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Logical deassembly progression?

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whit_iii

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Hello,

I am trying to determine a logical deassembly progression. I decided to remove all of the exterior items e.g. lights, mirrors, etc. I then moved onto trying to get the seats, body work panels and doors off. However, it seems for one to get to the left front panel for example, you need to get to it either from the engine bay or from inside the car neither of which seemed easily done. I do not have the factory guide in front of me to revisit this question, but as I recall some of these bolts are not easily accessible so I would be curious about advice specific to how much needs to be removed to access other components.

Thoughts?
Thanks,
Don
 
Hi Don, If "left front panel" refers to the Wings it is necessary that the Air ducts in the engine compartment be removed as well as the upholtered panels on each side of the foot wells in the cockpit.Fasteners are located and are accessed on the out side of the fender ,inside the engine compartment and inside the cockpit area. Is this what you were asking???---Keoke
 
Yes, specifically this helps with respect to the wings as you called them. Also, is there a logical progression for de-assembling the car? I have not been able to find any high level plan within any of the books.
 
Try this for a starting point

https://englishcars.com/austinhealey/restoreah.html

Taking it apart is easy, its putting it back together that is the "fun". Remember that you can never take too many or too detailed of pictures. If I had it to do over again, I would have gotten a camcorder and slowly filmed everything during dissasembly at several stages.

Patton
 
I agree with Patton's comment about pictures. Take as many as you can, as close up as possible. Then, take many more pictures from slightly differing angles. Many, many pictures!
I cleaned up each part upon removal and labeled it (them), putting the smaller parts in labeled and dated ziplock bags, then sorted those in old shoe boxes. It was 10 years before I got back to some of them, so those notes and pictures were invaluable!

*******Never thow ANYTHING out! ************
 
When you cleaned the parts, what methods did you use? I have been debating about getting a compressor and sandblasting cabinet specifically for this purpose as I thought it might be easier to clean the parts as they are removed than to wait until later.
 
[ QUOTE ]
When you cleaned the parts, what methods did you use? I have been debating about getting a compressor and sandblasting cabinet specifically for this purpose as I thought it might be easier to clean the parts as they are removed than to wait until later.

[/ QUOTE ]
Welcome to the restoration game. Lots of satisfaction, lots of sweat. Do buy a compressor, forget the blast cabinet. Get a cheap bucket sand sprayer, it's not used that much. Opt for having the car dipped, plus all the parts you can find. For dismantling I think there are two schools of thought, and I've done both. One, remove and label everything very carefully and take plenty of pictures. This will take years. Or two, buy an assembly manual that shows detail drawings of how and where everything goes. On removing panels don't be too careful as the fasteners need to be replaced anyway. Take satisfaction at each stage of the restoration. Try not to look too far in the future.
Good Luck, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
If money is an issue, skip the blast cabinet and get a bigger compressor. I have a Campbell Hausfeld 6.5 HP single stage compressor I swear isn't as good as my dads 30 year old 2.5 HP Craftsman. I barely pushes the blast cabinet or a DA.

I bought mine as it was the biggest I found that runs on 110v. I think everyone here would agree that if your compressor can run on 110v, it's too small.

I highly recommend a parts washer if you have the space. I have a friend who when he dissembled his car thoroughly cleaned the refurbished/painted every part as it came off the car then put it on the shelf or in the baggies. He swore that the reassembly went much better by spending the time on the front end.
 
Hi Don, i was just saying to Anthony from Ct. that I like to keep it simple. So in looking for a disassembly progression, it boils down to you take apart what you have to, to get to the part you want to work on! I am serious on that, but to be alittle more generous about keeping things straight, please do take many pictures. take them before you take the part off the car, then again when you set it on the bench. Mark wire connections before you disconnect, or immediately afterwords. Use your own words, just so you understand it. Or use the Manuals terminolgy, which ever is easiest. Take a part off and have a box ready for it. Ex: Take the front suspension apart, put the left front set-up in one square box, the spring, plate, bolts, etc. Put the right front set-up in another box. Put the generator with it's brackets and bolts in another box, the starter in another box. Put the distributor with its wires in another box, put the engine with #1 cylinder on top dead center, take a picture of where the distributor is pointing before you remove the distributor. Who knows, you may not be rebuilding the engine, this will make it easyier to set the timing when your ready to start it again. Along with the thought about things that might not need much work., I don't clean up any components until I need them. Who knows, I might never use them, might find some replacement pieces I think are better. Just put them in a box, keep them organized.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
I found special paint stripping chemicals were the most effective for removing paint, though they're no good for rust.

The sand blast option is really the most effective on rust, though I'd suggest the cabinet is essential unless you can do the blasting outside and don't care about the mess made. Indoors, and the cabinet is essential, and it makes re-using the media easier since it isn't blown all over place.

motormountduringfs.jpg


This is a motor mount component half cleaned. These are ideal candidates- odd shaped and prone to rust.
 
Thanks for the example. Unfortunately, I have a combination. Most of the painted body panels do not appear to have rust. The undercarriage has surface rust. I am still debating about the cabinet. I am still in the process of taking the body panels off so I will probably make my decision at that point.
 
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