THE HIGHLIGHTS AND LOWLIGHTS
COMING TOGETHER
‘The engine re-build included higher compression pistons. The engine and gearbox went in as one with the front of the body raised using the engine hoist that I built into the roof of my garage. There’s an additional engine mount, a vibration suppressor, that you must remember to fit at the top of the transmission tunnel. It’s easy enough and once you get it aligned you can then bolt in the gearbox mount. The re-built front suspension went in next, followed by the complete rear axle and a new stainless-steel exhaust.’
A TEAM EFFORT
‘The seats needed new springs so Ian took them apart. I managed to re-use the original clips but had to re-stitch some areas. To rejuvenate the leather I bought a kit from Leather Forever that included a dyed polish to bring back the colour. The doorcards were re-made in 3mm three-ply sheet, lined underneath with felt roofing material, and the original leather was re-fitted. Once I’d cut it to size I called in reinforcements to fit the headlining. There were six helpers, plus me in the middle glueing and smoothing it out with a wallpaper brush. Horrible job!’
JUST… WOW
‘I carefully stripped the walnut dashboard and doorcaps before applying three coats of hand-rubbed lacquer with an airbrush. All of the instruments were disassembled, cleaned and re-calibrated, and their lenses were polished. I did make an error with the gearbox, though; I re-built the overdrive unit but couldn’t test it out of the car, so had to hope it worked once fitted. Unfortunately it doesn’t engage. I’ve just bought and re-built an LT77 five-speed (£70 on eBay) and made up an adaptor plate so I might swap it over for the short term.’