hardhatharry

Not much progress recently with work and family stuff but managed to get into the garage today. Final prep of the drivers side of the bonnet and got the metal gluer out and put the drivers side wing on Plenty of clamps were used....

Put the drivers side on and it fitted perfectly (Steelcraft) making good progress and started to fit the passengers side. What the????!!!!! Never seen a panel this far out, looks like I need to order a new one from somewhere else

Can anyone recommend a seal sealer and best way to apply particularly between the bonnet and wings on a spitfire??

On the old wings there is a strengthener which runs sown the back of the back of the wing which is missing from the new ones How has anyone dealt with this have they just removed the strengthener and fitted the new wing or incorporated it somehow?

More bodywork cutting and prepping tonight Cleaned up the joints round the inner wheel arches and under the lights where they meet the outer wings

Is Hydrate 80 weld through or does it need to be ground back to weld?

Do I apply the seam sealer before applying this?

As I am going back to bare metal and reading other build threads I see Hydrate 80 seems to be the rust protector of choice. Do I cover the whole car in it prior to etch primer? How much should I purchase to cover a spitfire? It comes in 500ml, 1ltr and 5ltr containers.

If you followed my other post "Repair or Replace" you would have known I found a new nose repair panel in Paddocks and I ordered wings, bonnet strengthener and door bottom repair panel. These arrived The nose panel sort of fits but one edge needs a curve introducing and the centre needs a cut to fit to make it fit correctly Had a bit of a cutting day. I cut out the rot on the bonnet front in preparation to butt weld the new repair panel on. and the wings Need to grind back the joints, retrieve my welder I lent to a mate and start metal glueing it all back together with new metal

https://www.jamespaddock.co.uk/bonnet-front-repair-3 £26.75

All the panels arrived today including the infamous and elusive front bonnet repair panel and it looks like its just the thing I need.

Any recommendations for the best suppliers value wise for replacement panels, prices seem to fluctuate quite a bit. I know of moss and rimmers but I see mention others in posts I have never heard of.

Yes it is

What does the group recommend for these wings and strengthener, repair or replace? This isnt a concourse build just a driver

Anyone know the best method to remove the gum between the bonnet and wings prior to painting?

Managed to pick up a body rotisserie from a member on one of the Triumph facebook pages for a decent price. I am going to convert it to have wheels and stick some paint on it as it is a little rusty, I'll post pictures when its all tarted up. Little spit is living outside at the moment under a cover as the garage is now full of body panels and rotisserie

Doors, bonnet, boot lid and quarter valences went off to the blasters. These guys restore vehicles all the time and recommended blasting with garnet. Incredibly quick turnaround time, I dropped them off late Friday and they were completed by Monday. The bottom of the doors were coated in rubberised paint and was time consuming to get off which doubled the estimated price and they advised me the quarter panels were mostly filler and not worth doing as they were too far gone. I have a new door skin for the holy door to go on. The bonnet is rather concerning but my mate who owns a garage with a bodyshop says its repairable. I have heard talk of a bonnet repair panel to resolve corroded front areas just like mine but I cant find it on any of the usual sites. I also have a couple of small perforations on the wheel arches but unsure if its worth getting new wings or repair what I have. Going to chuck some primer on to protect against the rust in the meantime.

Yes I do have a sports exhaust

the tub is about to come off so I thought its time to properly look at the suspension. My daily driver is an MG TF so I'm not exactly used to plush handling more crash/ bang but sticks to the road. I'm looking to loose an inch in the ride height and I believe thats optimal according to various threads but how do I achieve this? I have read about changing the spacers but I dont know what spacers to get and where to get them from for the desired effect. I have found a rear lowering block 1" on a couple of sites I assume thats what I need. I'm also assuming I will need shorter front springs and height adjustable dampers, can someone recommend what springs and economical dampers (approx £100 a side, I cant afford Konis)and where is the best place to get them? Is there a spacer involved in the front?? I have adjustable AVO's on the rear, new old stock.

Bonnet is off and stripped ready for the blasters, I had an interesting time getting that off by myself Started stripping the doors but didn't manage to workout what Mr Haynes was telling me about removing the glass and mech, one to finish for another day. The skin on this door is to be replaced.

The sills look very solid bit I am planning to get it on the ramp to double check

The door skin and rear wing are both original Triumph parts not pattern so hopefully there wont be any fitting issues, fingers crossed

1 door needs reskinning but bonnet, bootlid and doors are going to get shot blasted.

The stripdown continues, doors off, quarter valances off and under riders off.......bonnet next

Couple of small holes in the floor and passenger side inner rear wheel arch As it had been stood for 27 years all the fluid had crystallised so all the brake and clutch hydraulic system has been replaced. The clutch pedal would just fall to the floor.