THIRD POST - APRIL 2011 - WHERE TO START?

First job has to be the production of a rough schedule to fit into the time frame allowed.  The detail between each stage can be filled in later.
First stage and target for the end of July is:

• List all missing parts and instigate searches through contacts / eBay etc.
• Establish new parts / panels required for the body and decide on procedure
• Reference body to chassis with measurements and "pin hole" reference points etc.
• Remove Body and fit to temporary chassis jig.
• Decide on process to take complete body back to bare metal and instigate
• Deliver bare metal body to body shop for long term (1 Year ?) process
• Prepare workshop for next stage - Chassis strip.

There is some pretty boring stuff in the above list and the potential to stall at this early stage is high.  The solution for me is to punctuate the boring stuff with interesting "sub-projects" i.e. restoring a particular part that simply takes your fancy.  There is however, a golden rule - ONE BIT AT A TIME -  The temptation to tear into and dismantle endless bits must be avoided at all cost.  I'm sure that Europe and the USA are awash with failed restorations, where the next job is always seen as another bit to dismantle. The car is then sold on in bits and the next owner starts with even further dismantling!

So - Looking at the list above, finding the missing parts will be ongoing which takes us to an appraisal of the body - just how good is it?  (note the glass half full approach)

From the A post forward every panel is straight and solid with a
little surface rust here and there.  Some filler around bumper mounting
bolt holes, but bulkhead, wings and headlamp pods are excellent.

Near side shut face pillar is in a pretty bad way, less so on off side.

I suspect that the sills are "fastened" to the B post with filler / bondo
Rear-most inner part of both sills also rusted through.

Bottom 12 inches of tonneau panel perforated - both sides

Rear wings came off with only one cage nut braking out - unbelievable!
Inner wings all good but some "crud" where wing joins tonneau panel.
Sand blasting will doubtless sort the rust from the solid material.
Joining strip will probably need to be replaced.

Bottom edge of rear bulkhead will also need replacing.

Next job - time to start thinking about seperating the body from the chassis, but I need to be certain that it will go back in exactly the same place to maintain the tight panel gaps.




SECOND POST - JANUARY 2011 INTRODUCTIONS & PREPERATIONS

As much as I would like to make an immediate start on this project, the XK140 is occupying the workshop and will not be completed until the end of March. The 120 will stay in my house garage until the 140 emerges from its winter works programme.  Consequently this post relates mainly to three months of very little activity apart from me sitting in the drivers seat, thrashing the bolt action moss box around whilst making the appropriate engine noises.  Seems to go very well though. 

First job on arriving home was to head off a potential divorce and
discover the source of an appalling stench of old paint. 
Turned out to be ancient petrol leaking from a seam on the tank.

Apart from the leaking seem, the tank appeared to be in pretty good
order,  but with lots of muck and residue inside.  The Hartlepool Radiator
Company put it through the RENU process which involved cutting it open,
internal and external blast cleaning, and treating with an USA patented
chemical coating which is guaranteed to be impervious to methanol and
ethanol.  Two of the seven operating scars can be seen on the bottom.

                                

The 140 finally emerges from the workshop at the beginning of April
looking quite splendid having just been painted again.  It only
seemed proper to introduce it to the 120 OTS before they swap places
in the workshop.  This picture begs a humorous caption - any ideas?




KRU600 in his (or her ?) new surroundings and will be here until completion,
scheduled for 16th June 2013 (my next significant birthday in case you were wondering)



 

Seemed sensible to record the official start date - a week later
than planned.  Can't really do with slippage at this early stage.