What I am doing!

[JonathanT]

To hell with the 5-2 diet I'm tired and hungry so it was fish and chips on the way home and now a pint of the good stuff while I type this up

Began with collecting the trailer from Rob Vincent of Vincents Garage

 

[JonathanT]

Then over to Blast Power services to collect the old Bodyshell that's been blasted in all the naughty places . It's come up well they did a great job. Before and after photos

 

[JonathanT]

Then over to drop off the gearbox with David of J R Dain transmission specialists in Norwich. To leave them the gearbox for a complete overhaul. I caught them at a bad time as it was their lunch break but they still helped me out as I had not the opportunity to split the gearbox from the engine. It was still in the boot of my people carrier in one lump. So I set to with the socket set and soon had it separated and into the workshop. David put on his best footballers pose for me with the gearbox.. Priceless

 

[JonathanT]

Jump back in the wagon and then off to a long established engineers... Whitmore's of Briston North Norfolk. Where Phil was waiting for the engine. Another fine pose!

 

[JonathanT]

Back in the wagon again this time for the long haul right up to Simon Pocklington of Renault Reborn. Simon gave me some really useful advice and together we agreed on a strategy to repair my chassis. Simon is going to weld new half floor pans on. Having cut away the old repaired the box sections and rear chassis. All blasted and painted and ready for re assembly. Simon is a specialist having been in the Renault trade man and boy. My Chassis is shown here up on the lift so we could have a good look round. It will soon be placed on the chassis jig so it can be rotated and checked for straightness/alignment. While I was there I took some photos of other cars he was working on including a very eye catching promotion car. looked really good nice and shiny too .

 

[JonathanT]

Oh and I forgot to mention dropping off the shell at my house and picking up the chassis. All single handed. Actually it's possible to balance the shell on your shoulders and walk it along flintstone stylee.


Ooh this pint is good. Feet up now next instalment prob Wednesday cheers

 

[Tomcat]

Enjoy your pint!!!!!!
What a busy day you did have

 

[JonathanT]

In the bin!! Here's to a new phase and muck of a different sort....how I hate the stink of Hypoid Oil

 

[André4Renaults]

In the bin!! Here's to a new phase and muck of a different sort....how I hate the stink of Hypoid Oil

Old hypoid oil always smells of vomit to me-awful!!!

 

[mike4gtl]

Hey Jonathan, I thought you wanted us, actual Renault 4 enthusiast's at Barton in Cambridge to give your engine a birthday?

I expect your guys were £40 cheaper than us at Meridian Engine Services.....

 

[JonathanT]

Hello I did and I'm sorry I really didn't realise the connection. I only recently decided to go with them partly for logistics and the further journey on up to Simon in Louth. I was really impressed by your outfit. I tried to drop in on Wednesday but it was early eve and I guessed you had shut up shop. How is your little White r4 ?

 

[JonathanT]

Ps you will be getting Jenny the Austin 7 two bearing engine though. That's next in line

 

[JonathanT]

The weekend kicks off with Fish and Chips with my old mate on a Friday Night... Brill I was blooming starving! A natter about brakes, women and stuff! (Well mainly about women really)

So this morning Wombling begins with mind mapping/ listing all the weekends R4 tasks. Frankly all the logistics /sequencing/ working out who does what when has been one of the hardest parts to do so far. Everything is so interdependent all to be fitted within the tight restrictions of a really heavy schedule at work and the demands of family life. So here is my list....moments later to be rolled on by mini cat while I drink a cup of coffee

 

[JonathanT]

Oh BOTTOM! I've wrapped up cill plates for you Endo but post office tell be as they are longer than 61cm they have to go parcel farce and that's £11.50 odd. You can have the plates for nuffin. Was expecting them to be £2.80 which I would have also let go. I've wrapped the plates in the template of the rear quarter interior trim shape so don't throw all the wrapping away! For others interested Im expecting to post Autocad drawn PDF's of the trim panels on here so others can download. Endo PM me what to do

 

[JonathanT]

Work this weekend was mainly working out what bits to chop on the body to weld up. And how big they should be. Thinking on has prompted me to draw up elevations in Autocad and make accurate measurements. The idea is I can check the squareness of everything before chopping out and welding in. Malcolm had welded a temporary diagonal brace across the boot opening. I think I will do similar or keep offering up the tailgate and checking shut gaps. The good thing is the wooden dolly I had made is square and the whole body can be chocked to make sure nothing is twisted in the process too.

 

[Tomcat]

Sounds like a plan coming together.

 

[M.Knight]

Sounds like a plan coming together.

 

[JonathanT]

Brilliant! Going to need the A team on my side! Today marked the collection of Womble's newly shined up gearbox from David . Apparently all very clean inside bearings good and within tolerance synchro. New oil seals and a lick of paint .... Lovely! And of course service with a smile

 

[M.Knight]

Do you need me to go up there to help?

 

[JonathanT]

Well after an awful lot of head scratching I've taken the plunge and cut up the donor bodyshell. Truthfully it's been a hard decision...kept asking myself have I done the right thing slicing up a seemingly great Bodyshell. But the roof was badly dented and the decision to get it blasted was a bad one. The flat areas had been distorted by too much pressure so the boot floor I hoped to use looks more like a freshly plumped up duvet. . Oh well as Malcolm said every restoration has its low point. I hope I've just passed it. Onward and upward! I will have some bits of cill for Mike and I think someone wanted boot lid hinges and the area surrounding? Here is how it's looking