Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[petelang]

I thought some of you might be interested in an ongoing (seemingly endless..) restoration of my 1933 Armstrong Siddeley Fifteen Long.
For a long time, I had the feeling there was something weak in the front body structure as driving over bumpy roads there were many annoying squeaks from the roof area and now I'm finally investigating. I'll post up more details of the rotten structure I found in another post but, all this work led me to remove the sliding roof assembly which was also falling apart and consistently jamming when opened. In consequence I've had to make a new roof salvaging what I can, with new Ash timbers where needed.
[img]Armstrong siddeley refurb 1933 long saloon https://imgur.com/gallery/2b3H29I[/img]
https://i.imgur.com/HnnT1vH.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/duxig58.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/uikIoWb.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/Q0FunaX.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/71kFdjJ.jpeg
The new covering replaces a well used vinyl cover. The material used will be a maring grade product called Sunbrella, cheaper than Double Duck and fade proof. This goes over an initial hessian base, wool wadding and a calico drape.
Photos show frame reassembly before paint and covering.
It's been a time consuming job!
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Daimler Fifteen 1934
Armstrong Siddeley 15 Long 1933
Daimler V8 250 1969

[petelang]

The body A posts were in a parlous state, as I discovered on removal of the metal cladding and the front apron panel.

[img]?https://i.imgur.com/mpfAKb7.jpeg[/img]

The thickness of the A posts both sides, was 1/3 missing and on the left side, all that was connected was a large wad of body filler. The irons however were still in place.

[img]A post Siddeley 15 https://imgur.com/gallery/q4l8fDD[/img]

New A posts were made by a local joinery firm about 2 years ago, from pattern pieces I salvaged from another identical car which was scrapped (body in even worse condition) and whilst they are a splendid job, they didn't quite get the angle of rake of the screen quite right such that the door interferes with the post at mid point. So, I have to steam bend both posts to make them fit.


Already attempted to make a steam tube and used a steamer mop to try it but not sufficient water capacity and it didn't deliver a constant flow of steam, so the Mk2 version will be with a wallpaper steamer. Having a go at that in a few more days.

The connection of the roof to the posts on both sides has been interfered with by previous bodged repairs. Much use of grp resin and a lack of screws, plus degraded timbers, it's no surprise that water leaked in and the structure rattled about.





[img]https://imgur.com/gallery/q4l8fDD[/img]

The drainage features are however interesting. The well in the roof is drained primarily by two tubes at the rear but, in event car is parked nose down on a slope, the rain must find a way out, so two small copper tubes were laid in, which channel it to the front tubes which were home made from copper 15mm tube, and they also were connected to a U channel traversing the front, just forward of the opening slider panel. All of it is in a bad state so will have to be remade, but I will follow the principle in effect with newer materials. I'm looking at aluminium profile sections.
New blocks are being made by hand, by me, to put some solidity into the upper corners, sufficient to mount the heavy front cant rail above the screen, and to tie into fixing to the new A posts.
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Daimler Fifteen 1934
Armstrong Siddeley 15 Long 1933
Daimler V8 250 1969

[Ray White]

My first impression is that it looks complicated.

I take my hat off to your tackling something that would scare off many a so called car restorer.

The difficult thing is keeping up the momentum when there are other demands on your time.

[badhuis]

How very good of you to tackle this and not let it deteriorate further!
It is a huge task but it seems you have it all under control. Not being in a hurry also helps a lot. Thank you for showing us an interesting repair.
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a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment

[petelang]

As a bit of added information, I belive this is an early Pytchley sliding roof, similar to quite a few Austin Sevens and other cars but on a bigger scale. It has the same hallmark handle recess at the front but not the locking handle which I would imagine came later.

Thanks for your compliment Ray. I guess this project is of similar scale to yours but I've only recently started, having waited until I retired to gear up and have the time.

I have been working on the car much of this year, beginning with a warm up exercise reconstructing the opening rear luggage rack. I knew it was poor but about a hundred working hours in, I only realised just how poor.
I dread to think how much has been spent on tooling alone as I started with only a basic DIY kit and now have all manner of kit, latest being a saw bench, bandsaw and much more.

I wanted to post up here but loading up the photos is a time burner job so as I'm having a day off today I got around to it at last.
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Daimler Fifteen 1934
Armstrong Siddeley 15 Long 1933
Daimler V8 250 1969

[petelang]

Here are a few shots of the rear end repairs.
The luggage rack is a cantilever arrangement which had never closed in the 15 years I owned it as it had been badly repaired before. As the hinge was falling off it had to be addressed. It normally carried a wooden box mounted on the platform.



Right Side previously has been replaced but the lower timber beam below was put in at a slight slant, made from mahogany, so the aperture was not square. This entailed peeling away the steel skin which they unfortunately bonded onto the timber, shaving off the extra to level it then panel beat the metal back to the wood.

This is the wood inside the door frame which I remade.

New and old on top.


New section let into left side, forgot to photograph before painted. The old bit riddled with rot and perforated like a pepper pot by old woodworm activity.


Had to replace the timber at the base of rear panel, joint to seat back




New alongside old

Finally installed


Finally, the finished article


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Daimler Fifteen 1934
Armstrong Siddeley 15 Long 1933
Daimler V8 250 1969

[Rootes75]

Thats a big job tacking that. Well worth it though.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.