"Le Belgique" ST build.

[DustyM]

Very nice work Dave, will try to call to you Revival weekend if you are around, would like a nose at the car.

Cheers
Jon

[Loz]

Nice work Dave! ....and a great update!

I'm itching to get back on my car now!

Back from hols on Monday.....straight up the workshop!!

Keep the pics coming. Inspirational stuff!

[Darren65]

Any updates Mr O'Connor?

It is Opril you know!

[stretch]

Ok, Ok. A little overdue i suppose.

With all the rusty parts repaired it was about time this car started to see some external panels. But first i had to install the through the sill oil lines that would feed the front inner wing cooler. I managed to salvage these parts from an old S that i had a while back. Unfortunately a few damaged threads posed some early problems.








Repairs done and pressure tested, i then had to get these installed to look like the factory lines. sill pipe clips and most of these bit's are NLA so the clips were made from an old sprung steel muffler strap and the stand off bracket was also a fairly easy homemade job. Big thanks to Ernie Wilberg who provided the measurements for this unsporting looking part..!









With Aluminium door skins bonded onto the steel frames the panel fitting could commence. I managed to buy two very nice rust free rear quarter panels from a fellow DDK'er a few years back for this project. Unfortunately the person who had unpicked them had savaged them in several places upon removal so a few repairs were necessary before fitment.








One side complete other than a little lead work.










Another week or so on the offside should see all metalwork finished...!
Oh, apart from cutting off most of the rear quarters to fit the ST arches.








I think that just about brings me up to date. Elsewhere the wallet seems to be getting hammered on a daily basis with the arrival of mechanical parts for the engine and gearbox rebuild. These works will probably be done in unison with the paintwork as everything mechanical is ready to go.

Big thanks to Michael Burgess for the excellent work and service on my MFI pump.







Getting excited now...!

Dave

[MarkIII]

Looking good Dave, who are you using for the all important paint part of the project

Mark

[Darren65]

...... Oh, apart from cutting off most of the rear quarters to fit the ST arches......

....and for a moment I thought you had come to your senses and were keeping it pure and skinny!

Fantastic work, you should post more often!

[Uk911]

...... Oh, apart from cutting off most of the rear quarters to fit the ST arches......

....and for a moment I thought you had come to your senses and were keeping it pure and skinny!

No go wide.......... It's the future

[stretch]

Just a small update , nothing to exciting..

I seemed to hit the restoration wall last autumn due to various reasons. I decided to take a break from the build as i was not going to make my paint shop appointment as planned. I have recently returned to the shed to continue with the shell in preperation for paint work.

First job was to fit the offside rear quarter. This was the last external steel panel to be welded prior to dry fitting of all the bolt- on panels.







One final job with the welder was to mock up the Centre fill tank and weld on the Centre fill pipe prior to cutting the hole in the front hood.
Happy with how the cap sits slightly below the surface, the bonnet edge will be finished of with a black rubber edging as fitted to most period Centre fill hoods. The second series of holes to the upper section of the hood are for the Bosch battery cut-off switch. A very unusual location for this switch on the Gaban car, but I kind of like it...!"




Happy with the fit of the GRP. lot's of patience required...!











A mock up of the rear suspension arms and the Minilite wheel in preparation for the fitting of the ST rear flares. Big thanks to MT for helping out.









That brings me bang up to date. Off to get some final inspiration in Essen for a few days ...

A couple of weeks work, welding of the flairs, dry fitting of lights and i will be off to the paint booth at the end of this month..... Cant wait.

Dave

[Madrat]

Looking great Dave....can't wait to see it painted.

[Loz]

Nice to see the car looking good Dave. I think I've hit the same wall!

[Darren65]

One sexy beast!

[Darren65]

One sexy beast!

....the car not you!

Enjoy Essen.

[inaglasshouse]

Nice update and nice gaps Dave.
Wait, what's that under the dust sheets?
Cheers, Richard

[Lightweight_911]

Great to hear you've got your 'mojo' back Dave - car's looking good ...

[Bigfoot]

An inspirational thread with excellent attention to detail! Very satisfying to complete so much work yourself (lots of talent and patience required too) can't wait to see the shell painted!