1989 Sierra LX

[v8]

I have a TIG from R tech welding that I used for the exhaust manifolds and a 20 year old 100 amp Sealy MIG for the bodywork.

If I'm lucky I get manage to spend one day a week working on the car and I work slowly!

[adi]

Same here up until I got made redundant. Is your sealey like my SIP migmate with buttons for power settings? I've been used to using a "proper" welder at work, just bought this migmate 130 and I find it a PITA to get a decent bead from, and those little gas bottles don't last 5 mins!

[v8]

I've been doing a bit more





Rusty battery tray removed and new one made bolt in so I can paint underneath it...















Nice new billet ali 75mm throttle body





Inner wing to strut top gussets





Finally I'm stripping all the paint off under the bonnet, it's going to take a while

[stretch]

very nice work fella

[curly89]

This is great I love this I've always wanted to do this with my Sierra...I'm literally green with envy...i may post my poverty spec Sierra now keep up the good work

[Brigsy]

Awesome project, what power do you expect from the new setup?

[v8]

I'm hoping for 350 bhp

[totti]

Bookmarked!!!

Cheers

[v8]

Did a bit more this weekend



I'm finding it hard to get motivated at the moment

[reanimation]

Wow, this is amazing, didn't expect it to be this good, excellent attentian to detail, you've really gone above and beyond! Mines got similar Ford built in minor grot, I'm not worrying about it yet though. Good trick with the Battery tray. I've yet to do Manifolds too. eek!

[v8]

Have got a thread on your Sierra ?

[v8]

Stripping paint from the engine bay is complete ....



At last some primer

[dbdb]

This is really impressive.

David

[Robinxr4i]

Excellent progress this thing is going to be pristine, the strut top bracing is a really nice touch form and function

Never quite understood why the inner wings on Sierra's look like they've been attacked with a shot gun?

[naki]

impressive workmanship and machining skills. really makes a difference to have access to the kit and skills to manufacturer your own brackets and parts like that.

why on earth did UK Fords never have V8's as an option originally, is what i want to know. just the weenie 4 and 6 pots? we have been out gunned by the yanks for too long, so this may redress the balance.

without wishing to sound negative- are you not concerned that you will make a too perfect show car that you will be afraid to drive or park anywhere? i would have been tempted to stick the V8 and manual box in, and leave the bodywork as is (as it did not look too bad- holes sure, but driveable), get in on the road quicker and start enjoying driving it? or am i missing the point?

[v8]

Nov 11, 2012 10:23:06 GMT naki said:

without wishing to sound negative- are you not concerned that you will make a too perfect show car that you will be afraid to drive or park anywhere? I would have been tempted to stick the V8 and manual box in, and leave the bodywork as is (as it did not look too bad- holes sure, but driveable), get in on the road quicker and start enjoying driving it? or am I missing the point?

You're not missing the point, to be honest I never really planned it this way

To start with I was just going to fit the engine and drive the damn thing, I found a little bit of rust and got kind of obsessed with making it all go away ...

[meltedcheese]

Great car selection, great thread so far, bookmarked! ;D

I understand the ease to mig a lot of your body work because of your convenient setup, just wondered the difficulty in tigging instead? Is it quite involved switching from alloy,carbon/stainless steel settings?

I am used to mig and saving for a decent set of my own (constantly using my dad's) but after looking into your tig set I am tempted to buy one, would you describe the transition from mig to tig difficult? Would like to do the lot at home rather than nipping to ma and pa's, nothing heavier than 1/4". Really enjoying the top quality fabrication and engineering, keep taking your time

[v8]

I tried TIG on the bodywork and it was a pain in the A$$

Unless the two bits of metal fit perfectly the arc seems to hop to one side or the other and just melt it away.

MIG every time for me when it comes to bodywork

[meltedcheese]

Nov 11, 2012 20:53:54 GMT v8 said:

I tried TIG on the bodywork and it was a pain in the A$$

Unless the two bits of metal fit perfectly the arc seems to hop to one side or the other and just melt it away.

MIG every time for me when it comes to bodywork

Thanks that is good to know!

[v8]

I had to use GOOGLE to find my post as I'm a lazy old git


Doner car raped for parts and sold to stock car racer



sanding and painting interior









Sills getting sorted







New Old Stock floor bungs



Popped in and heated with hot air paint gun to melt the glue



3M seam sealer







New old stock bumper from some warehouse in the USA!



3½ litres of Epoxy Mastic after several hours of sanding and masking...



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