Alan.UK wrote:Shell completed and ready to be stripped for the second time:
Just out of interest, it ended up leaving here with all gaps at 3.75mm +- a fracton. I've got a little door gap gauge which is a taper with 4mm at one end (factory spec), and 3.5mm at the other. Just as long as the tool is running near the centre, I know I'm just about right. The bonnet lines I like to leave a fraction tight, knowing that they will open a smidge when they are sealed to the inner wings. If you say that you work to a tolerance of .25mm it sounds tiny (not to mention fat-headed
), but to the eye on cars with tight gaps as standard, .25mm is a country mile, and really stands out.
We have found that many front wings need slitting around the indicator areas and re-working in order for the indicators and horn grills to flow into the bonnet line properly. Also, just about all front wings have work done to the frames in order for the wing to marry up to the curve at the top of the door correctly. Rear wings all have to be modified at the base in order to run into the sill with a good gap, and need a serious tweak or two in order to stop the wing base from protruding out from the rear bottom corner of the door.
As for the actual shape, I was always taught that a car should look as though it was carved from one solid lump of steel, and then at the last minute, someone comes along and lets in some door gaps. Also that many cars are basically fish-shaped when viewed down the side: one long continuous curve all the way through. Sometimes to achieve this you end up pulling in or pushing out big chunks of car, and having a way of measuring just what the car is doing down the sides (and comparing each side by measurement and not just eye) certainly helps. I guess what you are trying to avoid is a car that looks as though the side is made from three separate panels, all following slightly different lines.
I've not taken any further shots of the measuring rig, but will try to before the current car (the SWB sans torsion tube) is collected by Alan on tuesday, and will post a link on this thread (if Alan doesn't mind) to a differend thread.
Thanks for all of the comments on the bodywork through the process: they are very much appreciated
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I can't wait to see the next stages as the car continues it's journey back to the road after all of these years
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DDK Member1243 07741 273865. Home of the RY Austin 7 Trophy's and Austin Single Seat Racers
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Do you dip and ecoat prior to paint to try and preserve all that hard work?
