Mike Evans

Looking good this one, doubt it's luck more skill.

I normally measure 5 times, forget the measurement, cut and tack it all in, try it, realise I got measurements wrong and try again.

Depending on how much I need to remove on my estate tub I may have everything available, you are more than welcome to come and copy at the very least

Thought the doors where the same on the bond, I know I used herald skins on my gt4s and it all lines up

Should be able to twist the doors still, if you put a block in the jam to hold the door open about 6inches then apply force to the lower corner to push it back in, you will have to take the corner past where you want it as it will spring back a canny bit

On ours we managed to correct the same fault by doing just that on one side, however the bonnet was too short on the drivers side by a good 10 mm if I kept the windscreen gap even, this ment that I had to extend the bonnet on this side to achieve a good overall fit

Generally a right pain to do truth be told but the gaps on mine were a mess

Yes that was the decision we came to today, triumph matador red is the colour we have chosen, I'm going to see a local trimmer tomorrow to see what he can do for us,

Progress has slowed at the minute as im waiting for various seals etc to arrive should be here this week hopefully

Just been looking at a moulded carpet set, what's the opinion on these, worth the extra?

Try a merc a class abs light on and wouldn't go over 25mph, brakes still worked fine just abs didn't work, turned out that because of a faulty sensor merc felt the car shouldn't be able to accelerate its way out of danger should it be required

In another view though would they of brought the car in for repair just because the light was on if it was driving fine? Most of our customers only get lights looked at when they have to not when they come on even down to oil lights (corsas are known for this most people just ignore oil light because it still runs ok), I always thought a red warning light was important but clearly not

The moggy pickup is our new advert vehicle work in progress, we have made a chassis cab out of it and are in the process of making a recovery style body for it, won't be able to recover anything but should be something to get the company noticed as I drive it about daily, will get sign written in a classic style possibly hand painted if I can find someone to carry out this job

Only being 29 I've only ever worked on modern stuff with electrics and sensors really, I'm lucky in the fact that my dad is retired and now comes through to the garage every Day, it's nice having someone teach me the skills of the older cars, I love talking to people who know and enjoy working on these

Next decision on the bond is what colour to do the interior, it was originally black with the les leston bucket style seats but I'm thinking about doing it red, it needs a retrim anyway and me and my dad are in 2 minds which way to go, I can't decide between originality or just going with the best look for the car (I know the outside isn't original but I just couldn't bring myself to paint it that colour again

Unfortunately most of those cars are mine, I prefer working on these cars and so I bought a few too many a couple of years ago,

As we are on a slow January' at the minute I get time to work on these more (keeps the staff in work also)

I would love to work on so many more but don't seem to get much interest

We look after a couple of customers classics but not enough to just do classic cars

Think I might start to advertise more for classic repair just need to keep learning the old ways, nowhere to plug a laptop in on these

Few more pics as work progresses




Body is now ready to final bolt down and I'm pretty happy with the gaps

Does anywhere do the weather seals for the doors with the recesses for the clips like the ones that are available for the spitfire? The last herald set I got where a nightmare to get to fit nice as they didn't have these

Couldn't resist taking this pic not very often I get to work on this many classics at one time as our main work is moderns

Modern epoxy glues are amazingly strong, we repaired a Emily transit by gluing a lower part of a front wing on

I was sceptical of the reps claims so I tried and failed to break the join just to prove a point

18months on and the overlapping join shows no sign of rust whereas the rest of the van is another story

Kit wasn't cheap but in areas where there is a good reason not to weld and it's not structural I would recommend these bonding agents

Yes held the same on mine but I've also bonded the skin to the arches and along the floor line where I could

Still think a roll over hoop might be advisable as the full roof is single skin fibreglass And a vinyl webasto roof

Sorry my mistake didn't see the floors at any other suppliers at the time

The rear tub has herald floors and b posts but from there up over it's all fibreglass, doors are herald but the glass is bond only I believe, the bulkhead is herald and so is the inner bonnet structure but the skin is all fibreglass
Also

The colour is pepper white from the new mini range

It's all down to personal taste and space behind the dash and also cable length, all factors allowing I personally would fit on the right somewhere that looks pleasing to the eye

When it comes to a modification like this there is no right or wrong answer it's what appeals to yourself

Cheers mike

Looks similar to the one fitted to my old one but you would also need the key lock and attachment bracket to use with this

Even then I found it in an awkward place under the dash by your knees not ideal

Few pics from the start of paint, hoping to do tub this week work permitting


Colour was a tough choice, didn't want to go with the original mustard but didn't want to go too modern looking
Decided on a colour from a new mini with a period feel too it

Tried out something new to me on the bulk head, it's a spray able rubberised product that's overpaint able, should protect the vulnerable area from chips, am going to apply to all the underside also as I was pleased with the results

Just thought I'd post some pics of a bond I'm in the middle of doing, didn't manage to take any pics of when I bought it but imagine a car left outside for some time, both doors were rotten, bulkhead like a sieve, back tub save able and chassis fit for scrap metal.
We join the pics part way through with a replacement chassis sorted (part of what was supposed to be an unfinished bond bought sight unseen which turned out to be a herald with just the fibreglass parts included)

Initial fit up gaps could be better but it all bolts down


Floors needed some work glad chic made the panels for the rear floors




Once welded it was time to try and make the bonnet fit and the gaps nice

I have a pair from a 1500 basically just frames covers are that bad but you are welcome to them
We are in teeside
Cheers mike

Shouldn't do just remove rubber at carb end and block holes on the carbs so it doesn't draw too much air, or that Is what I would do on a modern with the same problem

You may get some very minor oil deposits on engine from the end of rubber hoses after the run, don't block off rubber pipes as the engine will preasurise and could damage seals etc

We have just ordered a replacement from sports car suplies in newcastle so should be readily available

on the one we ordered we have to swap brackets we have been told, not sure what this involves yet as it hasnt got here (only ordered late friday)

We have just ordered a replacement from sports car suplies in newcastle so should be readily available

on the one we ordered we have to swap brackets we have been told, not sure what this involves yet as it hasnt got here (only ordered late friday)

thanks everyone for the advice etc, i think i will try and resolder the terminal back on as im trying to get this car as close to original as i can with a 39 year old car that every man and his dog has had a go at fixing (if you can call it that) in its life

does anyone have one of these relays at the back of there shed they would be willing to sell?

thanks again mike

does any one know what the yellow relay could be that is fitted to my ns rear quarter panel, theres aprox 8 wires to it and one has broken the tab off the relay? box

the car is a 1974 mk4 spitfire, we didnt strip the car and it would apear that it fits here going off the labels that are on the loom again by the previous owner

i can add pics tomorrow if needed

cheers mike