37 Build 2002

 

Well we start 2002 fresh and  keen....well sort of. This shows the rear floor that I installed. I could have patched the original, but it would have looked crappy, so I got a replacement from an Aussie company. It was supposed to duplicate the original. I can assure you it didn't. I had to go to great lengths to firstly convince them they sent the wrong floor. When this one arrived it was all wonky cause they probably made it in a rush  just to get rid of me. It was a bit shy on spot welds as well. I won't mention their name but they are supposed to be respected in the restoration industry. The second picture shows the new boot latch brace and tool box area I fabricated

This picture show that I did get the rear guards off in sort of one piece. They will need new patch section where they bolt to the rear pan and running boards. The second picture shows the added section that was made to mate to the running boards when whoever made the one piece car.

It was time to get the wood out. Even though it was relatively in good nick, it was rotted at the bottom a bit. I also wanted retractable seat belt and the wood was not strong enough to mount to IMHO. I had some old clothes line posts that I saved for some reason. They turned out perfect for this job. I used the wood as a pattern, then duplicated them in steel. Even down to the recess for the convertible top bracket and original screw positions. Note the retractable belt mounted inside. All  seat belt nuts were welded inside before the new post were made permanent.

Here is another view of the new steel posts. I had a problem with the slack in the seat belts now I've moved the retractable section higher up. I found out how to cut them and retain their full operation. The second picture  is the cowl vent. Its not a clear but its was too rusted to repair so I got hold of a section out of a sedan and grafted it in. I also moved the wipers back down to their original position.

Again, not too clear, but this is where the first part of the rodding occurred. I had 2" marked to cut out of the windscreen for quite a while. My wife was not keen on chopping it. I sat in the infamous ponderin chair sipping on a beer this day till finally I just picked up the angle grinder with the 1mm disks and cut away. I like it...my wife's not sure. The second picture is the ponderin chair. I've had it since it was rescued from a garbage pile when I worked in the PMG back in 1978. It is circa 1930s. and very fitting. It gets used quite a lot. Not just for sitting in either. Its a multi use apparatus...saw horse, tool rest, spray pot holder etc...etc

The mini wiper is seen far left and will clear the glove box nicely. I have also started to weld up all unnecessary holes in the fire wall as well. The wiper is from a late model mini, thus 2 speed. The wiper shaft gears are slightly smaller on the late models so they have a bigger wipe area. That's no good for me. If I could find some earlier units, they are larger and would be perfect as they have a smaller wipe area, but to find ones that have not got stripped threads is near impossible. I will probably end up  moving the drive pin inwards to shorten the travel, thus less wiper throw.

The right hand guard is now bolted to pan after I made the bolting flange. The gas struts now replace the original boot stay.

Here is the EMS patch section I welded to the R/H guard. To work out exactly how far it came down, I got hold of a pair of old running boards off  Bill Jensen ( Thanks Bill )  and bolted them up. Remember the guards were part of the running boards and a part of the quarter panel as well. A lot of fabricating and working out. The second picture shows the same guard under primer

 

 
Just about ready for the guide coat. I still need to work on that guard lip, but now at least, I can un bolt it ! Just a note while we can see it. If you notice the rear spring hanger is located in the centre of the rail. When I got the car it was bolted on and mounted inboard more. I have now made it permanent and centred...this means I will have to relocate the diff saddles when I get around to it.

Left guard and running board are now bolted. Looking ahead at the next phase....the cowl.

Now the back half is about finished, its time to attack the cowl. The first picture is what was under the sides. There's supposed to be metal under that mounting bracket. The outside don't look much better

Here is the other side. Note all the brazed in patches, Look at that lighter grey area, that's lead. There's quite a bit in the old girl. The second picture is the door pillar on its side. That area just above the hinge mount is full of lead as well...hiding a big rust hole.

 

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