Panel shop 1

Safely in place at the paint shop. Lets hope it's not there too long..

Beaver rust (ouch)

Rear beaver removed to replace with repro panel. Some rust internally which will be dealt with whilst it can be accessed. Boot barrel hole replaced in rear panel as per the engineers requirements.

New beaver panel1

New repro beaver panel in place. I had the exhaust cut area modified so that the 3" pipe i am using would fit neatly and not hang down below the panel.

New beaver panel2

New panel in place. The inner panel was also replaced for extra insurance against rust in the future. Once the car is painted all the sills and panel cavities will be wax filled to keep out the water.

panels being prepared for etch primer

Bolt on panels being prepared for epoxy etch primer. All the hanging panels were sent out to be stripped. They came back in excellent condition, both the panels themselves and the job done by the stripper are great. Not a lot of major body work needed.

panels after blasting (2)

Panels waiting for sanding and etching.

Left rear quarter

Rear half of the body filefinished and primered ready for assembly and regapping of the hanging panels.

rear and right rear quarter

Rear panel work complete.

panels in epoxy

All the hanging panels now in 2 pack epoxy ready for refitting and regapping..

rear primed and boot fitted

Rear quarters primed and the boot lid refitted and gapped. 11 individual dents in the boot lid means a fair amount of work to get it straight

rear primed and boot fitted 2

Rear quarters primed and the boot lid refitted and gapped. 11 individual dents in the boot lid means a fair amount of work to get it straight

dents in boot skin

Boot lid skin not in the best shape. This will keep the panelbeaters busy for a while.

Boot lid done (3)

Boot lid repaired and in etch primer

Boot lid done (4)

Boot lid repaired and in etch primer

body shell repairs finished

Body shell repairs now completed and a thin etch primer applied to keep everything dry and rust free.

body shell repairs finished (4)

Turret had several dents that were unusual. I am guessing the car had roof racks fitted in a previous life that were so overloaded they were sitting on the roof.

Bodywork Feb 2009

Most of the bodywork done. Reskinned LHR door and patched both front doors at the lower front corner. Front sheetmetal goes on this Friday then the alignment begins.

Bodywork Feb 2009 (6)

Most of the bodywork done. Reskinned LHR door and patched both front doors at the lower front corner. Front sheetmetal goes on this Friday then the alignment begins.

Body repairs just about done (10)

Most of the repairs now complete. Final reassembly and gapping not far away now

bonnet underside after blasting

Bonnet has been blasted and ready for rubbing back

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Main body work just about finished. Final prefit just around the corner

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Final detailing of the engine bay before the car is hifill primed.

Body work nearly finished

Just about finished the engine bay. Next week all the door jambs and dash area will be sorted. Then we're in primer. Can't wait!

Front subframes off (5)

Front subframe assembly removed to allow final detailing of firewall before primer goes on.

Front subframes off (3)

We welded the removable steering column cover into place permantly. No need for it to be removable with a rack and pinion steering setup. This area will now match the passenger side of the firewall..

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Body repairs just about done (10)sml

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front sml

Bodywork complete, starting to bolt the shell back together for gapping and first coats of primer.

passenger side sml

Bodywork complete, starting to bolt the shell back together for gapping and first coats of primer

drivers side sml

Bodywork complete, starting to bolt the shell back together for gapping and first coats of primer

engine bay sml

Bodywork complete, starting to bolt the shell back together for gapping and first coats of primer

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Bodywork complete, starting to bolt the shell back together for gapping and first coats of primer

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trial fit of tail lights

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trial fit of tail lights

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Front shot. ALL repairs completed and the final panel gapping underway. Hope to have Hi-Fill on the car next week.

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Front shot. ALL repairs completed and the final panel gapping underway. Hope to have Hi-Fill on the car next week.

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Finally after 12 months in the panel shop being massaged back into shape there is primer on the car. The front end panels slowed us down as there was 20mm difference in the diagonal measurements across the top of the engine bay. The chassis rails were str

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Finally after 12 months in the panel shop being massaged back into shape there is primer on the car. The front end panels slowed us down as there was 20mm difference in the diagonal measurements across the top of the engine bay. The chassis rails were str

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Finally after 12 months in the panel shop being massaged back into shape there is primer on the car. The front end panels slowed us down as there was 20mm difference in the diagonal measurements across the top of the engine bay. The chassis rails were str

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Finally after 12 months in the panel shop being massaged back into shape there is primer on the car. The front end panels slowed us down as there was 20mm difference in the diagonal measurements across the top of the engine bay. The chassis rails were str

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Rubbing down begins

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body (12)sml

VR 80 litre tank cleaned, modified and ready for hi fill primer and paint

body (10)sml

Doors and boot lid hi-filled and sanded awaiting the second hi fill before priming

body (14)sml

Side shot

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body on rotisserie - Copy

Front shop of body on rotisserie

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Rear shot of body on rotisserie

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Passenger side engine bay shot

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Drivers side engine bay shot.

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Bonnet hinge mounts have been smoothed into the inner guards by welding all the seams and then smoothing and filling

body on rotisserie (4) - Copy

Transmission tunnel shot showing crossmember cut out to clear 4L60E transmission

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Inner guards being blocked down for the final coat of primer and colour

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Underside finished in gloss black. Engine bay to be done tomorrow and interior and jambs also. Brining it home on Monday.

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Underside finished in gloss black. Engine bay to be done tomorrow and interior and jambs also. Bringing it home on Monday.

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Underside finished in gloss black. Engine bay to be done tomorrow and interior and jambs also. Bringing it home on Monday.

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Underside finished in gloss black. Engine bay to be done tomorrow and interior and jambs also. Brining it home on Monday.

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Underside finished in gloss black. Engine bay to be done tomorrow and interior and jambs also. Brining it home on Monday.

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Underside finished in gloss black. Engine bay to be done tomorrow and interior and jambs also. Brining it home on Monday.

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EH final panel fitting before paint.

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Bonnet hinges finished. These have had the spring mounting tabs cut off and all the corners rounded. I drilled out the rivets holding them together and rebuilt the worn surfaced with a brazing rod. They were reassembled and are now nice and tight.

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All front sheet metal in place and aligned as best as possible. It's not perfect but will have to do.

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EH final panel fitting before paint.

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EH final panel fitting before paint.

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Trial fit of the side mouldings revealed a bit of work will be needed to align them correctly

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Trial fit of the side mouldings revealed a bit of work will be needed to align them correctly