500 (Classic) '65 RHD F Restoration

[StMarks]

As a fairly new member, this is the first time I have come across your thread @Goldnrust . As I am at about the same stage as where you started from, this thread is very useful indeed (as well as somewhat inspirational).
Your "latest project" looks very interesting too.!
Happy New Year, and thanks again


BSA C10

 

[jonny427]

It's been a slow start to the project so far. First order of the day was just to make sure I could find all the parts I thought I should have, and the good news is it does appear to be all there.

As the weather is closing in on us, it also seemed prudent to take some time to put the winter weather protection up on my car port.

After that I could actually do a bit of work on the car. I picked up where the previous owner had left off and completed the strip down. Removing the interior, glass and other bits and bobs to get right down to a bare shell. That was I could see what I was working with.

Now I can see it, I'm not sure that was a good idea!

I've worked on enough rusty old cars in the past decade to know that it always turns out to be worse than I thought it would be and this one is no different, but there is good news too.

The front panel, and the bulkhead behind it are made of a wonderful combination of rust, fibreglass, pop rivets and seam sealer. This I was aware of, so clearly they'll need to get replaced in their entirety.

There are rust holes in the rear spring mounts. All 4 inner wheel arches have been patched, to a varying standard. The front right inner arch is especially bad and has large holes fibreglassed over. There is also a big ugly patch under the front edge of the floor, and the inner sills appear to be a pure patchwork construction. I'm sure the condition of the middle sill will be terrible.

New front wings and rear wheel arch repair sections have clearly been fitted (and been treated to shiny paint), but not welded to the inner arches. Instead someone has just fibreglassed over the gap between the new wings and the old rusty remains of inner arches. See picture of the right hand rear arch after digging the fibreglass out!

I had felt the fibreglass in the arch lips when viewing the car, so knew something fishy was going on, but I have to admit I didn't expect it to be quite this much of a bodge! Fixing it properly will mean removing the outer panels and messing up that shiny paint.

So what about the good I hear you say? Well the floors have clearly been replaced and, though the welds are ugly, are solid. The bonnet, engine lid and doors are all in surprisingly good condition. The window apertures appear to be all original and rust free, likewise the pillars and roof structure also all appear in good condition with no signs of previous repair.

Very much a mixed bag, but I knew that would be the case and now I knew what I was working with, I could make a start

I have just put a deposit on a 500l, same colour blue, it has some weight reduction at the front, such as the battery tray, not needed, and the bit underneath, to help weight distribution the lower doors have been filled with play doh and artex I think. The engine has a total loss lubrication system. I aim to pick the car up at the end of April, probably stick it straight in for a concourse instead of driving home.