shell woes - need optimism

W

waldo

New Member
Hi My name is Paul and i come from Ireland,

Just obtained 1973 Rover p6 2000 tc.
It was found in a barn near where I live, It looked in quite good shape untill stripped down to shell. The main problems are the inner sills are badly rotten, underneath part gone almost completely. The floor is badly rusted, though tranny tunnel good. So to my question, is this a reasonable job for an amateur welder and at what point is the shell considered too far gone. This is my first car restoration project.

Yours sincerely Paul
 
The answer to your question really depends on you. I would consider the following:

A) Can you afford the cost involved
B) Can you afford the time.
C) Can you get a better car for the price.
D) Do you have the strengthn to go on when the car is stripped out and the road to completion looks far far away.

I bought a non runner for £100. looked only like a tidy up and respray but I had to replace both sets of sills,parts of the floor, repair doors, etc. I have only just finished it after almost 2 years. I had to learn how to weld and as I don't have a garage it took longer aswell as fitting it in between having a life. There were times when I really thought about throwing in the towel but kept going and am glad I did. I can now say I have restored a car myself. I think if I hadn't finished it then I wouldn't start another.

What you describe is fairly common and not beyond repair. I would have a good poke around in the rear arches because the water gets to the sills by running down them on the inside aswell
as other places and tend to require repairs.

It is not really a problem, you have a good club, good parts supply and panels. The cost to restore is very cheap compared to Jaguars etc.
 
Thanks for the reply Arthuy.
Yes of course, you'r right. A bad day in the garage where every where I looked i saw rust and mayhem. Every part I tried to remove the Rover held on to with relish, laughing it's honeycombed grill off at the futility of my efforts.
It's great to hear you got yours on the road, wow that must be one good day!! How you managed to do it without a garage, there should be a grill badge for that, or at least a tax break or something. Anyway the work goes on.
 
I was lucky still to have a wife after it all.

I have a great bit of advice for rovering. If you are looking for brake parts or electrical bits try your local branch of LSUK, they are the modern incarnation of Lucas, most things are at a fraction of the cost. I think my handbrake cable cost half what I would have paid else where and no postage.

I have a '77 2200tc so would mind some tax relief if old Gordon Brown reads the forum posts. maybe I could write him a begging letter. LOL
 
At the moment i'm restoring a 3500 on my back yard, It needs sills, inner wings and floor repairs too. I'm only 16 and about three weeks ago i could'nt weld, but now i've gotten going , theres no way i'm stopping till its done!! Good luck with your project.

Speedy :D
 
Like many others the sills went on my '72 2000sc, and I tried anfd failed to weld them myself. An inexpensive, but very good professional welder did the job for me for £500 (or was it £300?) , but he did a fine job and the car survived, but did say it was one of the trickiest welds to do.

I know I could have bought another car for that much, but that would be giving up!

Good luck with the car

Matt
 
True you could have bought another car, but then the sills on that one would have gone 3 months later too !

"Better the Devil you know" !

Richard :D
 
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