Kev's workshop projects

[KevJTD]

Yes, is a great space mate, looking forward to getting stuff where John & me need it to be. Started the process today but I'll leave the bigger constructions until nearer winter, integrale desperately calling besides another few jobs.

HF turbo needs a bit of welding once I get around to it, in a few years. Some corrosion looks strangely familiar!

[KevJTD]

white one has some serious roof issues!

[KevJTD]

managed to get the new unit into a bit better order at last, still some construction to do this winter when we build the pray booth but for now it's nice to get most of the bits where I want them

little side room will make a handy room, we're going to try and keep the main body of the workshop clear from clutter and stuff to maximise the space and make it easier to move stuff about

2 delta's are lined up for now, white one will be sacrificed as the roof repairs are just too extensive, and it needs to donate a few pieces for the integrale

2000 sedan will most likely join the line up on Saturday if john & me get to tow it over the yard..


one good bit of the new unit is the inspection pit that's already installed,

quite a wide pit as was fitted by a previous tenant that repaired truck trailers, delta fits ok so most stuff should fit..

apart from the little imp!

poor little narrow thing only goes half way down, but better than nothing. was going to weld some bars to narrow it down but seeing as it's ok for 99% of the stuff we'll use and that allows more space to reach under in a wider section then its' fine as is

[KevJTD]

had a look under the black delta which will eventually get restored, hardly any surprises

rear sill....

n/s/r chassis rail, looks like someone got a nice fail sheet!

o/s/f sill & floor, nice and crusty

rear cross member behind the back panel, surprised the exhaust hasn't dropped lower!

nothing that's not been seen before really, it'll be alright in the end.

[KevJTD]

still a few panels to do for the imp, boot lid amongst them.

there had previously been a repair done to the top surface, filler in evidence inside and out.

on grinding it all out a hole appeared, like something had been mounted on it. an aerial seemed a possibility but seeing where it was and that it would hit the back window when opened up then it would be unlikely, guess it may have been a badge of some sort?

method of repair on this one with such easy access was to cut a disc of fresh steel to fit nicely inside the hole, held in position with a weld magnet for starters

some small tacks held it up

once fully welded from underneath and ground back it becomes fairly invisible

from the outside, a little hammer and dolly to rid the minimal distortion and it's ready for primer, won't need any filler just the thick filler primer will sort the tiny imperfections

[Kegsti66]

All taking shape Kev.
Where do you get your drive from? As if you didn't have enough to do with the other Lancias , you start looking at the other Delta.
You're not also working on "Just Jane" as well, as I understand she is stripped and being re painted at the moment ?
Keep up the great work.

[KevJTD]

Had a Friday night session mate as I knew I wouldn't be up there this weekend, got to try and keep pressing to get everything done paint wise for the Imp.
Glad to see that Rob is still keen on getting things right instead of rushing things back on, the gear change rods and mechanism he was gonna refit but decided it looked too rough so he's stripped it all down and painted it, all of which will be under the car anyway. Good lad

He also got a bargain of a front grille too. The original one is full of holes and being so thin it'd be real tricky to weld so I'd resigned myself to fibre-glass filling it from behind. He found an original NOS item in great condition, never been fitted, £20 posted to the door from an Imp club member. Wish we could find those sort of Sud bargains!
He's thinking of that being painted gloss black for some contrast on the front end as it will probably be bumperless, quite like the idea myself.

[PETROLHEAD]

Sounds sweet!

[KevJTD]

finally got the remaining panels ready for priming this morning, boot lid needs painting inside and out which brings the usual dilemma of how to paint both sides at once..

used my home made door mounting frame along with a couple of exhaust hanger bolts straightened out with nuts welded on the end which slotted the boot mounting studs into, the lot hanging in the breeze...hope my welds hold!

the rear 'screen metal surround had a similar problem, all around surfaces needing paint so it couldn't be laid down.

came up with the idea of welding another bolt to a pole, stuffed done into axle stands which the frame could then be slotted onto, hey presto!

will probably go up there tomorrow after work to put the red on, apart from the grille which will be black!

[KevJTD]

late night finish after a days' work, but all the painted bits are finally done...hoping I haven't missed anything!

[junior]

know what you mean. Just hand painted a cycle frame. much hassle with the hot weather and having to rub down mistakes.

Finally put on a super coach painters enamel top coat and it looked great. Cleaned the brush shut up the tin, locked the shed and turned round to see the forks still hanging up unpainted.

[KevJTD]

know what you mean. Just hand painted a cycle frame. much hassle with the hot weather and having to rub down mistakes.

Finally put on a super coach painters enamel top coat and it looked great. Cleaned the brush shut up the tin, locked the shed and turned round to see the forks still hanging up unpainted.

Yes, a royal PITA when that happens....fingers well and truly crossed that I've not forgotten anything!

[KevJTD]

Robs' been up at the unit today doing a few bits and bobs, wasted no time in putting the front grille on...albeit with horrid screws despite there being plenty of new ones to hand!

He also picked up a little steering wheel at a local auto jumble....

Got him to steer the Lancia whilst I towed it, that's 3 of the 5 under cover now....

Noticed the sticker on the back window, somewhere you remember Shrew? Not the original from the car but a nice dated one to leave in...

[PETROLHEAD]

Just how old do you think i am? .

[KevJTD]

mixed bag of jobs this afternoon...

started off moving the pair of delta's to a more suitable position so I could get the grinder out to the white one which is donating some parts for my integrale...

had to argue with myself to chop lumps out of a car that had the potential to be saved, but it does have some serious rust issues nit least the whole roof!

found this on the passenger side chassis area though, amazing again how rusty things can be when they look fine at first glance...

yet the strut towers are very good, where you'd expect to find the corrosion!

i'll use part of these to get the integrale sorted..

[KevJTD]

with that sorted I set about doing a few more things in the unit then attacked the radiator fan shroud that had some perforations...

a few smaller plates made up and welded in, should keep the airflow going where it should be!

we'll probably fit an electric fan in front of the radiator too, the main one is driven by a fan belt so static idling airflow may be limiting the cooling

[KevJTD]

rob has been up at the unit putting a few bits back on, keep trying to give him a hand to get the doors back on etc but he's never up there when I can be!

[KevJTD]

aim for the afternoon was to make up some better covers for the inspection pit rather than the bulky wooden sheets screwed together than was in there when we got the unit

a couple of lengths of angle iron along with a bunch of alloy chequer plate offcuts should do the job, i'd already got a few box section pieces and other useful bits, alloy sheet is way too expensive at around £100 an 8x4 sheet for my tight pockets!

frames are being made up to suit the sizes of chequer I'd got, also making them small enough to be able to lift out

added some support braces but may add some box section too for a bit more assurance, don't want a car falling through!

like I have done in the next panel

oddest shape to cover over is at the stairs end where it's wider in places, still needs the crossbars welding in

just leaves the central panel to make up which I need a little more angle to complete.

[KevJTD]

Got the frameworks done this afternoon, all ready for the chequer plate

Still awaiting one piece of alloy plate for the middle cover but 3 pretty much done and being tested under the Imp, OK not a severe weight test yet but a start!

Once they are all done on Saturday we shall at last be able to move cars around far easier without fear of dropping down a big hole

[Kegsti66]

Spot on Kev , looks very smart.

[KevJTD]

Much better than the sheets of OSB wood laid over the hole mate, incredibly heavy to move they were and feared what they'd be like when wet!
Boards will come in handy though for a prep space partioning

[KevJTD]

All done with the pit covers, even put some blue cord so they can be lifted up easier.

Back to getting work done now...

[KevJTD]

Rob and myself got a few bits and bobs back on the little Imp this afternoon, starting to take shape. A lot of the underside stuff is done, new brake lines made and fitted, gear controls, hand brake cables, a lot of the wiring etc all done.
Waiting for Rob to order a new roof lining so then the windows can go back in..

Bit of a shuffle and with the pit covers now able to be ridden over the back wall line up gains a new member

[Kegsti66]

Filling up mate, where is John's bit ??

[KevJTD]

Lol.
You're right about space filling up mate.
The need to get the pit covers made was to get the Imp shifted from the doorway to make space as the poor little thing was too narrow to go over the open pit, and manoeuvring the heavy previous wooden covers was a pain.

Delta starting to get the chop a bit next Saturday to make more space

[KevJTD]

Space is going to be needed very soon for future projects so the white Delta is finally going under the knife..

Engine needs a rebuild as bottom end is knocking but at least it's pretty much all there..

Part of the chassis rail will find it's way onto the integrale

Dash now removed, forgot how much of a pig they are to get out, wires everywhere! Glad I did though, seems I did the integrale one in the wrong order, best to leave all the wires connected and pull them all through the bulkhead whilst still attached to the back of the dash. Forgot how I wasn't looking forward to trying to remember where everything went!

Next time up there the whole shell will become several smaller chunks...

[KevJTD]

Rob is still making progress with the little Imp, he got the dashboard in today along with some of the door furniture. Sorted out his non cancelling indicators, got his small steering wheel on ready for his first taste of non power steering!

Glad I painted the strip between the dash and the 'screen, Rob said it is visible, I didn't realise the slots are actually the demister vents!

Bonnet latch had been a bugger. Robs attempts had resulted in him having to take the grille out to get his arm in to undo the latch bolts as it jammed! I took the precaution of removing a headlamp for less of a contortionist impression!
A good few hours were spent adjusting the many moving parts and trimming bits and pieces down. Eventually it now opens as smooth as any new car, probably better than it ever has done! As John commented on at the time, the jobs that you don't expect to take much time can turn fiddly and time consuming very easily..

[KevJTD]

Poor old white Delta has now had the full chop....

The front bulkhead I still need for a mock up on a steering modification on the integrale..

The rear section has some useful bits on too

Flat pack Delta anyone?

[Spacenut]

I love the way that C-pillar sweeps forward and over the top - reminds me of the Bertone Runabout concept. Or, slightly more tenuously, the Alfa T33 Pininfarina Spider...

[Bluesuit]

Come on Kev,

What's been happening with all your projects - we're on tenterhooks here!

Ian