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John Bonnett

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  1. John Bonnett
    Yes, I do have a wheeling machine; it's an Edwards and it weighs a ton or very nearly.
  2. John Bonnett
    796 wrote:Just how on earth you going to make a full roof John. very very balledikussed i is. maybe a bit like this bloke., But ye need an Elephant, or a BIGGG Lass,   :) :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=A9AvhDm7rI8 M When I used to do CAD drawing, I'd look at a component and think, how can I draw that. Now, I look at something and think, how can I make it. The trick is to break it down into several parts. With metal, you can either stretch it which is relatively easy or you can shrink it and that is more difficult. The roof I'd divide into four main parts. the full width front ten inches or so. The two sides that go down to the gutter and the centre bulbous section. The latter is probably the easiest bit to make using an English wheel. It has a fairly gentle double curvature. The front piece I'd use a Hammerform and the sides will need quite a bit of shrinking. When all the bits are shaped they are gas welded together and planished so that the joins are invisible. So, how do you start? Well I was going to use the scrap GT6 as a pattern but now it is restored and nicely painted unfortunately that's not an option any more. So, I'll have to make a station buck using 12mm ply unless I can find an old roof from somewhere. Just to give you an idea of what I mean, here are a few pictures of my Special that I made rather longer ago than I care to remember. Apologies that this is Peugeot 205GTI based and not Triumph.
  3. John Bonnett
    Gt6s wrote:Mini rear valance. Okay, you need to set it in in three sections but cheap as chips. Wo That's okay then. I'm pleased if there is an alternative route because working steel, even 20 gauge is hard work.  
  4. John Bonnett
    I shall be gearing up to make a GT6 roof in aluminium and there is no reason why I couldn't make one or two roof repair panels in 20 gauge (1mm) steel. If anybody is interested, please let me know.
  5. John Bonnett
    242 wrote: You can call in to see me if you want if i'm still at home, if not your welcome to use the garage for any running repairs, send me a PM & i'll end my contact no. & post code. RR PM sent. It could work out very nicely. I hope your working hours don't get in the way  ;)
  6. John Bonnett
    242 wrote: You can call in to see me if you want if i'm still at home, if not your welcome to use the garage for any running repairs, send me a PM & i'll end my contact no. & post code. RR That's very kind and it would be really good to meet up but I had a feeling that you were nearer to Saint Malo than Roscoff. Anyway, I'll send PM down the wire.
  7. John Bonnett
    339 wrote:Cool!  Great minds think alike!  middle setting on the spring seat is as good a start as any.  It may be wise to set the ride height on the car before Goodwood (sorry for stating the obvious!) Now here's a plan. I could start off with your springs so I could then do all the messing about with ride height at home and not waste valuable track time. Quick matter to put the standard ones on at the  circuit.  Good thinking Tim, thank you.
  8. John Bonnett
    339 wrote: as long as to have 2 pairs of upper spring seats it would be easy to swap them.  I say 2 pairs because you could assemble the avos with the springs under tension and set the ride height before going to Goodwood.  Setting the ride height is about the longest aspect of the change over. That was what I was going to do Tim. I think you said wind them up to about half way. I shall be able to use the upper spring seats on my new project so they won't be wasted.
  9. John Bonnett
    339 wrote:No rush John, just curious. Yes, so am I Tim. I'm not sure how feasible this would be but it would be interesting to do a back to back comparison at Goodwood in November. If the springs/shocks are assembled it should be quite a quick job to do a few laps and then change them. Same with the anti-roll bar. I have one of the bent wire ones and it would be interesting to see how it handles with the stiffer springs and the thin bar.
  10. John Bonnett
    339 wrote:John Have you fitted the shocks and springs yet? No I haven't Tim. I've been getting the car ready for the holiday sorting out minor problems as well as fitting the new vertical links. Plan is to put them on after we get back from France. I hope that's okay with you and that you are not in a rush to have them back. Please let me know if there is a problem. John
  11. John Bonnett
    339 wrote:John Have you fitted the shocks and springs yet? No I haven't Tim. I've been getting the car ready for the holiday sorting out minor problems as well as fitting the new vertical links. Plan is to put them on after we get back from France. I hope that's okay with you and that you are not in a rush to have them back. Please let me know if there is a problem. John
  12. John Bonnett
    Thank you for your replies and for reinforcing my decision not to sell. The GT6 is a very special car in every way and brings pleasure to me whenever I look at it as well as driving it so like you Tim with your car, I think it is part of the family now. I'm still not sure how I can fit the new project around it but I will find a way. As far as value is concerned, it is strange that the GT6 has never made decent money but as you say it does look as if that might be changing which I don't think is a wholly bad thing. True it might put them out of reach of some younger people but restorations would be more viable and perhaps more cars would be saved. We are booked on the Pont Aven leaving Plymouth for Roscoff on 13th September as the first step in our run down to Bordeaux for a few days holiday. France has some lovely roads which really suit the GT6 and on the way, I'm hoping to call in at two or three Triumph friendly garages just to say hello. That reminds me I must get the breathalysers!
  13. John Bonnett
    4058 wrote:john i think its the right decision, your car looked really nice, i have often sold vehicles, then later regretted it. but once gone, its not normal that they come back keep it and enjoy, well done cheers shaun Thank you Shaun, wise words. I've always thought the test of a decision is how you feel when you've made it and I really do feel good so it has to be the right one.
  14. John Bonnett
    rotoflex wrote:Good luck with the sale & your objective of creating the aluminum-bodied GT6.  So far, it seems so good all around:  a car saved, then a car put into excellent condition, enjoyment had, & soon someone will be getting one of the best examples on the road.  And I eagerly await seeing the aluminum-bodied GT6. Do you know Bill, I really don't want to sell it and I dread getting any enquiries for it. I took it out last night for a test drive after doing a few jobs including  fitting new vertical links and re-setting  the tracking to a smidgeon of toe in and it was absolutely magical. What could be better than driving a car that you have put new life into on a beautiful Summer's evening. It just doesn't get any better. Maybe I'll have to extend the garage and settle for a less ambitious (read expensive) project than a GT4. In writing this, I've come to a decision and have decided that come what may, I have to keep the car. Ad now deleted. I feel better already  ;) ;) ;)
  15. John Bonnett
    1264 wrote:Thanks for the great write up on this resto.  Have read it several times and will be referencing it more in the future as I have just purchased my own project - a 1968 GT6 MK I.  A couple of pics attached.  Have not seen the car yet as it was an internet purchase.  I collect it in early October. From what I gather, the car is in almost similar condition to what you started with - rusted floors and offside rear wing.  And the transmission internals are missing, but I purchased a MK II engine and transmission earlier this year so will use that for any bits and pieces needed. I already have a MK I GT6 in good driving condition. I like it so much I figure it would be good to resto another one while I can continue to drive mine. I have also not seen another MK I GT6 on the road - and I drive a lot and visit various British / Euro car shows.  Have only seen two other MK I's - this one and another project that I did not purchase (regret). Doubt that my rebuild will be completed as quickly as yours as in addition to my 8 - 5 job, I am also undertaking some higher education between now and June 2013. Thanks for the inspiration. jb Hi John, very good to hear from you and thank you for your kind words. What a nice situation to be in; to have a GT6 to drive and another to restore. It does actually take the pressure off getting it finished just so that you can drive it. Your car looks to be, as mine was, basically very sound and straight and a real pleasure to refurbish. I'm just coming up to 70 so no time to lose, (so much to do and so little time!  ;) that's why I pressed on with my resto and hopefully still time to build the Special. Do keep us posted with your progress and plenty of pictures please.
  16. John Bonnett
    [quote=4196]I'd recognise that car anywhere :) Having said that no windscreen surround has got to be at least �2k off  ;D ;) I see now, that's why it hasn't been snapped up!  ;) I know it is very subjective but I too think the GT6 is iconic; lovely to look at, fantastic to listen to and the view over the bonnet is superb. As you say, a lot of me has been put into the rebuild and a great part of me wants to hang on to it so if nobody comes up with the full asking price, it will remain as part of the family and I may have to settle for a less ambitious project. I already have the Spitfire, so if the GT6 doesn't sell, I could do a body similar to the Sammio which Is very pretty and would not cost much or take much time to do. We'll see how it pans out.
  17. John Bonnett
    4196 wrote:John, Why are you selling the car? http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C324334 Ah, you spotted it then. Well, I originally bought the car as a scrapper just as a pattern to copy. It was then, and still is, my ambition to build a MK3 GT6 replica body in aluminium to go on a tax exempt MK4 Spitfire chassis and running gear. It was a very pleasant surprise to find what a good, straight and solid car the GT6 was and it really deserved saving, so for the time being, the project was shelved while I concentrated on its restoration and putting it where it should be, back on the road. I have derived much pleasure not only from the restoration but from actually using the car. And use it we have. We had a fantastic three week holiday motoring down through France and into Spain and, although the trip to the Isle of Skye by GT6 didn't happen, we are, very shortly, off again to Southwest France for ten days, This will take the mileage driven in the car since May up to over 5000; all without a hitch. I'm not getting any younger and I would like to make a start on the new project before I become too feeble to wield a bossing hammer.  :P Sadly, I don't have the resources to keep a whole stable of cars so the GT6 will have to go to make room for, and fund the new project. I really have done my best within my means to make the GT6 as good as I possibly can and although it is advertised for a lot of money it certainly is a very special car and in my extremely biased view, good value. John
  18. John Bonnett
    Scott, you can use the Hammerform technique in the same way as the bulkhead/sill protectors for the radiator valances to avoid snipping the aluminium at intervals along the curve. You will be able to achieve a really nice 15mm flange on a  flowing curve. It makes a really professional job particularly when they are powder coated. John
  19. John Bonnett
    Scott, you can use the Hammerform technique in the same way as the bulkhead/sill protectors for the radiator valances to avoid snipping the aluminium at intervals along the curve. You will be able to achieve a really nice 15mm flange on a  flowing curve. It makes a really professional job particularly when they are powder coated. John
  20. John Bonnett
    339 wrote:Hi John Shocks and springs all boxed up and being posted tomorrow 8) Regards Tim That's fantastic Tim, thank you very much. Please PM me with the cost  and how you would like me to pay you. regards John
  21. John Bonnett
    rotoflex wrote:Those plates are really nice designs & fabrication. Why, I thank you kind Sir. Do you think there would be a market for them?  :) Only joshing, I get bored by the second one so I couldn't possibly make them to order. Anyway, they seem to be doing a good job, this picture having been taken after the video run.
  22. John Bonnett
    Smithy has always said "We like pictures and videos", so following the pictures here's a bit of video principally to test out a new camera mount which, it turns out, is absolute rubbish! The click click noise is the camera vibrating against the screen. It's a bit boring but hope to have some decent footage at Goodwood along with a steadier mount. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3eQv6LWyDw
  23. John Bonnett
    2597 wrote:Hi John I am looking to add something similar to my own spitfire.  did you have to cut off the rear of the front wheel arch? What is the rubber on there for? ps Nice build. Sorry, I missed this. The rubber is the standard seal which is clipped on to the end of the inner wing and no, I haven't cut the inner wing. It actually fits down behind the protector panel which is stood off from the bulkhead/sill by 20mm spacers. the panels are secured using M5 rivnuts. I hope this helps. John
  24. John Bonnett
    3141 wrote: You are very welcome to borrow the whole kit which includes a cardboard and thin ply template and the marine ply hammerforms. Just drop me a PM with your address and I'll pop them in the post to you. John A couple more pictures which might help if you are going to make a pair
  25. John Bonnett
    2597 wrote:I dont suppose you made any paper templates with dimensions John? You are very welcome to borrow the whole kit which includes a cardboard and thin ply template and the marine ply hammerforms. Just drop me a PM with your address and I'll pop them in the post to you. John
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