VLV Black RS2000 Resto/Tidy-Up

[Mogsmex]

Doing it all in one I find easier, as above just make sure you have the clearance to get it out, only thing really to watch is the steering coupling

wouldnt have a go on my own though it's a big lump when it's waiving around on the jack !

[vlv991v]

Fabulous picture Glyn - I really like that! Would I gain anything by taking the head off or are the struts the problem. I'm not sure how much they would move around, I take it I won't be able to move these out to the side through the wheelarches, then pull the whole lot forward?

I've watched a Mk2mania vid of them putting a shell on a spit. One guy lifted the front end of the shell off the axle stands and placed it on the A frame. Once this egine / box lump is unbolted I'll basically have the bare shell. I should be able to lift the nose as high as is needed for a few seconds while the engine / box is dragged forward, shouldn't I? Or will the windows add a load of weight?

Spinach butties for my 12 year old and wife it is then for a week or so. Build them up so they can lend a hand.

[4parajon]

Cheers Fat Cat. It's just me I'm afraid, don't have any mates, that's why I'm spending all my days in the garage. I'll work something out.

I'm leaving it as it is for the next 3 days, going out with the family before the little guy goes back to school next week.

Dont worry about that mate, lets arrange a time when your ready and I'll drag my mate Murdoch (with the van) round and the 3 of us will drop it out one night

[vlv991v]

That's very kind of you Jon, you're a star!

I'm just off to see my brother for some electrical stuff to enable me to get some lights and power in the garage. It won't be plumbed in for a week or two though. I have an extension lead and an inspection lamp though - woo-hoo!

I'll give all the bolts a good soaking with my trusty can of 3-in-1 spray oil today. I'm out this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon with my lad, (evenings available), all weekend available, then back to work on Monday. So then it's back to 6:30pm onwards.

Whenever you can pop over would be absolutely great, just drop me a quick message.

Cheers, Carl

[mk2ddc]

making nice progress there carl
keep at it fella

[garrybhoy]

Dont worry about that mate, lets arrange a time when your ready and I'll drag my mate Murdoch (with the van) round and the 3 of us will drop it out one night

Now thats the sort of stuff this site should be made of.

My hats off to that man for offering his time and effort to the OP

[Mogsmex]

Nice one John

good site this with top people

[vlv991v]

Time for an update I think...

I've been concentrating on cables and stuff for what seems like a life time, the RS has basically just been getting in the way! Anyway, on Tuesday my brother in law popped over and he brought his step son. I think the lad's 20ish. He was fascinated to see what I was doing and we chatted for half an hour or so. I mentioned that in the time we'd been chatting, the three of us could have whipped the engine and box out since it's only held in with four bolts. They did offer to go for it but I said I was only kidding. At this point should mention that the step son is in the fire brigade.

Anyway, 30 mins after they'd gone my wife fetches me a coffee. She mentions that the stepson is coming on Saturday to fit a couple of smoke alarms in the house. Then she casually adds that he'll be with the crew in the fire engine, and that they'll all help me to get the engine out.

So today was full of action, the guys were only in the garage for 10 mins, job done!!!

I must apologise at this point to Jon, I was plodding away trying to sort out the lighting situation but since these guys made a date without me knowing it kinda forced my hand. I was up at 9am this morning temporarily making the lights work. Thanks again for the offer bud, I'm sure we'll meet up at some point.


IMG_8860 by carlf18, on Flickr


IMG_8863 by carlf18, on Flickr


IMG_8865 by carlf18, on Flickr


IMG_8873 by carlf18, on Flickr

[wetandwindy2]

nice one as they say many hands make light work

[vlv991v]

Little update from me. Had to pretty much destroy the mounting rail of the passenger side wing due to the big welds of the previous repair. Oh well. And as for not having to worry about the A posts...Hmmmm!!!

IMG_8889 by carlf18, on Flickr

IMG_8892 by carlf18, on Flickr

IMG_8880 by carlf18, on Flickr
　
The network of patches at the front panel / wing interface is becomming a little clearer too.

IMG_8897 by carlf18, on Flickr

IMG_8891 by carlf18, on Flickr

[mk2ddc]

Nice to see you`ve made some good progress with it. Like the pic of her with the nose back on and sitting up high in the stands.
good to see you have the engine and box out too. Coming along very nicely.
P.S As for the wing you asked about it was pretty much powder and the postage cost would`ve been more than it was worth. There is guy up my way that i let him have it so he can make a template and after that its going in the scrap bin. Sorry took so long to reply
Good luck at nat day in finding some goodies . I will be doing the same !!

Keep up the good work and the pics coming

Dave

[vlv991v]

Thanks very much Dave. Encouragement is really needed at this stage. No worries about the wing - it's good that somebody is making a template though. Will your guy be able to get details of the cutout dimensions and the plate sizes of the part that is perculiar to the RS wing? Stuff like that would be great to allow others to knock up replacements from standard wings.

Good luck in your hunt for goodies at NT, if you see a passenger side A post keep walking and leave it for me please!

[vlv991v]

I finally found time to head over the Pennines today to see "Skids" about the rollover spit. I was concerned that it wouldn't fit in the Punto I borrowed. I need not have worried. Sorted, thanks again Mark!

IMG_8994 by carlf18, on Flickr

IMG_9003 by carlf18, on Flickr

IMG_8999 by carlf18, on Flickr

I doubt there will be much progress now for many, many months. I've started scraping all the underseal / protection to see what metal I have to work with. Started with the passenger side bulkhead / underwing area. I'm making very, very slow progress as I'm trying to take off the dirt, the black tar underseal, then the yellow protective layer (Ziebart??) but leave behind as much of the original black Ford paint as I possibly can. I've scraped a bit too hard on occasion as you can see...

IMG_9011 by carlf18, on Flickr

Cheers, Carl

[mk2ddc]

Nice to see it stripped and on the spit in a relatively short time. The best thing to do with the scraping stage is to just get your head down and get on with it and don`t stand back and think about it. Just keep convincing yourself of what it will be at the end
What i used on a previous shell was a 4" grinder and a knotted wire brush but that takes it back to bare metal but saves a hell of a time carl.


Keep the pics coming

[SHIFTY]

coming on great mate!, the spit is a wonderful thing!
When I took the underseal etc off from under mine I used the burning gear and a scraper lol, worked a treat too