Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

I think it is great and an education to see other peoples restorations and what they tackle. It ceases to amaze me. Half the battle I suppose is having the facilities and being able to do the majority of the work yourselves. Whereas with the likes of me I am doing what I can in my 16 by 9 garage or in the runway at the side of the house. When it comes down to welding and painting I have to get my mates to do it. I can do all the mechanical work myself but I would love to be able to do the full restoration myself.
However the oldest marina saloon on the road has now had all the bodywork done and is going for a repaint next week. Cool

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Greeney in France · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 7:31 am Post subject:

We have all been there though My S'Type was rebuilt in a 17ftx9ft garage and I painted it in a railway arch garage of a friend, its all a part of the fun, you just learn to be more methodical
Cool

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Uncle Joe · Guest

Probably the three areas that most people have trouble with are welding, painting, and the interior.

Welding is a lot easier to carry out now thanks to MIG/MAG welders, than it was years ago when all that was available was gas or stick. I would expect that evening classes are available in most places to help people learn. Its well worthwhile to go on such a course and buy a good welder. If for no other reason than its a good way of picking up some extra cash, welding for mates.

Painting is something that takes a lot of patience and hard graft, but I think that most people can learn it. 2K paints are not really suitable for use at home, but can be used with suitable safety equipment. WBP's are coming onto the market now, and in my opinion, these are well suited to home use even in a small garage. Space can always be gained by putting the project on dollies.

The final one, interior, is a bit more difficult. Though seats covers and things can be sewn with a good commercial (home) machine, it really needs an industrial type. These use 3 phase, which is not generally available in UK homes, but the one thing that frightens a lot of people is the fact that they can do 10 000 stitches a minute...with one of these though, a lot of money can be picked up doing such jobs as sewing curtains...It ight be a good way of getting the wife involved also.

Greeney in France · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 7:47 am Post subject:

I do agree with UJ even though he hasnt sent me a picture of his beret yet Shocked

Painting is quite forgiving, I have seen people spray in the garden with gnats and bugs in it, flat it out and still win concours
Welding has never been easier
Again I did my own SType interior first time I had ever used a machine, in fact I did it twice as the first time I couldnt get a rear seat pucker out
I will disagree with UJ on one point though industrial machines are not all 3phase in fact most are 240V I have seen for sale
Good old ebay sells them all the time for 100+ I am after one but cant until I know someone is coming over to visit me
ANYONE fancy a free holiday with all the food wine drink and cars you can manage Rolling Eyes

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peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7118 Location: Edinburgh

UJ is probably correct in saying that you need an industrial sewing machine for interior work but a good old domestic Singer will get you there with a bit of a struggle.

I restitched a lot of my leatherwork and made a leather doorskin from scratch with my wife's sewing machine. I got through dozens of needles when stitching through three layers of leather but it's not impossible.

All of my work was done in a lock-up with 12" of free space around the car.

Peter

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1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

Uncle Joe · Guest

Thats my point, Peter. It CAN be done on a home machine. As you say, it just takes time and lots of needles.

Industrial machines just make it more fun. If one can be bought for £100 or even double that, go for it. Make sure it has a walking foot though, they do make life easier, as I'm sure Greeney will agree.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22439 Location: UK

Hi Peter

Great set of photographs there!! thanks for posting Smile

R
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peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7118 Location: Edinburgh

Thanks Rick, I think most of the pics are self explanatory except maybe the boot lid lock barrel.

This was the usual broken mazak item. I bought a little piece of 1/4" brass plate and brazed a modified brass plumbing fitting onto it and with a bit of sawing and filing managed to make a tolerable copy of the original. I got it chromed in a batch with a number of other mazak replacements all made with ordinary hand tools. The biggest such item was also made from 1/4" thick brass, namely one of the chrome strips along the back doors. Sawing the 2 foot length of brass was hard work but it's very satisfying making repros of unobtainable parts.

Peter

See rear door below:

Brass plumbing fittings are great. I also made the chrome strip for the front driver's door and brazed another plumbing fitting on it to form the lock keeper.

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Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22439 Location: UK

Fascinating stuff, if it isn't too much trouble it would be interesting to see a step-by-step guide to some of these one-off jobs, such as re-making something from brass, in the relevant forum category. Concise, hands-on threads like that, describing a particular problem or job from start to finish, are what make a forum really worthwhile Smile

Rick
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Uncle Joe · Guest

Just a thought, but wouldnt such jobs be worthy of a section on the main site? Or even a special section on here?

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7118 Location: Edinburgh

Hi Rick,

I'm sorry I don't have any photo record of making the chrome strips or some of the other parts that I made. I guess the point is that you can remake quite a lot of parts (especially for older cars) with just basic hand tools.

Not really what you were asking for but I did write up a few other overhaul jobs and stuck them in my web page. If you scroll down past the photo set
there are a few links to those articles.

http://www.scottpeter.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ss_jaguar.htm

Peter
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1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22439 Location: UK

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7118 Location: Edinburgh

Hi Rick,

If you want to kick it off with the my gearbox and rear axles write-ups then feel free to copy a paste from them.

http://www.scottpeter.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/new_page_1.htm
http://www.scottpeter.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/new_page_2.htm

I'll email the photos to you.

Peter
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1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

Greeney in France · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 5:57 pm Post subject:

Walking foot is indeed a must, doesnt need to be an overlocker though

Bloody Mazak (french call it zamak) I hate the stuff, not easy to have rechromed either
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