The rush for Billing

[mazzo]

All of a sudden, things are starting to come together.

This early HC is such a mixed bag. Some things are in really good nick and other bits are awful. The rubber "carpet" hid a lot of water which was rotting the floor from the inside out.


This is how the floor looked to start with


Floorpan cut out and replaced (by Mike)


Two coats of red oxide


OK, not green, but nice blue hammerite


This is the same bit of floor as the first pic

So lots of stuff happening and only about a month to go. Will update more as I get on with it.

At last I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Still bits of welding to do on the sills. Next will be brakes, then gearbox. The clutch is stuck on and I cannot free it.

[rostyles]

And I thought I had my work cut out. The Billing Clock is ticking forever closer.

[droopsnoot]

The clutch is stuck on and I cannot free it.

I used to get this a lot on my Sportshatch when it was laid up over winter, the only way I could free it off was by removing the box. However since then it's been suggested that running the engine for about an hour would warm things through enough that it might split due to the varying expansion rates of the different parts.

[viva2300]

That looks better Maz. Mikes done a nice job there.
As regards the stuck clutch, If you warm the car up then drive it if you can, slowly, in 1st then floor the throttle. That works quite well sometimes.
Also you can jack up the back wheels & run the car then slam on the brakes. That works sometimes too. Or you just take the gearbox apart & free it that way. TBH i always do that now because i wasted so much time trying all the different ways, i would have been quicker just taking the gearbox off!
Paul

[mazzo]

Thanks for the comments and advice. I'm going to try the car on axle stands trick!

Yes, Mike's welding is great and he has helped me get my confidence back at welding. I bought a MIG and just couldn't weld at all which knocked my confidence, however Mike checked it out and told me it was the machine at fault and not me. Since then and with a different MIG, I'm welding with no problems.

I have more pics which I'll post later. Now the welding is complete!!!

[droopsnoot]

TBH i always do that now because i wasted so much time trying all the different ways, i would have been quicker just taking the gearbox off!
Paul

I always did that with my hatch - the thing about letting it warm up properly was something I only heard recently.

In fact the last few years of my hatch being on the road I used to wedge the clutch pedal down with a small wedge of wood between the pedal and the pedal box. That kept the bits apart so they couldn't stick together. At the time I wondered whether it would cause wear on the clutch or cable, I did get an explanation of why that probably wouldn't be the case (which I can't remember), and in practice it seemed fine. Doesn't help at all now the clutch is stuck, of course.

[mazzo]

Few more pics


This is the repair work that Mike did on the sill and wing. Here seam sealed before it was undersealed and painted


This is the hole in the wheel recess, welded and seam sealed before paining/undersealing


This is the repair to the inner sill before welding on the outer sill


Outer sill repair, ground down and ready for seam sealing.

[mazzo]

Just to give myself some real focus (if that's what it is) I've booked it in for MOT on the 28th. That's 2 weekends to sort out everything!

Rain Rain, go away.........

Will be trying freeing the clutch on axle stands tomorrow

Then, the next big job is to replace the exhaust - and probably fabricate some hangers

Bleed brakes and check the front discs.

Clean out the fuel tank, which has sat empty and dry for years (any advice here would be useful)

Lastly the little stuff - fix in seats and seat belts, new wipers and washer bottle stuff. Check lights and that's it!

Still leaves me one weekend to sort out anything it fails on.

[bulldog]

mazz that looks great and im glad to see you've resisted putting filler in the wheel arch ,this mike chap needs to pull his finger out and sort out my cars!!!at this rate mazz you'll be beating me getting the magnum done for billing its come to a grinding halt theres a pecking order for mots this month one down(the wifes car) two classics to go!keep up the good work .
mike

[mazzo]

Thanks Mike - and good luck with yours too!