Build quality?
- Thread starter phil
- Start date
Pilkie
Active Member
I have a feeling that S1 cars were built of stronger stuff by workers who were proud.
At least they were prepared and protected better than S2's,,,
Then with the coming of BL things went downhill rapidly.
More so on new models coming online in the early 70's than the P6 line,but when the SD1 came along,corners were cut,cheap materials used,and the tail end of P6 production they probably suffered quality issues,like paint.
My uncle had a new 2000tc in about 1970 and every year would pop the wings off,clean and protect the base unit,it was still solid the day he sold it in 1975/6 and bought a new 2200tc.
He did the same with that,but it suffered what is commonly called inside-outside rust,in other words you dont see it till its a hole!
He got rid in the early 80's,and bought a new Jag XJ6 instead as he was then in his late 70's,that just about lasted him till he gave up driving in 1991.
At least they were prepared and protected better than S2's,,,
Then with the coming of BL things went downhill rapidly.
More so on new models coming online in the early 70's than the P6 line,but when the SD1 came along,corners were cut,cheap materials used,and the tail end of P6 production they probably suffered quality issues,like paint.
My uncle had a new 2000tc in about 1970 and every year would pop the wings off,clean and protect the base unit,it was still solid the day he sold it in 1975/6 and bought a new 2200tc.
He did the same with that,but it suffered what is commonly called inside-outside rust,in other words you dont see it till its a hole!
He got rid in the early 80's,and bought a new Jag XJ6 instead as he was then in his late 70's,that just about lasted him till he gave up driving in 1991.
Are the rear and front wings easy to remove? I want to remove, clean and retreat my base unit. Hopefully it is as solid as I think! The wax on my underside is very smooth. Kind of like dinitrol? I don't think it is the sort of underseal you could chip off like Sparky had applied which looks hard and dry??
The Rovering Member
Well-Known Member
Yes, very easy. Once you know where the fixings are & if all your bolts are free-moving then you'd have them all off in an hour or so.
Mikep
Active Member
In the James Taylor book it says that towards the end of production P6's were painted in the 'state of the art' SD1 paint shop to perfect the new paint process, effectivly using the P6's as guinea pigs. That may suggest why my '76 model has had at least one respray that I am aware of as the quality of paintwork was very poor.
In terms of front and rear wing removal I did this soon after buying my car to see if there were any hidden horrors. I was pleased to find nothing untoward and even took the oppurtunity to replace all the wing rubbers and splash seals, but I was really impressed with how easy it was to simply unbolt and lift off the wings; the only tricky part was getting to the bolts on the nearside as the exhaust was in the way and trying to push the wings back into place with fresh rubbers underneath
In terms of front and rear wing removal I did this soon after buying my car to see if there were any hidden horrors. I was pleased to find nothing untoward and even took the oppurtunity to replace all the wing rubbers and splash seals, but I was really impressed with how easy it was to simply unbolt and lift off the wings; the only tricky part was getting to the bolts on the nearside as the exhaust was in the way and trying to push the wings back into place with fresh rubbers underneath
Pilkie
Active Member
I did this to mine recently in just under 2 hrs,,mind you I knew that none of the fixings were seized up,as all had been of prevoiusly for 1 reason or another.
Removed both bumpers,4 wings,4 doors,front and rear valences and decker panels,sills,front grille,seats and carpets.
Then it took about another 20-30 mins per door to strip them down to the bare shell.
Took quite a bit longer putting it all back together again with fresh paint on all the panels!
Removed both bumpers,4 wings,4 doors,front and rear valences and decker panels,sills,front grille,seats and carpets.
Then it took about another 20-30 mins per door to strip them down to the bare shell.
Took quite a bit longer putting it all back together again with fresh paint on all the panels!
Pilkie
Active Member
Have a good look here and you will see what was done.
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=9305
or click on the piccy link in my signature..
Over the years I have had to do some patch work to the sills,but under the wings has always been good,but this time I had a real good dig about,especially at the top of the rear inner wings,fixed 1 x 50p size hole,and let in a repair section on the front o/s inner wing on an area known as the hockey stick.
Most of the work was on the inner and end of inner sills,where I welded in stainless plates and gave them all a damned good spray of underseal with added waxoil.
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=9305
or click on the piccy link in my signature..
Over the years I have had to do some patch work to the sills,but under the wings has always been good,but this time I had a real good dig about,especially at the top of the rear inner wings,fixed 1 x 50p size hole,and let in a repair section on the front o/s inner wing on an area known as the hockey stick.
Most of the work was on the inner and end of inner sills,where I welded in stainless plates and gave them all a damned good spray of underseal with added waxoil.