Pettifordo

I think that’s about as far as I can take the chassis and suspension (still waiting for track rod ends). Next week I’ll focus on getting the seam sealer on the tub and paint the underside of the tub and waxoyl the sills and chassis (not looking forward to that job). Then I will need to get friends to help me get the tub back on the chassis 👍

Hmmmm - I hadn’t considered the health aspect - perhaps I’ll get quotes first

Thanks for all the feedback - I’ve had someone recommended locally so will see how it goes with him. Also having heard that some of you have done your own spraying I’m pondering if I should have a go 🧐🧐

Front suspension almost finished, just need the brackets from the brake hoses to dry after painting and I will get the brake pipes on the car. I have a single system master cylinder but a tandem system junction box - I’m assuming the car would have been dual when new (1980) - but I’m going to go single for now as those are the new pipes I have. I’m also waiting on track rod ends which are on back order with Rimmer Bros. My thoughts are now moving to getting the car resprayed - doesn’t anyone have recommendations ? How much would you expect to pay ?

I got them from Rimmer Bros - they match the old ones but perhaps the callipers I have are a bit different from the originals - they are a bit different from each other (both Type 14). That’s the least of my problems - I’m sure some fettling will sort it out.

@johnyYes - RTFM would have been best ! I did try with the ones I have but none of them seemed to cover it 🧐 I know what to do now (at least for the bearing) - hopefully with them correct the calliper with fall into place

Thanks @Pete Lewis and @Colin Lindsay Going to have a fun time tomorrow taking them out and putting them back - at least I only did one side ! I hope it makes the calliper fit without catching the disc. I bought some stainless steel dust shields to make the brakes look “nice” - they are the same shape as the old ones, but these don’t seem to fit on the callipers I have - I got exchange ones - could it be that different designs need different dust shields ? I thought this part would be straightforward 😢😢😢😢

So does > and < = inner bearing ? - = outer drifted into the hub { = felt “seal” in which case I’ve done to total wrong - doh

I made the school boy error of not making a note of which way round the wheel bearing go in 😩😩 you have an inner bit with the bearings on and an outer bit which fits into the hub - does the outer go in first or does feb inner go in first ? From the schematic I’ve seen it looks like inner first and then held in place with the outer which is what I have done and everything seems to fit back on one (inc the hub retaining nut). But I’m having trouble getting the brake calliper on so wondering if the wheel bearings are wrong and could be causing a problem with fitting the Type 14. I thought the job would be soooo straightforward 🧐🧐

Did the wheel bearings and fitted new discs today…all was going well until I tried to fit the new callipers Once they are done up the wheel doesn’t move and I can’t get the dust cover to fit as it catches on the housing of the calliper. Any idea what I am doing wrong ? The car is a 1980 1500 - do I have the wrong callipers ?? (They are exchange ones from Rimmer Bros)

No welding was needed in this area…..but I’m not sure what a crush tube is so no idea if they area present. I will leave the shock until the car has some weight on it and see if it pops into place - I have the correct dome cap on the top. I will give the wishbone another check over - but it seems straight and I was able to fit the lower shock mount ok which wild have been difficult had it been “on the piss” - it is hard over as I had some “jiggling” to do on the other side and I knocked it over - I will tap it back a bit.

I will wait until I have some weight on the chassis or or ask for the help of my heavier friends 🙂

With no weight on the chassis jacking up just lifts the whole thing up - guess that can wait until the engine is back I and have a go then. The bush seems to be too squashed so is hanging out the edge like a muffin top. If I have the shock attached at the bottom and the 3 nuts are on the top can I take off the top shock nut so the bush gets narrower and then once it is threw the hole put it back on again ? Or I could use a Stanley knife to “trim” the bush…..sort of feels like I’m doing something wrong 😩😩

@MathewI think it is the photo - it looks level to me. @Pete Lewis what do you mean about it being rusty ? I’ve taken them all apart and painted them and welded up the chassis where required. One issue I’m having is getting the top bush on the shock thru the hole in the top of the tower - any tricks for this or do I wait until I get some weight on the suspension ??

Back shocks on - doing the lower mount second is definitely the way to go - I never could have got the top one in under tension - thanks @Pete Lewis Starting to build up the front now. A bit of huffing and puffing to get the lower wish bone in but everting else is going Ok….so far 🤣

Wheels ! I’m soooo excited….. To be able to push the chassis round like a wheel barrow 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I assume that I am best to fit the shock top mount once the tub is back on and I have some weight on the spring ? Or do other methods work ?

I have no idea what it was like - just seems a shame to scrap it……but I get it will be off to the tip.

What is the best way to get oil into a trunnion ? Special tool ? As I only have 2 to do and they are off the car, do I just put some in the trunnion and screw onto the car or take off the “grease nipple” and pour it in until it overflows ? Finally how far up should I tighten the trunnion ? Just finger tight and then back one turn ?

These are the old shock tops - I guess this kind of wear is caused by perished bushes in the past. Assume they are for the scrap pile I also have my old rear leaf spring which I think is ok but I couldn’t get the bushes out - anyone got ideas about the best way to recycle this - seems a shame to throw it away

And then there were 2 👍

One side done and vitals still intact ! Would have been impossible with the compressor I planned to buy. Thank goodness I asked on this forum 👍 Thanks again.

Finished the Universal Joints today and cleaned up all the suspension shims. Finally put one of the front shocks together and I’m really pleased with the result. Can’t wait to get it onto the car. Any thoughts on how tight the top shock nut should be ? I’m going to add the lock nut on the top but wondered low the main nut should be screwed down ? The shock turns as I tighten it so hard to know if it is “home”

Anyone know any guides for what to do with the shims for the suspension towers and suspension ? Do I put one on each bolt and adjust later or some some cunning plan ?

Yep that was the problem 😬

I’ve been trying to fit the new UJ and I have 3 of the caps on but I can’t drive home the 4th one far enough to get the circlip on 🧐 Are the UJs the same size in bother directions ? Or could I have fitted it wrong ? Or should I get all the caps home before fitting the circlips ? I’ve currently be doing them as a go 🧐 Shame as they came out ok 😩😩