23rd August 2016. I ve packed up early today. I have been rubbing down the bodyshell for the last couple of days. The temperature this afternoon, in the workshop, was 30 degrees, too hot for an old git like me! To finish the wheel arch I gently turned over the lip and welded it to the inner wheel housing. After modifying the rear wheel arches I trimmed them a bit more by marking the cutting line using the magnetic strip and a felt pen. Marking where to weld. One of the jobs to do in the near future is to weld in the new Frontline rear suspension. It can be just bolted to the bodyshell but I decided to only use the minimum of nuts and bolts and weld the subframes into the shell. The arch was trimmed with the angle grinder and a cutting disc. I also started to fill a few areas. This is the part on the driver s door where the wing mirror fits. Note, I have left one hole to show where the mirror goes. If I eventually find the mounting brackets I will drill the holes before the shell is painted. V8 Register MG Car Club 160825-V8-restoration-Mike-Macartney-Rebuild-Report-68 1
This photo is a detail of the 4mm countersunk Allen headed screws that I have used with the countersunk stainless steel spreading washers to fix the glass fibre front valance to the front wings. The new plate welded in position on the right hand front wing. I made a cardboard template for the repair plate for bottom of the front wing. I then made the sheet metal plate and welded in place at the bottom of the wing, so I had something to bolt the glass fibre front valance to. I used Rivnuts in the new metal plate. I could then fit two more Rivnuts to the new flange and bolt the front valance to the front wing. V8 Register MG Car Club 160825-V8-restoration-Mike-Macartney-Rebuild-Report-68 2
I carried out the same process on the left hand front wing. Marking the hole for tapping with a 3/16 UNF thread for the front grille bracket. Fitting the Rivnuts with the special tool. To help with the location of the bonnet, when closed, I have used these adjustable Ford Escort Mk1 bonnet adjusters. V8 Register MG Car Club 160825-V8-restoration-Mike-Macartney-Rebuild-Report-68 3
A cardboard template for the front wing, where it meets the grille. The new piece of metal for one side of the front wing marked out ready to cut out. I cut the front wing top and it popped up to line up with the bonnet without any assistance from me. Amazed? I was! The repair plate ready to trim with the grinder and put in the blast cabinet to remove the transit primer. V8 Register MG Car Club 160825-V8-restoration-Mike-Macartney-Rebuild-Report-68 4
Welding the new parts in position. Marking where the new part is going to be welded to the front wing. The new part held in position with removable pins. Tack welded another piece of metal that fits at right angles. The inside of where the tack welds are will be continuously welded so that I can grind a radius on the outside. Looks a mess at the moment. It will all be OK once the welds are ground off, filled and primed. I hope! V8 Register MG Car Club 160825-V8-restoration-Mike-Macartney-Rebuild-Report-68 5
It does not look too bad considering the amount of work needed in this area to get the bonnet, wing and valance fit reasonable. Ready to cut the front wing to bring it up to the bonnet level. I wonder if I will be as lucky as I was with the other side? Below, all tacked up. Now let s attack the other side. The new plate ready to mark the position and hold in place with fixing pins. The holes for the fixing pins have been drilled through the new plate. If you have any comments, suggestions, or useful tips I can pass on, you can email me at: mikemacartney@btconnect.com 25 th August 2016. V8 Register MG Car Club 160825-V8-restoration-Mike-Macartney-Rebuild-Report-68 6