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 »

My Single garage was just too small to work on the car and have workshop space to renovate and store all the parts so I converted two existing garden sheds. One garden shed into a workshop and my home office shed is now full of painted and renovated A35 parts - a real man cave :) :) :)
Attachments
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file2.jpeg (212.65 KiB) Viewed 903 times
file1.jpeg
file1.jpeg (203.75 KiB) Viewed 903 times
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file.jpeg (168.59 KiB) Viewed 903 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')
TILDAS PILOT
Posts: 1981
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:33 am
Location: Lincolnshire

Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by TILDAS PILOT »

Looks like you have been very busy, keep up the good work, we are all watching with great interest.
Every Guy must have a man cave, more than one even better.

David. :thumbs:
A30/A35 Club Member 2002-
Lincolnshire Group member March 2002-Dec 2010.
Member of the organizing committee for the 2008 International Rally.
Belvoir Vale Group member(Lincolnshire) 2009-
Member of the Lincolnshire Vintage Vehicle Society 2002-
northernboy
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by northernboy »

More progress on LFO 675

But first, Happy new year to everyone :)

Rear Axle and all suspension parts now rebuilt and ready to fit (Thanks to Dave for lending me a homemade spanner for the large hub nuts).

The under-body and new sills of the car are now almost complete after a lot of new steel has been welded in - big job but worth the effort. Hydrate 80 on the existing metal gave a lovely hard finish that I hope will keep rust at bay.

Finally painted everything underneath with Thompson's Emergency Roof Seal - I hope this will protect everything from the elements in the years to come.

Now ready to start fitting the mechanics back on the car and get it back on its wheels and remove the center pole from the spit.
Attachments
Painted underbody
Painted underbody
IMG_2206.JPG (119.52 KiB) Viewed 846 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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Neil Evans
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by Neil Evans »

Why have you used van rear spring hangers...?
Club Technical Information Officer
A30/A35 Club Member A191 (since 1972)

Father of the club's only love child
northernboy
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by northernboy »

I understand the down facing grease nipple is easier to access than the up-facing car type - I hope I have been wisely advised !?
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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A40FARINAGURU
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by A40FARINAGURU »

Neil Evans wrote:Why have you used van rear spring hangers...?
maybe van rear springs on the bench?
Nick Bayliss

Club's A35 (Saloon) Registrar, South Midlands Area Contact

Email, a35@austina30a35ownersclub.co.uk

Connected with A30/A35's for 63 years

A30/A35 Member A1372 (since 1981)
northernboy
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by northernboy »

Hi Nick. The springs on the bench are what were originally on the car and have 8 leaves which I believe are the correct car type. I have replaced the spring hangers - the originals were the car type but were completely rusted out. Having the grease nipple facing down also allows any water trapped in the hanger to drain out.
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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A40FARINAGURU
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by A40FARINAGURU »

northernboy wrote:Hi Nick. The springs on the bench are what were originally on the car and have 8 leaves which I believe are the correct car type. I have replaced the spring hangers - the originals were the car type but were completely rusted out. Having the grease nipple facing down also allows any water trapped in the hanger to drain out.
yes 8 leaf are correct, they looked quite deep like 11 leaf van springs
Nick Bayliss

Club's A35 (Saloon) Registrar, South Midlands Area Contact

Email, a35@austina30a35ownersclub.co.uk

Connected with A30/A35's for 63 years

A30/A35 Member A1372 (since 1981)
Tight Yorkshireman
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Location: Sheffield

Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by Tight Yorkshireman »

I like the idea of the grease nipple facing down rather than in that pocket of a hole. Not heard of this before


John G :thumbs:
John (Tight Yorkshireman)
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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Neil Evans
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Location: Boston, Lincolnshire
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by Neil Evans »

northernboy wrote:I understand the down facing grease nipple is easier to access than the up-facing car type - I hope I have been wisely advised !?
You mean the supplier only had the van type in stock at the time... :rol:
Club Technical Information Officer
A30/A35 Club Member A191 (since 1972)

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Dave Clark
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by Dave Clark »

I was privileged to see this car last Saturday, before the Thomsons stuff was applied and I am impressed with the amount of steel replaced and the progress achieved.

Look forward to seeing the final result.
northernboy
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by northernboy »

Funny how little jobs turn into big jobs - was doing up the handbrake today and trying to fit the cast cover I bought recently. I fiddled with is for a minute or two but could not work out how it fits. I then looked at some photos and the forum and realised this is not as simple as it seems. The lug on the end has to come off and its nicely welded on !!

Using cardboard I made a template to record the original angle of the lug then with an angle grinder with a 1mm disk, had to carefully cut away the weld holding the lug until it came off.

I cleaned up the lug and rod then slid the cover into place before welding on the lug again.

Something new every day :cheers:
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handbrake with new cover in place
handbrake with new cover in place
handbrake.JPG (91.75 KiB) Viewed 773 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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David Swain
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by David Swain »

You are making really good progress there. :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'
northernboy
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by northernboy »

At Last - my project is ready to sit on its own suspension again after 18 months on Beethoven ( A Spit very kindly lent to me by Countryboy). Still lots to do but this feels like a milestone and think things will move more quickly now.

I found the car was getting too heavy and less well balanced to stay on the Spit as I bolted on more mechanics so decided it was time to remove it from the Spit.

In addition to the underneath, the engine bay has now been fully prepared and re painted. All reconditioned front suspension and steering now bolted on. The rear springs are now on and I hope to soon offer up the rear axle and get all that lot bolted on as well. I will then have a rolling car that is easier to move around.
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
Posts: 196
Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2015 10:29 pm
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Re: LFO675 Restoration Continues :)

Post by northernboy »

Well lots of progress on LFO.

As per my last post engine bay sorted and painted out.
Interior area scraped, wire brushed, Hydrate 80, seam sealed and painted out gloss black.
Front suspension and steering now fitted.
Rear axle and suspension fitted.
Both Sill to A post corner panels replaced - took a lot of fiddling as did not fit very well out of the box.
Boot scraped wire brushed, Hydrate 80, seam sealed - just waiting to be painted next week

New set of 4 refurbished cylinders and pistons have arrived as well as a new clutch rod and bar from club spares

Brake master cylinder and slave cylinder re furbished and new seals fitted

Next jobs is to work my way round the rusty lower panels and wings and repair or replace as required.

Few photos of progress.

OK - off to the NEC restoration show tomorrow - will pop by the club stand to say hello :)
Attachments
New Clutch rod and bar
New Clutch rod and bar
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Two new Sill to A post corners
Two new Sill to A post corners
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Front Suspension - sitting a bit high as no Engine fitted yet
Front Suspension - sitting a bit high as no Engine fitted yet
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Rear Suspension
Rear Suspension
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Rear Suspension
Rear Suspension
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Front Suspension - sitting a bit high as no Engine fitted yet
Front Suspension - sitting a bit high as no Engine fitted yet
IMG_2378.JPG (113 KiB) Viewed 606 times
Painted interior front area
Painted interior front area
IMG_2376.JPG (110.47 KiB) Viewed 606 times
Painted but dusty engine bay
Painted but dusty engine bay
IMG_2377.JPG (129.3 KiB) Viewed 606 times
Painted interior rear area
Painted interior rear area
IMG_2375.JPG (107.82 KiB) Viewed 606 times
Prepared but not yet painted boot
Prepared but not yet painted boot
IMG_2373.JPG (94.08 KiB) Viewed 606 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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