Tim's 1966 Cortina GT 2 Door

[66gt]

Progress on the lower right rear quarter. Need to drop some more parts to the powdercoater and plater.

[66gt]

Bugger all progress apart from restoring the door handles. More parts to go to the powdercoater and zinc plater man this week.

[66gt]

I have finished the pedal box and installed billet crank and water pump pulleys. The body work has ground to a complete halt after the owner of Custom Metal Shapers was banged up in jail for 2 years about a month ago. Pretty fucked off about the whole thing so I'm currently working on getting someone else to finish it. I was hoping to have had it just about on the road now however I can see it being another 12 months away at this rate. Bloody frustrating however it is was it is

[66gt]

Rebuilt the headlights today with mostly NOS parts. Should have who is going to complete the bodywork sorted in the next couple of weeks after the CMS fiasco.

[66gt]

Stripped an old gearbox for the main case and then stripped and cleaned the mainshaft etc ready for reassembly. Hopefully I should get the mainshaft assembled tomorrow and it all installed in the case.

[66gt]

Finally assembled the gearbox last weekend. Here's the main case ready for the internals

[66gt]

Assembled the mainshaft all new bearings and fitted the needle rollers to the laygear.

[66gt]

Put in the lay gear and input shaft. Used a bit of weed eater cord to lift the lay gear into plus once the mainshaft installed so the layshaft can be slid in. Also used alloy input shaft housing and rear mainshaft bearing carrier.

[66gt]

Used new gear selector forks as the old ones had nice big wear grooves which causes the box to jump out of gear. Put in the selector rods and then wired the rod securing bolts.

[66gt]

One complete box ready for action. Body work will start again in a couple of weeks so looking forward to finally getting progress

[66gt]

Picked up my BRM 4 spokes today fully refurbed. Thanks to Nigel & Dan from Manukau Auto & Tyres for the top notch workmanship as always. You want your classic wheels restored these guys are the best.

[66gt]

Finally work is about to start on the body again. Greg from R3 Fabrications is going to complete it. Dropping it out next weekend and full steam ahead. 

[66gt]

It's all go on the bodywork finally. All parts sourced except a NOS rear panel as it's been tapped in the rear at some stage and the RHS tail light tilts in. Plan going forward is to get the body ready for paint and then bolt in the running gear to make sure it's all sitting right. I'm running lowered suspension with adjustable Spax Shocks all round I and will get the rear leaves reset as I don't want to use lowering blocks. Then I will remove the running gear and off to paint. I bought a Mk 1 4 door ages ago which was dismantled and the body turned out to be a stunner when blasted. So I got all the front end for mine and the floor went into another Mk 1 2 door.

[66gt]

Progress with the front being mocked up and all the points are spot on. A long way to go yet but moving in the right direction at last.

[66gt]

Excellent progress happening on the front end. All stripped and ready to go to the blasters and then the big reassembly. Everything as far as possible will be spot welded as per original and all internal cavities treated so it won't ever rust again in my lifetime. One of the A pillars was still all factory untreated steel inside from 50 years ago. No wonder they all used to rust bigtime. Sills are all done and come from the 4 door we chopped up ages ago. These have been modified with the correct 2 Door drains etc so exactly as per original. Also the repro underwing kits turned out to be pretty average, they would be fine for a race car, so fortunately the originals with a bit of cleanup have come out mint. Bloody annoying you pay big bucks for repro panels and they turn out to be a shit fit and need lots of rework to get anywhere near fitting.

[66gt]

Battery tray getting a trial fitting. I need to start seriously looking at getting a painter lined up! Any reccomendations welcomed.

[66gt]

Great progress with front end coming together! The original firewall was creased so the recess,s on the red section needed to be transferred to the new fire wall section. It would appear these were introduced to late Mk 1 for Mk 2 production as my 65 GT doesn't have them. 

Front end back together after all separated parts repaired or fabricated new.
All parts blasted and all inner box sections painted in 2k black and all flanges zinc primed.
Will also be using panel bond on some of the areas prone to corrosion for extra protection and strength.
Looking at moving on to windscreen panel repairs next and have complete front end mocked up, guards, bonnet etc.

[66gt]

Off to check progress tomorrow so will post some pics. We are using my Mk 1 4 door GT as a reference for all the corrrect mounting holes in the engine bay etc so once that's done I think I'll sell the 4 door GT. it needs a full restoration and after having done this 2 door I don't think I'll ever get round to doing it. In saying that I'll probably change my mind next week lol.

[66gt]

Cortina is looking epic with the front end all together. Both A pillars all repaired and the sills back on ready for final welding. Next job is fitting the front guards and front panel.

[66gt]

Off the jig amd next up is the doors and bonnet fitting before the rear end is tackled.