1986 Toyota MR2 - We’ve got a damn great hump...

[varelse]

don't forget to install your



Before you close everything up again.

Nice simple solution, though.
Hopefully it won't be a problem for you ever again.

[DrSebWilkes]

Well ... I'm speechless. From a forum post(ssssssssss). This both inspires fear and instills hope. Part of me thinks "Hah I have an easy project because look at this" and another part of me thinks "Hoooooooly mac I'm in for a tough job".

I don't tend to read projects, but this was honestly an exception. Every page, I read - taking special care to read anything with bodywork on.

I know you get this all the time, but the metal work is amazing. Do you think it's a 'general' skill (per se), IE: can anyone just learn that like you; how much does natural talent come into that?

Anyway I'm very impressed, and I hope I can fix the smaller issues I have to even a fraction of the quality you have achieved. PS: I loved the electronics you put in, and I felt oddly proud of the bulbs you put in on the dash. It's very nice!

I sort of can't fail now - if has been done by a human being, then hopefully ape here will do it too. Thank you!

[darrenh]

thats basically the astra method too, although a popular one is "shove some domestic copper pipe up the end and poke it out of the sill"

[Sweetpea]

Jun 12, 2016 22:04:27 GMT varelse said:

don't forget to install your



Before you close everything up again.

Nice simple solution, though.
Hopefully it won't be a problem for you ever again.

Not sure I dare! Actually I've already made the new closing panel (You are behind again! ) and I've cleverly put a drain in it. I'll post some photos another day.
Rather hoping I'll be dead and pushing up daisies before it needs replacing again.

Jun 13, 2016 10:35:46 GMT darrenh said:

thats basically the astra method too, although a popular one is "shove some domestic copper pipe up the end and poke it out of the sill"

Copper pipe was plan 'A' since you mention it.

[Sweetpea]

Jun 12, 2016 21:50:39 GMT georgeb said:

I'm going to direct the new guy with the XJS over here. I think he can learn much.

Oh my! That's a thread and a half already. I think I'm too old to keep up with that many posts!

Jun 12, 2016 23:04:51 GMT DrSebWilkes said:

I know you get this all the time, but the metal work is amazing. Do you think it's a 'general' skill (per se), IE: can anyone just learn that like you; how much does natural talent come into that?

Ah, Dr Wilkes I presume!

I looked through your thread at lunch time. That's a cool car. When you get your license I want to see a video of you taking that for a ride.

You bring up an interesting point about talent as opposed to learning. Actually I don't know the answer but I've often wondered.
I tend to believe you can learn what ever you like if you really want to do it. There'll be some variation between people but in general I don't see why you (or my missus for that matter) couldn't make panels as well as me. But then I also believe I'm average at making panels. I don't believe I'm anything special.
But then, if you talk to people who know me they'll tell you I'm very unusual and that most people just can't do the things that I do without thinking. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

So that was no help to you. Lets think of it another way.

You don't know what you can do until you try. So try and you'll find out what you can do.
Find a little project on the car that you think is achievable (start small and build up), think it through and get stuck in. Some things won't work or you'll make a total balls of it. But that's fine. You learn the most when things don't quite work out. Just walk away, come up with a new plan, and try again.

I look at each challenge as a puzzle to solve. It starts with the theory "Somebody made this in a massive factory, I must be able to do it with a few tools in the garage". You just have to work out how...

Good luck

James

[Darkspeed]

Have a check on the nobility of Copper and Steel.

[varelse]

And remember, most things were done because no one told someone they 'couldn't'.

But things were done BECAUSE they were told they couldn't, too.
While my panel making is on the low side of average, its not difficult if you think it through.

[darrenh]

copper and steel almost next to each other on the galvanic table. was that your point Darkspeed ?

[Darkspeed]

Jun 14, 2016 9:58:21 GMT darrenh said:

copper and steel almost next to each other on the galvanic table. was that your point Darkspeed ?

Almost is not good enough especially as its in the wrong direction for the health of the Steel - Copper and Steel are not happy bed fellows as Copper is also a long way from Steel in it's purer states and as formed and welded steel is sacrificial to itself further interaction with dissimilar metals are best avoided when the Steel would be the material sacrificed. Personally I would do as the manufacturers do and use plastic.

[Sweetpea]

You know I wouldn't have even thought about galvanic corrosion between copper and steel. Interesting point.

I did consider it when I decided to use stainless fixings to hold the trim and plastic under panels on. And I decided to do it anyway.
There are a couple of places under the car where I have a stainless bolt in a mild steel nut and it has crossed my mind that it might be even harder to get apart in future than if I just stuck with a mild steel bolt. The theory being that the stainless bolt will accelerate the corrosion of the nut.

Hmmm.

Let's call it an interesting experiment and I'll let you know how it goes at some point in the future.

James

(Always happy to make the wrong decision 'cos that's the best way to learn stuff. Well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!)

[Vilppi]

Apr 2, 2016 17:14:52 GMT Sweetpea said:

Anyway, some people asked for a video of me putting the car on the mega ramps for the first time. Probably hopeful of me turning them into a pile of matchsticks. Well here it is. I'm expecting big things at the box office when this is released...


Or, if you can't be bothered to watch several minutes of me wandering around, and why would you… here's a photo.




James

Saw this and remember your ramps.



Your ramp are way too low

And this thread is one of those threads what i check every time when it's updated.
Keep up good work.

[Sweetpea]

Jun 18, 2016 22:11:48 GMT Vilppi said:

Your ramp are way too low

And this thread is one of those threads what i check every time when it's updated.
Keep up good work.

Thank you!
Yes, mine are pathetically low. I apologies unreservedly for my feeble attempt! I notice the chap in the photo has the sump off, oil all over the floor and for Personal Protective Equipment he's wearing a cloth cap. Things were different in black and white.
My 'welding upside down' clothing has arrived. Just wait 'till you see a picture of what I'll be wearing under the car!

[georgeb]

Jun 19, 2016 20:22:23 GMT Sweetpea said:

Thank you!
Yes, mine are pathetically low. I apologies unreservedly for my feeble attempt! I notice the chap in the photo has the sump off, oil all over the floor and for Personal Protective Equipment he's wearing a cloth cap. Things were different in black and white.
My 'welding upside down' clothing has arrived. Just wait 'till you see a picture of what I'll be wearing under the car!

This is the level of PPE you should be aspiring to...

[DrSebWilkes]

How much is it worth getting the car on ramps? Factoring in how hard is it for the novice to create a ramp (I think that I missed bit because I focused on the bodywork stuff - sorry!)

[Sweetpea]

georgeb , He's wearing a shirt. What a wuss!

Jun 19, 2016 21:04:27 GMT DrSebWilkes said:

How much is it worth getting the car on ramps? Factoring in how hard is it for the novice to create a ramp (I think that bit because I focused on the bodywork stuff - sorry!)

You (or somebody) need to inspect the underside and the only way to do that is to lift the car somehow. Ramps are probably safest. Jack and axle stands second. Never go under a car that's only got a jack under it. And don't even think of making ramps. Just borrow some. I only did it 'cos I'm a f@£&*&g idiot.
Your problem is that the car is on grass which tends to be soft so axle stands, jacks and even ramps are likely to sink.

Please be very careful. You might love your car but your car will kill you in an instant if you give it half a chance.

[DrSebWilkes]

www.screwfix.com/p/hilka-pro-craft-2-tonne-car-ramps-pair-2-pack/83061?kpid=83061&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-Sales%20Tracking-_-sales%20tracking%20url&cm_mmc=Google-_-Shopping%20-%20Auto%20and%20Cleaning-_-Shopping%20-%20Auto%20and%20Cleaning-_-all\auto%20&%20cleaning\jacks <-- sorry for the long link

For £40, that should make any underside work a lot easier, right?

[teaboy]

Jun 20, 2016 13:28:37 GMT DrSebWilkes said:

www.screwfix.com/p/hilka-pro-craft-2-tonne-car-ramps-pair-2-pack/83061?kpid=83061&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-Sales%20Tracking-_-sales%20tracking%20url&cm_mmc=Google-_-Shopping%20-%20Auto%20and%20Cleaning-_-Shopping%20-%20Auto%20and%20Cleaning-_-all\auto%20&%20cleaning\jacks <-- sorry for the long link

For £40, that should make any underside work a lot easier, right?

Car boot sale, a fiver.

[DrSebWilkes]

These car boots seem amazing ... everyone I go to is full of just 'silver'ware which is just polished steel -_____-

[Sweetpea]

Yeah, that's the sort of thing. No help if you want to take the wheels off though - then you need a jack and axle stands.
Some cars are too low and hit the front on the ramp before wheel climbs up. Ask the question on your thread and see if the Jag is one of them.

teaboy , how's your oil tank? I'm strangely missing it.

James

[teaboy]

Jun 21, 2016 21:19:02 GMT Sweetpea said:

Some cars are too low and hit the front on the ramp before wheel climbs up.

James

I put a block of wood at the front of the ramp if the car is too low.

Jun 21, 2016 21:19:02 GMT Sweetpea said:

teaboy , how's your oil tank? I'm strangely missing it.

James

I don't want to talk about the oil tank!