Hillclimb A35 Build

How to upgrade your Austin...and further......
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fsmlittler
Posts: 152
Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2013 8:01 am
Location: Windsor

Hillclimb A35 Build

Post by fsmlittler »

This is the car we bought when too much cider had been consumed and Ebay looked like a really good place to buy a car. Thankfully it didn't turn out to be too rotten and didn't need too much work. After running around in it for 12 months we took it off the road to start building a road going Hillclimb car for use at Hillclimbs in the UK and France.
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The car came with fibreglass wings which suited us given the plans to use it for competition and originally we were only going for a mild tune.
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The motor was fine but the cooling system was heavily silted and it was a frequent overheater as a result.
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We decided to completely strip the shell and to get it dipped so that we could be sure we were starting off with as good a base as possible.
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It appears that the car had survived well albeit there was a bit of rust and some evidence of previous work. Having come from Ireland I believe they don't salt their roads to the extent we do so this may have helped preserve the shell.
Last edited by fsmlittler on Wed Oct 15, 2014 6:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
fsmlittler
Posts: 152
Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2013 8:01 am
Location: Windsor

Re: Hillclimb A35 Build

Post by fsmlittler »

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The car went to Prostrip where it was dipped and Zinc coated
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Closer inspection revealed lots of patches and dents along with a little bit more rust than had originally been spotted but all in all we were quite pleased with the shells condition
fsmlittler
Posts: 152
Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2013 8:01 am
Location: Windsor

Re: Hillclimb A35 Build

Post by fsmlittler »

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We decided that we should get some repairs done along with a bit of seam welding and also took the decision to get a rear cage fitted-we wanted some extra safety but didn't want the hassle of door bars that came with having a full cage.
fsmlittler
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Re: Hillclimb A35 Build

Post by fsmlittler »

Hadn't realised quite how much welding we would need...
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fsmlittler
Posts: 152
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Re: Hillclimb A35 Build

Post by fsmlittler »

At least we had now got the cage assembled and welded in place.
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fsmlittler
Posts: 152
Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2013 8:01 am
Location: Windsor

Re: Hillclimb A35 Build

Post by fsmlittler »

So welding done and cage fitted it was time to start the task of preparing the shell to be painted. In spite of looking like a load of filler there was very little left on the car after sanding and this wasn't to hide rust but to ensure we get a decent paint finish.
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You can see that we made a spit so that we could easily get to the underside of the car.

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fsmlittler
Posts: 152
Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2013 8:01 am
Location: Windsor

Re: Hillclimb A35 Build

Post by fsmlittler »

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fsmlittler
Posts: 152
Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2013 8:01 am
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Re: Hillclimb A35 Build

Post by fsmlittler »

Last week the car finally went to be painted
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fsmlittler
Posts: 152
Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2013 8:01 am
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Re: Hillclimb A35 Build

Post by fsmlittler »

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fsmlittler
Posts: 152
Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2013 8:01 am
Location: Windsor

Re: Hillclimb A35 Build

Post by fsmlittler »

Whilst all this has been going on we have been rebuilding our donor midget bits to be fitted and strting the engine build. We finally decided to go for a 1330cc with a Miglia spec cam, 1:5 roller rockers, 45 weber and an AC Dodd big valve sprint head. We have various Rae Davis suspension parts along with fibreglass boot and bonnet.
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gazza82
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Re: Hillclimb A35 Build

Post by gazza82 »

What colour is the body? Looks metallic ... and very good!
"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)
fsmlittler
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Re: Hillclimb A35 Build

Post by fsmlittler »

It's porsche GT Silver. Cheers
Hurtzberg
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Re: Hillclimb A35 Build

Post by Hurtzberg »

That looks fantastic so far!
Andrew

1957 A35
babyofo
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Re: Hillclimb A35 Build

Post by babyofo »

Thats one nice motor, keep up the good work :D
curtis
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Re: Hillclimb A35 Build

Post by curtis »

Where is the hillclimb in France you were speaking about ?
Club representative in France.
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