Another 1600 ready for the road

[Richard Clough]

This week I hope to finish my current 1600 project, a '72 auto.  The body is now looking immaculate in original Antarctica White.  I rushed home and wet rubbed and buffed it as soon as my paint supplier said I might not get it to shine as the nights were cold when I sprayed it.  Big sigh of relief when the panels came up glossy.   I have fixed most of the little problems, head gasket, radiator, broken door lock.   I am now rust proofing the body. I have removed the front guards and all door trims and I am hitting all the nooks with kill rust and fish oil.  The oil is running out of every panel join and it stinks like a fish shop garbage bin.  When the fish oil stops running I will paint all the hidden areas that get wet.  The rear quarters are rust free and the oil ran round the rear guard lip and straight out the drain holes.  Fortunately the inside of the car is dry and the floor pan is rust free.   I have a tacho dash to replace the broken speedo, which is sitting on 75 MPH (at rest).  The Lucas alternator and Lucas distributor are both stuffed (of course), so better ones are required.  The interior and engine bay need a good clean to remove the paint dust, then she should be ready to fly? But an auto 1600 feels VERY gutless, so I dont know how long the original configuration engine/auto will last.   I was told by the home based finance director this 1600 is definitely not staying here to clutter up the yard (and divert me from more mundane jobs like gardening), so it looks like my son's girlfriend Catherine will have it to run around in.  Luke says he may "share" it with her and take his 1600 off the road for some major maintenance.  He's finally admitting that "perhaps " a twin carb L18SSS engine could be cheaper to run than the fuel guzzling L18EFI. (He's now a poor full time student again).  I am not letting this car get too far away as the body is too good and the finance director is mellowing a bit, now she can see what a fine car it really is.  She may even want a drive!   Anybody got suggestions about immobilisers for a fine old 1600?   I am also interested in buying a waterproof cover for it, so it wont get wet when not garaged, any one had experience with good ones?  The last car cover I bought didn't last 12 months before it fell apart.    I am really fired up about painting the 1600SSS after seeing the '72 auto transformed.  The SSS will be in black 2 PAC, so I have to get the body panels and paint spot on, not easy when your half blind and working in a shed at night.  At least the weather will be warmer.   After the SSS, there is Luke's '68 1600 to get the full body strip, panel repairs and respray ready for an SR20T implant, and probably his '71 1600 after that.  I must also squeeze in my Bolwell Mk 7 rebuild soon.  I think I need to give up work so I can get on with these projects. --membersozdat------------------------------------------------------- OZDAT Mailing List Please Note:- Send (un)subscribe requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send submissions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] No unauthorised redistribution of this email http://www.ozdat.com/ozdatonline/index.htm http://www.ozdat.com/ozdatonline/listindex.html http://www.mail-archive.com/membersozdat@datascribe.com.au/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------