Fatbloke builds a Spyder - Page 15

Paul L · #**281** 26th June 2016, 06:38

FatBloke - Great job on the boot lid.

I guess you can keep chipping away at the rest of the "lemon peel" a few hours at a time.
( Rather than trying to do the whole car in one go. )

Good luck, Paul.

fatbloke · #**282** 26th June 2016, 15:34

My wife goes in for a knee replacement at the end of July so I will be taking a couple of weeks off to help her recuperate. I hope that this will give me a bit of time to get the car sanded and polished, although she might have other ideas

Jaguartvr · #**283** 26th June 2016, 22:02

If you get her a wheelchair of the correct height, she could remain seated and wet sand the lower half of the car.

ned · #**284** 27th June 2016, 12:34

looking really good like the colour too

fatbloke · #**285** 27th June 2016, 14:51

Jaguartvr - I'll suggest it. If I post a selfie with a black eye then you know it hasn't gone well.

For those thinking of the hard top solution, here's a profile shot. Like many others, the bloody roof has cracked across the front so I have to work on that.

Jaguartvr · #**286** 27th June 2016, 14:57

Don't the headlight covers finish it off. Looks similar in colour to a Primrose E-Type.

Ollie · #**287** 27th June 2016, 17:19

Its a convertable, and by their very nature, the scuttle / windscreen will shake, and the car will flex way more than any tin top, so filling any join between hardtop will not work, no matter how hard you try. Sorry. (and yes i drive an MX5, with and without a hardtop, and i'm also a bodyshop technician / painter..)
The best bet is just to settle for a join and live with it.
If you look at Hilltop Automotives thread, He's actually creating a small join where the roof joins the A pillar, and that seems like great idea to me, its what i'd do too......
Sorry to bear bad news, but well done with your build and paintjob..!

fatbloke · #**288** 27th June 2016, 17:47

Thanks Ollie. I have bolted roof on rather than relying on the over locking catches but I understand your point. I may look for a way to disguise it.

Paul L · #**289** 28th June 2016, 06:12

FatBloke - Sorry to hear about the roof crack, hope you can sort it out.

I've updated the photo of your car on the useful info "sticky".

Going from this:

To this:

Is a seriously impressive transformation.

Good luck, Paul.

mazdarazmataz · #**290** 28th June 2016, 07:00

Thanks for that photo, gives me motivation to finish mine!

mazdarazmataz · #**291** 1st July 2016, 15:08

What kind of reactions is she getting?

fatbloke · #**292** 1st July 2016, 20:18

Pretty good, it certainly turns heads. I think it's a combination of the colour and the virtually straight through exhaust.

The only place it's got a bit of a "meh" reaction is where my youngest son works. But then they have a number of MK1 Lotus Cortinas, Lotus Elan's a Lamborghini Uracco, a Broadspeed Capri and a couple of Lola Le Mans cars from the 70's (amongst other things) so my efforts with a kit car don't do much for them.

Lucky@LeMans · #**293** 2nd July 2016, 20:44

The Lotus Elan and Lola are no more than kit cars anyway !

Lucky@LeMans · #**294** 2nd July 2016, 20:49

I live near Malvern where they turn out 15 or so "kit Cars" every week. Built by blokes in sheds from kits of parts the Morgan's are by their very nature "Kit Cars". Don't ever tell a Morgan owner though they are such though !!!

Mitchelkitman · #**295** 3rd July 2016, 09:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucky@LeMans

I live near Malvern where they turn out 15 or so "kit Cars" every week. Built by blokes in sheds from kits of parts the Morgan's are by their very nature "Kit Cars". Don't ever tell a Morgan owner though they are such though !!!

When working at a leading sports car manufacturer's development dept I was told by a fellow engineer (who really should have known better) that Morgans had a wooden chassis. He wouldn't be convinced either!

Mister Towed · #**296** 3rd July 2016, 12:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitchelkitman

When working at a leading sports car manufacturer's development dept I was told by a fellow engineer (who really should have known better) that Morgans had a wooden chassis. He wouldn't be convinced either!

Wooden chassis in a Morgan? What a ridiculous idea, this is the 21st Century, after all.

No, since modernising their production facility in Malvern they now use MDF -

Mitchelkitman · #**297** 3rd July 2016, 13:08

I hope you're jesting, in as much that the chassis is steel (or ally in the latest models) and the framework for the body is indeed wood (as it's always been). Except for the very rare GRP bodied one (IIRC called the plus 4 plus?) - not popular at the time and rarity now means they are hugely priced I believe.

Jeff H · #**298** 3rd July 2016, 13:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitchelkitman

I hope you're jesting, in as much that the chassis is steel (or ally in the latest models) and the framework for the body is indeed wood (as it's always been). Except for the very rare GRP bodied one (IIRC called the plus 4 plus?) - not popular at the time and rarity now means they are hugely priced I believe.

Yes you are correct.

Alloy or steel for the chassis, Ash wood for the frame only, No MDF, cant see that lasting too long.

Lucky@LeMans · #**299** 3rd July 2016, 15:05

The earlier cars weren't even treated , they rotted out very quickly . The later cars did get dipped which helped a lot. The wood is still part of the structure of the car so very important . Many of the panels in current cars are pre formed and nearly ready to fit. Fit and finish has been questionable in recent years, since Charles was knocked from the top position.

fatbloke · #**300** 3rd July 2016, 17:40

They rebuilt one on Wheeler Dealers a few years ago and it used marine ply for the floor. I suppose it's easier to replace as it rots away...