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Hi everyone, I have collected my first Marlin from it's original owner who had laid it up for about 25 years in a wood. I dragged it out with a winch, still on the trailer which returned it from a failed MOT all that time ago.
This is thought to be the 18th Marina Marlin kit built and used a 1275 van as the donor. I was involved with the original build, back in the early eighties, doing the wiring and helping with various welding and assembly tasks
I first started this project about a month before Easter this year. Have spent several weekends gradually prepared the car for it's extraction from the woods. Two weekends ago we finally winched it out, dragged the car off the old trailer and lifted it onto a borrowed trailer to take to temporary storage until I resolve the V5 issue. (it doesn't currently have a V5, it's lost by the PO).
The car is in a bad way, very rusty, and everything is rotten. The back axel is rusted through and leaking EP90. The fuel tank disintegrated when I tapped it to check for fuel Fire risk? NOT. The engine is seized rock solid, coolant pipes fallen apart and perished. I can't shift the gear lever. The wheels go round now after much persuasion with a big hammer. The only good thing I have discovered is the oil level is normal and the oil is clean.
A twist to this tale is that while I was researching Trials Marlins (I want to trial it) I recognised an old friend of mine who it seems has been very successful trialling Marlins. I contacted this old friend, it turned out it was him, and to cut long story short, he no longer competes with Marlins. But, he still has an un-started project, a Triumph based kit which has never been completed or run, which he had intended to re-build one of his highly successful cars onto but I suspect the impetus of youth has waned a bit.
Apparently it was fitted with a Ford engine and gearbox but no front suspension or steering?
As part of the deal i have gained 27 tyres and some assorted wheels. Four brand new doors, two steel, and two aluminium, and three rear Marina axels, one close to new. I have discarded the diff and casing because the teeth were badly pitted, both the crown-wheel and diff pinions. I have kept the half shafts and brakes which are perfect. There is also most of a smoky 1800 B series engine. I collected the parts and tyres this weekend, about 230 mile trip.
Next weekend I plan to trailer the rolling chassis back. I will probably have some parts surplus, so once I have established what I actually need I will make the surplus available to members here. I don't do fleaBay any more.
There will probably be two rear wings one new and un drilled but both are a bit damaged but repairable. A new rear body with the spare wheel area dished for the wheel, drilled but unpainted. Possibly the windscreen cover panel inside and out, both new. Two pairs of doors, and some other parts, inc Marina Discs, suspension and other misc bits and pieces.
Robert
Hi everyone, I have collected my first Marlin from it's original owner who had laid it up for about 25 years in a wood. I dragged it out with a winch, still on the trailer which returned it from a failed MOT all that time ago.
This is thought to be the 18th Marina Marlin kit built and used a 1275 van as the donor. I was involved with the original build, back in the early eighties, doing the wiring and helping with various welding and assembly tasks
I first started this project about a month before Easter this year. Have spent several weekends gradually prepared the car for it's extraction from the woods. Two weekends ago we finally winched it out, dragged the car off the old trailer and lifted it onto a borrowed trailer to take to temporary storage until I resolve the V5 issue. (it doesn't currently have a V5, it's lost by the PO).
The car is in a bad way, very rusty, and everything is rotten. The back axel is rusted through and leaking EP90. The fuel tank disintegrated when I tapped it to check for fuel Fire risk? NOT. The engine is seized rock solid, coolant pipes fallen apart and perished. I can't shift the gear lever. The wheels go round now after much persuasion with a big hammer. The only good thing I have discovered is the oil level is normal and the oil is clean.
A twist to this tale is that while I was researching Trials Marlins (I want to trial it) I recognised an old friend of mine who it seems has been very successful trialling Marlins. I contacted this old friend, it turned out it was him, and to cut long story short, he no longer competes with Marlins. But, he still has an un-started project, a Triumph based kit which has never been completed or run, which he had intended to re-build one of his highly successful cars onto but I suspect the impetus of youth has waned a bit.
Apparently it was fitted with a Ford engine and gearbox but no front suspension or steering?
As part of the deal i have gained 27 tyres and some assorted wheels. Four brand new doors, two steel, and two aluminium, and three rear Marina axels, one close to new. I have discarded the diff and casing because the teeth were badly pitted, both the crown-wheel and diff pinions. I have kept the half shafts and brakes which are perfect. There is also most of a smoky 1800 B series engine. I collected the parts and tyres this weekend, about 230 mile trip.
Next weekend I plan to trailer the rolling chassis back. I will probably have some parts surplus, so once I have established what I actually need I will make the surplus available to members here. I don't do fleaBay any more.
There will probably be two rear wings one new and un drilled but both are a bit damaged but repairable. A new rear body with the spare wheel area dished for the wheel, drilled but unpainted. Possibly the windscreen cover panel inside and out, both new. Two pairs of doors, and some other parts, inc Marina Discs, suspension and other misc bits and pieces.
Robert
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