My 68 saloon restoration /customization project.
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- Minor Friendly
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- Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 9:27 am
- Location: Surrey
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My 68 saloon restoration /customization project.
Bit of a long one...
I bought the Car off a friend of mine in March when he punctured the rad and cooked the engine.
The way it looked when I got it (poor thing)
I did a few bits to it initially, rebuild the head, changed out the cracked rear arches for a pair of 2" extended ones and moulded them to the body. I also relocated the fuel filler into the boot.
I then enjoyed driving it around for a few months as it was. Doing the odd patch of body work here and there but mostly just enjoying the Car.
After a little while I decided to take to the front end and do something with it,while getting under it for a freshen up.
I then started removing patches of paint work thinking it looked really Cool. Had that rat kind of look to it and it couldn't get much worse then purple flames...
Again after driving it around like this for a month or two I decided after a bit of research I'd lower the Car. I did go for 2 clicks of the torsion bar, I know there are people that won't like this but I did all the work needed to the inner wings. I cut down the bump stops, serviced the front shocks and filled them with thicker oil. Its been absolutly fine since, low and stiff but aslong as your careful there's no issues what so ever.
When it came to the back end I decided to strip it all down and clean it all up as it was quite kreeky. I used some 2" alloy blocks that I cut to shape, I used some threaded bar in place of the u clamps. Again I filled the shocks with a heavier oil, Cut down the bump stops, split and greased the leaf springs, changed out all the rubbers and give it a lick of paint... After a little back and forth I setteled on... white. I know, why white? It will get stinking dirty! I know, the truth is I'm not sure why I went for white, but I like it and that's what I've gone with.
Again I stuck with it like this for a little while. Unfortunately about 6 weeks back the head gasket went again and with the low oil pressure, compression and increasing oil usage I decided I'd pull if off the road for winter and really get stuck into the Car.
These are a few snaps from the past few weeks.
Keyless entry with door poppers, push button start and secret screw immobilizer.
Stripped the Car down.
A lot of this time has been spent stripping off paint and filler, finding holes and bad repairs. Cleaning, welding, fiberglassing, filling and priming.
You can probably tell it's been "restored" in the past, Unfortunately not to the highest of standards. Although the replacment panels have been welded on and they do the job a lot of the welding isn't very pretty. Im doing what i can to make it better looking but I'm not really willing to cut off rust free replacement panels to make the welds look better.
Last week I got my hands on a 1275 from an ital, brake servo, disk break kit (Mr grumpy)
1098 coming out.
Cleaning up the engine bay, you can see where rust has been cut out and any old metal plates have been fitted in.
Drums off
Cleaned
Painted
Kit fitted.
servo cleaned up. Going to run all new lines. Once I've finished in the engine bay. Going to spray that myself with some satin black.
Here's the ital 1275. It hasn't run in about 5 years but was told it run well before that (isn't that what they always say) going to get to that next week Hopefully, it turns freely but I'll get the compression tester on it and pull the head off to have a little look inside. Chances are I'll rebuild the majority of it if needed. But if the compressions good and the rings seem good I'll probably leave the bottom end and just swap out the valves, gaskets, stem seals ect.
I know there seems like there's a lot to do but believe it or not I'd really like to get the old girl finished up ready for next summer (miss driving her already) My brother is a panel beater/ sprayer by trade so he will to doing the spray job when I'm done (aiming for may/june) I've already got all new rubber and chrome, I also bought 2 new fiberglass doors and boot. It is just getting the frame sorted and the engine in (sounds easy right)
I know the car is a little outside the norm, it's not a straight restoration, it's also I light/mid custom with some modernisation with the electrics and half tonne of dyno Matt and sound proofing. Still trying to keep that classic look and feel but with a little somthing differnt.
I'll be going for the classic old english white, I'll also be getting a set of 101.6 to 4x100 hubsentric spacers so I can get a set of modern 15" wheels on there (once I work out all the proper offset measurements and how much space I have to play with) more then likely 15x8 on the rear and 15×5 or 6 up front, little tighter up front with how low it is.
Please try not to get to upset with my direction, I know it's a little different but with the image I have in my head it will be my perfect classic beauty.
That's about it for now I think, I'll update as I go!
Thanks for looking.
Thomas.
I bought the Car off a friend of mine in March when he punctured the rad and cooked the engine.
The way it looked when I got it (poor thing)
I did a few bits to it initially, rebuild the head, changed out the cracked rear arches for a pair of 2" extended ones and moulded them to the body. I also relocated the fuel filler into the boot.
I then enjoyed driving it around for a few months as it was. Doing the odd patch of body work here and there but mostly just enjoying the Car.
After a little while I decided to take to the front end and do something with it,while getting under it for a freshen up.
I then started removing patches of paint work thinking it looked really Cool. Had that rat kind of look to it and it couldn't get much worse then purple flames...
Again after driving it around like this for a month or two I decided after a bit of research I'd lower the Car. I did go for 2 clicks of the torsion bar, I know there are people that won't like this but I did all the work needed to the inner wings. I cut down the bump stops, serviced the front shocks and filled them with thicker oil. Its been absolutly fine since, low and stiff but aslong as your careful there's no issues what so ever.
When it came to the back end I decided to strip it all down and clean it all up as it was quite kreeky. I used some 2" alloy blocks that I cut to shape, I used some threaded bar in place of the u clamps. Again I filled the shocks with a heavier oil, Cut down the bump stops, split and greased the leaf springs, changed out all the rubbers and give it a lick of paint... After a little back and forth I setteled on... white. I know, why white? It will get stinking dirty! I know, the truth is I'm not sure why I went for white, but I like it and that's what I've gone with.
Again I stuck with it like this for a little while. Unfortunately about 6 weeks back the head gasket went again and with the low oil pressure, compression and increasing oil usage I decided I'd pull if off the road for winter and really get stuck into the Car.
These are a few snaps from the past few weeks.
Keyless entry with door poppers, push button start and secret screw immobilizer.
Stripped the Car down.
A lot of this time has been spent stripping off paint and filler, finding holes and bad repairs. Cleaning, welding, fiberglassing, filling and priming.
You can probably tell it's been "restored" in the past, Unfortunately not to the highest of standards. Although the replacment panels have been welded on and they do the job a lot of the welding isn't very pretty. Im doing what i can to make it better looking but I'm not really willing to cut off rust free replacement panels to make the welds look better.
Last week I got my hands on a 1275 from an ital, brake servo, disk break kit (Mr grumpy)
1098 coming out.
Cleaning up the engine bay, you can see where rust has been cut out and any old metal plates have been fitted in.
Drums off
Cleaned
Painted
Kit fitted.
servo cleaned up. Going to run all new lines. Once I've finished in the engine bay. Going to spray that myself with some satin black.
Here's the ital 1275. It hasn't run in about 5 years but was told it run well before that (isn't that what they always say) going to get to that next week Hopefully, it turns freely but I'll get the compression tester on it and pull the head off to have a little look inside. Chances are I'll rebuild the majority of it if needed. But if the compressions good and the rings seem good I'll probably leave the bottom end and just swap out the valves, gaskets, stem seals ect.
I know there seems like there's a lot to do but believe it or not I'd really like to get the old girl finished up ready for next summer (miss driving her already) My brother is a panel beater/ sprayer by trade so he will to doing the spray job when I'm done (aiming for may/june) I've already got all new rubber and chrome, I also bought 2 new fiberglass doors and boot. It is just getting the frame sorted and the engine in (sounds easy right)
I know the car is a little outside the norm, it's not a straight restoration, it's also I light/mid custom with some modernisation with the electrics and half tonne of dyno Matt and sound proofing. Still trying to keep that classic look and feel but with a little somthing differnt.
I'll be going for the classic old english white, I'll also be getting a set of 101.6 to 4x100 hubsentric spacers so I can get a set of modern 15" wheels on there (once I work out all the proper offset measurements and how much space I have to play with) more then likely 15x8 on the rear and 15×5 or 6 up front, little tighter up front with how low it is.
Please try not to get to upset with my direction, I know it's a little different but with the image I have in my head it will be my perfect classic beauty.
That's about it for now I think, I'll update as I go!
Thanks for looking.
Thomas.
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- Minor Legend
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Re: My 68 saloon restoration /customization project.
Great work you have done on the car and hope Ratfink is going back on
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- Minor Friendly
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 9:27 am
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Re: My 68 saloon restoration /customization project.
haha, ratfink is dead to me know I'm afraid
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- Minor Legend
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Re: My 68 saloon restoration /customization project.
Excellent progress. You're using it, improving it AND enjoying it! That's what counts
Carry on!
Carry on!
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- Minor Friendly
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Re: My 68 saloon restoration /customization project.
Thanks! And your right the car is a driver thats for sure, Ive put nearly 3k miles on it since march. I intend to do around 4/5k a year if I can get it out that often after the rebuild.
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- Minor Friendly
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- Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 9:27 am
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Re: My 68 saloon restoration /customization project.
Attacked the loom, run some new wiring for the alternator, electronic ignition, electric screen wash, hidden safety button for the door poppers, safety power cable run incase of a flat battery (door poppers/no handles) Safety feature on the push button start (foot brake needs to be pressed) also shifted all the old connectors for the headlights and chopped out any aging or damaged wires. Also made up all new brake lines to go with the new servo.
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- Minor Friendly
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- Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 9:27 am
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Re: My 68 saloon restoration /customization project.
Been a little while since I've posted an update, a lot has been going on with the moggi. Several direction changes but we're starting to get there
Got myself a fiberglass front clip Always got to add my own little flair though, started fabbing up a bottom end for it and a way to get it flipping forward nice.
Got myself a fiberglass front clip Always got to add my own little flair though, started fabbing up a bottom end for it and a way to get it flipping forward nice.
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- Minor Friendly
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 9:27 am
- Location: Surrey
- MMOC Member: No
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- Minor Friendly
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 9:27 am
- Location: Surrey
- MMOC Member: No
Re: My 68 saloon restoration /customization project.
Went and got myself a pair of fiberglass doors too. Again adding my own flair.
Also shortened up the brimmed side moulding and blended it in.
Also shortened up the brimmed side moulding and blended it in.
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- Minor Friendly
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 9:27 am
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Re: My 68 saloon restoration /customization project.
Got the interior flatter and primed, cut some new perspex Windows.
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- Minor Friendly
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Re: My 68 saloon restoration /customization project.
Got myself a set of banded wheels made up. Big thanks to banded wheels essex for the awesome job.
8j on the back with 5.5j on the front.
This is pretty much how it's looking at the moment, loving the way it sits with the wheels on. Ignore the front ride height, no engine or box in there.
8j on the back with 5.5j on the front.
This is pretty much how it's looking at the moment, loving the way it sits with the wheels on. Ignore the front ride height, no engine or box in there.
-
- Minor Friendly
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 9:27 am
- Location: Surrey
- MMOC Member: No
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- Minor Friendly
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 9:27 am
- Location: Surrey
- MMOC Member: No
Re: My 68 saloon restoration /customization project.
As for the engine it's all stripped down and currently in the machine shop, big thanks to Roland alsop on that one, very helpful bunch.
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- Minor Friendly
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Re: My 68 saloon restoration /customization project.
Teaching the younger generation, my 13 year old daughter loves getting involved in the garage.
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- Minor Friendly
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Re: My 68 saloon restoration /customization project.
Teaching the younger generation, my 13 year old daughter loves getting involved in the garage
Valves are the right size.
List of jobs getting done at Roland alsop:
Head skimmed (minimum)
Lead free conversion
3 angle grind
Port polish
Double valve spring kit
Block skimmed (minimum amount again)
Bore to 1293
High compression pistons
Crank ground
276 cam
Full balance
Valves are the right size.
List of jobs getting done at Roland alsop:
Head skimmed (minimum)
Lead free conversion
3 angle grind
Port polish
Double valve spring kit
Block skimmed (minimum amount again)
Bore to 1293
High compression pistons
Crank ground
276 cam
Full balance
-
- Minor Friendly
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 9:27 am
- Location: Surrey
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Re: My 68 saloon restoration /customization project.
Also got my hands on a type and conversion.
Gone for a Sierra clutch and plate. Plate is obviously in the machine shop getting balanced. Going to run a hydrolic clutch with it. Got the type 9 slave and the roller thrust bearing. just need to get my hands on a good master cylinder and work out a way to get it working well with the clutch.-
- Minor Friendly
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Re: My 68 saloon restoration /customization project.
Il be running the HIF44 carb on there once it's done. Just finished rebuilding it.
Not sure it will have enough guts for the set up but time will tell. A webber will be my next step if I'm not happy with that one.
Think that's about it to be honest. Hoping to get the engine back next week, can start getting it all back togeather.
Thanks for looking.
Thomas
Not sure it will have enough guts for the set up but time will tell. A webber will be my next step if I'm not happy with that one.
Think that's about it to be honest. Hoping to get the engine back next week, can start getting it all back togeather.
Thanks for looking.
Thomas
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- Minor Legend
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Re: My 68 saloon restoration /customization project.
Well done. Some good progress there! The fibreglass doors look a good fit. Was it a lot of work to achieve that? I knew they were available but have always been concerned that they be very difficult to fit decently.
Keep up the good work
Keep up the good work
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- Minor Friendly
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Re: My 68 saloon restoration /customization project.
I'll be honest the doors were an absolute pain, I'm actually still fighting the drivers door. And once it's on and straight I had to make lots of small adjustments with fiberglass on the door and front clip to get them as snug as they are at the moment.Well done. Some good progress there! The fibreglass doors look a good fit. Was it a lot of work to achieve that? I knew they were available but have always been concerned that they be very difficult to fit decently.
Keep up the good work
So yes, a lot of work but I think it's worth it. They Littrally weigh about 1/4 of the originals, maybe less. That added with the bonus they they'll never rust on me, good times.
Thomas.
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- Minor Friendly
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Re: My 68 saloon restoration /customization project.
So got the engine put back togeather. This is how it looks on my garage floor...
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