Introducing Wlliam the '68 Amazon Estate

[222s]

There may be some useful reference pics here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/403917...detail/?page=8

Note that when this one was all welded back together, for some reason the horizontal section was separated from the vertical part of the valance, rather than that panel being fitted as per factory.

[Volvo Canadian]

Two rare parts there - a factory roof rack of the bolt-on type, and rubber bumperettes (outriders?)

[swedishandgerman]

We've made some really good progress.

The window frame is done and waiting paint. The ns lower quarter panel is done and in place, seam sealed and primed together with the lower section of the wheel arch. The os lower quarter panel is repaired really, really well and inside the wheel arch done. All welding finished now, just waiting for paint. Then we'll put the bumper on and book the MOT

It failed its MOT in Nov due to the corrosion by the towbar - I'm not putting the towbay back on anyway - and rear brake cylinders and shoes. The latter was done prior to me buying it. All said, i have gone around the car and made a list of things that make me dubious of the level of standards at the MOT station that did it, so I expect a list of other things to do to make it roadworthy.

Got the paint from www.autopaints.co.uk in the end.

[Tail]

I was really happy with the way the repair went yesterday, it was a three sided panel to make and for once i got it about right and only had to make a one trial version before i got one that fitted. Of course the little hole in the inner wind turned out to be a bit more as they do, from a finger sized hole to a double split right along the lower seam.

[swedishandgerman]

A happy evening as William saw the light of day for the first time in far too many weeks.

At the weekend our man Tail and I got on with a good deal of work. The window surround was painted and the glass put in with a new seal. Below, the new panel was stone-chipped and painted and turned out really well. The other side was filled and my dent was got rid of. I think we might have to re-fill the repaired area as when I got it out in the daylight this evening, it looked a bit wonky.

Tonight I fixed up the bumper, but could do with a new bumper over-rider. The one I have is alright-ish, but the bolt has been disposed of in favour of something made out of an old exhaust clamp!

Now then, do I book the MOT or not? We've attended to the failure list issued in Nov, but I can see a number of other things that should not have passed

[222s]

Guess it depends how major the other stuff is?

Oh, and looking good there! Useful tip should you want to use the secondary spare wheel hitch on the boot side panel below the window - Rover P6 spare wheel covers (for inside the boot, not the boot mounted ones) fit very nicely, and look totally period correct unlike any modern repro spare wheel cover that I have seen.

Really wish mine was back on the road. I've managed to escape too much modern car driving in the meantime, as I've been occasionally liberating my uncle's MGA, but I'd much rather be in the Amazon.

[Tail]

I must say Adam that colour match on the nearside does look quite good, it was difficult to tell as the light was failing us in the barn last weekend. I did wonder what the other side would look like in the light, i can soon flat it down and do it again.

[swedishandgerman]

Originally Posted by Tail

I must say Adam that colour match on the nearside does look quite good, it was difficult to tell as the light was failing us in the barn last weekend. I did wonder what the other side would look like in the light, i can soon flat it down and do it again.

I didn't include the photo of the other side at this stage!!

MOT at 10.15 tomorrow.. I'm taking the failure sheet from before, but I reckon he'll pick up on a couple things that I have on my to do list.

• Front upper wishbone bushes
• Rear shock absorber bushes
• Tyres are a bit old

We'll see.

[222s]

Originally Posted by swedishandgerman

Tyres are a bit old

TBH, what will still pass an MOT is quite scary. Provided that the tread depth is ok, and there isn't any / significant damage or cracking, then they will pass, as age is irrelevant to the MOT test. However it is a significant factor to tyre performance!

To put it in perspective, I have finally managed to get my uncle to have new tyres fitted to his MGA earlier this year after much nagging. It is now running a new set of Continental CT22s in place of the 1989 dated Firestone F560s, and the difference is huge. The Firestones were still easily passing the MOT as they had loads of tread and weren't obviously discoloured by age, but the lack of grip was very noticeable compared to the new tyres. However when 'fresh', F560s are decent tyres, and are what I used to run on my Amazon when they were still easily available new.

IIRC, the German TUV test checks the date codes too, which is something that the MOT test should also do imho.

[swedishandgerman]

Waiting...