My 1960 T5B Restoration

[Phil Parry]

The exciting part - first coat of slate grey today. Very sexy.

[JB-L]

Jaysus, that's looking mighty fine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Andy356B]

Thanks Phil
You are an inspiration. Awesome work, can't wait to get mine from the US. Not sure I will progress as quick as you, tho'. Please post more photos when you get the chance.

[john fletcher]

Phil,
That is a fantastic job on what was a difficult car! Well done.
I must say the continuous welding on the door skin is amazing - how did you prevent it distorting?
I assume it is MIG and not TIG?

John

[Lightweight_911]

Looking great !

Can't remember - will it have a red interior ?

[JB-L]

Very, very nice! I love the choice of colour, very different.

[Phil Parry]

Thanks for the great comments. I can claim no credit - check out the first page of this thread where "Lionel" gets his due credit. He's a genius. ...and a lovely bloke to boot.

The colour is slate grey and the interior will be red leather. I'm desperate to get it on the road for next Easter / summer as it's been a while in the making.

It should be back from the sprayshop soon when I'll post plenty of pics!!

Gearbox is done, engine soon to be done. Lots of debate in my mind about whether to stay with stock 60hp or go for 1720cc and notch up the horsepower a bit. Would love to hear others' opinions and experiences, especially about the cost of doing that and going down the route of Shasta barrels/pistons or similar and a nicer cam. Actually, would also be interested in opinions about exhausts - I've heard that the most commonly used make (sorry, can't remember the name) isn't up to much.

[DustyM]

Gearbox is done, engine soon to be done. Lots of debate in my mind about whether to stay with stock 60hp or go for 1720cc and notch up the horsepower a bit. Would love to hear others' opinions and experiences, especially about the cost of doing that and going down the route of Shasta barrels/pistons or similar and a nicer cam. Actually, would also be interested in opinions about exhausts - I've heard that the most commonly used make (sorry, can't remember the name) isn't up to much.

Looks great, can't wait to get mine to that stage (hopefully after Christmas)

I have the same dilemma with my engine (Normal) I think I have more or less decided to go with the 1720 pistons and an SC camshaft, this should make a more powerful engine without any loss of drivability.

[steve wright]

Phil, lovely restoration. personally i see nothing wrong with upping the capacity a little. I know where Roy is coming from but if you want to retain the character of the car then increasing the capacity but nothing else will only make it more pleasureable. Of course if you start changing cams, exhausts, etc then you are going to fundamentally change the character of the engine, which isn't a bad thing, but it's just a question of what you want and what you're trying to create with the car.

Have you considered driving other cars to get a sense of what is possible? I remember being taken out in a fast VW for the first time and nearly wetting myself when it smoked the rear tyres and left everything for dead at the lights! There are plenty of people who will let you drive their cars to get an idea of what floats your boat.

Cheers,
Steve

[Andy356B]

If the engine runs perhaps you could live with it for a while and enjoy the car sooner. Then when you get the #<%^£ with not having enough power (which we all do, let's face it) then go for the upgrade and you will be most pleased with the extra ponies!

[Phil Parry]

Thanks folks. Good advice Steve, I might do that - plenty of 356s here in the Southend area to try.

The engine's not running at the mo, so no chance of living with it as is.

[Phil Parry]

My car is back from the painter's. I was reminded of bringing my 3 children home from hospital after they were born (not at the same time I might add). This time my wife wasn't with me and child number four doesn't keep me awake at night. Actually, that's not true, but I mind a lot less.

What I love about slate grey is that it's several colours in one. In the sunlight, it's light grey, under streetlamps it's almost brown and under dark clouds it's virtually black. Still planning for a red leather interior by Neil Tadman in Feb/March. Can I ask for advice or opinions please - should the metal 'caps' above the door panel and rear quarter panel be body colour or interior colour? I've seen both and I'm told they should match the interior.

Also, does anyone have any advice when it comes to stripping down and re-chroming seat mechanisms? I hear they're one of those spring nightmares - release the pressure and it all pops apart and is hard to put back together....

And another question (you can tell I'm getting excited): 6 volt or 12 volt? I've always assumed I'd go for 12 volt but interested to hear from those who think it's a bad idea to see if I'm persuaded otherwise.

Thanks!!

[roy mawbey]

Phil,

The car looks great, really lovely. The colour also is really nice, it suits the car well and shows off the curves with reflection as it bounces off in a really nice way. I can understand how the colour can seem to change with different light.

The door cappings were normally painted the same colour as the chosen upholstery but it wouild seem a few shades darker, so for example mid red door panels would have almost a maroon colour door capping to compliment. ( Thats certainly the case on my original door panels and steel door cappings)

I have lived with 6 volt for over 40 years. In the past 5 years of so I have worked hard to bring the "A" back to the same condition on electrics as when I first bought it. I have had success on that and I can use the car without worry. However, to be really honest, if someone asked me if I had a choice I would say I would prefer 12 volt. Its not just the starting, its also the lights and somehow just battery power. Since I have been using a battery conditioner the reliabilty has improved so much than before so it will stay 6 volt.

There have been some good threads on the registry site about the seat recliners and springs, put the question into their search pages.

Roy

[Phil Parry]

Thanks Roy

As ever, a full and helpful reply. Door capping info noted - thanks. I'm off to the Registry site to do that search now......

Happy New Year

[Andy356B]

Ok Phil,

I was going to leave you alone for a while but the suspense is killing me! How is she doing? Looking at the weather I guess it might have been too cold in Blighty to get out into the 'shed'. My BT6 still sits in a container at Palm Beach waiting for someone to love it again.

Would love to hear on progress on the engine, which way did you decide to go? Electrics? What are you doing for wheels?

Cheers,

Andy