Tim's 1966 Cortina GT 2 Door

[66gt]

Busy over the next day or so getting all the bits together to drop out to Greg for the trial fit up. Lights, Grille, Bonnet and hardware, Door hardware and NOS door skins, windscreen panel grill, front cross member. Bit the bullet and bought a new 3.77 CWP from Burton’s as well. I bought an alloy diff head hosing ages ago and a rebuild kit with all the bearings seals and collapsible spacer so will have a crack at setting it up myself. I mean what can go wrong haha

[66gt]

Another update. Front end pretty well done. Next job is to remove both rear quarters to make sure all clean and then sort the rear tail light panel. If anyone has a NOS one or an excellent panel let me know.

[66gt]

Starting to get the guards and front panel all ready for the final fit off and welding. Good to see a grille on the front again! I have sourced a NOS rear light panel so that should turn up in a couple of weeks and the last bit of the puzzle is the lower rear valence which is proving pretty elusive.

[66gt]

Few more pics

[66gt]

Went to have a look at the Cortina today and more good progress. Front end all fitted off ready for final gapping and welding. Rear quarters removed for dipping and the whole lot very clean underneath so well impressed. RHS boot floor needs a replacement section and then it’s  mount the body on the rotisserie for blasting before final rear panel fit off. 

[66gt]

Found these pics of the Cortina just after it arrived from Christchurch after buying it. An old Barry had owned it therefore the rags over the carb. He also had adapted an HQ Holden air cleaner to fit which I should have taken a pic of and was the first thing I threw in the skip followed closely by the mudflaps and door mirrors.

[66gt]

Some more pics

[66gt]

More progress with the boot floor being removed which showed up some rust in the rear chassi rails. One side has been repaired and the other well on its way.

[66gt]

Boot floor going back in. Once finished off on to the rotisserie for blasting before final weld off. Both rear quarters have been file finished and loo superb.

[66gt]

This arrived today. LSD.

[66gt]

Going to have a crack at setting up the diff myself. Quaife ATB, 3.77 gears, alloy head which weighs bugger all. What can possibly go wrong lol.

[66gt]

Shell is back from the blasters and ready for the final weld off. Rear quarters been dipped and already to go back on. A.l going well it should be in the paint shop by Xmas.... 

[66gt]

More progress! Getting exciting now seeing it coming together

[66gt]

Doors taken apart with skins removed and hinge plates. Frames off to the dippers. 

[66gt]

More progress with gapping the doors bonnet and boot. All welded back together again. Trial fitting allthe exterior body parts to check all good and also fitting the front and rear screens and rear quarter windows to check new rubbers all work.

[66gt]

Drivers door complete and only the boot lid to go and body work finished. Still trial fitting parts etc and once done it is off for the final blast and prime then off to paint.

[66gt]

Boot lid finished which pretty well completes the panel. It’s going to be a shame to paint it! Stainless trim already to go to the polishers.

[66gt]

Ore progress on trial fit up, installed glass but not happy with the new rear quarter window rubbers so looking at another supplier. Quarter bumper brackets need so work as well as bumpers don’t sit quite right.

[66gt]

Went and check out the rubber issue today and both front and rear screen rubbers don’t fit good and the rear quarter glass rubbers are average as well compared to the originals. Need to do some research to sort the best rubbers. Rear bumper I had rechromed has a couple of ripples in at as well so it’s off to get stripped and sort the ripples and chrome again argghh. It looked very straight when I dropped it off but the new chrome highlights any defects. The moulding fit off has paid off big time as quite a few of the mounting holes have had to be welded up and redrilled to get it bang on.

[66gt]

Been away lots lately so no progress on the rubbers. Back in NZ next week so need to get them sorted. Fitted off the front quarter bumpers and had to do a few adjustments to the brackets to get them sitting right. Unfortunately the left front one has had a crappy repair before caroming so it’s off to the strippers for that and the rear bumper and Greg will get them mint before getting chrome plated again.