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Last Updated :
June 2006
The dreaded bodywork !
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We did the 600 mile trek to collect the body in May 2000, on getting back it became increasingly apparent that there was no way that we where going to get the main shell into the back garden so it sat on the drive for a day or two until the inner body had being Sikaflexed / riveted onto the chassis. A little bit of Muscle had the "Go Kart" looking like a car |
| Lining the shell up however was a major headache, In the end I gave up trying to get it right everywhere. So I did it in stages - got the back end in the right place and bonded across the boot. I then shuffled the shell about slightly to get the front to line up and then bonded the front and scuttle area. This method however did cause some problems when fitting the door inners !! |
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Beginning to take shape, Body fully bonded into position. 3" Round rear lights surface mounted onto rear panel, Fuel filler in place although I'm still avoiding tackling the doors ! |
| A Similar story around the front, Headlight mouldings are bonded in ( Although they did need moving forward by about 20mm later on ! ). I couldn't decide what front indicators to use, which is why there aren't any in this picture. Only one headlight in this shot because the other one fell out and smashed while making a adjustment with the tapping stick ! |
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Another big jump in time, Its Christmas 2001, Headlight buckets have been moved and front indicators bought and fitted (Late MGF), Both Doors are now on although both required the outer skin to be extended in the bottom rear corner to get an even shut line all round. (see insert) |
| Same again but from the other side. Other jobs completed in include, Cooling system, Handbrake cable (at long last), Wiring loom, Tunnel side and top, And windscreen frame. To Do's include Dashboard (Priority), Paint, Trim And seats. |
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Up date on the back end of things, GRP pods for the Fog, reversing and retro reflectors are built up and bonded to shell. ( The back now looks like a Ginetta G32 ! ). No boot lid yet as the original had a moulding defect and had to be replaced |
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Showing where door skins have been extended to match curvature of opening. I trimmed the back of the skin flat with a grinder and then bonded on a piece of GRP sheet using mat and resin. The area was then ground back from the front before more MAT and resin was used to strengthen the repair. The whole thing was then made good with GRP paste and body filler. |
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Originally I had intend to spray the whole car myself, I already have a compressor and spray gun, I did not however have the space to spray the car inside and outdoor spraying in May is a big no-no . So I am doing the flatting and primering, then the car is going to a local body shop for final prep and top coating. The primer stage has proved to be a complete pain ! |
| The body shop did nothing for 3 weeks then eventually called me to say that it was done. On calling round to the body shop I could not believe that it was my car !. We towed the car home the next day leaving 7 days before the SVA test and a hell of lot of work to be done. |
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Windscreen In, most of the lights fitted and working, photo taken during mad panic caused by connecting headlamps up incorrectly. The Flash part of the switch was operating the ECU and Fuel pump ! |
