Good luck with your project. Reminds me of my first Beetle I bought when I was 18 - a 1968 1300. Rushed in and bought it using my heart instead of my brain and later found out the frame head/torsion tubes were held on by metal straps and dirty great wood screws. Took 9 months to get it back on...
Hi, been a while. Haven't started the bodywork on the Rover 216 GTi yet as having to use car for daily commute until the other car is back on the road.
Just wondering if anyone's thought of using strong mix of concrete to make moulds of the required body panel, then cast up the negative with...
Nice to see a Maestro on here. I'm currently hunting down panels for a 1992 Rover 216 GTi (3 door) as arches are now breaking through plus rear o/s quarter has rippled where previous dent was pushed out. May have to go down the fabrication route as Rimmers only sell nearside quarters on...
You've raised a good point. Could always slightly round off the sharp bits. I guess if the gate or fence is in view of the general public then having sharps could be a problem but for those areas such as side gates that are often hidden from the road the spikes are useful. A natural defence...
Six foot fence but a solid one - not those woven wood panels that tend to take off in a strong breeze. Then fit old band-saw blades across the top then put warning sticker that says - 'sharp - do not climb, private property. No rights of access to the public'.
Double glazing
Double glazing panels are filled with argon. A vacuum would cause the glass to implode. Atmospheric pressure is 14.7 psi so a large window would have considerable force acting on it. Ironically a vacuum (assuming the glass would be strong enough) isn't the best heat insulator -...
Shed base
I rebuilt my large shed but re laid foundation first. Since soil was gravelly, I used an American technique of concrete blocks resting on gravel bed, levelling it all up then placing damp membrane over it and then the shed base lays on top. My shed is heavy, reinforced (for security)...
Now that the Citroen XM is repaired it's now turn for the other car to have some welding.
This is a Rover 216 GTi 130 bhp twincam and despite being superb to drive and 100 percent reliable since I got it back in 2001, the tin worm has started to munch on part of the rear arches and rear of...
XM subframe
Yes - it's a keeper. This is my second XM and despite the subframe rust has been brilliant - made for long distance cruising and they double up as vans with their huge load/weight carrying ability (especially the enormous estates)
However despite galvanised and zinc dipped body...
Repaired front subframe.
Just got to sort out ABS light and fit new tyres to the front and put it in for MOT test. Fingers crossed.
I used a 40 grit flap-discs to smooth out the welds. First time I've used flapdiscs. I'm now converted. Much quicker than normal grinding disc but you have to...
Front subframe now repaired. Have spent week searching online on Ebay UK, France and worldwide for XM subframes and there's nothing out there. So as time is against me, had to bite the bullet and repair it. This might not get awards for neatest welding (hate welding upside down with only a...
SIP MIG welders
Just modified my old SIP Migmate 130 turbo with the metal strap that keeps the tensioner and driven feed wheels vertical. Got some smooth welding done today on the subframe. However the mig wire kept binding in the liner and I didn't have a spare so sprayed mig wire with...
Transit
That certainly looks like a challenge.
Full marks for saving a transit. Most people simply fill the front arches with pudding. I used to have a semi hi-top LWB but as it only had 72 BHP, it struggled when loaded and weirdly the economy stayed the same whether loaded up or empty...
This is what happens when a foam lined undertray retains water for years and holds it against the offside longitudinal member. Apart from this rust in the lower closing plate (previous owner also welded it before but didn't cut out rust first) on the offside, the rest of the subframe is solid...
Just carried out the strap modification to keep the tensioner wheel vertical in relation to the wire feed wheel. Brilliant top tip. My old Migmate now feeds wire smoother than when it was new. Had I not joined this forum and searched for this SIP design flaw, I would have had to shell out on a...