Flatwater Austin Healey Club Newsletter

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building's clear span I-beams. My neighbor, Edith, was particularly impressed by the beautiful 3 inch swag in the cradles 12 foot horizontal bars. I could shorten the bars to 10 feet 6 inches or use larger or non-perforated tubing but after a several weeks test all is well and the cradle body rotates nicely. I did see where several restorers opt for an approximately 3 X 4 foot 36 inch high swiveled wheel table/cart to plate the body on as it allows better access to front and rear subassembly removal and installations. I'll probably go that route as I get to the mechanical restoration.

Rust! Johnny Carson said that as a boy in Norfolk, Nebraska for real summer fun he would go out into a field at night, settle in a calm meadow, and listen to Fords (English?) rust.

So several weeks ago on what seemed the ideal evening I laid down as motionless as I could in the middle of my building (where English cars abound) to feel the experience. I think I could begin to hear the rumble when the significant other ruined the moment by exclaiming "do I need to call 911.." She has a trip coming up so I'll..... It must have been in the car's previous lives that some one felt the best solution to the rust problem was to simply place it all out of sight. So supplied with a few aluminum panels (slightly thicker than paper), scores of pop rivets, a bucket of bondo, a little primer, a splash of paint, and a quick spray of under-coating, they had a car taking all the virtues of the $99 paint job special. The car must surely felt under attack as I proceeded with great vigor to remove all that crap. What I discovered: the outer and inner sills on both sides from wheel arch to wheel arch - gone.

Both front wings from the top door hinge to sill level just about gone (amazingly the doors didn't fall off). The front foot wells to the firewall rusted

apart. Both the inner fenders rusted at the lower fire wall and sill joint area. The battery box (trunk area) also had several small holes but was mostly intact. To add additional insult the Bondo guru had filled the sill inner areas with giant globs resembling sweet potatoes. (I guess to make even Martha Stewart happy). In the endless process of Bondo stuffing (must have been done around Thanksgiving) even the rear seal pocket panels were sacrificed. I'll get a chance to see if I really acquired the necessary skills/talents getting a welding degree at Metro Community College. Although only Rex (my instructor) knows I'll be taking the same welding class over for the tenth time this winter. The removal of he undercoating was a very tedious task. I scraped with a chisel for hours. The I used paint remover and steel wool followed by a thorough cleaning with lacquer thinner. Finally I could use a wire brush, sandpaper, and a chemical rust remover (Metal prep). If I didn't get it clean enough I'll find out immediately with the first weld spark. I've spent many evening hours becoming familiar with the Leyland Mini Workshop Manual (ADK 4935) -- I've been very pleased. John Martin (Omaha's Sport Car garage)