63Ragtop

cheers man, got plenty to do thats fa sure.

wait wait, an actual update as well!box fresh out the acid.and new starter motor, 2 speed wiper switch and many small things, fresh out the metric nut.

forgot how tiny it is! I can stand at the front and reach the windscreen!Honda is allowed back in the shed(can fit back in)can't wait to get some weight in it and correct the stance.

Cheers boys! I've had the 2speed motor for ages, since I converted to 12 volt, but never got around to fitting a switch. Keen to give those new tunnels a good reaming out!!! My exhaust has no baffles left. Need a stinger for maximum fart lolz and car alarm setting off.

looks like they're doing it right with the stud puller thingy, instead of an inch of bog, which is nice.

tiz the fastest colour. cheers rich, hoping to have it running soon. job list-bolt body down.paint and install new steering box.install and connect steering column and wheelFinish wiring, install 2speed wiper switch, find wire connectors for rear lights.also install front indicators in headlights, wire up headlightsmake wiring work! find grounds?paint and install gas tank.plumb soft fuel lines.install windows and rubbers and door glass mechs.fit stainless hinge screws.run door light wiring and install rubbers and switches.acquire and install interior light.- anyone have a nice old 2nd hand one??guess I'll need some seats?spray interior panels black and installinstall seat belts.install gear shifter.clean up ragtop mech and install.acquire new ragtop cover.clean, paint and install rear view mirror and sun visors.clean up and install running boards.polish and install chrome side trim and witches hats.and bonnet trim and badge.install bumpers.install rear engine bay seal.find four more wheel nuts to replace the lock nuts I lost the key to.and then there's the engine...

and thanks to Darrell, his Father, Fatherinlaw and my brother...I don't usually do this butthis guy is a happy ass me!and Felix thinks it pretty cool.It all went pretty smooth, except for nearly smashing the new MC fluid res(which is full of brake fluid now!) with the body and forgetting to move the gas pedal and bending the shit outta it, but no scrapes or dents, the shell is much heavier with all the fenders and doors etc, and I can hammer the pedal flat again.yee haww

so while the steering box is getting acid washed, more polishing.more stuff no one will see.buttoned up the tail lightsmore polishing.and jammed it in.more allan nuts.ground control to major tom.Commencing countdown, engines on.Check ignition and may God's love be with you.

many late nights, much caffeine.I noticed my ol' box has been leaking oil from the input? shaft, just sitting in the shed, not so good.so I pulled out the spare and it actually feels smoother that to one on the pan, so I'm going to use that one instead.splitters cleaned up okay.getting to grips with the huge amount of wire in a 60's volkswagen this might actually work!soon.

Got these.and the grill meshdipped next door, gave the mesh a lick of same grey I used on the pan parts.rear seat bolts, the ODC is real.yes I cleaned the inside of the trims, flash shows it up, it actually pretty subtle.my 67's old gas gauge.cleaned up well, shame it doesn't do much!steering column cleaned up.painted the bottom as it was very rusty.also sanded and paint the column tube and indicator arm gloss black, plus the other bits and bobs gray also.very happy, been wanting to do that for years, even before I took it off the road.more stainless buttom head hex bolts.

Now wiring is something I know nothing about, yet.what I do know is this is how I got the new loom from the back of the car, to the front.it was not easy, there is a tight spot somewhere up above the rear seat area, I used alot of masking tape, duct tape and vaseline to get that sucker up to the interior light and snap! went the old washing line I was using to pull it though.Luckily I had run another wire for future rev counting, I actually ended up pulling the loom out of the interior light hole,use the loom its self to pull it though the tight spot, re-tapeing it to the line and then pull it though the A pillar. look how clean that speedo it!!!engine hole.need to clean these up.

Started prepping the pan for final contact.body seal nailed downseems most people glue these in place now, but I never seem to have good luck with glue, always takes ages, makes a fuckin mess and never really works, for me. I don't even know how I got these little bastards, but they are just the same as the factory tacks but cad plated or something, should last another 40 years.I never welded up the old holes so I just had to pop them tough the rubber and bang em into the pan, done.Darrell had a hole punch, so I did that and lined up all the bolts.tricky bit round the back.reinstalled the old copper/brass fuel line, after a polish of course.using p clips and stainless screws to hold it in place.battery stuff.and that's the pan ready.

Moving on.Headlight switch can up really nice, no one will see that either.same with the fusebox.speedo was feeling left out now.the face of the speedo was pretty sweet,so I wasn't going to bother opening it up, worst bits where the green film in the arrow had burned away, from the mighty 6volt bulb behind it I would imagine.So I was dreaming about how nice the speedo will like in my freshly painted dash and got distracted with body grommets under the dash, so I had placed the speedo on the wooden body frame, that's when I heard a sicking sound of something glass hitting the concrete as I knocked the speedo off it perch! smash!Unbelievably nothing broke, the chrome trim popped off, the glass rolled around the floor! could not have do it if you tried. and now I could clean the small bit of rust of the bottom of the black ring inside.and with that, and the wipers in, the dash was starting to take shape.also started running some wires.the money shot.

Very cool stuff! easy when you're just reading it quickly on the interwebs huh? lots of work in this old esky, well done. You're very lucky having a old man with the skills, tools, knowledge and mates he has, I had to bumble about with shit for years and you're still ahead of me I think! Hopefully I can do the same for my kids one day. keep it up, great reading this thread.

Ow man, to have access to those tools you have, and be able to use them like you. dash is coming out sweet.

A mate of mine saw a crash there, older guy in a new mustang backed into a young fulla's maxi or something, holy stereotype.

Yeah man, using that copper eze stuff, chur. Git'er done!

Stupid update #3Thought I'd save Darrell the shit job of bolting up the front fenders as some dickhead (me) thought Stainless allen head bolts would be "cool" pointless photo. shitty photo.they do look pretty, I hope I never have to touch them again, the ones up behind the headlight buckets were pigs!Started cleaning up all the dash components, ignition switch came up awesome! love the solid old quality these old "economy" cars have. I got a dip switch off tedz awhile ago, which I had also cleaned up and fitted.My original switch fucked out years ago and was replaced with a modern version which when used would make this hollow boing! sound. the lovely old one makes a very satisfying "click clack" like a small rifle being loaded. much better.had to test fit the tail lights. yeah.did a few other wee things like fitted the engine lid seal, polished up the dirty old fuel line and started to suss fitting that, also pulled the new wiring loom out of its box for the first time, would like to try and feed it through the roof before I stick the body back on the pan.

So the bolts were exactly were I left them. these two are getting all pally, who knows what it may lead to.... could be the start of a beautiful thang.

Yep, that's choice. needs neons and doof doof.

Darrell came over and gave me a hand last night, Cheers D.Progress was hampered by my dumbass misplacing the pivot bolts for the bonnet hinges. I did get the engine lid on at least.

Wait, What? Skyline on the road Ed? good shit.

I guess the bog is really just a big ass guide coat, so you can see what you're doing without going though the good paint in the surrounding area. the beast! I went down to the paint shop at got some 1000-1500 paper and polishing gunk, the old fulla there says I'll have to leave the enamel paint for about 3 months before I can sand and buff it out as it needs to be dry and hard all the way though to shine after buffing? Was hoping to sand and buff it before assembly, looks like I'm building a car this weekend!

5 speed will be a good upgrade. Nice work on the MGB, I've always like the look of those, very pretty wee things for a 70's pom-mobile.