C8A HUW: body dimensional data needed

[Jerry Hill]

A bit of filling was needed on the drivers side headlight panel to get it right, I wish had replaced the panel and saved a lot of work. I'm happy with it now, but want to do a little more flatting in the top corner.

Having primed it, it won't deteriorate over the rest of the winter ready to paint it in colour next Spring.

Next I need to remove the passengers door, split the skin from the frame and press them both flat, currently it's banana shaped by about an inch.

Other than that now it's time to settle back and eat mince pies, consume the odd cleansing ale and take it easy 'til New Year. Happy Christmas.

Jerry

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[Jerry Hill]

So Christmas came & went, complete with Man Flu... well a filthy cold.

I've been putting off removing & splitting the passenger's door skin, but it was a nice straight forward job. I removed the door furniture first to get at the lower hinge, which is bent, I'm hoping it's not cast iron as I intend to gently straighten it with the 30 ton press. The door lock mechanism needs a little bit of a straighten as well.

The two skins are creased. The inner one rather more than the outer. It has creased around the door lock mechanism mounts as can be seen on the pic. A little bit of gentle press work should improve things here to an acceptable standard.

I'm told the more visible outer skin may have to be re-skinned because the single crease may be hard to eliminate. The door top strip needs a bit of knocking here and there and should straighten out nicely.

The front end now has the nudge bar refitted, along with bonnet (hood) catches and other bits and bobs. I'll not start on the wiring until some bits I want arrive in the post.

Jerry

[Alex van de Wetering]

Jerry,

Thanks for showing all your work straightening the panels and frame, here on MLU. It shows what can be done with some work and a press!

Alex

[Jerry Hill]

Thanks Alex glad to hear the blog's of interest.

I set off to the workshop on Monday with the door split down to basics, picked up a couple of bits of 1 1/4in plywood pieces from the local DIY store to use as flat base pieces to use on the press. Very pleased with the outcome as hopefully the pics will show. We loaded up the press to 2 tons on the ply wood with no deflection whatsoever.

Pic 1 - Shows the door after re-assembly of the two pressings and knocking over the tabs. The locking mechanism straightened up easily, as did the lower hinge. Rehanging the door took a little time as fit in the body aperture was better than before, so I couldn't rely on the old alignment marks. In the pic the damage to the partition pressing can be seen, which should be easy to straighten.
Pic 2 - Shows how the panel came back into shape nicely.
Pic 3 - Another view.
Pic 4 - Looking down the door top shows how well it's straightened out, the deflection was around the locking mechanism that bent the door panel skin out by about 1 1/2 inches. I'm really surprised and delighted how this has worked out, as I'd left the worst job (or so I thought) until last.
Pic 5 - Shows the drivers door. There is a similar deflection here but much smaller, about 1/2 inch. The door shuts a treat so I'm not going to do any more on it.

That leaves rewiring the front end, straightening/replacing a bolt on the roof hatch to align. Take out the dent mentioned above and then we're ready to paint.

Oh yes and there were the winter jobs I had planned before this unexpected winter project. Sort the fuel tanks leak and dirt within and fix a seal on the transfer box front end output shaft.
Jerry

[Jerry Hill]

In the last few days I've remade the grille as the replacement I had was a bit ratty. A bit of a grit blast and paint and it's come up well - Pic 1.

When the accident occured the passenger's door sprung open and was quickly followed by my passenger. A pretty scary moment, not least for the poor chap who fell to the ground by way of a nasty bramble bush. So I've made up a pair of locks for the front doors. I hope they look suitably period being a no nonsense simple set up. - Pic 2. I'm going to fit similar to the rear doors, damn the expense...

I've pulled out the damage to the division between the driver & radio operator's compartment using the trusty ash tree and cargo straps - Pic 3. I've left a couple of clamps in place as I need to tack them back in place.

Started her up and after I'd done with the ash tree I parked her up whilst I went for a cuppatea, couldn't resist a another - Pic 4.

I need to replace a couple of bolts on the hatch and wire the front end and that's it.

Then it's tanks out for renewal and the leaky transfer seal.

Jerry

[Jerry Hill]

The re-wiring is done, the roof hatch bolts are replaced with a proper job and the hatch re-aligned.

I removed the petrol tank, as it had never worked satisfactorily and found out why, in the form of the remains of a bird's nest in the forward section where the pick up is. Not unsurprisingly the pick up pipe was blocked. Devious means were employed to clear the front section, the most successful was an industrial high pressure air line with a large nozzle, it transferred the mossy contents over everyone in the neighbourhood...

So here I'm ending the blog and would like to thank all those who have provided help & advice. Leaving the Chevrolet tucked up ready for Spring and a bit of a spray job.

Jerry

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Jerry

Am really enjoying following your project, your last post is something special. Wonder how many bird jokes we can come with? Of course some of our southern hemisphere brethren will probably suggest using a snake to get the bird out.

A while back there was a very good thread on cleaning gas tanks which if you have not already read it you might enjoy.

Cheers Phil