few more pics. I did all the welding and preparation but the respray was professionally done in 2 pack. The seats are from a later car but the door cards and other bits of trim are home made. I did all the mechanics and electrics myself which was very satisfying. So far it has been trouble free motoring over the summer.
That engine bay looks lovely! I'm getting my moggie converted in a similar way and doing a bit of resto work and getting it resprayed at the same time, I hope it turns out as nicely as yours does!

Out of interest is the wiring loom you used custom/homemade or a bought one? I really want to tidy mine up and weighing up making my own replacement versus a bought one.
Shropshiremoggie
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Re: Minor roadster

Post by Shropshiremoggie »

Superb job , well done !
Westcountryman
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Re: Minor roadster

Post by Westcountryman »

Sorry for the delay in reply MarkMan900. I have not been on the forum for quite a while. In answer to your questions the wiring loom is a commercially made one. I thought about making one as well but I realised that I wanted to ensure that the colour coding on the wiring was correct so it was easier to fit. Once its all out its hard to remember where everything goes.
There are quite a number of wiring looms to choose from and I wanted one which allowed for plashing indicators as well as possibly wiring in the trafficators.
Westcountryman
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Re: Minor roadster

Post by Westcountryman »

Since lockdown I have been really busy so not much chance to do more work on the cars. But this last week I have had some time off and have managed to make a start. We have used the tourer a few times during the nice weather and rolled it out onto the drive for the Classics for Carers Stay at Home Car Show
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Looking at the front of the car there is a gap below the front wings where the bumper valance would normally be. Since I have removed the front and rear bumpers I need to do something to fill this. I have seen quite a few cars where this has not been done and some where it has but I would prefer to have this done if I can.
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I started by making a cardboard template for each side. The facing part of the front wings has a panel join running at an angle across it. This is visible and so I wanted to echo that in the new panel. I have pattern wings and I do not know if the originals had this join here or whether it was smoothed out in some way. I chose to make the front of the new panel out of two pieces which would allow me to create the seam but also give more adjustment to get a good fit.
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Looking at the front radiator grill panel I decided to use the rising angle of the lower corners as the reference point for the curvature of the new panels.
Westcountryman
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Re: Minor roadster

Post by Westcountryman »

The curve of the lower edge of the front wings turns out to be more complicated than I thought at first. The "flat" panel into which the side lights are set is actually gently curved and then there is a sharper bend the other way leading into the more gentle curve round to the wheel arch. I decided to make a plywood former so I could knock up an angle piece and fit it to the curve.
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IMG_0343.JPG (366.66 KiB) Viewed 5371 times
Westcountryman
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Re: Minor roadster

Post by Westcountryman »

I spent yesterday cutting the steel sheet to make the panels. The two sides are a bit different in depth at the radiator end - probably due to differences in the wings and how they are set up to get good panel gaps with the doors. I have a set of very useful pins which hold steel together better than clamps - the only disadvantage is that you have to weld up the holes later.
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Here is one side trial fitted to the wing. I am using the holes for the rubber bung that sits between the valance and the wing. They have been enlarged for bolts but that is the only modification to the wings. There is also a useful hole in the lower inner wing just below the engine bay floor that means I can secure the lower front of the new panel. Three fixings should be enough.
Here is a trial fit with only two fixings done up part way.
IMG_0344.JPG
IMG_0344.JPG (473.13 KiB) Viewed 5354 times
Pins replaced with self tapping screws.
Attachments
IMG_0348.JPG
IMG_0348.JPG (488.92 KiB) Viewed 5354 times
Westcountryman
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Posts: 22
Joined: Fri May 10, 2019 9:45 pm
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Re: Minor roadster

Post by Westcountryman »

I am going to repost in a new topic under bodywork
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