Herald 13/60 Resto + Auto Conversion

[Richeee]

Frustrating slow progress at present. Getting things wrong and waiting for stuff.

Then finding out every day is a learning day.

The paint arrived from the shop and like the colour. Valencia Blue.   Funny how tastes change .   The car was originally white, was going to do red and then ended up buying blue. 

At this stage am only doing a coat brushed on inside the doors or so i thought.  But will now spray.

First time with cellulose.    Had sprayed some synthetic coach paint on a 2a Landrover i restored but not to the standard a whole Herald will require this time. 

This is probably old hat to a lot of you and i was expecting the cellulose to dry very quickly as i brushed but not that quickly. Almost as i finished a couple of strokes.

First off neat.  And then with a 50/50 mix.  All i am trying to do at this stage is make the door insides Blue. I am not worried about surface finish.  Its just so that if you look down through the glass channel its blue.  Anyway i persevered and achieved this. But certainly used too much paint and too thick.

Play is now suspended as awaiting a cheap Sealey 1.4mm spray gun , in line water filter and more importantly a new air line and fittings. My current one is patched with gaffa tape and hisses more than a snake, and my gun is 1.8.

Also found that where i was brushing on the epoxy mastic in places, i believe caused by the thinners, that the primer was softening and basically mixing with the blue.     All basic mistakes i suspect.

Oh well. Have to spend the day wall paper stripping, while Mr Amazons wends his merry way.

To be continued.

 

[DJB350Z]

Question about the paint. When you say you got it from the shop, do you mean the club shop? I'm looking to buy some cellulose myself shortly.

[Richeee]

Yep, the club shop online.

Should have said that.

[Richeee]

Spray gun arrived yesterday , along with an inline water trap  and a new hose.

The gun was a £21 cheapy .

Tried it out on the door frames and skins where i had previously been hand brushing the cellulose , only to be thwarted then at how quick it dried.  So decided to change tac and spray.

In my inexperienced hands thought it sprayed ok.  Produced a sensible fan shape after a little ajustment at 45psi which was what the instructions said. Probably more luck than judgement. The gun is better than its operator obviously.

The skins already had brush marks on them from the zinc phosphate primer and the previous coat, but just sprayed over. 

Next will be fitting the skins to the frames.

But not before a visit to the spares day.

To be  continued.

 

Edited February 26 by Richeee

[Richeee]

Been a couple of weeks.

Had builders in and also undertaken some decorating. More to do, but did grab a couple of days on the doors.

First off , the skin support bar, raided my stock of fixings for spire clips and self tapping screws.

 

The hessian on the support bar was a bit gone after 50 odd years so used a bit of carpet that i was working on.

 

Started to tap and fold over all the edges but then hit a problem or so i thought. Rather indecision.   As the skin rolls round towards the quarter light the skin was not against the frame and stood too high. I could press it down and in but then was unsure as to what the dimension between the frame and skin should be for the quarterlight frame and window glass to fit in.  I could get between 15 and 20 mm and it was all a bit vague  , measured my parts car at a tad under 20mm.

Asked a question on the forum as was a bit perplexed , and Johny stated the logical to me  of measure the quarter light and seal, and ensure a snug fit.   Thanks Johny.

Delved in to the garage roof to get the relavent and decided on 18mm.  So with a frame cramp and packer was able to maintain this gap and tacked the skin into place.

Carried on fitting the skin. Made some cuts on the corners to aid the folding down. 

Not tapped 100% over , just left tight at present as the bottom of the door has a slight curve at one end and may well need the old 4x2 timber against the jamb to straighten and allign as Triumph's assembly instructions befor a few weld tacks. 

 

Both doors now ready for trial fitting and seeing how the rest of the panels allign.

Getting their slowly.

To be continued.

 

Edited February 26 by Richeee

[Richeee]

Can not believe it was Feb 26th that i last posted in this thread.   Lots been happening but determination is as strong as ever. Been decorating and listing house to sale.   Retiring early but house has to help pay the bills.

But got an afternoon today to trial fit a door.

First off put film on.   Today it was 'The Longest Day'

I had finished with the door skins fitted but not finally tacked down. As with my basket case car know nothing will fit.   The bonnet is popped revetted but not welded to aid ajustment.    The rear tub has recieved loads of new panels and distortion will be inevitable.   The tub and bulkhead had been placed on the chassis and door gap measued from bonnet to b post.   But the only real test was doors going on.

First.off clean the capitive bolt threads.

Then realised i was 2 gasket shorts. Grrrr. Had purchased 2 new bolt sets for hinges but 2 were missing so had to cut a couple out of gasket paper. 

After a bit of fiddling just hung the door. No worries about gaps. Just get bolts in.

Yes obviously not fitting well but it was at.least bolted on for first time in 40 years.

Tried to ajust and see whete tight.

so not fitting well. May well have to lengthen door gap by unbolting rear tub from chassis.  Also front of rear tub may need raising.   But a minor bit of progress.   

It will be continued. ( Just dont know when) 

[Colin Lindsay]

Good work so far, it's not easy! I was watching to see how the door reskinning went, I have at least one to attempt and may give it a go. Adjusting the gaps is also fun, you get one spot on only to find another has now moved. I also have the same problem I've spotted on your passenger side, the door sits proud of the bonnet about half way down and while I can pack the wing out to align the gap, I can't find a reliable method of making it stay there without packing.