1500ti restoration. Ex racer

[junior]

Thanks for getting in touch. That looks a pretty good likeness.

How much would you like for it ?

[adsblacksud]

Hello Junior,

I'll send you a PM.

Thanks,

Adam

[Spacenut]

Mmm, Corbeau GT8 fixed-rake buckets, I used to have a pair in the Firenza. Good lateral grip in the corners (which I think you will need)!!!

Lauren

[adsblacksud]

Like sitting in a big (and supportive) comfy armchair...

[junior]

Comfy sounds good to me as doing some bits on this car is wearing me out.

Cut the glass out of the spare back windows as the ones with polycarbonate in are rusted at the bottom corner. I did as advised by others to soak in petrol, but by the time they separated my wrists ached and my nerves were shot from waiting for that horrible click when a crack shoots across the glass.

Fortunately it worked out and the frames went to the painters.

Chap brought in a 2CV to be welded while I was there and it was in the back of a Mercedes sprinter! It was stripped to just the central box cab that needed a new floor. One chap picked up the front and another the back and carried it out. It looked like an easy car to restore. Bit envious for a moment.

Then a know it all chap came in and said `Oh doing Escorts now are you', to the welder. `No its a Sud' I said and then he muttered about there being none left and he left all embarrassed. The welder laughed his head off as he was sick of the chap being an expert on everything.
My Alfa is now his favourite job which cannot be a bad thing.

[junior]

Welding finally occurring, so nice to see the holes, splits and damage being addressed.

Also gives time to sort through the piles and find what I have two of and what I have none of.

Funny how your mind forgets some important bits, but keeps recalling lesser items.

Drive shafts, I have three two from a later car and one from the series 1. Are they all the same ? Do not want to create myself a problem.

Thanks in advance.

[junior]

Went to see the car and its coming along well. Not sure if the paint is spot on, but being colour blind is not helping.
Also got to decide if to leave it with just the front painted or do the whole car. May well take it away and look at it for a while before making a final decision.

With all the holes in the wing the chap says he will leave me to hand paint the inside of the wings as he does not want to end up ruining what he has done.

Also was just leaving when I realised he had repaired and painted the fibreglass bonnet which I was going to have matt black in the 70's racer tradition. He only had it there to help line up the wings. Biggest problem......it looks good ! So not sure what to do with that either.

Will take it home and stare at it for a while as I fit bits. Also need to clean up the interior and make it more mobile, esp as my neighbour will want his trolley back.

[Kegsti66]

Looking good James, really taking shape.

[junior]

Thank you. Feeling very good about it now, though had too laugh today when I poked the tube for a can of anti-rust wax up inside the door pillar and did not realise that it had come out of the smaller hole opposite and was just sticking in the air. Sprayed the outside of the car and one shoulder in a clean white tee shirt I should not have had on ! Duh!

Does anyone know if when the rubber seal for the rear side window is put back in, does it normally need silicon sealant to hold it in place.

Mine has had it before and I wonder if it is because of the polycarbonate instead of glass but it does not quite seem right. Your thoughts please.

[Kegsti66]

Hi James,
There should be no need for sealer to hold it in place. I trust you have the metal frame that sits inside the rubber that screws through to the window surround?
I wonder if that was removed to save weight thinking about it.
I will see if I can find a photo to show you what they look like.
Keith.

[junior]

Have found the two metal internal frames now. Fooled me as one window had none and the other had three !

I think some one had just thrown them in to make it look right for the auction.

Found the missing one in the few spares that came with it and worked it all out. Shall get a bit of painting and fitting done, with out sealant.

Thanks .

[junior]

Okay. Trying to sort out door seals as I have none, tried a 33 one I was given, and a 205 Peugeot one which was better as not so fat.

What have you other chaps been using or are original Sud door seals more durable than most of the rest of the car.

Thanks in advance

[sud_1.5ti]

Try These guys.
http://www.doepper-profile.de/artikelau ... +Moosgummi

[junior]

Very interesting, thanks a lot.

[junior]

Having trouble with these powerflex bushes on the end of the roll bars as I can just squeeze them down, but the nuts are barely on the threads even with out washers. Any thoughts please.



Having got my gearbox back I am just checking a few bits and this looks incomplete or does the cable just pop in here and a circlip hold the cable outer in place.


Got the floor panels that were rusty cleaned up and treated with Hydrate 80 which seems to do a good job. Only problem is it left an odd colour and so I have re-primered the same panels. Despite hand painting it came out looking quite well and so now I have to decide where to stop.

Finding there are a few bits I cannot quite figure out and are going to take time.
Or as one of my best mates says `best to leave till you have a grown up to help you.'

[Bluesuit]

if that pic is of the speedo drive cable receiver then a circlip holds it in place

[junior]

Super that sorts that one thank you.

Just need a comment on the new bushes now please......

[KevJTD]

Super that sorts that one thank you.

Just need a comment on the new bushes now please......

as has been said on the speedo, the flat part of the cable sits in the space with a circlip to hold it all in. not the usual circlip though, one with longer fingers so it can be removed without needing to get circlip pliers in there which is near impossible once the 'box is back in.
you should see the sqaure drive in there to accept the cable. it's also had threads tapped into it to allow it to be drawn out, a mod that a few guys do to enable the drive to be drawn out rather than trying to punch it out.

the bushes i came across a similar issue when putting mine back together.
there are 2 different types of bracket.
you need the longer ones as the powerflex ones are the later bushes.
just shout if you need a pair, i'll swap you

[junior]

Sent you a pm ta

[junior]

Got my bushes sorted with S3 U brackets and ordered the bottom ball joints for the hubs to sit on and they did not fit.

Quick photo to John and find I have my parts mixed up. Thought my original arms were Sud, but they were 33.

Got some similar as the originals are altered did them up and now going to have to get Sud ones so the ball joints fit,

so the hubs fit etc.

Not a huge job, but sometimes this learning curve is very deflating when you have several jobs in the house to finish and there is a

distinct lack of other people about to blame. Also having got to my age blaming inanimate objects is unacceptable i feel.

[junior]

Started in on the fibreglass as another item I have ever been involved with before. Blimey its stubborn stuff. No wonder so many kit cars look so poor

Unforgiving in some ways and adaptable in others. Still working out how it fitted before I repair all the broken holes from when it must have got bashed. Think the oil cooler was centre and in front of the radiator.

Went to Beauliu Autojumble to see if there was anything useful there. It was not mainly British cars and bikes, plus a few German and Dutch sellers with some interesting bits.

Did get some wing trim from Woolies and carefully slit it to fit between the body and the arches. Much better material than the plastic that came out.

Also got a fan and brackets for £8.00 so hope it will fit when the engine returns.

[Kegsti66]

Hey James, she is coming together a treat.
These challenges are sent to try us but you are getting through it.
Just look at the pictures when you first got the car, to see the progress.
Will you paint the arch kit a different colour, like black, or will it all be body colour (which I think is fab !!) ?
Looking forward to seeing your engine, not that I can remember your final decision on specification.

[junior]

Yes that arch will go black as the others are already. It was the only one missing.

Your right, glad I got encouraged to do this as it does remind you how far you have come.

Also I do not want it to end as `unfinished project or sale' as some of my mates tease me.

Thanks for your encouragement.

[rsfruitbat]

Hi There

Car looks great

Just wondering why the steering arm holes have been extended forward?
Also what are the metal beams are for in the passenger front and extending into the rear footwell?

rsfruitbat

[Veesix75]

Steering arm slots would be for more castor angle, which gives more stability at high speed.

[junior]

Ha, well done Vsix you answered that better than I could in a week.

The steel across the foot well is where the insulated cover for the exhaust that went through the cab fitted.

Very neat and fitted with captive nuts. So will keep it in case in the future another owner wants to return it to that spec.

May well fit kingspan insulation across that when I finally get a passenger in there, but a way off yet.

[Veesix75]

I like the colour also, although not sure whether a satin black or gloss black body kit would suit best.

I like noise James, so I'd leave the sound proofing out!

[alfarich156]

Fascinating project chap, keep up the good work, cheers
alfarich156

[junior]

Thanks for the comment. Need it at the moment as just fitted door seals and of course the door will not shut properly now

Did my homework, double checked, carefully fitted and still no joy.

Still a friend machined from solid Aluminium some special hubs for (old cars I would suspect), 10 of them at £200 notes each to make and he bored

the last hole in the wrong spot so all are scrap. Glad I was not in the workshop when he found that one out.

Anyone like to tell me where the ballast resistor is normally located as would like the Sud bits to be in about the right place. Thanks.

[Kegsti66]

Is this any help James ?