Mikes Monaro - a member of this site that got in touch and wanted a full resto on his HT 186S GTS. Goes under the user name of GTS69. Mike has stripped the car for us and delivered it minus motor and box - which is out for reconditioning

It looks straight and original enough - but all is not as it seems .

A few cracks in the body work here and there revealed some nasty previous repairs - but this car is still amongst one of the better examples for its age. The mostly original paint threw us off.

A bit of rust around the rear windows was expected.

As was a bit around the front - both these areas got a thorough sand blasting prior to repairs....

The floors are pretty clean - Graham gave these thorough clean up later.

This is a clear example of what happens when you pick at a bit of flaky bog - rust in behind meant the whole repair had to be re- panel beaten and done properly. The resins from the bog hit the steel and cause it to lift- letting moisture in. A good reason to consider laying down an epoxy primer( PPG dp40) prior to bog work - not necessary but would have prevented this from happening. Also the acrylic paint is porous - thus letting in the moisture- don't use acrylics and you will avoid this scenario more easily.....

The inside of the door was showing some rust stains- so a half hour in the blast cabinet sort ed that out- revealing some very minor pinholes- I brazed these up and blasted those areas again to rid the acids from the brazing flux.

This close up shows the door corner after brazing and grinding - more braze was added to the remaining holes