anthonym Posted October 30, 2019 Share Posted October 30, 2019 They seem great :-)pics here, stripped BDR:https://www.lotus7.club/blogs/bdr-strippinged-go-arch-tomorrow She is 32 years old.In prospect of havinginternal skins also powder coated, I gather this is now standard procedureplushoneycombs to be added, a safety thingMAYBE modify the wishbones so they do not need the bolt-on mod, BUT does that affect her originality?Going to upgrade from rear drums to disks, using the Caterham Cars upgrade for that purpose, which I have had "in stock" since about 2004.anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Evil Posted October 31, 2019 Share Posted October 31, 2019 32 years! nice project!Personally, if I was doing a no-expense-spared resto and had the time, I wouldn't powdercoat the chassis. It looks great, but it tends to brittle, chip and flake and creating hidden water traps between the powdercoat and the bare metal; leading to hidden corrosion. My 10 year old car which has mostly dry miles on it has powdercoat flaking here and there which I have to stay on top of.I'd go with a professional 2K spray, or use a brush with epoxy mastic, POR15 or even hammerite. I think that would last pretty much forever and patch easier even if a little less cosmetically pretty.Haven't heard of powdercoating the aluminium skins. Is that new? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted October 31, 2019 Author Share Posted October 31, 2019 Yes I think so, Phil (Arch) says it stops the ally corrosion progress. Rob ((Ratrace) mentioned it is now standard procedure (I didn't ask if he meant for his projects or generally). My only real question at present is whether updating the wishbones so that the bolt-on upgrade is not required is stepping away from original too much, or is an acceptable chassis manufacturer correction of what they should have done in the first place. I fear this is personal preference in the end. anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted October 31, 2019 Share Posted October 31, 2019 I had the inside of my side skins powder coated black when Arch reskinned mine earlier this year. Aside from making the engine bay look very smart, it should largely prevent the steel-ali bi-metallic corrosion that occurs on the side panels. Arch charged something like £100 for the additional powder coating. I looked at having the rear panel done, but that would have added the same again due to the rear panels being more fiddly to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted October 31, 2019 Author Share Posted October 31, 2019 That sounds good also for the grot trap? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted October 31, 2019 Share Posted October 31, 2019 Indeed, it should. But on its own it wont stop wet and grot, which is why I've just ordered some black ali from eBay to make some grot trap covers to attach to the footboxes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted October 31, 2019 Author Share Posted October 31, 2019 that sounds like a very good idea, having just seen the pictures of the contents of my grot traps - in my car that has not been used since 2004. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted October 31, 2019 Author Share Posted October 31, 2019 I have been wondering if a long nose snout on a (Aldi's best) compressed air gun might clean out grot traps, any idea? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Molecular--Bob Posted October 31, 2019 Share Posted October 31, 2019 I think it would dry them, but not remove any solids that have built up there, and its those that hold the water. Shields sound like a good idea if you can design them to stop chunks but still have a bit of air circulation to allow the area to dry out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted October 31, 2019 Author Share Posted October 31, 2019 How about suction? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted October 31, 2019 Share Posted October 31, 2019 Anthony, re front suspension, when I rebuilt my BDR, earlier this year, I built it as per original, all new wishbones, cast top links, trunnions, new spax shocks and springs etc. When I had the car set up, the offside camber was 27 minutes +ve which couldn't be adjusted out ( chatted with Bruce at Arch, as he'd fully rebuilt chassis and provided the wishbones, his belief was the machining on the replacement cast top links was known to be poor). I ended up putting the later full top wishbone on, including later arb set up too. It's lost a bit of originality, but the car drives better, and I have all the original bits for when it will be sold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted October 31, 2019 Author Share Posted October 31, 2019 hi Tazio, hoped you would be along.That's exactly what I was hoping to learn. Spax were the original? Where did you get your replacements please?:-)anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted October 31, 2019 Author Share Posted October 31, 2019 and what specifications? I have no idea except mine are like bricks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 Anthony, I bought them from Chris at Redline, mines a de-dion, the fronts were G775s, rears, I can't remember sorry, but Chris will know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted November 1, 2019 Area Representative Share Posted November 1, 2019 Anthony - it is in a queue behind my 21!Yes, painting the aluminium is a good thing to do. On the 21, Rob is also going to apply silicone along the joints between panels and frame to prevent water ingress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted November 1, 2019 Author Share Posted November 1, 2019 So a potential grot trap solution? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj Posted November 1, 2019 Share Posted November 1, 2019 Stephen,Hopefully acid-free silicone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted November 1, 2019 Area Representative Share Posted November 1, 2019 I hope so Regin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 Anthoñy, I am amazed at how good your chassis is, when I did mine, it was absolutely rotten, and required massive surgery, so much so most was replaced..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted November 2, 2019 Author Share Posted November 2, 2019 Aye it has been suggested she doesn't need such extreme treatment. However, I want her set for the next 20 years, which takes her to 50 years. She looks good because she has been stored since 2004. What sort of life had yours had to be not so good? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 I'll message you.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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