my new integrale

[Kevinlincs]

A few extra areas for repair surfaced under all the covering, the spare wheel well had a smallish rust hole so it was cut out to remove all traces then a new plate made up and welded in..

[Kevinlincs]

The captive bolts were rusted around the join with the floor so rather than leave them I cut a section of floor out on each one and welded a new plate with captive stud in place.

The rear corners of the chassis rails had been hiding further corrosion so out it went and thick fresh steel in its' place.

[Kevinlincs]

A crack was found near the strengthening plate that holds the seat belt buckles and hand-brake lever...

[Kevinlincs]

It was found that the drivers seat mounting was where the crack had formed. Handy that it had been found now rather than later when the car was up and running!

With the car tilted on its' side it was very simple to repair rather then be laid underneath it.

[Kevinlincs]

Time for some seam seal.

[Kevinlincs]

Loads of welding seam to seal up, very important incase there are any pin holes in the welds

[Kevinlincs]

Etch primed

[Kevinlincs]

The a real good layer of the stoneguard material which helps prevent stones chipping down to the metal rather than just using paint. The outer sills also got done as a smooth finish isn't necessary when they are covered by plastic sill covers!

[Kevinlincs]

A couple of decent layers of brush able enamel went on after the stoneguard had been allowed a week to go off properly.

[Kevinlincs]

The rear inner arches got particular attention so make sure for a watertight finish, having the car upside down made this task so much easier.

[Kevinlincs]

Finally the car could get taken off the tilter and back onto axle stands awaiting suspension.

[Kevinlincs]

Small steps but a hurdle had been reached

[DavidLaver]

That's a milestone.  Looking good.

[Kevinlincs]

Car continues to tick along, has progressed some way since the last update so I'll do an update or two to catch up with the magazine a little..


One of the first jobs to get done once the car was back the right way up was to change the windscreen surround upper scuttle panel.


This one has the usual rotten corners plus the central wiper mount was gone. I'd managed to pick up a really good used panel which initially I was going to take repair sections from but the decision was changed to changing the whole thing, not only to save chopping out and welding in smaller sections but also to get the wipers parking the right side for this UK car, the replacement panel came off a UK HF Turbo that was already being broken and had little left apart from this great panel!

[Kevinlincs]

First job was to make a repeatable template that would sit in the windscreen opening, not just take measurements. As I had plenty of angle and box sections knocking about a simple frame was constructed that fitted snugly which would give a 3D gauge for dimensions not only width and depth but in shape/height of the 'screen aperture.