New Olds (boat tail speedster)

[Olds]

Nice. Will have to have a chat with him. I would like to go for an aluminium airframe type of construction but costs may rule that out, so aluminium clad ply may be used.
Familiar looking engine.
Still stripping the chassis. All bodywork removed apart from front wings and scuttle (run out of room to store the removed bits). I have been trying to remove the floor pans. Six pans held on with a total of 78 bolts that are all rusted solid and to add to the fun, someone has added two rivets between each pair of bolts   Oh what fun I am having.

[Manky Monkey]

Sounds like a job for Mr Angle Grinder!

[Baychimp]

Saint Angle Grinder surely?

[Olds]

Trying to refrain from using the angle grinder. Soaking the bolts in Wd40 seems to be working.
Not a lot of progress today. Took most of the old body to the tip and got some strange looks. Just the front wings left of the fibreglass to remove then the plywood bulkhead and steel inner wings. The pedal box is made of steel and I might be able to reuse it, or at least it will make a good pattern.

[Olds]

The more I pull this apart, the more I realise I am doing the right thing.
The bulkhead was made of thick ply. Notice the use of past tense. It was so rotten that it was more like corrugated cardboard and the gearbox mounts while being made of substantial angle iron were welded to the floor pan and not the chassis. For that at least I am grateful as it means the chassis has not been butchered.

[Olds]

.

[Manky Monkey]

I find it quite scary that vehicles like this no longer need an MOT -not every "classic" is well preserved.

[Olds]

Very true.
Luckily the chassis itself is in excellent condition, only needing a new rear cross member.  This is made of a much lighter gauge steel than the rest of the chassis.

[kapri]

From my memory of my old Series E that isn't unusual ! I had a 2 door back in around '75 .If memory serves me correctly watch out for the chassis itself as it's back to front ie it's U /C section with the OUTER being plated in with thin gauge as opposed to the normal other way round.

[MIXA]

At least the important bits you want off it are good , would have been some project trying to restore it

[morrag]

Olds, that's not a '40's BMC motor/box, surely, the "8's" were running SV motors then, as were the early Minors. Looks more mid 50's and onward to me, but??...................Morrag

[Olds]

Correct as always Morrag  
Yep someone has put in an  A series engine and remote change gearbox. Probably from a late Moggy 1000. That would make it a 1098cc and seeing as the engine turns over and seems to have some compression, I will go with what is fitted. Though I will have to seriously rework the engine and gearbox mounts.

[morrag]

The 'A' Series motor is a favourite of mine, and really I prefer it and its box to the Reliant! and as I'm sure your aware, Olds, the many years of standard "goodies" as fitted to the various versions of Sprites&M.G's of its type, make it  an ideal basis for what your about, nice one ............Morrag

[Manky Monkey]

I prefer it and its box to the Reliant!

Mwahhhh! Don't listen to him children! 

[morrag]

Sorry Mr. M, how foolish of me! ..............nah, had my fingers crossed behind my back when I typed that!.................