For those who aren't aware, I bought #436 through Ebay as a blind purchase and with the aim of providing me with a restoration project after I retire next year. So since purchase and transportation from Birmingham to Sussex, not a lot has happened except I keep finding silly things wrong like the gear lever shortened, radio wiring cut and spliced, fuel filler flap lock missing, glove box body smashed, radio speaker wires cut, radio aerial missing – even the hole had been filled in!, drivers seat recline knob broken – seat is permanently semi-reclined, crease across the bottom of the spare wheel well – sign of a rear-end prang?, bonnet lock removed and bonnet pins fitted and the hazard lights switch broken. How and why these were in this state, I am at a loss to understand and I’m sure I will find more as I move on with the renovation.
So rather than have the car languish for a further 12 months before taking a spanner to it, my mind was moving towards carrying out the engine rebuild over this winter and while that was in progress, to get a good (and hopefully local) classic car bodyshop to attend to the sills, doors and other areas of tinworm. That could then give me a fighting chance of being able to drive the car on my retirement day, rather than pull it apart!
So last weekend I took the plunge and drained the engine of its vital fluids. Engine oil looked OK, if a bit thin. Gearbox oil was pink! And all of two pints of rusty water were all that came out of the cooling system!!. Radiator and hoses have now been removed and stored, as have the air filter, hoses and pipes to and from the intercooler. Now the engine bay looks a little more empty and accessible! Over the coming weekends, I shall remove all the remaining links between the engine and box to the engine bay, taking photos where I think I may forget how it was, when the time comes to put it all back together again. All new gaskets are ready and waiting for the engine, although cambelt and gearbox seals still need to be sourced. Oh, of course! There may well be the small need of a new crankshaft and shells.
Should that work prove to be too boring, then I have a replacement set of correct seats to strip down, get the covers cleaned and possibly embroidered with the ‘Turbo’ logo to give them (and the car) an air of exclusivity - as JeffTurbo did with his.
I'll put Part 2 up, once the engine is out and I know the state of what needs to be done there.
So rather than have the car languish for a further 12 months before taking a spanner to it, my mind was moving towards carrying out the engine rebuild over this winter and while that was in progress, to get a good (and hopefully local) classic car bodyshop to attend to the sills, doors and other areas of tinworm. That could then give me a fighting chance of being able to drive the car on my retirement day, rather than pull it apart!
So last weekend I took the plunge and drained the engine of its vital fluids. Engine oil looked OK, if a bit thin. Gearbox oil was pink! And all of two pints of rusty water were all that came out of the cooling system!!. Radiator and hoses have now been removed and stored, as have the air filter, hoses and pipes to and from the intercooler. Now the engine bay looks a little more empty and accessible! Over the coming weekends, I shall remove all the remaining links between the engine and box to the engine bay, taking photos where I think I may forget how it was, when the time comes to put it all back together again. All new gaskets are ready and waiting for the engine, although cambelt and gearbox seals still need to be sourced. Oh, of course! There may well be the small need of a new crankshaft and shells.
Should that work prove to be too boring, then I have a replacement set of correct seats to strip down, get the covers cleaned and possibly embroidered with the ‘Turbo’ logo to give them (and the car) an air of exclusivity - as JeffTurbo did with his.
I'll put Part 2 up, once the engine is out and I know the state of what needs to be done there.
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