TBL restoration

[vernon240]

Well, the time has come...well, it's past really...for TBL to undergo the restoration I've been promissing the old girl since I got her a few years back.

So, started the strip down and found a few interesting err 'features'!

Taking out the carpets revelas some good patches..

Like this in the rear foot well, drivers side, above the front mount of the rear spring hanger...a common rust spot..



and anoter one in the passenger footwell..



A previouis oner had a fetsis about sound deadening as well. This stuff was everwhere. Even inside one of the doors!



removing the headlining shows that the roof panel has been replaced at some point.

Brazed one end of the roof stifener..



General colour of the insie of the roof....that ford panel storage paint



welds through the C pillar


The good news is thta it looks like this was a proper job. The twisted roof stiffener on the passenger side and distorted roof rail on thta side would suggest tis was done after roof damage of some sort. Len, do you know of any history of TBL that would confirm this?

Anywas, now the wings are off, we can see what we are dealing with



Nice suspension plates. Swelling indicated something was going on underneath these though



ooh, not so good on the drivers side...



and the strut tops....well, lets just say there was some rust there!







The strut strengtheners panels are pretty bad both sides...




so I need a pair of these at some point

Base of the A post not good on the passenger side


and ropy on the drivers side



but we'll see what soda blasting reveals

Removed the rear scuttle..nothing too serious, but interesting to note that the most serious rust was at the ends, not visible through the grills, so glad I unpicked this panel







So the old girl is looking a tad sorry for herself at the moment.

The stripping will continue. Rear axle and rear trim/fuel tank to go along with brake pipes and lots of little things and then it's off to the soda blasters, hopefully in about 2 weeks ;D then all will be revealed!

I thought my car was fairly original, but so far I've found that she's had both wings replaced (badly fitted and brazed on) door skins replaced and the roof panel replaced, along with a good helping of filler immediatly below the wing hanging rails behind the strut reinforcement plates!

Still, I've seen a lot worse!

I can't take credit for removing the wings and strut panels. Stuart from Restore a ford did these, as my view was if he's going to re fit the wings, he can remove them!

[rscapriman]

Could be a whole lot worse Vernon and yes I did know the car had work done to the roof and it was done before Mike Williams owned it, was one of the reasons Mike sold the car and bought VDH.
Len.

[johnmc67]

hi vernon its heart renching when you see them like that !..ive been in that situation a few times with a couple of escorts i thought were a lot better than they really were ! ....but with a couple weeks welding and some new panels and your life savings they soon make you feel alot better plus you will know exactly whats underneath the paint and will last for many more years to come john.

[boz]

Vernon, That looks positively concours! ;D
I am looking forward to the soda blast pictures, I dont think you will have as many surprises as I did when it comes back.
Out of interest, what did the Mk2 do down the strip?
Phil

[jr]

Good news is all the panel sections you need are available from Ex-Pressed, their lower pillar and strut stiffener/reinforcing panels are excellent. I still need a pair of RS wings or even just the arch parts if you (Restore a Ford) come across any

[vernon240]

Interesting Len. I'm pretty happy with the roof, as it' looks like it's been done properly, but we'll see what soda blasting reveals. The important part is that nothing silly was done, like cutting through the screen pillars.

Like you say, it could have been a lot worse, so on the whole, still very happy with what I have!

Well, Phil. I'm hoping for no suprises, but who knows. huh?....and the mk 2 on the drag strip...15 seconds. I couldn't get it off the line!...wheelspin in 1st, 2nd, 3rd

The strip down will continue next week!

[aussiecapri]

Hey Vern, look like you have been busy, went and seen Sturat and Deb( top people worth the trip down south) Sturat said he removd the wings, but said it was an easy repair, and after seening what he normal has to work with it looks good. I Might have to start sending some bits back here, cause what i throw way, seems to far better than yours. I tried to call you and left a message. would like to catch up. cheeRS Owen

[vernon240]

Hi Owen, yep, Stuart didn't seem to be too concerned about things, but as yours came out OK, It should be fine!

I've been travelling quite a lot over the past few weeks, but I'll be at Coomb with the Mk 2, so catch ya then!

[steads]

Vernon, you gone and bliddy broken it.....

Then strut tops are nice eh, ford really did make a lovely water trap on them,

Suppose it only tobe expected to find the odd repair and nothing to serious that can't be rectified with relative ease especialy with Mr B's talant.

Trev

[vernon240]

Well, the stripping continues. But that is enough about Gareths hobby , back to the car ;D

WEll, TBL is well and truly stripped. Found some rust on the inside of the rear quarter panel where it meets the sill. Looks like it was rust pproofed in tere, but I'll bet this came from the seam between the rear quarter and the sill.








inner sill holed



underside all clear. Not bad at all




and a whole load of mechanical bits tat will need to be cleaned



so next up, soda blasters! I'll put the bonnet on to make things easier, plus will be loading the car with some spare panels I wanted blasted at the same time.

[aussiecapri]

Looks like you've been busy Vern, Nice to see that you have tried out the new colour on the guard in the corner of the shed, should look good in that shade ...Looks like Sturat will have back to you in no time.. Owen

[garethb]

Vernon did say that he might go for the General Daisy Duke Lee look ;D

[rscapriman]

at last he's seen sense

[vernon240]

Well, I have actually carried out some tests to determine the ultimate question. Is orange faster than white? This was scientifically carried out using a pair of orange wings and then on the exact same car, using white wings.

So, the bit you have been waiting for. The results. These were carried out on TBL in it's current state. No cheating or fiddling figures here. ;D

here goes:

Orange (aka sebring red)

0-60, not achieved
Top speed, 0.00mph
1/4 mile, not achieved.
0-top speed. My timing equipment wasn't fast enough to cope with this but would estimate 0.00000001s

Diamond White:

0-60, not achieved
Top speed, 0.00mph
1/4 mile, not achieved.
0-top speed. My timing equipment wasn't fast enough to cope with this but would estimate 0.01s

so there you have it, proof positive that Sebring Red is not quite as fast as Diamond white! Now, has anyone got any other colour wings I can try? Some NOS would be nice, as the lack of any formal top coat may prove even faster! ;D

[rswayne]

i think your selling yourself a bit short mate you havent allowed for the fact your wings are full of filled and chicken wire. so i think that would add extra 1000,s to your time.
nice work so far! your car doesnt look to bad from what i seen lately you could almost call it surface rust. when is your car going to stu's after its soda blasted? i will have to pay a visit me think!

cheers wayne