Page 1 of 5 12345 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 68

Thread: Restoring Cars

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    shep Victoria
    Age
    97
    Posts
    421

    Question Restoring Cars

    What about a Car restoration forum, a work in progress, up to finished restoration.
    Last edited by ubeaut; 22nd August 2015 at 12:26 AM.

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Age
    2010
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #2
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge SA
    Posts
    3,339

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by TKO View Post
    What about a Car restoration forum, a work in progress, up to finished restoration.
    Great idea, could also have a sub forum "Parts, looking for or for sale"? What do you think? Could building a hotrod, be classed as a restoration?
    Kryn

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    shep Victoria
    Age
    97
    Posts
    421

    Default Restoring CarsI have restored to cars in the past,

    Hi Kryn,

    I don't think it matters what car you are working on, building or restoring, so long as one can see progress and how to get over any problems, which often arises, if you are a beginner, or a
    well conversed restorer, I have restored two cars in the past but long before I had a computer
    so restoration of them is not available although I have a photo, I am now restoring a small Austin 1953 A30 AS3, which I have kept a record of just about all the work that I have done on it so far,If there is Interest I will put up

    Eddie

  5. #4
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge SA
    Posts
    3,339

    Default Restoring Cars, I'll start this off.

    Hi Eddie, back in 1988, I built a Suzuki 4WD tray top up from a scrap. It started life as a 1 litre with a factory tray. I rebuilt it with an updated brake booster, a 1.3 motor reconditioned and fitted with GTI pistons, 5 speed gearbox, 1 litre transfer case and diffs fitted with 9.00 X 15 Hankook rubber, upgraded suspension of my own doing, 6 leaves in the rear. Under the bonnet it had a dual battery tray that incorporated a tool box that carried the spare parts, also had an air conditioner compressor for pumping tyres and running air tools. Body wise, cab was extended 150 mm behind the driver, interior was pretty much standard except for SAAS racing seats, a modified dash that had a pocket for bits and pieces, hand made overhead console, which held the CB and UHF radios plus a HF radio mounted behind the drivers seat, outside was a snorkel, a 40 litre water tank was fitted between cab and tray, under the tray was a 120 litre fuel tank that held a 20 litre reserve compartment. Basically it was like an upside down U with the tail shaft running in between the U. The tray was built with a canopy that had 3 liftup doors that held the "motel" as well as about 50 Kg of recovery gear, winch highlift jack etc. Up front was a bullbar of my own design, that later held a power winch, that could be used backwards, if required. All the manufactured items were built by myself, as I couldn't buy much Suzuki items back then, I ended up with a business making items for Suzuki's.
    I kept all the receipts for everything that I had bought, I tallied up to $15,000. With still a pile of receipts left to count, I threw the rest out.
    Regards
    Kryn

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    shep Victoria
    Age
    97
    Posts
    421

    Default

    Hi Kryn,
    I cannot for the life of me , get a photo into the post this is the second time today trying to answer your post I can not upload photo to this post, I have followed the instructing in the FAQ ,and they don't make sense to me, it says to upload a attachment ,you need to press the new post button or new thread ,not quick reply, well I know I wear glasses but there is no new post button any where I can see when I want to upload the photo, so messing about with the attempt to upload I loose what I have started to write and have to start again.
    I liked the Suzuki build, you had put a lot of effort in, and not being the largest of cars you certainly put a lot of extra attachments on ,which makes it tall worth while if you have use for them, and as you say it led to better things, being able to make money making the Suzuki gear as a business.
    I do not know why I can't upload as I only a short while back up loaded pics
    in the forum has it been changed recently, or is it old age creeping in ?
    have just had a thought am I still on IE as I notice I can not get back to your post it wont back up I will post this and check it out.

    Well there you are I was just going to send I thought I would give it one more try, I wont risk another of the 1932 Austin 12/4, but this was built from a basket case, I renewed all the wood work and most of the panels done the upholstery and the top and then my son took it over and I started on a 1923 Dodge Tourer, I will try and dig up a photo of it, and then I will start on my WIP

    Eddie

    austin 12.jpg (91.6 KB)

    this was taken in the ninety's
    Attached Images Attached Images

  7. #6
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge SA
    Posts
    3,339

    Default A restoration question?

    Nice looking restoration. You're better than I am, I still can't work out how to load pics at all!!!
    I've a chance to pick up a Willys 2 door roadster soft top body, well what's left of it, the wood is almost non-existent, and the metal floor is not much better.
    How do you pull the metalwork off the timber without damaging it. The metal panel, appears to be folded over the metal underneath that is nailed onto the timber .
    Kryn

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    shep Victoria
    Age
    97
    Posts
    421

    Default

    Well I was lucky with both the cars that I restored there was little timber left to remove ,but you might find that where the meta is nailed to the timber it might be that the heads have been leaded over ,so you will have to prize it off as best you can as I haven't a clue as to how the willies are connected to the timber if you get, it go gently.I was lucky getting that photo in,I think what I was doing was not checking the attachment in the preview page and was under the impression it had not uploaded ,I seem to have a problem with this as well.What I do is go to reply and write my message and then try to load a attachment, I usually finish up losing the written piece ,because I cant upload the attachment an have to write again which is never the same .I will try to upload again and see what happens.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  9. #8
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge SA
    Posts
    3,339

    Default

    Thanks for that, will try to find any sign of leading next time I'm there. The 30 is that what it was like when you got it, or as it is now?
    Are there any books available on how to do the old type panel work, or is it one of those things, learn as you go, or learn by your mistakes?
    Kryn

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    shep Victoria
    Age
    97
    Posts
    421

    Default

    That is what it was like when I got it, there was 2 other A30 cars, one is behind my shed and the other is at my sons tyre factory with two others so I have 5 altogether,Don't think that I will get them all finished.the one behind the shed is complete and was going till it was parked where I picked them up, and had been there about 7 years I think,will be my next one I hope
    This is the other two and the furthest one is the complete one and the one I am working on is just behind them, my son is having a look at them before I bought them.

    well I have managed to put a pic in again, I think I have found my problem, the pics are going in each time but only show up in the preview, all I did was, reply to post, write my post,
    press attachment. when the upload manager comes on screen, press add files, then brouse, choose your pic and press open at the bottom, it then comes into the upload manager, I wait a second or two it drops down to the lower box ,if it don't drag it down, then press in line, then done, and when I looked in preview it was there, that
    is what I am doing right or wrong, the pics are going in,I hope this helps,
    I am sorting out some pics of the WIP.

    Eddie
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by TKO; 10th December 2014 at 09:14 PM. Reason: Mistake

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    shep Victoria
    Age
    97
    Posts
    421

    Default

    This some of the rusted out areas that had to be cut out and repaired ,then new floors were made and welded in and all the boot floor and the petrol tank floor was renewed, the car was completely stript of every thing, and then turned on its side on to truck inner tubes, then the work really began Plenty of pics to follow, just got to sort them out hope you try an upload some pics Kryn .

    Eddie
    ,
    Attached Images Attached Images

  12. #11
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge SA
    Posts
    3,339

    Default

    Gee's the rust ants certainly have been busy on the floor section. How do you do the ribbing strengthening on the floor panels, or don't you bother with the ribs? Would an English Jenny be of help to do this?
    In '98 I did some work on my sons LH Torana, took out the battery tray as it was rusted, and the section on the other side as well, so it looked the same, the battery went into the boot. The firewall where the fan/heater sits, was removed and filled with straight sheet metal, no ribs, and metal finished, no bog whatsoever. The rear was touched as well, by tubbing the wheel arches, they only went out as far as the chassis on the back, that way no engineers report was required. His mates said it was impossible to get the size tyres under that he did, they couldn't work it out, as it looked standard.
    That vehicle runs a EFI V8 out of a Commodore, instead of the original 4. Over the years I've done a bit of resto work on other peoples cars, 2 Y sections on an FJ, cut out the rust, folded new sections and welded in while it was on the car. It had to go for an inspection, and passed with flying colors, also have done sill panels inner and outer, this was put in the folder and set 2-3 mm apart and creased enough to get the radius. 1.6 metal was used for this, then sanded smooth, couldn't tell OE from replacement. Worst part was welding upside down and overhead on thin stuff.
    One handy item I picked up some time ago, was an air operated tool that puts a step in the sheet metal to allow another panel to lay flush with the surface.
    Regards
    Kryn

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    shep Victoria
    Age
    97
    Posts
    421

    Default

    So you have had plenty of experience restoring the finer parts of a car which is handy with the more modern types, they have a lot of different methods of making cars, I was alright till they bought in the engine computers ,I have no idea what is in the engine compartment today,so if you get back to doing the Willies Jeep it will be different to working on modern metal ,I have heard of the joggler I think it is called ,haven't got one, would come in handy no doubt, at the moment I am not able to do much of any thing such as on the restoration had a mild heart attack 4 weeks ago,and just doing a bit here and there but coming good, back to driving tomorrow, done a bit more on the upholstery so another week or two I should be back to normal, feeling pretty good at the moment, so its nice to have the computer to play with.

    Have you made an effort to post ,just give it a go, I am no wizard on the computer, I have only been doing it for about eight years and I still have trouble with it, self taught no idea really, and started it to late in life, Put a couple more pics on the repairing of panels,better stop or I will loose the lot , I notice I have put them in the wrong order as it is.

    Eddie
    Attached Images Attached Images

  14. #13
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge SA
    Posts
    3,339

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by TKO View Post
    So you have had plenty of experience restoring the finer parts of a car which is handy with the more modern types, they have a lot of different methods of making cars, I was alright till they bought in the engine computers ,I have no idea what is in the engine compartment today,so if you get back to doing the Willies Jeep it will be different to working on modern metal ,I have heard of the joggler I think it is called ,haven't got one, would come in handy no doubt, at the moment I am not able to do much of any thing such as on the restoration had a mild heart attack 4 weeks ago,and just doing a bit here and there but coming good, back to driving tomorrow, done a bit more on the upholstery so another week or two I should be back to normal, feeling pretty good at the moment, so its nice to have the computer to play with.

    Have you made an effort to post ,just give it a go, I am no wizard on the computer, I have only been doing it for about eight years and I still have trouble with it, self taught no idea really, and started it to late in life, Put a couple more pics on the repairing of panels,better stop or I will loose the lot , I notice I have put them in the wrong order as it is.

    Eddie
    Hi Eddie, under the bonnet of the modern car is a nightmare, that's why modern mechanics are called "Parts Replacement Technicians", the computer tells them what to replace, similar to panel beaters are "Panel Replacement Technicians". I have a friend who is a mechanic, from the old school, made his own bearings, scrape, etc. even he takes his new car to a technician!!!! He doesn't even bother doing oil changes any more.
    The Willy's not a Jeep but a sedan roadster soft top, which is why most of the floor is rusted out. By the way nice work on the floor panels. How did you get the reinforcing section in them?? What thickness zinc did you use?
    Hope you get get better soon, it's a bugger being laid up. I spent 21 days in hospital back in 2000, broke both legs in a MVA, they were going to take my right leg off, as it was badly smashed, 7-8 pieces just below the knee. I have a steel plate that goes from the knee to the ankle with 21 screws in it, had 380 stitches on the right side of the leg alone, looks like a shark bit it. Left leg looks similar, I tell people it was a crocodile attack in the Murray River
    I've not tried to post anything yet, as I don't have a digital camera, maybe Santa will bring me one. I'm pretty computer illiterate myself, but I can do CAD work, as I went to night school for that for my business, Autocad 2000 and Autocad Inventor, is what I use.
    I wonder how long before we get kicked off from here, it would be nice to hear from others who have done similar. I know there is someone in WA that restored a motor bike that was in Model Engineers Workshop, can't remember his name, they have some bits of restoration work
    from time to time as well as some tooling to make. Will have to make a separate file for them.
    Regards
    Kryn

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    shep Victoria
    Age
    97
    Posts
    421

    Smile

    Hi Kryn, sorry about the jeep I should of known better I have a good library of older vehicles, and I now know what you might be letting your self into, would be a good restoration would not be to many of them about, I used the metal as near as possible for what they sell today as that on the car, the actual boot area I made with much thicker metal as the lower floor had reinforcing in the bend in the metal and my little gadget was not able to do it ,but up to 1.2 mm I could put in the floor reinforcing ,if you have not the machine to do this ,there is other ways to do it, make a metal former and hammer the metal to shape, as to the wood work ,if you have not many patterns to work from it then becomes a bit of a problem you will have to work from the metal areas, if you have the wood work tools necessary to do the required type of joints and rebates that might be required you will be alright and it is very interesting work to do, although my car is just about ready for the final coats of paint, I have many photos I have taken of how I got through all the problems of repairs and removing the rust from the metal parts , I know there is only us two at he moment ,and if they want to kick us off good luck to them, they are asking for interested forums, we are doing our best ,any way it can be a talk show as well. When I removed all the running gear I dismantled it all and put most of it through a big tub, of molasses,including back axle, springs, drive shaft complete ,which allowed me to dismantle the joints that were rusted solid, then repair, prime and paint, I also use electrolysis, on some parts.Do you know what year model the willies is, I can look it up and see what you have, would be interesting, I thin I wil have to get on to the moderator as there is som roblem with the printing of the post I will leave these few so that you can see wha I mean, it does not do it on any where else nd t's a pain t hav to continually correct it and the page flutters up and dwn lwhen you try t o back to last pst Its a PITA.Edde
    Attached Images Attached Images

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    shep Victoria
    Age
    97
    Posts
    421

    Default

    This is the hoto that I could not put in the last post,
    ,as I said being primed and painted,I am hoping to get some thing done with the missing letters as I scroll down it just flutters up and down will not let me see the last post or the
    attachment area.

    Eddie
    Attached Images Attached Images

Page 1 of 5 12345 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. F1 Cars
    By WoodenJoys in forum TOY MAKING
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 18th July 2013, 09:23 AM
  2. One or 2 cars?
    By Terry B in forum NON WOODWORK
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 20th June 2007, 08:21 PM
  3. lpg cars
    By Farm boy in forum NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH WOODWORK
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 26th January 2007, 09:17 PM
  4. Cars down under.
    By MathewA in forum NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH WOODWORK
    Replies: 20
    Last Post: 18th March 2005, 07:53 AM
  5. Cars!!
    By Andrew75 in forum NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH WOODWORK
    Replies: 30
    Last Post: 16th January 2005, 11:27 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •