Restoration Page 2

Once the engine was back together, it came back to the workshop for painting and fitting of the other accessories. When that was done, it was mated with the bell housing, transmission and transfer case, ready to lift into the engine.

Another of the small parts that was saved was one of the black out lights. Both were 'f' marked, but one had the back corroded away. The good one was used to make a mould, and a thin fibre glass copy of the rear end was made. This was fitted into the back of the corroded light, and blended in with car body filler. The cast bases of these lamps was cracking in several places, so they were filled with a mix of epoxy resin and milled carbon fibre.
Once the engine and transmission was fitted back into the chassis, focus was turned to the body tub. In addition to a new tank well, it needed parts of the hat channel and floor repairing or replacing. The tub then went off to be blasted and primed. It is seen below after returning in fresh primer.
It wasn't long before the tub was trial fitted to the chassis. It needed a little adjustment and some holes opening up a bit to line up correctly, but after a day tinkering, it fitted well. It was then removed again and returned to the workshop for painting. Once the painting was complete, I started fitting out the instruments, choke, handbrake, wiring harness, lights, fuel pipe etc., and some items and brackets on the front of the firewall.
It was then brought back to the garage for lifting onto the chassis for the last time. Because of the time taken during the trial fit, the final fix was a fairly quick and easy job.
After the tub was fitted, attention turned to the windscreen. The original frame was rotten in places, both the inner and outer. I did however, have a second rotten frame, and was able to cut them both up and produce one good inner and outer frame from the bits. The grill, hood and fenders were fitted next, though the fenders and hood needed a little adjustment to make them fit well.

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