t-stag Posted May 14, 2021 Report Share Posted May 14, 2021 Continuing my Vitesse MkII Convertible stripdown. I have removed all the bolts, nuts, washers between the Rear Tub and the Chassis (a bit of a battle against Mr Rust after 52 years). What are these 2 bolts behind the rear seat and just below the springs access? Plus there is a clip above them which retains a cable (Handbrake?) behind. The other 2 holes were for the rear seat lap seat belts. The Heritage Certificate describes the paint as Valencia Blue, but I haven't found any. Old invoices for Signal Red, so maybe it is a replacement Rear Tub. Also had a mixture of imperial and metric fasteners from previous work. Thanks Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Flinn Posted May 14, 2021 Report Share Posted May 14, 2021 3 hours ago, t-stag said: Continuing my Vitesse MkII Convertible stripdown. I have removed all the bolts, nuts, washers between the Rear Tub and the Chassis (a bit of a battle against Mr Rust after 52 years). What are these 2 bolts behind the rear seat and just below the springs access? Plus there is a clip above them which retains a cable (Handbrake?) behind. The other 2 holes were for the rear seat lap seat belts. The Heritage Certificate describes the paint as Valencia Blue, but I haven't found any. Old invoices for Signal Red, so maybe it is a replacement Rear Tub. Also had a mixture of imperial and metric fasteners from previous work. Thanks Steve I suspect the two bolts with large penny washers are a modification to try and strengthen the Mk2 Vitesse Hand brake guides? (Unless they are some sort of Strengthener for your rear seat belt mounts?) The handbrake guides on the Mk2 Vitesse models are renowned for fracturing and pulling away from the rear tub due to Metal fatigue, I had to repair/reinforce them on my old Vitesse during its rebuild The clip actually holds the brake pipe that links the left to right rear brakes. Gary PS - You may have a replacement rear tub fitted from an Earlier Vitesse/Herald which have the Hand-brake guides mounted on the Chassis, so a Previous Owner may have bolted on the MK2 guides to the earlier rear tub? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Flinn Posted May 14, 2021 Report Share Posted May 14, 2021 This is the area the Guides normally fail at from a previous post on the subject? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t-stag Posted May 14, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2021 Hi Gary. Thanks for your help. I think that the handbrake primary to secondary cable bracket is under this welded on nut, on the floor under the rear seat. The clip is certainly for the brake pipe and was easily detached. The 2 bolts were removed, RHS 1/2" spanner and easily came apart. LHS 14mm spanner, rusted solid and drilled out. Still not sure what they were for. Will find out when I lift the rear tub off the chassis. Mr Rust is certainly fighting me every step of the way. Will be interesting to see if the chassis is saveable. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahebron Posted May 15, 2021 Report Share Posted May 15, 2021 Saveable is a pie diagram with three sections. Time, Money and Skill http://mobilemindspage.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-timeskillmoney-pie.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t-stag Posted May 19, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2021 Q: What are these 2 bolts behind the rear seat and just below the springs access? Plus there is a clip above them which retains a cable (Handbrake?) behind. The other 2 holes were for the rear seat lap seat belts. A: The inner 2 bolts hold the handbrake guide bracket. The outer 2 bolts hold the lap seat belts and also go through the bracket. The handbrake cable primary to secondary mechanism is under the welded on nut. This bolt came off easily. All needs a good clean up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted May 19, 2021 Report Share Posted May 19, 2021 That is the rotoflex handbrake guide. Not played with one for years, but I remember seeing the brackets with several holes in them. No idea why I am afraid. They are welded on, so not sure why bolts too (unless the body was from a non-rotoflex car, and the bracket was bolted then welded in place?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t-stag Posted May 19, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2021 Thanks Clive. This bracket is not welded on, just bolted. It has seen better days, but is probably serviceable when cleaned up. Regards Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted May 19, 2021 Report Share Posted May 19, 2021 1 hour ago, t-stag said: Thanks Clive. This bracket is not welded on, just bolted. It has seen better days, but is probably serviceable when cleaned up. Regards Steve Does it have big bump stop brackets in the rear wheel arches? I am certain the handbrake guide is welded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t-stag Posted May 19, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2021 Not in the rear wheel arches. Maybe the handbrake guide was cut out of another tub. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted May 19, 2021 Report Share Posted May 19, 2021 Yes, I suspect you are right. Car has been re-bodied is most likely. Not an issue at all.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now