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DerbyDreamer 21st February 2014 18:39

Another little project!
 
Evening all!

Thought I'd stop lurking and commit myself to publishing an introduction...

My name is Richard and I have been following the evolution of these beautiful machines over the last couple of years. Anyway, circumstances have, at last, conspired to allow me to start my build!

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-glJ1BkJexP...221_165415.jpg

The body arrived on Monday and I have been trial fitting on a 1964 Vitesse 1600 chassis that I bought late last year. Like all things four wheeled in my life, they have already started to breed and now I have a 1967 2 litre (Sunday night eBay...!). Looks like the first chassis has to go now so I might try on the for sale board, before resorting to fleaBay...is that the done thing here - don't want to turn it into a market stall :ohwell:

So far body is sitting on frame and I got the Spitfire tank in today. Planning rear luggage store next - looks like B&Q for plywood this weekend then.

Hope that I can provide the same level of detail that some of you guys have done - started a blog at http://migliaspeedster.blogspot.co.uk/ which seems to make photo linking easy.

That's all for now,

Richard

rattler 21st February 2014 19:09

hi d/d welcome chassis look good is it the green one for sale be good if you go on the location map rattler

DerbyDreamer 21st February 2014 19:22

Yep, the green one is for the off - 1964, 1600cc with V5 - chassis restored, engine will need a rebuild.

davecymru 21st February 2014 19:40

Welcome matey, good luck with the build! :)

mikmiglia 21st February 2014 19:44

Welcome Richard, i will have the extras in the post for you , early next week.

Looking great , how much was you looking for the chassis and v5 ??

Thurcroft flyer 21st February 2014 23:26

welcome Richard
I,m new to this forum posting myself should have no trouble selling the chassis it looks great, good luck with the build.

DerbyDreamer 22nd February 2014 06:50

Thanks for the welcome guys! Nice to be around such a nice bunch!

Mike - will test the pm thing about the chassis.

christinedmc 22nd February 2014 08:54

Hello Richard,

Welcome to the forum. You must have lot of ideas if you are thinking about your build for so long. I know I had!
What kind of overall look/result are you aiming for? For trackdays, for concours, period illusion, chique, personal free style, rat-look, replica, other?

With these builds, there are so many approaches that work well.

Michiel

DerbyDreamer 22nd February 2014 09:39

Hi Michiel

Sooooo many ideas! I am inspired by the OSCA and Maserati racers from the 1950's really. Much as my two boys would like a red one, I am thinking air force blue, maybe, but with stickers! Already have a pair of Morris minor lights (like the red one on the Miglia website) although thinking I might look at alternatives...guess I hope to end up with a car that looks the part without the need to win the lottery!

Back to the garage! Rear luggage box is today's project.

Richard

DerbyDreamer 23rd March 2014 15:07

Wheely good idea?
 
Just looking at wheels to be able to set my body height and whilst the cheap set of 15" TR6 wires that I got would be nice, by the time I have bought the adaptors, had them sandblasted, new tyres, tubes etc....you get my drift....

Anyway, in my travels on the forums, it seems that the MGF might be another source (don't worry not alloys!) as the spare wheels seem to be available quite cheaply with largely unused tyres; they look surprisingly like fifties Dunlop steels with lots of holes. Now, if I could source some fake spinners...

Anwyay, to get the point, they have 175/65/14 tyres on them - should this clear the chassis and will I still need to limit the steering lock as Mr T did? Also, they have a warning sticker on them saying max 50mph - I assume that this is because the other wheels on the MGF would be bigger wheels? I'm sure that 50mph will be enough in the Miglia but I might get confident in it one day!

Reading this back I could have said it more concisely...sorry! :tape2:

Thoughts appreciated...

Richard

rattler 23rd March 2014 16:12

hi dd my tyers are 175/70/14 I think thay fit spot on /mgb/14 inch wires/ about 110 mm clearance under the cherry bomb . hope this helps rattler

rattler 23rd March 2014 16:16

hi dd thay also miss the b/h by 10mm

DerbyDreamer 5th July 2014 16:40

Another little update!
 
Must be time for an update - lots of little jobs been going on...

Body shaped to fit over the chassis (was able to follow the flash lines in the gelcoat and it matched perfectly)

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ui8zYkKCXR...end+fitted.jpg

Lights and grille make a big difference...

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EcxGOb5XCC...headlights.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fHkAoj_vRk...tor+grille.jpg

Hours of procrastination needed to decide where to put the dials, but I eventually settled on a central array of instruments...

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9sr4RPXOgS...board+idea.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mRgDRFBE1W...ent+layout.jpg

Shaping the dashboard has made access easier, but I will still need to extend the gearshift, as I can't quite reach 1st and 3rd!

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6lveDIVm4Z...+dashboard.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P0YbG_yNFS...rd+profile.jpg

This central 'pod' will have an engine-turned aluminium panel to house the instruments, in the style of this custom Ford dash:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lVuF8IIcrt...-dashboard.jpg

Bought a sheet from Europa and shaped with bandsaw and holesaw:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1eAyozckhS...ment+panel.jpg

Wanting to keep the front end in the 50's style, I couldn't find any very small bullet sidelights as used on the Maserati A6 GCS, so I have settled on leaving the sidelights in the headlight bowls and I have been able to produce some indicator 'pods' on a 3-D printer which will incorporate an orange LED indicator (the pods will, of course, be blended and painted in body colour).

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-znwq-kRdpg...cator+pods.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XQsyK6e2pn...or+profile.jpg

I have also been able to get the doors hung (using classic mini door hinges) and chosen my bucket seats to keep the driving position low enough:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zKY5U_gejJ...oor+hinges.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rZ_nh9pXF-...2527s+seat.jpg

Need to work on lowering the rear suspension now and adjust the rear wheel arches to give an equal gap around the tyre on each side:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IB-iufSqLx...wheel+arch.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x_iYeJ98Ic...wheel+arch.jpg

I had originally thought about wire wheels but these proved to be very expensive to have reconditioned, so I settled on MGF spare wheels, which will have a dummy 'spinner' fitted:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JFm81TdEME...eel+detail.jpg

That's about it for now - hoping for the final pieces of the jigsaw soon, so that I can get the pedals, headrests and side vents fitted in the weeks ahead...

davecymru 6th July 2014 17:42

Looking like you're making some really good progress!
I'm very jealous and itching for my kit to turn up, but i know I've got a few little jobs to finish first :)

You went for the vertical-bar grill as well then! That seems to be fast becoming the Miglia std grill :)

DerbyDreamer 6th July 2014 20:28

Progress...if only!
 
Thanks Dave, although looking at your progress already, I think you'll get there first!

Quite motivated to create something like this Maserati A6 GCS:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ati_A6_GCS.jpg

Even managed to win a new/old bonnet badge on the Bay this week! Takes my mind off the bigger issues :ohwell:

Richard

Paul L 7th July 2014 17:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by davecymru (Post 57172)
Looking like you're making some really good progress!

+1 :cool:

Your seats & steering wheel look very similar to mine, so I will be interested to see how yours comes together.

Good luck, Paul. :)

Barry Stard 7th July 2014 20:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by DerbyDreamer (Post 57131)
Need to work on lowering the rear suspension now and adjust the rear wheel arches to give an equal gap around the tyre on each side:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IB-iufSqLx...wheel+arch.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x_iYeJ98Ic...wheel+arch.jpg

Blimey, that's even worse than my old Sammio body. Think I will stick with it after all

DerbyDreamer 11th October 2014 23:03

Progress!
 
Really impressed to see the progress of others (especially those who have only recently got their bodies and are already well on the way!) so thought I'd post an update...

Lots of bits came together over the Summer - doors on, rear swing spring and lowering block fitted, dashboard finalised. Oh, and a change of chassis - partly because I wanted a bulkhead and the rigidity that it has brought to the body...and the opportunity to fit a 2 litre engine (although the thought of the extra horses slightly worries me!)

Pleased to get the instrument cluster sorted (it is turned ally under the protective plastic)

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...pskowbs2nn.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psffjfwp3c.jpg

Front grille, indicators & badges sorted (I have the CAD drawing for the large oval grille badge if it's of any use :icon_exclaim:).

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psduju2gbn.png

Bulkhead fitted...

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psf1nzsbfp.jpg

Template made....

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...pstgardngf.jpg

and now just a small gap to fill (thinking I might shorten the bonnet)...

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psalub5jav.jpg

and lastly, got my head around the rear storage area, for that impromptu picnic!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psusjgyxqj.jpg

Still a mountain to climb but you guys are great motivators (& checking your progress keeps me motivated:amen:)

Richard

DerbyDreamer 8th August 2019 20:38

So...where did FIVE years go???
 
2 Attachment(s)
Verging on embarrassed that I have made such slow progress but...[insert appropriate excuse here]!!

Anyway...back on it now and had a productive few days.

One of the things I was procrastinating about was the lack of symmetry - those who are familiar with the Miglia will understand! I finally bit the bullet and performed surgery on the rear end today, with the result that I can now close both doors and put passenger seat back far enough to get a passenger in!

Before...

Attachment 6275

and after surgery... (no idea why the image is rotated...sorry!)

Attachment 6277

Before another five years goes by, I thought that I would seek advice from others who have split their bodies as to how to fill in the gap...do I need to work from underneath and if so, how best to ensure a decent surface finish that is going to be 'seamless'...all advice welcome.

Richard

Paul L 9th August 2019 10:16

Derby Dreamer – Welcome back Richard. :cool:

I made a similar cut to the rear of my car…

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k...o/DSCF3409.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-D...o/DSCF3410.JPG

With an extra slice off the driver’s side too.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3...o/DSCF3490.JPG

Whilst I initially used fibreglass brackets, I later switched to Builders Band which was much better for this kind of work.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ne...=w1154-h865-no

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

To get a “seamless” join, you will have to tackle the gap from both sides.

I used brown parcel tape as a release agent that the fibreglass matting will not stick to.

You can either simply put it on cardboard, or even some modelling mesh.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Q...o/DSCF3474.JPG
At first, I tried to work inside the gap created by the brackets on the outside.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5...o/DSCF3424.JPG

Before filling both the gap and joining the two sides together.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Q...o/DSCF3426.JPG

Note:
This was at an early stage and extra matting was added across the join as the real strength comes from below.

Later on, I put the brown tape across the join from the outside, held in place by the brackets.

Believe it, or not, but this mess gave me a smooth surface to work on the other side.
(Note: The use of parcel tape on a yoga mat to create a curve. )

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d...o/DSCF4198.JPG

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Once you have added strength to the inside surface, you can remove the brackets and tidy up the ‘sunny side’.

This shows that, initially, you will have ugly joins where the original body shell meets the new extension piece.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-k...o/DSCF3490.JPG

Note: The bracket holes have all been countersunk to help the fibreglass filler work better.

These photos from work on my doors give a better example of tidying up the join.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-s...o/DSCF2786.JPG

The small join gap is ground out into a “V” which is narrow and the bottom and wider at the top.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3...o/DSCF2788.JPG

To fill this, I cut out a selection of fibreglass strips in various widths.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-R...o/DSCF2794.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9...o/DSCF2795.JPG

Then I slowly built up the layers of matting in the V.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-V...o/DSCF2793.JPG

Before a final layer of filler to tidy things up a bit more.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-X...o/DSCF3022.JPG

By the time the sanding is finished and the primer is on, you can’t see the join on the sunny side.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9...o/DSCF3785.JPG

The photo above, also shows how the rear wing chop has also blended in.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Anyway, I hope that helps.

Also, as far as I am concerned, it doesn’t really matter how long you build take if you actually finish it.

As that first drive will make all the effort seem worthwhile. :cool:

Good luck, Paul. :)


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