Early HPE restoration

[peteracs]

Work has continued on the body. Main focus has been the rear turrets which are now almost complete. They now look 100% better than the the original patchwork of awful plates and welds I inherited.

In order to repair the turrets had to be removed, repaired and then reinstalled, hence the bar to keep the spacing and positioning between the two.

Also the edge of the outer rear wings have been repaired. Where the inner wing attaches to the outer wing has also been replaced.

Peter

[Neil-yaj396]

Amazing work that you have going on there Peter. Knowing now how much I have spent on a relatively simple round of welding repairs I can only admire your commitment to this project!

[SanRemo78]

That's a great improvement Peter! Hoping to see similar on mine this week if Geoff has had a chance to work on it! One side done and part way through the other last time I saw it.

[smithymc]

That is some smart work. Thanks for sharing.

Mark

[peteracs]

Hi

Thanks all. Visited site today to collect the wheels they had as it will be returned on the dolly in the photos. Had various discussions re what was needed, mainly the fuel filler pipe which fits as per original and how to mount the new aluminium fuel tank I had made. We are going to use the original studs for the old tank and make up a pair of bars which will sandwich the new tank to the chassis using these studs with rubber to give the tank some wriggle room. Then there will be a couple of straps attached to these bars to hold it firm. That at least is the current thinking.

Peter

[peteracs]

Many years ago I bought one of the wooden gear knobs fitted to the early cars. It had the legend on top of the gear positioning, however the varnish/lacquer was cracked and so I scraped it all off, sanded it, applied sanding sealer and then a few coats of lacquer. End result, given I am total amateur at painting, is quite pleasing. All I have to do now is sort out a metal ferrule to fit into it as it did not arrive with one.

I still have the original from the HPE, but it had the varnish/lacquer worn away and was badly marked presumably from being handled without this protective coating.

Peter

[SanRemo78]

The Stratos Club had a pile of these made a while back with fittings for Lancia or Alfa. But also without the script on the top!

[peteracs]

Hi Guy

Are there any metal inserts available…?

I have the original one in the Spider which I like both the look and feel which is why I was keen to have one in the HPE

Peter

[SanRemo78]

Unknown Peter - I'll see if I can find out for you!

Guy

[SanRemo78]

Hi Peter, you might have to check the thread on the gear-lever - It's probably M10*1.0? This may be a suitable insert:
https://www.theinsertcompany.com/steel_blind_hex_drive_inserts_for_wood.php

The Stratos Club don't appear to have any stock left of the reproduction knobs.

Guy

[peteracs]

Hi Guy

Just to confuse you, pre facelift uses M10x1.25, facelift one I have is M10x1.0……

I have found a M14 to M10x1.25 adapter which will need a bit of work to get to fit, but should do the job.

Thanks for looking.

Peter

[peteracs]

Small victory today. The only thread adapter from M14 to M10x1.25 I could easily find had a hex nut end as well as M14 thread externally. So out came the bench grinder and the fit is pretty good in the gear knob above, so small but successful result!

Peter

[peteracs]

This is the body after coloured epoxy primer applied. Long way to go, but welding on main body all done.

Peter

[squiglyzigly]

Hi Peter,
That really has come a loooong way. Looking very good.
It always amuses me to see the clutch cable bracket for the LHD cars sitting on the n/s chassis rail.
I cut it off of my VX coupe when painting the engine bay but it will stay in my VX HPE as I might make it LHD drive one day.

Is it time to go to the bodyshop?

Cheers
Ian

[peteracs]

Hi Ian

Until you mentioned it I would never of noticed it. The guys doing the metalwork also do the paintwork. The doors, bonnet and hatch are yet to be sorted, but they are not too bad thankfully.

Peter

[Nigel]

Hi Peter,
That's looking very good!

I'm surprised to see you have the fixed battery tray.
I thought it would have had the bolt on version in this case.

Nigel

[peteracs]

Hi Nigel

We did discuss it and decided to go with the fixed option. Given how much of a pain getting the engine out through the top is, I have decided to install from below after visiting and talking with John King who had rebuilt his Spider engine and reinstalled from underneath.

Peter

[peteracs]

It always amuses me to see the clutch cable bracket for the LHD cars sitting on the n/s chassis rail.

Cheers
Ian

Hi Ian

I did wonder why I had never spotted it on the Spider, mainly because there is no bracket or hole on the Spider. I guess this was a mod for the early cars and maybe the RHD bulkhead was just different to the LHD ones.

Peter

[Nigel]

It always amuses me to see the clutch cable bracket for the LHD cars sitting on the n/s chassis rail.

Cheers
Ian

It's probably something to do with reducing the pressings variants, in that it's not on the firewall itself.

N.

[peteracs]

Time flies, done very little myself until today when I am back on cleaning and painting. Todays items, springs, top of the heater box and rear anti roll bar. I have also stripped and cleaned the heater box with what looks like a good core thankfully. Also stripped several camboxes to sort out a decent exhaust cam and exhaust and inlet box with decent bearings. They are waiting to be cleaned. Lastly spent a while port matching the inlet manifold to the head. Roughed out two ports today and then had enough so two more to do and then final polish.

Doors, bonnet and rear hatch have been to dippers so hope to see them repaired and primed over coming weeks.

Peter