Cracks

[kstrutt1]

On this the welds were missing between the seat member and the bulkhed, it just fell appart, This is what I have done, all cut out and butt welded in.

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Unfortunatelly on taking it appart I also found this.......

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[kstrutt1]

Also both rear springs were broken and the bracket which bolts around the trailing arm mount on the axle is holed.

So more welding and expense, this is fast turning into a major re-build!

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[Beans]

Looks like you looked at it just in time, prepare for more fun ...

[kstrutt1]

The worrying thing is the axle looked fine, If the trailing arm bolt hadn't been stuck and needed a fair bit of persuasion I would never have know, the other side looks fine but will also be coming appart when I get the spring!

[Hasbeen]

God I'm glad I live in Oz, & in the northern half of Oz at that.

I reckon you people restoring cars in Europe & the northern half of north America are heroes. You have my respect & admiration.

Hasbeen

[sonscar]

Been there,done that.Have fun Steve.

[kstrutt1]

Axle and bump stop bracket repaired.

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Then I cleaned up the rest of tha arch

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More rust, but not the end of the world.

[kstrutt1]

It cleaned up to this, not the end of the world, on the plus side none of the areas are the ones I repaired 24 years ago, so I must be doing something right.

[kstrutt1]

Getting there now, floor / bulkhead repairs all painted.

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Repair to arch done.

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As well as the springs both bump stops need replacing but the axle and strengthening bracket on the other side were fine if pretty heavily rusted, bracket cleaned up well in the electrolysis tank though.

Just a bit more painting and putting it all back together to do now.

[kstrutt1]

Rear suspension is all done and it's all back on its wheels, ride height is about right, so just the seat and carpet to fit ,the sill to top coat and a relay to add for the high speed heater fan and we should roadworthy (MOT runs out in 6 weeks so that will be next).

[kstrutt1]

Its painted all back together, front discs, and a couple of joint boots replaced so I used it to go to work in today.

All went very well, after replacing the entire loom no electrical issues, virtually everything works (only seatbelt warning doesent because I purposely didn't plug any of it in!). Speedo stopped working because the cable fell out which I fixed with a tie wrap and part of the hood has come unstitched which I sewed up by hand but that was about it. MOT is next wednesday.

[kstrutt1]

Mot passed, been using it most days since, only issue so far has been one exhaust rubber failing, they seem to be made of cheese nowdays, still a few things to do such as change the leaking valley gasket but they will have to wait until I have changed the rear beam bushes on my daughter's ka and the bent front subframe on my wife's mx5.

[Beans]

Result! Now time to enjoy the car

[kstrutt1]

Been using it a couple of days a week for the last month or so, only a couple of issues, the speedo has packed up (cable broken) and the wipers packed up because the thread where the tube screws on stripped, that was easily fixed with a new part for a couple of quid. Still to fit the speedo cable but that will wait until the minor is mobile and I can get it on the ramp, not a big issue as you can drive at any speed from about 15mph in top and that is 920rpm per 10mph.

[Hasbeen]

Great job there, well done.

However that sounds like ultra low gearing. My 7 does 33.5 Km/H per 1000 RPM, giving 100.5 Km/H [62.45 MPH] at 3000, with stock 5 speed transmission.

The 8 now does 100 Km/h at 2300 RPM , a bit high revving really for the 4.6L.

Hasbeen