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[SP450andLE]

Discuss: http://oldschool.co....-daimler-sp450/

So I've been putting off starting this thread for a while, as not much has been happening with Dad's Dart.

But recently I've had a boost of enthusiasm, and have started doing more bits and pieces on it.

So here's the specs...

>Originally an auto 1962 Daimler SP250 Dart.
>Engine converted (by Hans Ording from Mangonui) to the 4.5 V8 from the Daimler Majestic Major. These produces around 260 bhp from the factory, and 384nm of torque. But the the bhp is officially stated as being 220, because the Daimler dynamometer only went up to 220 bhp!
>Toyota Celica 5-speed gearbox
>Ford 9" rear diff
>XJ6 hubs in the rear
>14" steelies up front, 15" steelies at the rear


The car was raced by the previous owner (Jim Gilchrist from Birkdale) at Meremere, and used to get mid 12's to low 13's on street crossplies, and in full street trim, and would drive it to and from the track.

Recently I have been tidying it up, replacing all the yucky old bits, and we are getting closer to getting the engine started now.

I cant be bothered typing up what I have done so far, so I will leave you with some pics and a vid of the car...



















G3BXDDwSDYo

[SP450andLE]

Right, so...

The interior is now pretty much fully stripped.
After some sanding down, I will coat it all in primer, and repair the occasional patch of fibreglass.

Dad and I have decided it will be neat to skim all the interior with bog, to make it all smooth and fancy looking. I can get the proper flexy stuff used for fibreglass cars through my work, so I don't have to worry about it cracking.

After that's done, we can paint all the inside properly.

After we have fixed the rusted steel supports under the dash

Photos to come when I can be bothered putting them up...

[SP450andLE]

[SP450andLE]

Discuss: viewtopic.php?f=18&t=29191

Woo, update!

I finished stripping the interior last weekend.
Dash is all gone, and Dad will talk to his woodworking one about making a new one up, from solid (probably native) wood. Should be sweet.

Interior is now all ready for prime and paint

Oh and I picked some marine fuel hose up after yesterdays meet, so can stick that on, don't really trust the stuff that's on it atm.

Anyway, pics for kicks:



Surface rust to kill:



Strengthening to replace:



Dash to be gooooone soon:

[SP450andLE]

Small update.

I replaced some of the fuel hoses, but gave up in the end, because I had to take the rear wheel off to get to the rear connection. I couldn't get the wheel off 'cos the wheelnuts are bigger than your standard wheel brace sizes. And I didn't have all of my tools there. And I'm fairly sure I have no socket the right size anyway. So poos.

I also had a quick look underneath, and the chassis is getting a bit surface rusty. So will need to somehow fix all thast later on when it's not blocked in by an ugly R12 wagon.

No pics 'cos I'm slack.

Oh also, some mice have decided to make a home in the lhs sill(?) of the body. You can see them by the door hinges when ou open the door sometimes. Damn things won't go away.

[SP450andLE]

Discuss: http://oldschool.co....-daimler-sp450/

Oh my, an update (with words AND pictures)

I dragged this thing to the Ellerslie Concourse yesterday.

Here's a wall of text (that I've copied and pasted from an email I sent someone lols):

The show was just yesterday, and I had
brought the 450 down on Friday. Dad was excited to have something happen
with the car, and as he put it, he hopes it'll help to get his "mojo" back.
After a quick wash and clear out of most of the parts laying around inside
it, it was ready. So on Sunday morning I towed it to the show. Within 10
minutes of arriving in the showgrounds, I had had two people asking if I
was going to sell it - the reply to both was a firm "no". Being sat next to
4 tidy darts, among the numerous fully restored cars of various makes, the
450 really stood out. I had grabbed a bit of wood from home, covered it in
black vinyl and written the specs of the car on it in a white paint-pen a
couple of nights ago. I simply sat this board up against the right front
tyre (where most people seemed to stand to look at the car), and it really
worked as a way of letting people know it isn't just your standard dart.
The whole day was fantastic - brilliant sunshine (resulting in brilliant
red sunburn!), brilliant cars and a brilliant crowd - it really was
something to remember forever. So many people would come looking for the
owner of the 450 (which for the day was me, as Dad wasn't feeling well
enough to make a day trip down for the show), all with various tales to
tell. The most exciting thing was when a woman came up to me and said that
she used to live with Jim Gilchrist, the previous owner of the car. She's
going to give him my details and tell him to call me, which would be very
interesting as he used to drag-race the car and did the conversion to the
5-speed Celica gearbox, something I'm keen to learn more about. All in all
it was worthwhile making the effort to turn out for the show, it was all
that I expected and more.

So yeah, picture time:















Discuss: http://oldschool.co....-daimler-sp450/

[SP450andLE]

I tried to turn this over this today...

I got it cranking over by hand.

Then by rolling it in gear.

But no luck with the electrics. The starter motor just makes a whirring sound and does nothing

I guess I'll have to pull it out and rebuild it unless anyone else has any suggestions?

Discuss: http://oldschool.co....-daimler-sp450/

[SP450andLE]

I got this turning over properly today. No luck starting it though, I'll check if it has spark or not tomorrow if I have time.

I got a quick vid but I'm too lazy to upload it atm