completely dismantling a Stag - sequence?

[Rubce]

Hello

Had an experienced Stag welder (thanks for the recommendation Bruce) look atcar tody. The news is not good. Bodyshell is U/S.

Can anybody advise me on a logical sequence in which to completely dismantle the car with the end result being a totally bare bodyshell mounted on the suspension (purely for movement purposes)?

Thanks

Bruce

[Bob Heritage]

imported post

Start by putting the kettle on

[Rubce]

imported post

Bob Heritage wrote:

Start by putting the kettle on

That goes without saying along withgetting the chocolate biscuits out!

[Kevin Garrod]

imported post

The only advice I could give is to take photos at every stage along the way.

[StagnJag]

imported post

Have plenty of cardboard boxes handy so you can group bits together so you can find it all again!

[DJT]

imported post

StagnJag wrote:

Have plenty of cardboard boxes handy so you can group bits together so you can find it all again!

Bubble wrap, tape, labels, permanent markers, notebook, digital camera.

Interior

Engine/gearbox

Exterior trim/chrome

Leave front/rear suspension till last so you have a rolling shell.

Alternatively - buy another

Good Luck!

Dave

[mad cyclist]

imported post

are you planning on getting a new caror shell, my advice for whats its woth if your shell is knacked ,is to break yours get as much cash together and buy another, you could be on the road in a month or two

[Rubce]

imported post

Don't suppose any of you guys know of a good quality spare shell which is available?

I am un-decided what to do with my car yet.

Might break it up for spares to sell and then purchase another car (out of the frying pan into the fire springs to mind).

I might use it aas adonor car if I can locate a good shell (my preferred option)

Least preferred option is to repair the existing shell due to the cost and length of time it will take.

Shame, as from above she looks very tidy whilst the underneath looks like the Somme

Bruce

[alan_thomas]

imported post

My opinion for what its worthis to get justenough welding done to get the car MOT'd and then enjoy it. Shell swaps sound likea good idea but unless you are superhuman they usually mean a long slow path to disillusionment and finally abandonment whilst on the way you will spend large sums of money you will never recover.

Once you realize you will never have a show car life becomes easier, no obsession with paint scratches, no spending a fortune on pristine chrome. If you do want these things my advice is spend over £10k on a car where someone has already done it, If you cannot afford that then realistically you cannot afford to reshell and build up.

Even if money isn't a problem the other problem of space (you need at least twice the space of a single car, preferably under cover) andyour time (have you got hundreds of hours of spare time?) will defeat most people,so my advice would be look around, find someone who will get it through a MOT for reasonable money then decide, sell or keep.

- Alan

[Sheepdip]

imported post

Having been down this depressing route with the car still in primer after 12 years and all my time taken up with another now I agree with the others. Unless its sentimental, if its bad then breaking it and buying another is best option.

In my case I ended up with full front to back and boot floor pan/inner and outer sills, replacement rear suspension arches, thepanel above the big suspension rubbers, the front suspension members - it went on - isyours as bad?I would also suggest removing suspension if only to replace to check there are no hidden gremlins.

If you go down the repair route my outstanding recommendation would be to only repair whats nescessary rather than replace panels and to remove paint from one work area at a time then primer immediately afterwards (can take off prior to repaint) - I took all the underseal and paint off mine then left it in despair for a year...even in a garage it badly rusted in this time.

[Sheepdip]

imported post

Having been down this depressing route with the car still in primer after 12 years and all my time taken up with another now I agree with the others. Unless its sentimental, if its bad then breaking it and buying another is best option.

In my case I ended up with full front to back and boot floor pan/inner and outer sills, replacement rear suspension arches, thepanel above the big suspension rubbers, the front suspension members - it went on - isyours as bad?I would also suggest removing suspension if only to replace to check there are no hidden gremlins.

If you go down the repair route my outstanding recommendation would be to only repair whats nescessary rather than replace panels and to remove paint from one work area at a time then primer immediately afterwards (can take off prior to repaint) - I took all the underseal and paint off mine then left it in despair for a year...even in a garage it badly rusted in this time.

[Seaking]

imported post

Think there is a good shell in triumph world this month a red one all painted about £2,500 cannot recall if it was all there but i belive most was.I brought a unfinnished project last september still rebuilding it very small garage (mistake) i can see the end in sight (another 12 months). but learning a good deal about my stag.

[Bob Heritage]

imported post

Bruce

The advice above all makes sense, what is the actual welding that needs doing? you have already said it does not go into the sills.

[Gresley]

imported post

Hi Bruce

My advice is to label everything unless you know the car really well. When I stripped my estate, I needed it mobile so I took all trim and removeable panels off and then stripped the interior, removed the glass, lights etc. Only when I was ready to rebuild the engine did I remove it (and the driver's seat!). I'm fairly confident with the 2000 range as I have had them for years, I think I would tackle a Stag in a similar way but with lots less confidence!! Still being new to Stag ownership I don't know it too well yet

Brian

[GDPR]

imported post

alan_thomas wrote:

My opinion for what its worthis to get justenough welding done to get the car MOT'd and then enjoy it. Shell swaps sound likea good idea but unless you are superhuman they usually mean a long slow path to disillusionment and finally abandonment whilst on the way you will spend large sums of money you will never recover.

Once you realize you will never have a show car life becomes easier, no obsession with paint scratches, no spending a fortune on pristine chrome. If you do want these things my advice is spend over £10k on a car where someone has already done it, If you cannot afford that then realistically you cannot afford to reshell and build up.

Even if money isn't a problem the other problem of space (you need at least twice the space of a single car, preferably under cover) andyour time (have you got hundreds of hours of spare time?) will defeat most people,so my advice would be look around, find someone who will get it through a MOT for reasonable money then decide, sell or keep.

- Alan

This is superb advice, Bruce - get it welded good enough to MOT and use, and if you really want a project Stag, get a shell, get it sorted andpainted ready for refit and then, and only then, swap your happily running bits over.... when I did a MGB shell job, from start to finish it took me 200 hours over the course of 2 weeks..... it was a slog and some late nights but with the new shell ready by the side of the rusted car it meant it was much easier to remember where everything went as they didn't kick around in boxes for months.

Russ:dude: