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1972 HC Estate PPJ 177L The Restoration

PostPosted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:05 pm
by Mjones
Well, since the rescue mission back in April, I have done very little apart from removal of the interior and also the fuel tank. I had hoped to have the engine running, but one look inside the tank put paid to that idea. A horrific sight was to greet me as I shone my torch inside, the whole interior was corroded and the sender unit fossilised! A gallon of fuel had remained inside and therefore the moisture content had done its work over a period of 23 years. A restoration firm near Winchester quoted me £240 to clean and restore the tank. S*d that! A quick foray on Ebay yielded a HC tank for a fiver plus postage. It requires cleaning but no corrosion is present.

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Let's remove those seats and store them in the attic.

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Seats, cards and fuel tank removed. Some corrosion in the spare wheel well.

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Just look at that rear inner arch, perfect!

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As expected, some welding required to both rear seatbelt mounting points.

Re: 1972 HC Estate PPJ 177L The Restoration

PostPosted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 10:15 pm
by mazzo
Good work. That carpet looks wonderful. Hope the rest of the interior is as good. You said it was and just needed a clean, so good luck with that too.

Usual suspects for rust (particularly around the rear seatbelt mounts) so if that's about the worst of it, you've done well.

Be good to see how you get on with it. :goodluck:

Re: 1972 HC Estate PPJ 177L The Restoration

PostPosted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 10:17 pm
by hbpeter
Well saved on this one. Dosent look bad at all. If thats the extent of the rust, lucky bugger!!

Peter

Re: 1972 HC Estate PPJ 177L The Restoration

PostPosted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 11:20 pm
by Mjones
The only significant rust is various places around the outer wheel arches, this presumably accumulated during the 17 years that the vehicle was on the road. There is no structural corrosion at all. Nevertheless, there is quite a bit of cleaning to do and a number of parts will need replacing. Coolant/servo/brake hoses and probably the steel brake pipes, 39/40 years is a very long time.

Re: 1972 HC Estate PPJ 177L The Restoration

PostPosted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 8:13 am
by Paul Dawson
You may find the brake pipes aren't as bad as they first look. I'd consigned mine to the scrap bin until in an idle moment I ran a powerfile over them. The rust was really only surface and the pipes themselves were remarkably solid. Better quality steel than the ones on my 2001 Vectra!

If you have any tips how to make good crusty wheel arches it would be appreciated.

Re: 1972 HC Estate PPJ 177L The Restoration

PostPosted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 12:02 am
by Mjones
Paul Dawson wrote:If you have any tips how to make good crusty wheel arches it would be appreciated.

Wheel arches can be a nightmare , particulary if the inner and outer sections start to part company. I weld on strips of mild steel sheet,takes ages to get the shape right though.

Re: 1972 HC Estate PPJ 177L The Restoration

PostPosted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 12:06 am
by HONEY318
Hello fella, i have the same in the spare wheel area, and some extra in my battery tray and inner wing. i must be lucky in my tank then . mine was only sitting for 18 years.. well done you . we both have lots to do hey ? ..

Re: 1972 HC Estate PPJ 177L The Restoration

PostPosted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 7:36 pm
by Mjones
HONEY318 wrote:Hello fella, i have the same in the spare wheel area, and some extra in my battery tray and inner wing. i must be lucky in my tank then . mine was only sitting for 18 years..


Ah yes, battery trays and inner wings are corrosion hot spots, not so on my Estate though. I now have a replacement fuel tank, but how on earth will I dispose of the old one? :?

Re: 1972 HC Estate PPJ 177L The Restoration

PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 5:18 pm
by Paul Dawson
Petermax wrote:Ah yes, battery trays and inner wings are corrosion hot spots, not so on my Estate though. I now have a replacement fuel tank, but how on earth will I dispose of the old one? :?


I find that if I leave any unwanted bits of metal at the front of the house they miraculously disappear.

If not - flush it out and drop if off at the scrappies. You'll probably get a few bob for it.

Re: 1972 HC Estate PPJ 177L The Restoration

PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 6:24 pm
by pbottomley
throw a match on it, that will get rid of it !!!!