I feel like "more rot than expected" summarizes the experience of working on any old British car (or Datsun). BTW, I've really been enjoying this series!
Haha you are certainly right Seth. Next car I restore I will look at with a much more experienced eye and know how much of a task I’m getting myself into. Thanks for the support! I’m glad you are enjoying the series.
Oh dear, that looks very familiar. I found welding over rust, brazing over rust, body filler, fibreglass, pop rivets, expanda foam and silicone bathroom sealant in my Mk3. No aluminium foil though so that’s a new one on me. I’m yet to catch up with where you have got to now, but you can get new steel boot lids as British Motor Heritage press them (and replacing that rotten lip is usually possible regardless).
Yikes! Sounds like you have hit the mother load of dodgy patches on yours too! I got a spare boot lid that has its own issues so my plan is to take the two of them to make one good one.
Hi Steve, very interesting video. And great to see another old car enthusiast taking the time to share his knowledge and passion with us all. It takes me back a few years to when I restored a Mk4 Spitfire. I had a fibreglass boot lid which fitted quite well as I recall. It certainly wasn't obvious that it was a fibreglass reproduction. It was on the car when I bought it so kept it. I think the front valance was also fibreglass. The rest of the car was totally shot but I made the mistake of buying repair panels for each wing, so it took ages to repair so I recommend replacing the whole wing if you need to. My current project is a replica of 1955 MGTF and I have a channel which I have just started to cover the build. Keep up the great work. Kind regards Paul 🇬🇧
Hello Paul! Thanks for your support. I have never restored a car before so this is a bit like going to the School of Hard Knocks. My boot lid is in rough shape, but I plan on trying to repair it towards the end of the project. If I can’t there is a company in the UK that sells those boot lids you mentioned. I might go that route. I’ve discovered that repair panels are just as much work if not more than a whole replacement panel as well. Another lesson learned the hard way. I have subscribed to your channel! That sounds like an amazing project you have going there. Best of luck and I look forward to seeing your progress! Cheers, Steve.
@@StevesProjectCarGarage Thank you Steve fir your support. It is a bit of a challenge as I am trying to make the car very close to the original 1955 car but in some respects I am starting with nothing. At least we have the internet to search for images and ideas. It is a lot easier that it was 39 years ago when I started the project. I have subscribed to your channel too. Kind regards Paul
Hey there mate, just had a peek at what your doing there, i feel your pain with the rot, take a look at the rear drivers sill reconstrution i posted a video on the other day, anyway dude, i'v subcribed as it good to watch other doing the very same stuff as myself, best of luck with your project Steve's Garage
Thank you! I have been watching your project as well! The cars rot isn't horrible, but it is in places which will be tough to get at with the body on. I appreciate your following along! I look forward to comparing notes. Cheers!
Thanks David! I will be going through them for some stuff for sure. I just made a big order with Spitbits but mainly due to shipping costs. Thanks for following along!
Can you really work that fast or has the video been sped up? ;) Great series you're putting out here. I'm learning a lot as I've never seen a lot of the frame of these cars naked like that. That one part underneath that you showed behind the wheel area (I forget what you called it) would have me really concerned. I don't think it would be good to go into a 40mph curve at 55 and have that pop off. My back doesn't allow me to get down and crawl around like that anymore but I think I'll get my Spit into a shop and have them lift it and go over any serious potential problems or concerns in that whole category that makes the car stay on the road as intended. Keep up the good work on your production here.
I haven’t done enough research on it yet. I rebuilt the Stromberg and either did a crap job or it’s worn out. No matter how it was adjusted it would burn super rich.
@@StevesProjectCarGarage The single Stromberg was only used on North American Spitfires, in the rest of the world, twin SU's were used. The Weber DGV is not a bad carburetor, but the inlet manifold that it uses is far from ideal, as the low hood does not provide enough room for a downdraft carburetor The Stromberg if properly rebuilt takes more than the basic gasket kit that you might get from Moss, often after all these years the throttle shaft will need rebushing or a new shaft.
I would love to get my hands on a set of twin SUs or a Weber Sidedraft. Both are a bit pricy though. I’ve had other recommend going fuel injection too. But that is certainly more expensive. I’m keeping my eyes open for deals on sets of twin SUs. If you know of any please let me know! I’ve got a ways to go on the project before I get to that stage but I won’t turn down a good deal.
@@StevesProjectCarGarage I went with twin SU's when they were still inexpensive. But other owners have used a single SU which is a simpler carburetor to replace the stromberg. In the UK Triumph used the same 1500 engine in a 4 door that was available with either twin SU's or single SU, there was not a huge difference in performance between them. Some owners have also fitted Harley Davidson side draft carbs on the stock manifold, seemingly with good results. Also multiples of motorcycle carbs have been used on a custom manifold. But radical carb changes really require other engine work to see their true potential.
I feel like "more rot than expected" summarizes the experience of working on any old British car (or Datsun).
BTW, I've really been enjoying this series!
Haha you are certainly right Seth. Next car I restore I will look at with a much more experienced eye and know how much of a task I’m getting myself into.
Thanks for the support! I’m glad you are enjoying the series.
Oh dear, that looks very familiar. I found welding over rust, brazing over rust, body filler, fibreglass, pop rivets, expanda foam and silicone bathroom sealant in my Mk3. No aluminium foil though so that’s a new one on me. I’m yet to catch up with where you have got to now, but you can get new steel boot lids as British Motor Heritage press them (and replacing that rotten lip is usually possible regardless).
Yikes! Sounds like you have hit the mother load of dodgy patches on yours too!
I got a spare boot lid that has its own issues so my plan is to take the two of them to make one good one.
Just started watching. I have a '73 that I am replacing both floor pieces
Thanks!!! Floor pans are a big undertaking, just take your time, brace your door gaps before hand and you will be good!
@@StevesProjectCarGarage thanks for the tips
Good luck, looks like lots of work ahead. Amazing how quickly you can tear the car apart.
It sure is!
Hi Steve, very interesting video. And great to see another old car enthusiast taking the time to share his knowledge and passion with us all. It takes me back a few years to when I restored a Mk4 Spitfire. I had a fibreglass boot lid which fitted quite well as I recall. It certainly wasn't obvious that it was a fibreglass reproduction. It was on the car when I bought it so kept it. I think the front valance was also fibreglass. The rest of the car was totally shot but I made the mistake of buying repair panels for each wing, so it took ages to repair so I recommend replacing the whole wing if you need to.
My current project is a replica of 1955 MGTF and I have a channel which I have just started to cover the build. Keep up the great work.
Kind regards Paul 🇬🇧
Hello Paul!
Thanks for your support. I have never restored a car before so this is a bit like going to the School of Hard Knocks. My boot lid is in rough shape, but I plan on trying to repair it towards the end of the project. If I can’t there is a company in the UK that sells those boot lids you mentioned. I might go that route. I’ve discovered that repair panels are just as much work if not more than a whole replacement panel as well. Another lesson learned the hard way.
I have subscribed to your channel! That sounds like an amazing project you have going there.
Best of luck and I look forward to seeing your progress!
Cheers,
Steve.
@@StevesProjectCarGarage Thank you Steve fir your support. It is a bit of a challenge as I am trying to make the car very close to the original 1955 car but in some respects I am starting with nothing. At least we have the internet to search for images and ideas. It is a lot easier that it was 39 years ago when I started the project.
I have subscribed to your channel too.
Kind regards Paul
Hey there mate, just had a peek at what your doing there, i feel your pain with the rot, take a look at the rear drivers sill reconstrution i posted a video on the other day, anyway dude, i'v subcribed as it good to watch other doing the very same stuff as myself, best of luck with your project Steve's Garage
Thank you! I have been watching your project as well! The cars rot isn't horrible, but it is in places which will be tough to get at with the body on. I appreciate your following along! I look forward to comparing notes.
Cheers!
Hi for all the parts and panels go to rimmer bros uk you can order a catalogue good look with the project looks good
Thanks David! I will be going through them for some stuff for sure. I just made a big order with Spitbits but mainly due to shipping costs. Thanks for following along!
Can you really work that fast or has the video been sped up? ;) Great series you're putting out here. I'm learning a lot as I've never seen a lot of the frame of these cars naked like that. That one part underneath that you showed behind the wheel area (I forget what you called it) would have me really concerned. I don't think it would be good to go into a 40mph curve at 55 and have that pop off. My back doesn't allow me to get down and crawl around like that anymore but I think I'll get my Spit into a shop and have them lift it and go over any serious potential problems or concerns in that whole category that makes the car stay on the road as intended. Keep up the good work on your production here.
Thank you very much! I wish I could work that fast, it should would make this whole project go by quicker!
Fitting a downdraft DGV Weber is not an upgrade, unless the Stromberg is totally worn out.
I haven’t done enough research on it yet. I rebuilt the Stromberg and either did a crap job or it’s worn out. No matter how it was adjusted it would burn super rich.
@@StevesProjectCarGarage The single Stromberg was only used on North American Spitfires, in the rest of the world, twin SU's were used. The Weber DGV is not a bad carburetor, but the inlet manifold that it uses is far from ideal,
as the low hood does not provide enough room for a downdraft carburetor
The Stromberg if properly rebuilt takes more than the basic gasket kit that you might get from Moss, often after all these years the throttle shaft will need rebushing or a new shaft.
I would love to get my hands on a set of twin SUs or a Weber Sidedraft. Both are a bit pricy though. I’ve had other recommend going fuel injection too. But that is certainly more expensive. I’m keeping my eyes open for deals on sets of twin SUs. If you know of any please let me know! I’ve got a ways to go on the project before I get to that stage but I won’t turn down a good deal.
@@StevesProjectCarGarage I went with twin SU's when they were still inexpensive. But other owners have used a single SU which is a simpler carburetor to replace the stromberg. In the UK Triumph used the same 1500 engine in a 4 door that was available with either twin SU's or single SU, there was not a huge difference in performance between them. Some owners have also fitted Harley Davidson side draft carbs on the stock manifold, seemingly with good results. Also multiples of motorcycle carbs have been used on a custom manifold. But radical carb changes really require other engine work to see their true potential.
I have seen some creative things especially with motorcycle carbs! It’s an interesting idea for sure. Just wonder if it’s worth all the hassle!