Olympic Blue / Silver metallic 1972 US Import 1.7L

[LMR]

Hands were a bit shaky.....

[LMR]

My dashboard looked like it had lived a tough life. The metal section was pretty rusty, and I was fearful it was beyond repair. The photo below shows the inner face after rust treatment.



Thankfully blasting and powder coating has bought it back to a pretty decent standard.

The top of the dashboard also looked worn, with chunks out and plenty of cracks



Now I know that 914rubber sell a replacement, which I may buy once funds allow, but for now I have chosen to repair the original. So, out with the dremel to open up the cracks.



and some filling



And finished with some vinyl paint. The result is okay rather than great. The first couple of coats of paint were applied in cold weather and were dull. The next couple of coats were done when the workshop was much warmer. This resulted in a good shine, but the volume of paint has filled in much of the vinyl grain. It will do for now.

I have put new vinyl on top of the dash (thanks to Darren C for some top tips!)

With everything assembled, yesterday I fitted the whole unit

[Darren C]

Great progress Phil

You can get "grain pads" these replicate vinyl grain on repaired areas where detail is lost from sanding/filling (like a reverse grain, raised detail that you press into a special coating)
For best concealing I'd opt for a satin finish rather than gloss.

[LMR]

Thank you Darren. I am happy to stick with it for the summer, and will order a 914 rubber item when funds build back up.

So, the bank holiday is giving me the opportunity to reassemble more of the car. I am still ignoring the wiring and instead I got on with the heat exchanger plumbing. There are plenty of parts to put in.



Fitment was pretty straightforward. For anyone else who is fitting new heat exchangers, I suggest you check the fitting of the pipes on your bench. I had to do a couple of mods in situ, which on axle stands was a pain in the back. If only I had a two poster ramp......

One other item to note. Darren C reminded me that zinc coated components can emit dodgy gases. I have baked them all for a couple of hours in my oven. I suggest no one takes me up on the offer of dinner for a while!

Finished results below. photos are the best I can manage from its position on axle stands.



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[chief]

Looking very impressive our Phil.

[defianty]

Looking nice and clean there Phil, good job. I can't tell if you've finished yet but the flapper box needs to be turned about 90 degrees.

[LMR]

Stephen

Lever at the top? I have gone with the orientation from the PET

[defianty]

Stephen

Lever at the top? I have gone with the orientation from the PET

Yeah that's it - lever on top.

[Darren C]

Yep, twist through 90 degrees so the "cap tops" are facing inboard

[LMR]

I looked at various options for the fuel pipes on my car. The original pipes through the car were not awful, but thought that they were probably worth changing. You can buy ready made stainless steel pipes from the USA, but I wasn't completely convinced they would be delivered without being damaged in transit, so I have gone down the aluminium hardline route. I have probably been influenced by watching too much project Binky!

The pipe comes as a coil

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I did try straightening it using a hole in a block of wood, which was hopeless, so instead bought a proper tool, which worked brilliantly

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Next two pics show the pipe ends at each bulkhead





Having got confident with cutting and bending, I then gave some consideration to where else I could use the hardline. I am not a great fan of long runs of rubber fuel hose, and having built and maintained race cars in the past I bought some fittings.



And a flaring tool

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I started with a line under the car. I first made a pattern using an old coat hanger

find bp gas station near me

Then carefully bent the pipe



And fitted



Next I connected up the fuel filter and pump (crappy pic)



I remembered Darren C had mounted fuel pipes to the bulkhead in his engine bay, so I have adopted the same approach. I do not have access to a TIG welder, so again I have used aeroquip fittings. This will require small spacers to keep the fittings away from the bulkhead. photos below show the assembly ready to fit.





24 hour gas station near me

[defianty]

Very nicely done Phil. I like that.

[LMR]

No updates for a while, but have been busy. Video below is my first drive

https://youtu.be/ESKPVy7j1D0

great that car runs, no leaks, brakes work, as seemingly does everything else

And a pic of the car outside of the workshop.



At this point thanks to Darren C, ThreeTwo and Chief for technical advice, support, helping hands and occasional rounds of therapy!

Not sure when I will be submitting car for an MOT, there are still lots of jobs to do, but definitely a great feeling to have get out and driven it

[Green Ernie]

Great to see it running Phil, looks great. Are you coming to the PCGB 50th event at Brooklands?

[LMR]

Yes Matt, I will be there

[defianty]

Looks great Phil! Well done.