Operation wake up GT! (no one has 56k anymore, right?!)

[toddao]

Good work Kitch. You should be able to get another carpet. Or see what offcuts they've got down at 'Carpet World!'
When I was last welding a spark flew onto the nylon car cover on the 'resting' TRD and it went up like a forest fire. I saw it quickly and put it out - quite frightening in a large wooden barn, full of wood, joined to a house..

[Kitch]

Any back carpet from a BX would do the trick so I shouldn't have a problem. I got rid of some a while back too!

It only caught fire (the first time) because the sound deadening got hot, unpeeled from the base of the A-pillar and landed on a tarpaulin, which got hot and started to combust, the prick!

The other day was actually nothing, just remains of rust-treatment in the box sections burning up.

[Kitch]

Last updates before it's off to be painted (hopefully at the end of the week).

Had to work out where the check strap mount (or what's left of it) had to go back on:



Had at go at that really pretty weld....it didn't work and I had to grind it back:



Now it's ready to rock!





That white tub is the seat!

Looking forward to getting it back. I've had to send it for painting before I've had a chance to take a look at the engine and mechanical work, which is great! Means I get to play heavy duty repairs on a freshly painted car that will probably still be soft - brilliant!

So when it does come back, it's back together with doors, trim, etc etc and then out with the engine. We'll do clutch change, cambelt....possibly a light engine rebuild (it's a bit rattly but then it has done 195,000 miles) and freshen up the engine bay a bit.

Shame it's not my car

[Kitch]

Oh and yes, I have forgotten the upper wing mounting tab!

[citsncycles]

Wow, some top work there - the A pillar looks a lot worse than Timex's, although I suspect I may be referring to these pics again when I start looking at that area properly!

[Kitch]

None of the internals of the A-pillar are original....it's all a mix of what the previous guy and what I've put in there!

The balls up is that I've run out of gas for welding and it's due to go to the bodyshop Friday (though it could easily be postponed if he can't fit it in) and I haven't welded the upper wing tab on yet!

[barry badger]

Fantastic work! i can't wait to see it painted.

[Kitch]

Fantastic work! i can't wait to see it painted.

Your wait is almost over....






The car was collected today so should be seeing that again in the next couple of weeks. Then the rebuild can begin

[barry badger]

Superb paint finish! It's going to make me very dissatisfied with my bxs when it's finished.

[Kitch]

Superb paint finish! It's going to make me very dissatisfied with my bxs when it's finished.

I dunno mate, I think your A-pillar repair is looking much better than mine

We'll wait and see at the end, but I think under the skin you'll certainly have a better finish. I'm no body-technician!

[barry badger]

It helped that i had a donor car with a salvageable 'a' post, although i'm doing the repairs to the best of my ability the bodywork is quite battered, it's still going to be a scruffy bx when it's finished. Our dogs wont mind though.

[Tim Leech]

Looking good kitch! If you get the bonnet decal made up again let me know, or if your dad still has the one I made him I could do with a scan of it as im aiming to put a long nose bonnet on the GT next year again.

[Kitch]

Looking good kitch! If you get the bonnet decal made up again let me know, or if your dad still has the one I made him I could do with a scan of it as im aiming to put a long nose bonnet on the GT next year again.

I think he does still have a spare one, yeah. I'll ask him if he's planning on fitting it.....IIRC it wouldn't have had one from the factory.

[Kitch]

Well, today was the day the GT returned from the bodyshop






We didn't pay for a concours job, because, well.....a BX isn't worth it financially (unless you have cash to piss away!) But for what we did pay (relatively little in fairness) it's come back a decent job.

Main problem is now all the shit needs sticking back on. I made a quick start tonight, including a replacement spoiler I didn't realise my Dad had located (the old one was in pretty poor nick):







That wiring trunking is a right sod! Next step should really be headlining, fabricate some mesh or something for the rear quarter vents, interior trim, boot seal, then attack the sills with some black paint as the painter has sprayed the top of them body colour

Then, when the doors and interior etc are all back in, I have to pull the engine out. Well....I don't, but I'm doing the clutch and the cambelt, so it makes it worthwhile. I can pretty the engine bay up while I'm at it.

It's exciting now Still can't be arsed to do it though!

[Tim Leech]

Awesome work, wanna start restoring BX's for a living!