ozbilt's California MG TC build

[ozbilt]

If only apprentice panel beaters could learn the trade on real cars, not the plastic ones of today.

I moved my response to here ......

http://www.mustangtech.com.au/Forums/vi ... =5915.html

[ozbilt]

I notice the owner was not in the shot as you hacked into the bonnet. I trust you packed the 'hardwood' panel repair log in your case ;-)

Reality was that I "did not want to be in the shot" as cutting up something so valuable is scarey! Not like as if it is a Mustang or something easy to get parts for ......

[ozbilt]

One of the more difficult tasks on this car was to match the profile of the front mudguards (wings). The pic below shows a TC with the correct shape. Note how the wheel arch line rises from the back & then becomes parallel with the road to the nose before arching back, dropping to the front apron. A truly beautiful design .......



Most cars over the years had had numerous accidents & poor repairs causing the nose to droop. Ron's car was no exception as the RH mudguard was in poor shape at the nose .....



So, of course, that meant some discussion was needed as to how to solve the "drooping nose" issue .......



Turned out it was quite a long discussion .......



Finally it was decided (by me) that the section I had fabricated, back in January at Duggo, was to be fitted & the RH mudguard altered to be the same as the LH side (that one was nice).

A bit of hammering to start obtaining the correct shape on top.....



Ron does not look to happy with me beating his car up ......



Then showing where previous repair sections had been added .....







So marking & cutting began .......











Template was then made .......





Final marking out .....



Getting it close ......



More tea needed .......



Tack welding. Note the wired edge that runs down to the apron does not line up. That shape was corrected later to the earlier shape of the LH mudguard .......







Ron took a keen interest in his car being cut up & altered .....



That deserved another cuppa ...... You can also see the difference in the line of the wired edge in this pic .......



Cutting away unwanted metal .....



Final welding & hammering ......





Almost there .....



All edges wired & shape now correct ......

[Nuts]

Ron must be stoked with the quality of your work. You make something impossible for most, look bloody easy!

[nassi]

Amazing stuff, thanks for sharing.

[ozbilt]

I will post more tonight as that last post was work done 2 weeks ago. Still going through all the pictures taken .......

http://s728.photobucket.com/user/Downre ... t=2&page=1

[ozbilt]

You make something impossible for most, look bloody easy!

So I bloody should after almost (in a few months) 48 years of trying .......

[hybrid]

Amazing work. I don't blame the bloke for being nervous, but it came out nice.

[Foresight]

Awesome stuff mate, seriously cool!

[smh00n]

Was I the only one that went PHHHAAAAAARRRRRKKKKK when I saw the picture of the nose of the guard cut off?

[DD289]

Ron must be stoked with the quality of your work. You make something impossible for most, look bloody easy!

A master tradesman always makes his craft look easy.

Show-off!

BTW, yes, thanks for sharing, Oz. Very enjoyable.

[ozbilt]

The rear mudguards required some work, the RH being what I think is a reproduction & made in 4 different sections.

The LH had a lot of surface rust & we picked it up from the blasters the day after I arrived in CA. It also had some previous questionable repairs & some lovin was required.

No pics of the rear mudguards in the "as found" condition, so I guess these will have to do ......

Getting ready to cut the excess metal off .....



Cutting over the "enviro bin" .....



First fitting .......



Lower front of the rear mudguards is always in line with the running boards. The outer edge then is equal distance out from the tyre ......



Fitted up & bondo work has begun on the LH rear mudguard ....



Some things to note. The rear mudguards need the rear tips equal distance not only from the ground, but also from the center of the wheel. Finding two mudguards that "pair up" is almost impossible & usually require major surgery to get them correct. Luckily these two were close & I was able to belt them into shape ......

[ozbilt]

All assembled & ready for high fill primer .....





Then pulled back down to a rolling chassis ......



Tub off the car ......



Down to the "enviro booth" for some DP & then high fill primer .......



Of course we are all suited up in the correct protective gear .....







Final fit up before going to the real paint booth .....





Something of interest to all our Ford lovers .......

This door lock mechanism is the very same found on the A/C Cobras .....

[ozbilt]

Was I the only one that went PHHHAAAAAARRRRRKKKKK when I saw the picture of the nose of the guard cut off?

Obviously you have not been at the Duggo ranch when I am cutting up someone's pride & joy Mustang .......

[DD289]

Was I the only one that went PHHHAAAAAARRRRRKKKKK when I saw the picture of the nose of the guard cut off?

Obviously you have not been at the Duggo ranch when I am cutting up someone's pride & joy Mustang .......

Or been around in the day when he was cutting the roof out of GT Falcons to fit the roll cage (if I recall the story correctly).