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USMB Regular
Posted 14 February 2013 - 10:03 AM
New page and pics at:
http://www.nagara.co.uk/leftarch1.htm
I've fallen behind with my Subaru restoration updates so I'll post a
few more pages over the next few days. Meanwhile, I've been hugely
enjoying the Honda CRX. I hope to have the Subaru back on the road before the end of the month and the Honda will then go into the workshop for some minor work before going on sale.
USMB Regular
Posted 14 February 2013 - 08:51 PM
Scary $*it man....1 good pothole and you could"ve been driving a frt.whl. drv. car literally....Could"ve been some Good articulation there for 4whling HA HA
USMB Regular
Posted 15 February 2013 - 06:45 AM
Yes, you are absolutely right. It's amazing how some bodgers are oblivious to the dangers they are presenting to unsuspecting later owners - it's criminal in my view. I used to drive that car at 70-80 mph regularly back and forth from Devon to London (200 miles each way)... shudder to think of the accidents I could have had...
USMB Regular
Posted 15 February 2013 - 10:15 AM
I"ve had my share of rusty cars 
luckly I was fortunate enough to get them as they were without the RED-GREEN rust repair {It"s a TV show out of Canada-FUNNY} I had a 81 4x wgn. that got so bad the doors would"nt close if it wasn"t on level ground-I killed the body 10 yrs.ago but the mtr.is still going strong {380,000mi} 
and I"m lookin for another body again since the current 1 is also rustin away 
FUN FUN!!!
USMB Regular
Posted 15 February 2013 - 01:20 PM
Doors wouldn't close on level ground! :-) I had a Triumph Convertible like that! I think it would have been more economical for me to have scrapped Subaru but, as there are very, very few of them left in the UK - 11 last time I looked http://www.howmanyle...aru_1.8_4wd_dl - there's no chance of getting one in good condition now. So I've repaired mine in the hope it will now last another 20 years; indeed, it could easily last longer than me! (if there's any affordable petrol left!)
USMB Regular
Posted 15 February 2013 - 02:01 PM
http://www.nagara.co.uk/leftarch2.htm Welding, welding, welding, Hi Ho!
more pics via above link...
USMB Regular
Posted 24 February 2013 - 11:46 PM
http://www.nagara.co.uk/leftarch2.htm Welding, welding, welding, Hi Ho!
more pics via above link...
It goes, HI HO HI HO It"s off to welding we go!! Man your lucky the damn struts didn"t come thru...You would"ve had a Lowrider Bro.. 
! I wonder how much it would"ve costed to ship you cleaner both 1/2s of the back end from here...would"ve been alot less work and easier welding!! I feel for you 
Elite Master of the Subaru
Posted 25 February 2013 - 05:41 AM
wow. well done, that's some serious skill you've got going on there. it's 10 times harder than it looks in my experience anyway...getting the plate all lined up how you want it, dimensions spot on, it's so easy for something to be off, not "square", lined up, flush, etc. i am notably deficient in this area anyway, but still tough stuff.
USMB Regular
Posted 25 February 2013 - 06:25 AM
Thanks guys! To be honest, I didn't even bother to see if complete replacement panels were available; I was keen to practice using the MIG as I'd only ever used oxy-acetylene before. I needed to see if my skills would come back after many years. I've a new project I'm currently designing and wanted to make sure I was able to do it.
USMB Regular
Posted 26 February 2013 - 02:42 AM
Well at this rate you may as well build yourself a Lift Kit since you already have all the Tools out and the Car all tore apart Whats a couple more hours Hell 
USMB Regular
Posted 26 February 2013 - 07:44 AM
88warcaroo, Yes, but not on this car. I've decided to keep this car pretty standard and to build an off-road (but street legal) lifted car based on another L-series I have in storage. But that won't be for another couple of years as I've more pressing business projects in the queue! But, certainly, a lift kit would not be difficult to make.
USMB Regular
Posted 01 March 2013 - 11:03 AM
Always good to see the back of a job - well at lwast light at the end of the tunnel...
Some filler over the joins... loads of sandingf and some primer, a bit more filler..
I could have spent ages with little profile templates to get ris of the ripples and undulations but getting it done is now more important than getting it perfect...
Then some more sanding and a coat of high-build primer...
After some more sanding.. some colour...
USMB Regular
Posted 02 March 2013 - 03:11 AM
Hey Nick,It"s starting to look like a car again-NICE !!
USMB Regular
Posted 05 March 2013 - 03:34 PM
I sincerely hope I won't be doing many more repairs to old red'n and that my posts will soon be of driving adventures in wild places!
(Above) Remember what it was like?
(Above) That's better!
More pics and text at....
http://www.nagara.co.uk/frontwing.htm
Best wishes all - anyone want a nice low mileage Honda CRX?
Edited by NickNakorn, 05 March 2013 - 03:35 PM.
Certified BRAT nut!!!
Posted 05 March 2013 - 06:05 PM
Here's hoping the MOT Inspection goes your way. 
If they could see all the work you've put into this Wagon, they would/should be very impressed.
USMB Regular
Posted 05 March 2013 - 06:58 PM
Thanks Tom, but the funny thing about repair work is that the better it's done the less people will notice. I'm just pleased to be able to get it back on the road - well, if it fails thed test it won't be for anything major - so hopefully I;ll be taking it for a spin at the weekend.
USMB Regular
Posted 19 March 2013 - 06:54 PM
The MOT test. In the UK we have to have cars tested every year for safety if they are more than 3 years old. My L-series is now back on the road and has a brand new MOT. But it was not without yet more work being done - several small areas of rust that I had not noticed under the under-seal and a leaky rear exhaust silencer.
Below is a pic of one of the repair pieces I made,,,
As usual there are loads of pics on my pages at:
http://www.nagara.co.uk/MOT%20Odds.htm
Or you can follow the whole thing at my usual address : http://www.nagara.co.uk/carhome.htm
USMB Regular
Posted 20 March 2013 - 09:45 AM
All the cosmetic stuff will have to wait and for the next couple of years the car will be a ratty, tatty daily driver and company work-horse. Feels good to have this on the road again.
My Honda CRX is now in the workshop and will be ready in a few weeks so if any UK readers are interested let me know; it's low mileage so will not be cheap.
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