Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rivet_101]

Last summer I went to Iain's place in Worcs to learn a few tricks at his restoration workshop. He made me some inner wings pieces to replace completely rusted away ones on my van. He showed me how it was done on a stetcher and then I made one. Terrifically satisfying.

http://www.fairmilerestorations.co.uk/





(I am the one in the salmon shirt, with less hair!)

[Rick]

Hi Rivet

Neat pictures, I've seen Iain's repair panels (I think it was at Tatton one year) and they look fab. Any more pics?

Rick.

[Rivet_101]

Hi Rick

I have one or two for my research but they would be pretty meaningless to most. But among them is this one which shows Iain holding my inner wing supports (originals were part of the cab side, so integral...not added on as mine must be).

They have to be welded to the inside of the cab and then wings are offered up to them and bolted in.

(sorry, I still don't know how to compact my pics so they don't stretch the screen)

[Rick]

I'm sure similar repair sections for E83Ws would be very popular if they went into production!! I'm always being asked about screen surrounds, lower rear body repairs for the vans, front wings, and so on!

Rick

[Rivet_101]

Hi Rick

(I just got back from a week away)

I bought a stretcher and a shrinker from Frost. They were not cheap, but they are probably the cheapest available. You can buy the lever tool and then get the shrinker and stretcher jaws to drop in, but in my experience, when you are making a part like the ones in this thread, you need to be able to alternate the two too often for this to be practicable, so I bought two of the tools and both sets of jaws and got a reduction as it was a large order. That way I can alternate between stretcher and shrinker with ease....just by putting whichever tool in my vice (though you could have two vices too!).

Even as an amateur novice I find you can make some pretty effective parts....and I anticipate being able to make screen surrounds myself, having made a pretty decent radius repair on one screen.

[Rivet_101]

I paid for these with proceeds from the sale of crap on ebay...which is how I have paid for all my tools so far...though even my supply of crap is finite.

The scuffing of the stickers shows where they have been put in a vice, though I ought to fix them to an angle iron which can be more easily gripped in a vice, as this method slips a bit.

[iain]

Hi folks! Just discovered this site! Thanks for the nice comments about the panels (and hair!)

The shrinkers look nice - always appreciative of nice new tools, mine have had a hard working life, not particularly in my hands, but a previous 'generation'...
cheers
Iain

[Rivet_101]

Hi iain
Glad you found the site. Havey says he'll publicise it in the next club mag, which will be good because the more people here, the more sharing of knowledge....which is thin on the ground.

I see your own site is being "restored". Looking forward to seeing it in concours condition.

Peter

[Rivet_101]

HaRvey, I mean!