paulandnic

Both fans now spoken for. Can't figure out how to edit the title

Hi, yes of course! If you're not in a rush, I'm actually in Blackpool Friday 6th December around 1900 onwards. I'll send you a PM with details

Yep.....replied to your msg Alan

What have I just watched?? and why when I knew how bad it was after 30 seconds, did I find myself watching the whole thing each to their own, and everyone should be free to do what they want, but that is definitely not an efficient way to wash a car

So, some of you fine people have already helped me so far with my questions in some of the forum sections, and they have been gratefully received! However, following a trip to Mike's place last weekend, I now have a galvanised chassis 😀 So, I've decided to go the whole hog and complete a full rebuild. My only slight dilemma at the moment, is that we might be moving house in the next 6 months, therefore I'm not rushing into starting the build, but will get the chassis cleaned up, weld some of the bits on like the exhaust mount that's in a different place etc, then get it powder coated just so it'll last another 50 years. I'll use new parts where required, but try to salvage as much as I can and refurb old if possible. I'll start a thread on here and document everything just in case anyone is actually interested 😁 In the mean time, I'll probably rebuild all the front end that I took off, just so I can drive it (especially if we move!) then swap everything over when I can. Hopefully in the end I'll have a car that I can use whenever I want, daily if I want, and one that will last. Thanks again to all those who have helped so far 👍

Found your thread Pete.....very helpful! Wish I had your garage though! So, today I managed to get all of the left side off too. Didn't have to cut through the lower link hinge bolt this time. Amazing what a bit of copper grease does.......if only everyone used it! Anyway, you can see this side looks similar to the other, but no holes etc this time. All of the flaky bits are old waxoil/crud that just rubs off. I'll clean both sides up properly anyway, even if I'm gonna swap chassis, as I might not be able to do that right away. And finally.....the arb is off!!!! 🤣

I don't suppose there's a comprehensive guide to lifting the body is there? Also, am I restricted to looking for an Eclat chassis (im guessing the S2 is exactly the same as the S1 just galvanised?), or does any other model fit too? I've been looking around and it seems no one can even make one to order, you just have to wait for second hand ones

So, this is what the front looks like now everything has gone. Managed to cut the bolts for the lower link arm finally! The worst parts are the smiley face at the top of the suspension strut, and the very thin wall behind the lower link arm. All of it is solid apart from those bits. Looking at that lower link area, it looks to be just a blanking wall and not structural, especially being so thin. But feel free to tell me I'm wrong. If this is as bad as it gets, I'm happy to crack on, but I think I'll keep a look out for a galvanised one anyway, because whatever I do, it's never gonna get better is it

I've had an initial look when it was on a lift, but after watching more videos, I now know where to look more closely, so this is my next move 👍

So......after a lot of deep breaths, counts to 10 and many brews from the wife, I've now got everything out of the way. The spring and damper is out (they look like originals), the whole hub assembly with caliper etc is off too, leaving just the trunnion in place. I've even managed to get the antiroll bar nut off!!! That's all I wanted to do in the first place 🤣 Now everything is cleared, I can see where I can cut the bolts, so that's tomorrow night's job. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to get them off without damaging the lower arms, but it won't be easy. The chassis looks to be OK too, but I'm gonna wire brush, flap disk and belt sand away at it all just to be sure, then I'll protect everything, finishing with a good coat of wax oil. I keep forgetting to take pics, so I'll get some tomorrow, but I've still got the other side to do too, so I'll make sure I get them ones. Thanks for all the help so far! It's very much appreciated 👍

Quick update.....the progress is almost non existent. I've got the upper arms off no worries, but the trunnion bolt in the lower link won't come out at all. I've tried everything, and managed to butcher the metal washers out, and now and can see the issue. The metal sleeve inside the rubber bush is seized on the bolt, so it won't shift at all, and I can't get anything on it to hold it whilst I get the impact wrench on the bolt head to try and free it. I think the other side is exactly the same, and I'm also worried the main lower link hinge bolt is the same too. I can get them all turning, but they won't shift, even with the biggest hammer I've got! At this rate I'll be cutting the heads off and seeing if I can prise them out, or worst case, cutting the lower links and buying new ones. Really don't want to do that! If anyone has any better ideas.....I'm all ears 🤣

Anyone got any use for these? Took them off my Eclat but I'm putting new modern ones on. I've put 12v to them and they both work. They're going for free plus postage if you want them posting. I live near Preston, Lancashire.

Thanks for the encouragement. Any pointers on what to replace with if different from std would be helpful whilst I'm at it. May as well upgrade if it's recommended

So.....whilst waiting for the last few bits for the cooling system, I thought I'd may as well tackle the anti roll bar bushes. Previous owner had already bought a powerflex kit, all that's required is unbolting the forward bushes, remove the lower trunnion bolts and move it all out of the way to get to the anti roll bar nuts. Simple eh..... Well......forward clamp bolts came out pretty easy with the help of my wife holding the nuts (on the bolts!) whilst I unscrewed from underneath. Then the trunnion bolts......manages to crack the nuts (why do we have a mix of metric and imperial bolts???) but the bolts were totally seized. After many attempts at trying to shift them, I decided to strip the rest of the suspension to hopefully help. This is a job I was going to do over winter, not now! Long story short, I'm now part way through one side, with the trunnion bolt moving but still seized in, the springs and damper disconnected, but my spring compressors are too big for this spring, and the lower link bolt undone but again seized in! Oh and the caliper and hose connections were seized. So I've just cut the flex line as I'll be replacing it anyway. Any ideas would be appreciated, and any help with replacement parts would be good. With my little knowledge, I'm currently just looking at parts on SJs website, so probably looking at around £600 to replace everything needed including springs and dampers

The wear was inside the hole where the plunger goes. See the pics. Now I've got the new part, you can tell how bad it is. With never seeing a new part, I wasn't sure if there should have been an offset hole or not, but now its obvious it's worn. Good shout on the springs too.....I bought new just to replace, and again, if you depressed both sets, it was pretty clear which ones were worn. All parts arrived today. I rebuilt the tensioner and got everything back in the car in double quick time. Everything moves and looks miles better.