More wristache...

Yes, I resorted to a bit of sandpaper under a polisher today, and I've done the bonnet. However, the results again speak for themselves... Maybe another quick go with the 1500 will perfect everything, but it's looking pretty good as it is! I'm inspired to do the rest now.... It's a hell of a long way from being finished!

Peeling Oranges hurts the wrists!

The first thing I've done to the car since my exams finished on Friday is started to get rid of some of this blimmin' orange-peel effect on the paintwork. After receiving much assistance from a variety of sources (including here!), I set about very gingerly. The things I've used so far in the process:

-Wet 'n' Dry paper (1200 and 1500)
-a very strong cutting compound and Autoglym Ultra Deep Shine
-a hairdryer (to speed up the drying of the water!)

Anyway, I started by rubbing down a small hidden section with 1200 followed by 1500, and then cut and polished it out. This went very successfully, so I moved to the visible sections! The results speak for themselves:

Before:

During:

After!

She's Alive!

Result! After several hours of tinkering, she's alive! I spent this afternoon replacing batteries, draining fuel, sorting out a sticky solenoid, adjusting plug and point gaps, checking there was a spark for each cylinder, turning the engine by hand, singing 'MGB GT' by Richard Thompson very loudly and annoying the neighbours, and doing a variety of other bits and bobs.

However, for some reason, the engine was turning but just not managing to kick. I decided to give up, and came in for a 'cuppa. Went back a couple of hours later to lock up and decided to give it another bash. Hey presto! A running engine! It's running very ropily of course, but hey, it's going, and sounds beautiful! An update on the situation will follow soon!

You'll give me a 'grilling' for this...

You'll ridicule me when you find out that all I've done so far since she's got home is stick the new grille on.... However, the car looks much less of a 'project' now, and much more of a 'car'. I had to remove the overriders before being able to get the grille in, that went without any problems. Here's how she looks now:

Apologies for the bad photos, they won't get much better 'til she's mobile and out of the garage!

But that's not all that I've done... I've taken the batteries out and undersealed all around where they sit, I just have to buy some new ones, and we're getting close to having her running!

I've also cleaned half of the interior up a little; it's coming up a treat - I'll let you see once it's all done!