USBrits
New Member
AKA “It’ll never be done unless you pay someone" :cry:
Like fingernails on a chalkboard (do they even use them anymore?) these very words make all the hairs on the back of my neck stand right on end. I don’t believe in giving up or giving in & she knows it – so now I’m really energized, I’ve just named my very first project/(pain?) despite it sounding like something a doctor would diagnose, so here goes….
The brief history may sound all too familiar to some…
2003 – ’69 MGB purchased – not a very good start – is behind P6 & bikes on the right.
2003 – ’69 3500s acquired, sight unseen – now we’re talking! Is on the right also.
2003 – ’70 P6 parts/donor car picked up – seems like I will be driving real soon eh?
Now I realize the benefit of having cats in the house – readily available litter for driveway clean-up for those awkward times when your engine, trannyand/or diff just have to go… & then Summer’s over, it’s freezing (actually way below) & weather stops play.
2004-2007 – house projects, kids, life, Summers, Winters, New Year’s celebrations etc… but I did pick up some P6 bits now & then & even managed to remove the bonnet (hood) & eventually even the DS wing (fender) – I’m so proud of my accomplishments – not! Unfortunately in that mammoth process I did shear both hinge/wing bolts getting that wing off. OK – so I was lame, full of excuses & I’m really, really sorry guys! I tried everything: penetrating oil, heat & ice, blunt force trauma/choice language, several drill bits & various combinations thereof – no joy. After all that, I was left with one hole that still needs re-tapping and an ugly nub in the other! The nub looks really sorry after its various run-ins with mole (vice) grips & my bad attitude but still won’t budge even after 5 years of wishing it free – go figure!
2008 – I though that was my P6’s year, seats out, carpet out & we’re on the way right? “Let’s get to that rusty floor panel that I know needs work”. How do you know? You buy a project – you sit in it (if you can) & you think about when you’ll be cruising of course. That’s when you feel it - just as you pretend to give it some gas (petrol) & your heal sinks into the carpet – not because it’s plush either. Trashbag (bin liner) in hand and after the shopvac’s done with removal of rug remnants.
Could be worse though & still in way better shape than the MGB which has true Flintstone brakes – don’t even want to take a shot of that. Hmm – I should get the P6 gas tank out before the sparks really fly around here –Winter’s back again, tank never made it out of the boot (trunk) & time to hibernate – yet another year wasted.
2009 – “INBDUYPS!” – Picked up my first tool chest, organized the garage a bit (again!) & all automotive efforts apparently really need some sort of air-compressor unless YPS. So after you get one, then you need air tools since there’s no point otherwise. I’m just starting out here and an average DIY sort of guy with no mechanical training at all & basic tools but I’ll try. What I do now know for sure that you can’t have the compressor on the same time someone’s in the kitchen using the microwave at my house though;>(. If I try to install a dedicated circuit I’m done for the year so I’ll make do & keep at it while I can – wonder if I’ll get in trouble putting a label on the nukem-box saying ‘out-of-order’?
So now we’re current – most panels off & the tank(s) finally came out on Sunday. The (garage stunk of old petrol for days) despite believing I fully drained it last year – should have disconnected at the sender unit to start with. A little bit of cutting & grinding later & there’s a hole in my P6 dear Liza.
So what did you do after work last night Paul to compensate for all those misspent winters? I started into the sill since rusty portions blew through whilst inspecting it. With the sill & floor I’m going gradually to see if I can save as much metal as possible - I think I need to cut further back still to bare metal - but will strip some more before I do.
Ending with some good news, I really wanted to get the better of that pesky bonnet hinge nub with because I’m embarrassed by it – I’ve sheared & dealt with other bolts & screws like everyone else but this has been my personal white whale for 5 years. Last thoughts were to leave it & when the stars aligned (after learning to weld), eventually to ‘re-head’ it & try the traditional ‘socket’ approach just once more – perhaps with an impact wrench this time?
So yesterday I decided to just be done cut it flush, possibly break some more bits & then re-tap. I’m just not lucky, that skilled or patient for the welding approach after all. So it did get the cutoff wheel & a pretty good talking to - again! But one last inspiration, I ground down either side of the nub flat, hit it with lube one last time & back on it with the trusty mole grips & some new attitude & guess what - it budged & finally came out
I’m saving “nubby” to remind me as I’m sure I’ll need it. More later I hope – take care.
Paul
Like fingernails on a chalkboard (do they even use them anymore?) these very words make all the hairs on the back of my neck stand right on end. I don’t believe in giving up or giving in & she knows it – so now I’m really energized, I’ve just named my very first project/(pain?) despite it sounding like something a doctor would diagnose, so here goes….
The brief history may sound all too familiar to some…
2003 – ’69 MGB purchased – not a very good start – is behind P6 & bikes on the right.
2003 – ’69 3500s acquired, sight unseen – now we’re talking! Is on the right also.
2003 – ’70 P6 parts/donor car picked up – seems like I will be driving real soon eh?
Now I realize the benefit of having cats in the house – readily available litter for driveway clean-up for those awkward times when your engine, trannyand/or diff just have to go… & then Summer’s over, it’s freezing (actually way below) & weather stops play.
2004-2007 – house projects, kids, life, Summers, Winters, New Year’s celebrations etc… but I did pick up some P6 bits now & then & even managed to remove the bonnet (hood) & eventually even the DS wing (fender) – I’m so proud of my accomplishments – not! Unfortunately in that mammoth process I did shear both hinge/wing bolts getting that wing off. OK – so I was lame, full of excuses & I’m really, really sorry guys! I tried everything: penetrating oil, heat & ice, blunt force trauma/choice language, several drill bits & various combinations thereof – no joy. After all that, I was left with one hole that still needs re-tapping and an ugly nub in the other! The nub looks really sorry after its various run-ins with mole (vice) grips & my bad attitude but still won’t budge even after 5 years of wishing it free – go figure!
2008 – I though that was my P6’s year, seats out, carpet out & we’re on the way right? “Let’s get to that rusty floor panel that I know needs work”. How do you know? You buy a project – you sit in it (if you can) & you think about when you’ll be cruising of course. That’s when you feel it - just as you pretend to give it some gas (petrol) & your heal sinks into the carpet – not because it’s plush either. Trashbag (bin liner) in hand and after the shopvac’s done with removal of rug remnants.
Could be worse though & still in way better shape than the MGB which has true Flintstone brakes – don’t even want to take a shot of that. Hmm – I should get the P6 gas tank out before the sparks really fly around here –Winter’s back again, tank never made it out of the boot (trunk) & time to hibernate – yet another year wasted.
2009 – “INBDUYPS!” – Picked up my first tool chest, organized the garage a bit (again!) & all automotive efforts apparently really need some sort of air-compressor unless YPS. So after you get one, then you need air tools since there’s no point otherwise. I’m just starting out here and an average DIY sort of guy with no mechanical training at all & basic tools but I’ll try. What I do now know for sure that you can’t have the compressor on the same time someone’s in the kitchen using the microwave at my house though;>(. If I try to install a dedicated circuit I’m done for the year so I’ll make do & keep at it while I can – wonder if I’ll get in trouble putting a label on the nukem-box saying ‘out-of-order’?
So now we’re current – most panels off & the tank(s) finally came out on Sunday. The (garage stunk of old petrol for days) despite believing I fully drained it last year – should have disconnected at the sender unit to start with. A little bit of cutting & grinding later & there’s a hole in my P6 dear Liza.
So what did you do after work last night Paul to compensate for all those misspent winters? I started into the sill since rusty portions blew through whilst inspecting it. With the sill & floor I’m going gradually to see if I can save as much metal as possible - I think I need to cut further back still to bare metal - but will strip some more before I do.
Ending with some good news, I really wanted to get the better of that pesky bonnet hinge nub with because I’m embarrassed by it – I’ve sheared & dealt with other bolts & screws like everyone else but this has been my personal white whale for 5 years. Last thoughts were to leave it & when the stars aligned (after learning to weld), eventually to ‘re-head’ it & try the traditional ‘socket’ approach just once more – perhaps with an impact wrench this time?
So yesterday I decided to just be done cut it flush, possibly break some more bits & then re-tap. I’m just not lucky, that skilled or patient for the welding approach after all. So it did get the cutoff wheel & a pretty good talking to - again! But one last inspiration, I ground down either side of the nub flat, hit it with lube one last time & back on it with the trusty mole grips & some new attitude & guess what - it budged & finally came out
I’m saving “nubby” to remind me as I’m sure I’ll need it. More later I hope – take care.
Paul
