Well, after a long hiatus I've started back on the 40 again. Put gas in it and it started right up. It had been sitting since I drove it up to our new place and I took that last video. Allison was impressed (isn't it awesome when we impress our friend/spouses?!) that it was running and exclaimed "I thought that thing was just a fixture in the garage!!!"
I ended up spending the last week welding up some random odds and ends on the body that I had marked as need to do and did stuff like make the hood and doors fit right. It doesn't look like I did a lot when i look at it but it's getting closer. I have also spent time jsut remembering where I was at with everything.
The next steps are to touch up some body seams (where the new tub meets the cowl), take it apart, flip it and redo body mounts, and start the conversation with the blaster and painter. I plan to use the same painter and blast tech like Adam did on his 40.
I'm hoping to get it in paint sometime in the next few months.
I'm off travelling for the next 7 days for work so nothing much will happen for the next week but hey, at least it's going! Consider the post a public exclamation of project re-initiation!! Sometime after November of 2010 I started the tub swap and after getting most of it done I lost motivation (and started biking a lot more instead of working on the 40)
Oh wow, just noticed there are no shots of the new tub on in this thread and it's lacking a ton of details.. I'll have to update with better pictures sometime.
The majority of the work on the tub has been welding up unused holes, adding nuts for stuff that didn't have any (like welding nuts for jump seats to the tub) and moving things like front seat mounts. Looks like it may have been built left hand drive and for a bench seat. Also took all the fuel filler metal work from the old tub and grafted it onto the new tub. I also have spent a lot of time straightening the tub where it was bent, it ended up being worse than i thought but as with any new replacement metal parts it'll always take some work. Not worried about it.
More stuff that actually happened over the last 6 years:
I got all the grey parts re powder coated. That included roll bar, rear seat frames, and some random other doodads. Finished the rear jump seats with new foam and re cad plated springs and screws.
I also got the front ash tray and grab bar re-chromed.
After trying to salvage the front bib and buying a new used one that also sucked I ended up buying a re-pop new one as well as a new front left fender. Found a new left apron also... that took months
I managed to score a new floor mat for the front. NOS from japan. that was sweet.
I got a new upper dash pad (still need lowers)
I also managed to score a new ash tray for the center console.. mines broken. That happened last year. Some may not think that's a major accomplishment but it was... Adam (With the other 82 40) was just offered a used one for $750. People are starting to take advantage of the desirability of these vehicles, it's frustrating to see that the market has changed from passionate owners willing to help people out to to a market that's in it for the money. Another interesting place this is happening is with emissions parts and other body parts.
Speaking of which, I need a new hood. I have noticed that I have the wrong one for my year.... cringing at what that will cost.
awesome!!
this was one of the threads that I read a lot .. think I found the spitfire place from here too...excited to see it revived!! (your 40 and by proxy this thread)
Great to read of your 40 project progress, Marco! Will be watching for further developments and I'm glad to report that my 40 project has taken some big steps forward in the last week, too. Got the top and windshield frame off with all glass being removed. Closer to paint. While removing the windshield glass I heard a pop and looked over to see one of the rounded rear top windows had exploded under its own volition - I had removed it from the top panel about an hour earlier. Glass is weird but wonderful. Feels good to get off the snide with projects like this and getting 40s closer to being what they want to be is a good thing. Keep after it!