'73 Reliant Rebel Estate

[oakesy]

Collected this stunner today


Fits in rather nicely


It looks a bit scruffy but it's not too bad. It needs all brakes, suspension bushes, probably shocks, tyres, paint etc etc but it already has an 850 engine so that's saved some money

Even though it's going to be painted, I couldn't help but see what the paint comes up like


Straight to work getting stripped down. Have done one front corner and got the bonnet off to start sanding down



As I'll need new tyres anyway and 12" tyres aren't too common, I'm going to get some 13s. To trial what I can get away with, I put one of the wellers on. The original wheels are only 12x3.5" and I'm going to put on 13x7s most likely and it looks like they'll fit quite easily with the right offset as the weller only touches the back upper wishbone arm on full lock



Some arch modification may be needed...


The aim ultimately will be a 140-150bhp Zetec engine, different rear axle, proper brakes etc but for now it's going to be restored pretty standard so I have a hope of getting reasonable insurance quotes on it

[Mercdan68]

I like these, nice buy fella,I remember when I was a kid one of these being dumped in the underground car park at the local bowling alley in bexleyheath, one Saturday morning someone set light to it! Will never forget that smell of burning fibreglass, nowadays I bet they wouldn't let a bunch of kids anywhere near it to watch the fire as we did, looking forward to seeing the updates a nice find that well done

[oakesy]

Got a little bit done on this, including sanding the bonnet and boot down


Stripped all the front suspension off, shot blasted it all, painted it all and fitted new bushes. Just need to strip and paint all the chassis around the suspension before I can put it all back on


I stripped, cleaned and rebuilt the distributor with new parts, put a set of leads on and poured some fuel down the carb and it now starts rather nicely. It does need the timing doing and the carb will need a service but now I know it runs, the engine can come out to strip the engine bay for paint.

It also needs new outriggers so I've chopped one of them to use as a pattern to make some more. I'm just waiting for some new cutting discs or I might see if I can use the huge guillotine at work

[is,sit]

very nice where did you get it from ? looks like the one i almost brought a year ago,,, you staying with Red ?

[oakesy]

It was from Joe Mason Reliant Spares via C&C. I'm undecided whether to go for red, white or red and white at the moment.

[waylander]

awesome buy mate why don't these things come up where i live! look forward to seeing it evolve!

[oakesy]

A bit of progress has been made on the Rebel but it's been slow due to parts availability.
The front end is mostly together now, I'm just waiting for a new upright, stub axle and a set of wheel bearings.

The front outriggers have been made. I just need to do the rears


The bonnet has been painted


The rear door has been sanded and repaired where the two skins had separated and is ready for paint which will hopefully go on tomorrow. It was all dusty so I didn't want to put it in my car but luckily, I have just the device for occasions like this - I got even more looks than usual driving through the town centre!



The adapter plates to allow normal Girling master cylinders to be fitted instead of the original and hard to find side mount ones have been made and more stuff is on its way and will hopefully be fitted next week so I can have a rolling car again. Then it's engine out to replace the front plate and all the gaskets and I'll start sanding the body

[Deleted]

Great to see you're making good progress. Very nice car, this.

[oakesy]

Poor progress recently due to lack of enthusiasm and having other cars to do.

A few weeks ago, the wheel bearings arrived along with a new upright so I got it all together and it's back on 4 wheels now.
I intended to get it out and clear the garage out but one thing led to another and the engine came out



Quick degrease and jet wash



I'm pretty pleased with it, it's got a brand new clutch in it and I love having an engine you can pick up compared to the Essex lump in my Scim.

Last week, the rebel was taken to have its outriggers welded on



A bit of an improvement on the old ones


More paint has been removed


The engine is in as many bits as it needs to be and the head is at the machiners being skimmed, then after I collect it on Tuesday, it can start going back together