Mini Resto for MOT

[Princejohny]

I had a nice pre Xmas pressie when K reg Stag passed MOT, a few days beforehand.
Bought it in summer as a stop gap run-around with a short MOT whilst 2 other Stags are sorted.
Started looking underneath in October and got a sinking feeling as the screwdriver started going into parts that it wasn't supposed to.
Just moved to house with suitable garage so rather than getting on with long term Carmine resto, got sidetracked with the white one...
Johny

[Princejohny]

DSCF5272 (1280x960).jpgDSCF5277 (1280x960).jpgDSCF5349 (960x1280).jpgDSCF5596 (1280x960).jpgDSCF5606 (1280x960).jpgHoles in both front chassis legs, sill corners, under front wheel arches...
Drivers side headlamp had weird beam. Was actually fitted upside down ?!
No side repeaters, they'd been disconnected.
Couldn't get the handbrake to quite grip. Turned out that someone had assembled the ratchet wrong...

[Princejohny]

DSCF5611 (1280x960).jpgDSCF5703 (1280x960).jpgDSCF5714 (1280x960).jpgDSCF5762 (1280x960).jpgDSCF5825 (1280x960).jpgWheels looked like they'd been pickled in salt,
Had replacement brake line front to rear with absolutely no clips,
Loose bolts on slave cylinder
Neatly trimmed driveshaft boot to allow for oddly fitting exhaust etc..

[Princejohny]

DSCF5836 (960x1280).jpgDSCF5872 (1280x960).jpgDSCF5877 (960x1280).jpgDSCF5879 (1280x960).jpgDSCF5880 (1280x960).jpgRusty collapsed inwards jacking point, twelve year old hard tyres...

[Princejohny]

DSCF5918 (1280x960).jpgDSCF5959 (1280x960).jpgDSCF6005 (1280x960).jpgDSCF6058 (1280x960).jpgDSCF6104 (1280x960).jpgMy home taught welding ain't pretty but it gets the job done.
Don't think prop had been greased for years.
Just had to swop the Stag badges around because they were running away!

[Princejohny]

Watched MOT and car had to have one of those compressed air wobble tests up on the ramp. Quite worrying watching it jump around...
Only failed on rear brake lights not bright enough when headlamps on.
Disconnected the night dimmer relay which sorted that.
This forum has been a mine of information. Thanks guys.
JohnyDSCF6164 (1280x960).jpgDSCF6175 (1280x960).jpgDSCF6180 (1280x960).jpgDSCF6181 (1280x960).jpgDSCF6199 (1280x960).jpg

[SGN]

Hi Johny

How did you "un-pickle" your wheels, I have my original set to clean up and I'm hoping someone will come up with an easy way to do them without too much elbow grease.

Cheers
Steve

[Princejohny]

Hi Steve,
I started with wire wool. Buy a big pack bacause it disappears.
It is really elbow grease and time.
The wire wool will eventually take off the surface corrosion and give a dull shine that's reasonable. You could metal polish them from here.
Better though to then rub with 300 wet and dry paper followed by 800, then 1200.
I used Auto sol metal polish after.
Three of the tyres kept losing pressure so I did them with the tyres off and rubbed down/resprayed the black inside.
You can still see pitting close up but my neighbour seriously thought that I'd bought new alloys so good result.

Hi Johny

How did you "un-pickle" your wheels, I have my original set to clean up and I'm hoping someone will come up with an easy way to do them without too much elbow grease.

Cheers
Steve

[martin]

Another Stag brought back from the dead. Respect ! Martin.

[Guest]

Did the MOT tester have very thick glasses?

[Princejohny]

He did put them on because of the shiny wheels
I agree with his brake light failure. Since then I've taken the holders apart to clean them, added new bulbs and they're quite acceptable. Still have to try the lens in the dishwasher trick, when the wife isn't looking...

Did the MOT tester have very thick glasses?

[Princejohny]

Thanks Martin. Have to say that after half an hour's rust hole investigation, I was beginning to think that's it was worth more in pieces...
Anyway, I went for it and it feels good. Still plenty to do outside on it.
Good welding practice for the other one...

Another Stag brought back from the dead. Respect ! Martin.

[nib]

Credit to you Johny.
Mark

[flying farmer]

Well done! It is surprising how fast nasty holes can be made to disappear with a welder, it always looks worse when you first start and the holes keep getting bigger
Neil

[Princejohny]

I like the bit where you've made the hole as big as it goes then you have to plan how to fill it, Neil.
Twenty years as a dentist and last ten renovating houses have the same principles, lol
Your praise is gratefully taken and I must point out that reading many of your previous stories gave me inspiration.

Well done! It is surprising how fast nasty holes can be made to disappear with a welder, it always looks worse when you first start and the holes keep getting bigger
Neil