Tag: Vauxhall

MG Midget Front end resto

With the welding complete at the rear I moved up to the front of the car.

Remember this?

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Well after I ground off the rivets and bolt heads holding the ‘repair’ on this was revealed.

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I made a patch up and as well as seam welding it I plug welded onto the chassis leg.

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The Midget is going to be bumperless and the owner wants a clean look so the 1500 vents were filled in with steel. This will have a skim of filler over the top to profile it.imag1152_zpslolwpn61

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Next up will be to strip the underseal off then paint and stone chip the underside.

Vauxhall Viva rear drums

I have managed to re-engineer some brake drums to make them fit the small engined Vivas with 8 inch rear brakes. These have been unavailable for a while.

They are the correct diameter and PCD. They take quite a lot of machining time and this is reflected in the price of £85 +p&p a pair.

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Let me know what you think.

Thanks Chris .

Redhouse classics

Hi all,

This is a blog to document my on going interest in restoring classic vehicles and old machinery in general. I work full time so the projects are done in my spare time.

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I started working in cars around thirty years ago through necessity (poverty!) but soon realised I really enjoyed it. Now it has become hobby and has started to include restoration/ engineering  jobs for family, friends and colleagues.

Past projects include the restoration/modification of a Vauxhall Magnum Coupe. This was fitted with a Rover 3.9 v8 (Buick 215 overbored). Extensive mods were done to the drive train including a 5 link Salisbury 4HA axle, disc brakes all round vented 4 pots at the front. 8d7a29b1-05ba-4a75-b040-ebc68a9a10ee_zps8bf2beeb

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I still have this car and intend to do further work on it when I’m not so busy…

LAMBRETTA GP150

Another project from a few years ago was the resto mod of a Lambretta GP150. This was a friends from work and was an indian import complete with big box rack welded to the rear bodywork. It had had a hard life and the frame and metal work was cracked and dented. Unfortunately I have no pictures of it in this state but here are a few of the restoration.

The body and tinware were straightened and sprayed.

The engine was rebuilt with a RB20 AF Rayspeed kit and Dellorto carb.

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Hydraulic brakes ..

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VAUXHALL FIRENZA.

I have recently completed restoring a basket case Firenza with my son Joe as a father and son project.img_1166-20141212-161711583_zpszdtijsmm

As you can see the car was pretty rough and had been pretty much stripped down. Most of the parts were present but in boxes.

Better get welding then…imag0014_zps29zsfylk

Floor before and after.

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rear valance

The car came with a few bits if panels which had been cut from other vehicles. Very handy.

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Inner and outer sills done on both sides.

Joe helped with the engine freshen up.

After much prep the paint went on. imag0598_zpszlymdnpd

Then we could start reassembly. The headlining went well.

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The Firenza was finished in July 2016  and has been used this summer.  This was 18 months after we started. Joe has just turned 16  and now has a car ready for when he passes his test hopefully next year.

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