Berlinetta build and restoration

[jon_wilkinson]

Re: Berlinetta build and restoration

Great choice. I like that design; fits in really well with the car.

[scott h]

Re: Berlinetta build and restoration

Door mirrors.

The original mirrors were too low to see anything apart from the rear wing!

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The new mirrors are much higher.

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[scott h]

Re: Berlinetta build and restoration

Thanks for the advice guys.

[AdminUser]

Re: Berlinetta build and restoration

All good advice and true. Flap discs will strip it really quickly, go steady on the curves. Avoid having it blasted if possible as it will warp unless your blaster is very knowledgeable about thin ally. Once clean degrease thoroughly with panel wipe, spray etch primer (as DJJ says) then high build primer and top coat (get painter to do all the paint so he can guarantee the work - dont be tempted to etch it yourself with rattle cans then expect the painter to make it nice). When reassembling the hinge run a smear of grease along the hing before bolting or riveting it back together and it will last for years.
My own bonnet is bolted together not riveted. I used M5 interscrews and stainless M5x10 bolts on the inside.

[Alan c]

Re: Berlinetta build and restoration

Or be 100% sure no moisture to form the electrlite can get in the joint (even an overall paint at some point will get a fine crack at joint or fixngs - so near impossible)

[Alan c]

Re: Berlinetta build and restoration

The brass and aluminium is in contact so being dissimilar metals with different levels of nobility they set up an effective galvanic cell - the aluminium being less noble corrodes worst (Like a sacraficial aode). ensure there is no metal to metal connection including the fasteners as it creates th electrical (galvanic) circuit

[djj_engineer]

Re: Berlinetta build and restoration

you need an ETCH primer on Aluminium. then I guess a high build primer to smooth the hinges, before the top colour coat.
Poss ask your painter his advice.

[scott h]

Re: Berlinetta build and restoration

Paint work advice required. Some of the alluminium panels have paint bubbling up due to corrosion. One example is shown here. The underside of the bonnet at the center piano hinge. I drilled the rivets out and you can see the corrosion.

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I was going to clean both the bonnet and the hinge with a flap disc. Then paint with aluminium primer then rivet it back together. Any thoughts? Bodywork is not my thing. The plan is to get a proffessional to paint the car.

[andyf]

Re: Berlinetta build and restoration

Looks good. I need to do the same to my inner wings to clear the uprights...

[h_m_cumming]

Re: Berlinetta build and restoration

If you rub some hard soap on the alloy then heat it till the soap turns black it will anneal the alloy and make it easier to work with, as all the time your hammering it will work harden it.
Looks good though.

[scott h]

Re: Berlinetta build and restoration

Thanks. It was easier than I expected, I think I will have another go tonight at getting it smoother.

[AdminUser]

Re: Berlinetta build and restoration

Great job!

[scott h]

Re: Berlinetta build and restoration

The bonnet hits the air intake. The truth is that I knew this was an issue from the start when I trial fitted the engine. I positioned the engine as low as allowed by the anti-roll bar,which runs under the sump. I am aware that there are several profiles of anti-roll bar so I made sure that I had the one that provided the most clearance. I considered removing the anti-roll bar but this did not appeal. I also positioned the engine and gearbox off center to help to give a little more clearance under the bonnet. I tried using rubber trunking to duct the air to the engine under the standard bonnet, but it was too restrictive. So the last resort was a bulge in the bonnet.

I'm not a bodywork person and so I have been avoiding this job for a while. I did some research online and bought some tools.

I started with some cardboard to work out the position of the bulge.

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Then two plywood templates were made.

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The bonnet was split into individual sections and the plywood was G clamped in position. Then using a Bossing mallet and some gentle heat from a hot air gun the bulge was formed.

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It was smoothed out using bodywork hammers and dollies, and perhaps it is now time for a professional to finish the job.

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[scott h]

Re: Berlinetta build and restoration

The story of the fuel tank starts on page 10 of this build diary.

[h_m_cumming]

Re: Berlinetta build and restoration

What tank? Are there any baffles in it?