LFO675 Back on the road

Restoration projects and Austin related chat in here please
northernboy
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by northernboy »

Lots of sitting around and watching TV over Christmas which was great but will not get LFO back on the road so headed back into the garage. Firstly had to get LFO temporarily off the spit to make access to the front panels easier. I cut away the front valance, outer front panels, inner radiator lower support panels and the front inner wing section (behind the headlights), taking care to not cut too much away. Lots of rust and lots more dust !

4 hours later all cleared away and most of the rusty metal is now gone. Next job is to offer up the new panels and see how they fit together and trim the original metal work to mate with the new panels prior to tacking in place.

Here are a few photos of progress today.

Offer up new panels to ensure don't cut too much away
Offer up new panels to ensure don't cut too much away
IMG_0746.JPG (181.48 KiB) Viewed 1141 times
A few hours with an angle grinder and selective cutting worked wonders
A few hours with an angle grinder and selective cutting worked wonders
IMG_0749.JPG (160.27 KiB) Viewed 1141 times
Serious rust behind the headlight
Serious rust behind the headlight
IMG_0751.JPG (226.28 KiB) Viewed 1141 times
I can new see much better what is going on and what needs to be replaced.
I can new see much better what is going on and what needs to be replaced.
IMG_0752.JPG (241.34 KiB) Viewed 1141 times
Front Valance cut away highlighted the rusty front frame
Front Valance cut away highlighted the rusty front frame
IMG_0754.JPG (195.31 KiB) Viewed 1141 times
My Fleet : Austin A35 (aka Dads funny old car), 2003 1.8 MGTF - (Dads cool car and Daily Driver), 1982 Mini Mayfair and the family Focus Hatch (aka 'The Skip')
Tight Yorkshireman
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by Tight Yorkshireman »

Sterling stuff

Good luck with it all

John G
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First referred to as the Tight Yorkshireman in editions of the Clubs Spotlight: Autumn 1996 Page 40 and Autumn 1997 Page 15
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David Swain
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by David Swain »

Wow, again, hats off to you!
Don't forget, you can always cut the new panels down to fit, I think in some areas this can be beneficial, as it makes the final cleaning up easier, the wing bottoms spring to mind.
Amazing work, keep it up. :thumbs:
David Swain. Member No. A1743
Contact for 'The Suffolk Group'.
Contact Email suffolk@austina30a35ownersclub.co.uk

A30 van 55 'R.G. Swain', A35 4 Door 59 'Little Gem', A35 2 Door 59 'The Rev' '+1'
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A35revisited
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by A35revisited »

Nice one. Looking forward to the 'after' pics.
northernboy
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by northernboy »

Working away too much at present so not much progress recently on the A35 but got a bit more body work done recently.

Got a new Mig (Clark 90EN) and a big bottle of Argon/CO2 - much easier with lower current and not using flux wire but welding thin metal still takes some practice but getting there !


Other work now done: cleaning and painting all steering components, front and rear suspension parts - these are now ready for servicing with new bushes etc and other stuff as required.

Slow progress but there is progress :)
Attachments
Rusty old panels now cut away
Rusty old panels now cut away
IMG_0747.JPG (180.7 KiB) Viewed 1062 times
New offside Inside lower front panel
New offside Inside lower front panel
IMG_1283.JPG (149.73 KiB) Viewed 1062 times
New offside inner wing behind headlight
New offside inner wing behind headlight
IMG_1284.JPG (214.47 KiB) Viewed 1062 times
New offside Inside lower front panel
New offside Inside lower front panel
IMG_1287.JPG (211.81 KiB) Viewed 1062 times
My Fleet : Austin A35 (aka Dads funny old car), 2003 1.8 MGTF - (Dads cool car and Daily Driver), 1982 Mini Mayfair and the family Focus Hatch (aka 'The Skip')
brianmekon
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by brianmekon »

Great stuff. It's taking shape nicely. :clapping:
MG Midget xsu 499s. 1977(died after going round clock 3 times)
MgB GT nsn 579m. 1973
Austin a30 uyj 698. 1955
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Countryboy
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by Countryboy »

Very good to see :thumbs:
Rest Home for rusty vehicles
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Countryboy
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by Countryboy »

Dear NorthernBoy

How are things progressing sir ?
Rest Home for rusty vehicles
northernboy
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by northernboy »

Hello Countryboy - Progress is steady - lots more work than originally thought - but this I as expected. Have now replaced all rusty panels on front and all the inner and outer sills and rusty floor sections on the n/s - working my way backwards. Most of the mechanics now cleaned up and painted and restored as required. Rear and o/s sills next - Engine will get sorted when I need a change from body fabrication :)

Looking forward to Beaulieu next week to buy lots of things I don't really need but like :)
My Fleet : Austin A35 (aka Dads funny old car), 2003 1.8 MGTF - (Dads cool car and Daily Driver), 1982 Mini Mayfair and the family Focus Hatch (aka 'The Skip')
northernboy
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by northernboy »

Few Pics of the Inner and Outer sill replacement, floor repairs and replacement of rear spring hanger supports - Removing the rusty crud is the hard part - big hammer, grinder, air saw, crow bar and swearing does the trick. Fun is welding in the nice new bits some home made some bought.

Small garage is very tight so have to keep tidy and organised.

Grinding sparks worry me so extinguishers handy and bucket of water always nearby.
Attachments
Rear hanger support half removed
Rear hanger support half removed
IMG_1952.JPG (104.63 KiB) Viewed 863 times
new front hanger support
new front hanger support
IMG_1951.JPG (72.04 KiB) Viewed 863 times
new floor
new floor
IMG_1950.JPG (77.48 KiB) Viewed 863 times
new inner sill - trial fit
new inner sill - trial fit
IMG_1949.JPG (106.77 KiB) Viewed 863 times
My Fleet : Austin A35 (aka Dads funny old car), 2003 1.8 MGTF - (Dads cool car and Daily Driver), 1982 Mini Mayfair and the family Focus Hatch (aka 'The Skip')
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gazza82
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by gazza82 »

northernboy wrote: Got a new Mig (Clark 90EN) and a big bottle of Argon/CO2 - much easier with lower current and not using flux wire but welding thin metal still takes some practice but getting there !
How is the MIG working? Are you happy with it as I'm looking for one but don't particularly want to spend a fortune!!

The 90EN was on my radar (price!) as the min amps was lower to cope with thinner steel panels (I need to weld up a "modern's" floor which would be my "training project" .. )

Thanks!
"If you're driving on the edge ... you're leaving too much room!"

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Cars: "Project 757" '59 A35 2-door bought in 1971 & Subaru BRZ SE LUX Auto plus "family fleet": Alfa MiTo, Peugeot 206, (Ex '98 Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 TS)
northernboy
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by northernboy »

The Clark 90EN is great - I have it working with a big bottle of co2 / Argon gas mix at around 15 PSI

For the thin stuff I find .6 wire works best with low power

For thicker stuff .8 and higher power is better

Wire feed speed is critical but you just need to experiment.

Ensure all surfaces are really clean and it is much easier to get a good weld

As with all things, practice is required but with my project, I am getting plenty of that (thus the big gas bottle) - just visible in the pics :D

My Mig was second hand and looks a bit bashed but functionally works great.
My Fleet : Austin A35 (aka Dads funny old car), 2003 1.8 MGTF - (Dads cool car and Daily Driver), 1982 Mini Mayfair and the family Focus Hatch (aka 'The Skip')
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gazza82
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by gazza82 »

Thanks for that! Really useful!! They are just over £200 new from MachineMart but I might start looking around next week .. bought a little cutting wheel attachment for the compressor this week so I can take the rust out .. just have to learn how to put something back to pass an MOT!
"If you're driving on the edge ... you're leaving too much room!"

Club WebEditor.

Cars: "Project 757" '59 A35 2-door bought in 1971 & Subaru BRZ SE LUX Auto plus "family fleet": Alfa MiTo, Peugeot 206, (Ex '98 Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 TS)
northernboy
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by northernboy »

More progress to report on LFO675 - I have now completed all the front, n/s inner and outer sill replacement, both n/s rear spring mounts and surrounding body work. I am now working on both o/s rear spring mounts then the o/s inner and outer sill.

Once this is done, I will be ready to properly clean and repaint the entire underneath of the body and inner wings.

I can then return the the spit (Beethoven) and the car will sit in its own suspension again.

To work on the n/s easily , I had to take the car off the spit. carry the car out of the garage onto the drive, turn it round and then carry it back into the garage and back on the spit - Photo of the car on my drive :P :P
Attachments
Car out on the drive to be turned round
Car out on the drive to be turned round
card.JPG (121.3 KiB) Viewed 767 times
New spring hanger mounts and surrounding bodywork
New spring hanger mounts and surrounding bodywork
file4.jpeg (137.72 KiB) Viewed 767 times
New Floor, inner and outer sill.
New Floor, inner and outer sill.
file2.jpeg (133.86 KiB) Viewed 767 times
My Fleet : Austin A35 (aka Dads funny old car), 2003 1.8 MGTF - (Dads cool car and Daily Driver), 1982 Mini Mayfair and the family Focus Hatch (aka 'The Skip')
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by A40FARINAGURU »

it's looking a lot better :thumbs:
Nick Bayliss

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Email, a35@austina30a35ownersclub.co.uk

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