My 3500S Restoration Project

iwish

Active Member
Full of enthusiasm around this time last year i purchased my car on eBay. As a barn find i did not bother viewing the car before i bid as i had every intention of doing a full bare metal restoration (been watching too many TV shows) :roll: . Well its been around 8 months since i first published my project on the welcome page and I'm sure it will come as no surprise when i tell you that all its done since is gather another layer of dust. :oops:

Well I'm determined to make a start :D as a reminder i have attached a few pictures of the car as i found her.

















I'm looking forward to keeping you updated as it will mean i am making progress?
 

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Wow, that previous sill repair is pretty special.

Looking forwards to see how you get on with it over the winter months.
 
iwish said:
its been around 8 months since i first published my project on the welcome page and I'm sure it will come as no surprise when i tell you that all its done since is gather another layer of dust

My V8 resto has gone nowhere since we moved house in March so don't feel like you're alone in letting a project sit for months on end. We could all do with a bit more time for these projects and once you get back into it the enthusiasm will grow again. Looking forward to seeing progress. Good luck :D

Dave
 
Mines been sitting 4 years now waiting restoration. The wife's Morris minor will be done soon. So the P6 will get underway some time in 15. Good luck with yours. Keep us updated of your progress with lots of pictures.
 
With regard the sill repair I've seen worse... it all depends how solid the metal is further up the box section as to how big a job it is.

Ignore the wings and doors. Get it running, and get the base unit sorted. Then look at rubbers and bushes/engine. then MOT it. When it's MOTed you can worry about wings doors and the paint job in your own time...

Small chunks are more likely to be achieved.
 
Mr Rockdemon speaks wise words - its easy to take on too much and then lose motivation. As long as the car is not your daily driver you can do chunks of work, with the car off the road for a week or two at the time, being able to drive it in between which definitely keeps the motivation up!

I would advise tackling specific areas and trying to keep focused. Its easy to take something totally to bits, only to end up tumbling down the rabbit hole and taking the whole thing apart- that's how I always lose stuff, something you don't realise until you come to reassemble...
 
rockdemon said:
Ignore the wings and doors. Get it running, and get the base unit sorted. Then look at rubbers and bushes/engine. then MOT it. When it's MOTed you can worry about wings doors and the paint job in your own time...

Small chunks are more likely to be achieved.
Just what I did with my 2000 - it still looks like a shed - but it's kept me motivated :D
 
HI All,
Thanks for your interest and wise comments, its all very encouraging. :D

Without doubt the earlier repairs to the inner cill's are a worry, I've not had chance to have a proper look yet but can tell you that a few prise's with a screwdriver popped some of the spot welds, so its all got to come off.

I'm not sure i will be able to tackle the job in small chunks, according to the Tax Disc the car has been sitting since 1986 and showing 126K on the clock.

Well i have been busy since my first post and have got most of the panels off.



I will upload some more pics shortly.
 

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Quagmire said:
Good start! Find any unexpected surprises?

Yes things are progressing well and i must upload some progress photos.

On the whole the body looks in fairly good condition, apart from the rotted out inner sills and bottoms of the door posts so far i have only found 2 other small holes so far. one which is not big enough to put your finger through on the n/s inner wing behind the head light and one where the rear stabilizer joins the boot wall.

Compared to some of the rot on other projects I've been watching i think I've got of lightly? :)
 
Finally found time to upload some progress pics. :shock:










Engine and Dash are the next to go!
 

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I have one that looks very similar to that :D I'd reserve judgment on condition until you've scraped off all the old underseal.

I do like seeing these cars "naked"

Dave
 
Dave3066 said:
I have one that looks very similar to that :D I'd reserve judgment on condition until you've scraped off all the old underseal.

I reckon the rear wheel arches will be frilly. It's also worth checking the bottom corners of the rear screen.
 
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