Drew - got the floor back in the Bugeye

[tdskip]

Needs a fair amount of time with a grinder still since i put too much weld on, but it is in.

Once that is done then it's just a matter of fitting the pedals and rebuild Brake/Clutch MC and then (hopefully) driving her a bunch. She'll still be ugly, but should be sorted.

Chew on me for updates until I get her back and driving :laugh:

 

[jlaird]

Chomp Chomp, that thing not underway yet. Chomp, Chomp.

 

[drooartz]

Good work, Tom. Ugly's fine, as long as you can drive.

Now of course we need some pictures, being a visual bunch of people.

 

[tdskip]

Chomp Chomp, that thing not underway yet. Chomp, Chomp.

Tough crowd! LOL

 

[60Bugeye]

I want to see pictures, too. I took a welding class just this last Saturday, and some of my welds were hideous (with a few successful ones). I still need a lot of practice before applying them to the bugeye.

 

[tdskip]

I didn't take many good pictures of the actual welding, will take some as I grind them smooth.

Here is one I did take on my phone, these welds look awful (and they are) but keep in mind I did the welding from below. In other words I did the primary welding from <span style="font-style: italic">under</span> the car in order to make sure I would be able to finish/shape the butt join to make it hard to see that the floor was not original.

What you see here are top welds where I wasn't happy with the penetration and/or wanted to build up an area to help the inner butt weld be harder to see.

Nearly all of this will be ground off, I had to weld in some thin metal on the right side join which is why there is way too much weld there. I cut the panel shorter than I should of, and adding metal back is non-ideal. You won't know that was done once removed.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Remains of floorboard one the part of the panel I needed was cut to approximate size;</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold">Test fitting, note that the panel is not centered in the floor but rather the depression is offset to the left.</span> I trimmed the the panel in order to move it over to the left side more after this picture was taken.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Welded in place, including the "filler" welds which will be ground down flush.</span>

 

[jlaird]

Grind what. That bit of bubble around the side. Shucks that will be covered by the carpet. Press on and lets get this thing on the road. Chomp Chomp.

 

[apbos]

Tom
Have to do that to mine also. How did you cut out the old pan?

Paul

 

[tdskip]

Grind what. That bit of bubble around the side. Shucks that will be covered by the carpet. Press on and lets get this thing on the road. Chomp Chomp.

Yeah, but it will bug me Jack if I don't make it as close as it came from the factory / invisible as possible.

 

[tdskip]

Tom
Have to do that to mine also. How did you cut out the old pan?

Paul

Hi Paul - I used a thin disk cutter on an angle grinder. Then lots and lots and lots of aggressive wire brushing on a rotary tool to make sure the metal was spotless on both sides before putting on weld through primer.

 

[Scott_Hower]

Grind what. That bit of bubble around the side. Shucks that will be covered by the carpet. Press on and lets get this thing on the road. Chomp Chomp.

Yeah, but it will bug me Jack if I don't make it as close as it came from the factory / invisible as possible.

Carpet makes them invisible.

Chomp chomp.

 

[tdskip]

Grind what. That bit of bubble around the side. Shucks that will be covered by the carpet. Press on and lets get this thing on the road. Chomp Chomp.

Yeah, but it will bug me Jack if I don't make it as close as it came from the factory / invisible as possible.

Carpet makes them invisible.

Chomp chomp.

LOL - OK, let me see if I can get out there today and knock this off.

 

[jlaird]

Chomp Chomp

 

[tdskip]

Chomp Chomp

LOL.

I am playing the "kids and wife are all home sick" and "slammed with work" cards right now. Target is to have the floor finished by Saturday noon PST. Can you live with that Jack? :laugh:

 

[Scott_Hower]

Doesn't sound like we have a choice.

Grind down the high spots, smooth out the rest and call it a day.

 

[tdskip]

In my defense Scott - it's not like I've been slacking on the "fleet";

In summary;

'59 TR3A is in a deep sleep, but I've sourced an engine and OD trans for her. Needs floors and minor welding then she's on the road. Old ones out. Engine and trans already out.

'60 Bugeye received a new driver side front floor panel on Sunday, need some welding clean up then it is just brake MC rebuild and she's good (I hope). Cooling, fuel, ignition and total suspension overhaul already done. The 1275 in the garage is calling to me to replace the 1098 in her now.

'60 MGA just had her suspension finished up and is going off for an engine bay repaint. Frame degrease, cleaning, prep and repaint. Engine and trans are already rebuilt.

'66 TR4A Solid Axle - I am putting on a TR6 anti rollbar, waiting on that powder coating job to be finished. Need to mate the engine and OD trans to replace the one I pulled and she's on the road. Brakes and clutch have all been overhauled including Toyota front calipers.

'67 TR4A. 18 year sleep. IRS just her cooling system and ignition go in and then she's off to the engine rebuilder to be started for the first time since the build. She's had engine and trans rebuild, all new brakes, clutch, Toyota front calipers, adjustable IRS set up and totally re-bushed with poly.

'68 Volvo 122s. Sleeping for 10+ years. Waiting on a a block of time to put in a floor patch and a rebuilt brake MC/ Similar issue guys to our MGC - one year quirky MC and parts are not easy to find). Cooling system / fuel system / brake and conversion from Auto to 4speed with OD prep all done.

'69 MGC. Waking up after 20 year sleep OUTDOORS. Fuel system rebuild including carbs, total brake and booster rebuild, Toyota front calipers, assorted welding, electric to mechanical oil gauge conversion

'72 Alfa. 14+/- years sleeping. Now up and running, which rocks. She's surprisingly quick. At least as quick as my much loved but departed Bavaria. Needs front brake rotors, fuel system overhaul including r&r on tank.

'74 X1/9 is waiting on an engine rebuild but I'm converting her over to a later FI system, so plenty to do there but I have all the bits since I took apart a '80 FI donor car.

'74 Capri only needs a windshield gaskets and she's good for the Spring rallies

'74 TR6 is on the road after all new fuel, ignition, cooling, suspension and brake overhaul. For good measure I put in a J-type OD.

'80 TR8 just needs her carbs rebuilt and then to be SMOG'd, which fingers crossed hasn't been an issue. Totally new suspension all the way around, head overall, needs new trans since it smoked 1st gear. Too much torque

'80 Rover SD1, likely headed to either LeMons or that great parts donor place in the sky. (Sad story)

'87 Porsche 924s is really too new to count, but I thought I'd throw her into the mix that in there for good measure since she slept for 12+ years at the neighbors house before I woke her up. All new cooling system and fuel delivery, clutch R&R (professionally done, kind of a mess of a job).

Does that help explain my slow progress on the Bugeye? :laugh:

 

[drooartz]

I'm not worthy, Tom.

Now that I've added another car, I can't even poke a bit of fun at your fleet. You've got a great set of cars there.

Now stop typing and get back to work.

 

[Scott_Hower]

I was impressed right up until the X1/9. Friends don't let friends drive Fiats. There's one parked near my daughter's dance school; been there for years. Looks complete; not even rusty, which is rare for PA. I hear they eat heads.

I used to own a "Cologne Capri", I think it was a 72. Great little car, but I always wished it had the 2.8 V6 (mine had the 2.0 OHC four, shared with the Pinto). I probably have parts laying around for it somewhere.

 

[tdskip]

Hi Scott - agree on the Capri's needing a bit more grunt to reach their full potential. I think these are highly underrated cars. Stiff, good suspension set up, strong mechanicals, roomy. Loud, crude, fast in this case;

Will have to get back to you on the X1/9, haven't driven her yet. More of a desire to experience a mid-engine car than anything. I'm trying to make sure I have a variety of driving experiences and the Fiat should be distinctive. Well, when I get her running that is...

 

[tdskip]

OK guys - got the floor set. I need to put final paint on her but I'm on to putting her brake/clutch MC back in. Maybe even tomorrow if I can get a kitchen pass to go out to the hanger again.