1973 gtm coupe

[austinisuseless]

re. rear lights, guru,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_BJfcZzmbU#t=2m17s

time keeping! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eppNTf0LoM#t=3m42s

[guru_1071]

no photos, but ive not been neglecting the gtm

its now sat on a proper trolley ive made, so i can wheel it in and out the garage and turn it round - it also means that when the time comes it can be wheeled onto my trailer for paint - im paying to have it painted

both doors are now stripped and repaired, both engine covers are stripped and repaired, but the larger one needs more work as its bowed and doesnt line up with the other one (im starting to get fussy!)

ive started to work on the front clam shell, this needs loads of work as its really badly crazed.

ive also started experimenting with gelcoat and moulds, the cold weather has slowed me down as its added about 3 hours to the curing time!

[Pandora]

Rich, remember and work out the draft angles carefully , and Plasticine and MDF are your friend when making the dams!

[guru_1071]

al

tell me about it, its a right headache trying to think in reverse negative positive

i find out tonight how my 'first attempt' front of a mini gearbox works (very badly i suspect.......)

[Pandora]

ha ha! not an easy project to start with, and it'll probably leak........

the mould might be easy enough to make, but laying up those fins will be a nightmare!

it sounds basic, but holding / taping sticks of wood or rulers on the edges of the panels to look at draft angles helps show up problems really well. Once you get your head round it it does get easier, but trying to thing 'inside out' does take quite a lot of practice!

and remember, it's often easier to add a split in the mould than to do it in one and have to fight it out of the mould.

It is also harder to think about the release direction when you are high on the resin fumes.........

Ahhh, happy days!

[guru_1071]

al

im just using an old gearbox case as it was clean and in the garage, it also had a nice selection of shapes to practice on

its far more complicated than bits i need to do on the gtm,

[Pandora]

I imagined as much, but something clean in the garage?????

are you using a paddle roller (both for wetting out and laying up)? if not, get hold of some off ebay, they really do make it easier as they soak the matting much better than brushes and you'll get lots less air bubbles, so less problems later.

[guru_1071]

some poor photos of progress - the flash wouldnt work on my camera for some reason

after hours (two weeks worth of nights) sanding flash lines etc the front is starting to look ok, there is still a load of crazing in the gel coat i need to sort, but this is going to take ages to sort

ive started patching all the holes up where the clubman lights where fitted



picture of the trolley, it picks up on the subframe mounts front and rear

[Pandora]

looking good Rich, but you've missed the hole in the roof.

Handy looking trolley - you should make some for standard minis and sell them to your customers.

[guru_1071]

but you've missed the hole in the roof.

i did think about filling it in, but i think the cabin will get so warm that it will probably help - the cox ive just bought has a solid roof, so i will see in time i guess!

Handy looking trolley

ive made a few of them, the local steel co cut the box section to the correct lengths (its really cheap) and its easy to weld them up. with the wheels (bought new) and the steel they cost about £60 quid to make.

the axles are cut down adjustable tie bars (just happen to fit the wheels) and the locating pins for the bodyshell are the other end of the tie bar (recycling! )

i dont bother with castors as its easy to turn the car round by sliding a bit of tube into the box frame and lifting one end of the car up - they are miles better than pallets as the car cannot slide about. they also sit on my trailer a treat and are the perfect way to move bare shells around safely and easily

i cant be arsed to make them to sell, people would want them to be bolted together to make them easy to store etc

[austinisuseless]

Sunroofs are so 1980s and essex girl, never ever liked them. But I suppose it makes them harder to break in with a stanley knife I suppose as what happened with proper convertables then.

Though bought a brand new 1987 MG Metro with a sunroof, because they then weren't available without one, honest officer! Before that had a second-hand 1983 one for a couple of years that didn't have one. Both black, nice colour on MG Metros.

[YMJ]

Just about to start work on a long awaited Ginetta G15 project which will need a lot of bodywork work.
If I could find an expert to do the work for me I would give it to them but I cannot find a soul.

This thread will come in very handy.........unless you want to have a go?

[guru_1071]

If I could find an expert

ex = has been

spurt = drip under pressure


im your man!

[Pandora]

eh, for G15's, Spadge Hopkins is your man, surely?

[YMJ]

Hmm.

[guru_1071]

i have been pottering away on the GTM, the excitment of other projects, the cold and general lazyness means that there hasnt been any photo worthy news.

all the bonnet is finished, after a spectacular fubar by me, i filled all the front spoiler in, bought some new lights and fitted them, refitted the bonnet and realised with horror that id forgotten that the spoiler didnt sit vertical (as it does when the bonnet is propped up on its back edge) as a result the new lights pointed down and looked utter crap. (man, the air was blue!!!)

i had to start again and make some little plinth - all sorted now and they look great.

ive also started on the rear, my primary former is made and in place, all been well tonight i will be removing it to see (i hope) a perfect grp panel.....

once thats sorted ive got to make the rebates for the lights, then its nearly ready for paint.





now its warm and sunny i can spend a couple of hours a week at my rented garage, so progress may be swift

[Pete]

This looks cheap ?

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C226710

[guru_1071]

This looks cheap ?

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C226710

looks a good buy, but it does depend how good the original builder was (just like tuned/rebuilt minis!)

they are a fantastic, pretty car

would make a good hillclimber as well pete.......

[guru_1071]

bet you all think i had forgotton about my gtm.

ive been pottering on, getting a few hours in every week.

as it stands now





this is just a first coat, to get all the edges

still have all the loose panels to paint, then its frames in and rolling!

it might be on the road next year





dont know why its so misty, my camera is playing up

[Pandora]

looking very goor rich, but you've left the lid off.