The Restoration of AYW709

[Peter McKercher]

No easy answer except make it fit as well as possible. I had all the same issues. I assume when they were on the assembly line, they had a panel beater on staff full time to make things fit.

I have a gap of about 1 1/4" along the bottom of the bottom. It's not unsightly or obvious.

There is a no 10 screw and washer securing the wing flap to the main beam at the bulkhead and two bolts into the wiggly wing brace.

There is a bolt securing the wing to the top of the chassis rail. The wing is flush against the chassis rail all along the bonnet line.

I have about a 1/2" gap between the wing and the rail between the fender brace and under the front valance. It's not visible so no need to fill it with anything other than a spacer if you are bolting anything through.

[mikeyr]

Thank you Peter for the clear pictures. Unfortunately, in order to get a nice gap, I will have to move the rear of the wing to near the middle of the front cowl panel instead of at the seam or slightly behind like yours is and if i do that, the front of the wing is in front of the dumbirons so obviously that is wrong.

I also have no evidence of that bolt in the middle of the wing, no holes in my chassis rail. AND my wing flat part extends quite a bit past the chassis rail, I did think it should be flush, but that is a easy cut.

I will move my wings back where I like the look and cut the hood/bonnet sides to fit and make a new piece for it. I anticipated that last year when I got the main body tub and even Tim who built the body in the UK said he would be surprised if things fit well with so many new pieces, generally the bottom fits but its not uncommon to have to add or cut off a little bit in the hood to fit between radiator and cowl.

I know these were handbuilt one at a time and I bet no 2 cars were exactly alike when they left the factory, close but none the same as the one before or after. I just expected (fantasized?) that the fit would be closer and I could live with it, but hey, that is what welders are for, make things fit.

[mikeyr]

here is a interesting tidbit as to why my bonnet/hood won't fit when I sand down the ugly blue paint on the main body tub, I get Black paint before the aluminum. Which I was once told was the color of the car when it left the factory. When I sand the blue paint on the hood, I get Green, a pretty dark Green but certainly not Black. Pretty sure that is not the original hood to the car, I had no way of knowing that when I purchased it since it had cycle fenders on at the time. Now I don't feel bad about cutting off the bottom part and re-welding a new piece that follows the wings.

[mikeyr]

Back on the car...Sorry had a bit of bad health and not been in the mood for over a month. Back on my feet and looking at the front wing fit and also talked with a guy that has a 35 LM with same motor swap, he did not use the UK suggested clutch linkage which looks messy but stayed with Spridget hydraulic, that means making a pedal box instead of hanging the clutch pedal on the transmission. As soon as I get pictures, i will be looking into that, it might be more work but better engineering.

[ColinB]

Sorry you haven't been well Mike, and glad you are back to puzzling over the car. I'm sure many old cars have bits and pieces from others that have been 'encouraged' to fit so I look forward to seeing the results of the welding!

[mikeyr]

So 3 days before Xmas we had rain in So. Calif. and it was a LOT of rain. So 4” of water in my garage and everything on the floor flooded I have had the heater on since then, hot enough to be uncomfortable in the shop but drying out nicely

Don’t worry Santa got the grandsons highchair done, barely but done

And from the UK I got special stuff. To increase clearance to the side of the bonnet with my new motor I used a short manifold from a Morris and the intake manifold hit the normal exhaust manifold so I ordered Mini cooper headers. Yes the exhaust points the wrong way but they sit tight against the motor giving me clearance. I will have to cut, rotate 90 degrees and weld up the bottom. I tried midget and sprite headers but they hit the intake because they go away from the motor more than the transverse mounted motor of the mini. I have to oil up my tools and clean shop now but some work on the singer will happen

[mikeyr]

I am in France for 2 weeks and the forum goes DEAD !!! No one talking…

While I am gone, my wife at home got a package for me from the UK the last external body part I need to finish the car.

[Peter McKercher]

Nice

[ColinB]

I have been reading Mike but have nothing to post after finishing the seats on the Six!