1987 3.2 Carrera Backdate project - Sladeys hotrod

[sladey]

And welds ground back



Doesn’t look pretty but it’s strong and solid and hopefull will last a bit longer this time. The plug welds on the folded over flange ‘took’ nicely as well


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[sladey]

Next it was onto the other rear corner

Looks a lot better than the other side but was still a bit of a bugger as the corrosion was underneath as well




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[sladey]

I need up making this piece - one part was the gentle crown of the rear wing going into the two sharp curves. I then put that on it’s side and cut out and end piece for it and welded the two together






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[sladey]

Tacked in place. Now I know the right hand side looks out of line, but if I butted that up the corner would be sticking out.

I opted to weld it in this position, leaving the right had side until last and seeing if I could pull it out a bit.




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[sladey]

Not too bad in the end - a bit of filler will smooth out the edge, and once again I’m happy it’s all good metal and very solid - and all epoxy masticed on the inside




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[sladey]

After I’ve blacked up that corner as well I couldn’t resist fitted my
New carbon fibre engine lid which weighs the square root of f*** all




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[sladey]

While the work was being done I took the chance to remove the brake/indicator part of the loom and clean up all the wiring and renew the connections

Then yesterday I finally got round to fitting half of my Christmas present to myself



Prior to this I took the chance to sort out some other bits of surface rust that had come on the sills where I hadn’t put underseal - road rash had worn the paint off. I sanded all that down - and some stuff on the rear arch and treated it all with Fe123 from rust buster

As a special treat this week-end I charged up the battery and started the engine. It started straight away and sounded glorious! When it’s been off the road for a while it’s lovely to hear it actually running. Really looking forward to driving it again.


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[Gary71]

Good stuff Mark, be great to see it running again

[Northy]

You are a hero Mark. Keep going mate, be back together and pulling revs in no time.

[sladey]

Thanks Guys

[defianty]

Nice work Mark. I bet you can't wait to get it on the road again.

[sladey]

OK time for another update.....

The last photo showed me fitting the RSR spring arms. Now the last time I did the main resto work I found a bit of corrosion around the rear torsion bar on the drivers side. Not a bit amount and I welded it up at the time.

So it seemed like this would be a good opportunity to strengthen this area and check how my previous welds were holding up

I therefore ordered these from Elephant racing



I know I could have made it myself but it was easier to buy them. You then weld around the whole of the strengthening piece making it all very solid




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[sladey]

I needn’t have worried about the previous repair - it had held up nicely.

With the new pieces welded in though this area is nicely strengthened.

Now I’ve gone to coil-overs I’m guessing this area wont be as stressed as before but it feels good to have beefed it up a bit anyway


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[sladey]

Bit more drastic work recently



This was new 5 years ago!!!

In hindsight I hadn’t put stonechip on the bottom of the sills and 50,000 miles will do that to inadequately protected metal. Lesson learned


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[sladey]

I cut the bogger out!



I also ended up going into the sill (you can see on the right). Looking inside the sill - apart from this bit it’s nicely waxed in there and all very solid.

I welded a new piece into the sill (and will be spraying inside the sill as well to get the back and then waxing it)


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