That's disappointing but "Envirostrip"? I though you only entrusted Ribble Technology with that process? Was looking forward to seeing work starting on the car again. Hope you back in improving Chris.
That's disappointing but "Envirostrip"? I though you only entrusted Ribble Technology with that process? Was looking forward to seeing work starting on the car again. Hope you back in improving Chris.
Ray - The car originally was entrusted to Envirostrip who stripped the shell and panels then applied a defective primer to it which just allowed surface rust to creep all over the shell - I undertook the structural work to the sills along with the chrome bumper conversion and fitment of the outer panels - when dry building the car we noticed that aperture gapping plus the windscreen aperture was out of alignment - We thought that we had resolved the issue but its just not good enough hence our plan B tactic - Disappointed with Envirostrips work we sent the shell to Ribble to have the defective primer / surface rust removed on which they did a stunning job - Sadly Ribble have diversified into powder coating and have now ceased stripping bodyshells - My Back is much better thanks (It needs to be there's a mountain of work in front of me)
Thanks for the info Chris and glad your back is improving. Sods law it was only last Saturday I recommended Ribble Technology to a lad I worked with before retiring.
I've not logged any progress but behind the scenes I've been looking at various methods in order to achieve a reasonably good fit of the quarter light frame & door glass against the windscreen pillar & roof line on the nearside of the car - this has seen some substantial hours dedicated to the process and I've not updated it to the thread because in a nutshell I'm still not happy with the fit - Don't get me wrong this is no coach built masterpiece with millimetre perfect aperture gapping - Its a BLMC derived car that was built for the mass market - Make the comparison with examples of the model and there's no 2 cars that are the same. None the less its just not cutting the mustard which is hugely disappointing - The shell was pin straight prior to sending it to Envirostrip and its clear that they have rushed the heating / cooling process which has distorted this area of the bodyshell.
Myself & Sam have decided to take the plan B option - no pics just yet but the button was pressed this afternoon for a clear plan of forward progress - further update to follow at the end of this week
So to expand a little on the above and to revisit where we are with images, it's probably fair to say this is an issue that's been ongoing for a while. Looking back through the thread while we were happy with efforts and the test screen fit at the time (see this post back in Oct 21), it's a great advert for why a dry build is vital when going to this level on a project. These photos probably best illustrate the issue (you can also see a slight indentation at the top of the a-pillar in the first one):
Also spot the difference with the below (clue - look at the top right of the screen/roof area):
As it was:
Versus how it was before the initial fix to get the screen to fit
The car was never meant to be perfect, we were starting with one of British Leyland's finest afterall , but it was supposed to be 'improved' at least. So the above issue, even with best efforts to rectify, my OCD couldn't live with and I think Chris feels the same. So as mentioned a plan, albeit a bit of an extreme one involving quite the roadtrip, has been hatched to achieve some progress once more. Fingers crossed it does the trick
Post by justforthepics on Feb 22, 2023 19:55:59 GMT
So if the Passenger side A pillar is that far down and inward how has that effected the B and C pillars. Has it moved them too or is just a case of doing a reverse roof chop and adding a section into the A pillar?
So if the Passenger side A pillar is that far down and inward how has that effected the B and C pillars. Has it moved them too or is just a case of doing a reverse roof chop and adding a section into the A pillar?
B & C pillars are fine - its pulled the nearside front corner of the roof over - there's a dip / deviation in the roof skin forward of the B post on the nearside - hardly noticeable by sight with the car being in primer but you can feel it with the flat palm of your hand - apply shiny paint over this and it will stand out like sore thumb - I could chop the windscreen post and work it back but the chances are I'll end up with a load of skimming to undertake in the roof skin - Having considered all options we have a much more original factory solution - more about that on Friday
Post by grumpynorthener on Feb 24, 2023 23:33:21 GMT
So Thursday was a roadtrip to Cambridge
Which is home to the MGOC (MG Owners Club)
Houses their meeting facilities & showroom along with their spares department
But also their service bays, restoration centre, paint shop, trim shop - all in purpose built 50,000 sq foot building - pretty impressive but this what you can achieve when you have 50,000 members
It would have been rude not have a quick gander in the showroom
Any way I'd come to collect some parts that I decided against having couriered to me because I didn't want them to arrive damaged and we already have a damaged set on the car
Very long roadtrip because from here I headed West across the country to Herefordshire to attend to other business which is reported in various different threads on the forum
On the MG front I returned with a couple of genuine Heritage MG panels
One being the bulkhead / windscreen pillar panel
And the other being the roof skin - a radical approach but in this cars case the right approach - Both myself and Sam want the car to right and right it shall be
I have them to fit yet but no mad rush I need to get few other things out of the way - first is a big one being the NEC Restoration Show at the end of March - I manage the stand for the Jowett Car Club and its more than just a little work !
Do you think the problem was caused by residual stresses coming out during the heating/cooling process when it was dipped?
Absolutely - It should be a staged heating process and a staged cooling process - we heard it on good authority that this process was being rushed and I'm aware that I'm not the only one with the problem from that particular company
Based In Dudley, Birmingham - they can do alloy panels which is the critical for my work with the Jupiter external panels being alloy - I have 2 Jupiters in the queue for full body restorations and stripping the panels by hand is painful operation so its looks like I'll be trying them out probably with a couple of loose panels to start off with
Post by grumpynorthener on May 8, 2023 8:33:01 GMT
A long overdue catch up & sort out in the workshop has seen the table lift positioned back under the B and it lifted off its static stands
This also allowed me to turn the body shell through 180 degrees and allow access to the offside - I want to get the door & front wing hung - then the door fitted with its lock furniture & window glass - This in turn will give me reference to the alignment & gapping on this side which was previously pretty good - Once achieved I can then remove the roof skin and look at realigning the nearside windscreen pillar & roof rail
The required body work has escalated quickly! at least it will make a proper job of it, bet you will be able to sell the old roof skin to another B owner thats got one of those big horrible aftermarket sunroofs chopped in
Post by grumpynorthener on Jun 7, 2023 6:18:14 GMT
In between lots of other things (Read - Projects being sold & delivered / major building works at Grumpy Towers / Car Club commitments / Mrs GN's can you just sort this it will only take you 10 mins when in reality it takes all day etc) - I've been attempting to find some time to advance the MGB project
I want to get the offside door hung for aperture gapping reference before I progress works with the roof skin & windscreen pillars - Yes the threaded keep plates for the door hinges should all be identical but they're not
Hinge boxes loosely fitted
Door hung
Still requires some gapping adjustment
And the front wing loosely fitted - I will fully bolt this up and gap it today (In between keeping the builders running / sorting stuff for them / running, fetching, carrying / moving - shunting cars about etc)
One top tip. When I did the hinges on the midget I put bolts in the hinges. I could then adjust with a socket and an extension. When all was located I swapped out the bolts for the proper screws.
Post by grumpynorthener on Jun 8, 2023 7:49:58 GMT
Somehow found time to bolt the front wing up yesterday whilst on builder duties - I can now get the door quarter & window glass fitted along with the roof gutter trims to assess where we are before tackling the roof skin
, but it was supposed to be 'improved' at least. So the above issue, even with best efforts to rectify, my OCD couldn't live with and I think Chris feels the same. So as mentioned a plan, albeit a bit of an extreme one involving quite the roadtrip, has been hatched to achieve some progress once more. Fingers crossed it does the trick 
