Matilda the Red Daffodil 32

No-photo update today because we just popped down for about 1/2 hour to check over a couple of bits. being Sian's birthday, and being expected at her parent's for a meal later, we decided that a day up to our ears in soot and oil probably wasn't a good plan

Still, managed to confirm a few good points without getting more than a little dusty:

Her jacking points are both sound - checked by jacking her up high enough (using her own jack) to get the back end on stands both sides. It was a little hairy doing the second one - for those who don't know this model, the jack lifts both wheels on a side off the ground at the same time. So she was balanced (briefly) on a jack one side, one front tyre on the other, and an axle stand at the back of the drivers door. Not the most stable position to be in, but nothing went through the floor, or even creaked like it wanted to!

Both half-shafts are intact, despite some spirited dragging around against binding brakes to get her out of the garage, loaded, unloaded again and into the workshop. Haven't got the vario covers off yet but I suspect that the sort of rhythmic "lumpy" feeling (that I was worried might be transmission related) as we were pushing her may well be one or both of the belts permanently set in an oval shape after all these years!

The primary diaphragms are intact, tested using the "blow" test down the pipes. the pipes also have some rust inside, tested by not getting my mouth out of the way fast enough after blowing and inhaling some of it as it was blown back out ;D

The visible brake pipes seem to be good, without even surface rust. On the other hand, there's no fluid in the system at all so all cylinders etc will need changing - would be expecting that after all this time anyway!

The carpet looks saveable on closer inspection. The backing is weak but not actually falling apart yet and Kenr on the TDC forum came up with a product I've never even heard of - Plastidip rubber paint. Checking their tech sheets it looks like it might be ideal for painting into the fabric backing and reinforcing it!

The rear view mirror, which was terminally de-silvered, turns out to have been an aftermarket clip-on one over the top of a virtually pristine original. Which is nice!

The exhaust is basically rotted out from the front resonator back, but the resonator itself seems to have been a replacement very shortly before she came off road - the yellow wax crayon part number is still on it. Seeing as the back bit is basically straight pipework with a double bend at the end, should be no problem to make up a stainless replacement from off-the-shelf pipe and connectors.

Next plan is to pull the engine so it can be tipped on it's side and the bores given a good soaking. Speaking of the engine, the dipstick shows that not only does she still have a full sump, but her oil is crystal clear, golden yellow - it literally could have come out of a bottle yesterday! Obviously oil will get changed as a matter of course, but it's really so clean I may have to bottle the old stuff up for posterity ;D

Going by what Matilda cost us, you'd better just give it away Howard - I'm sure we can fit another in at that price ;D

Anyway, took a sneaky morning off from the assignment I'm doing today so I could go and have a little more play time. Let no-one say my priorities are flawed

Started with a little test clean on part of a seat and a door card. I didn't dare do more than these patches because Sian really wants to do them but she wasn't available to start today. Anyway, using Ken's suggestion of upholstery cleaner and a tooth brush turned this:



into this:



Much more to do, but it's clearly going to come up well

So then I got the back seat out so I could have a look at the vario. First thing I noticed was the wing-bolts to hold the back seat in (the same as the fronts are held by - this car is easy to get the seats out of!). That was quickly followed by marvelling at the most excellent condition of the under-seat area!


Lifting the cover revealed a pair of belts that actually look servicable (if we didn't know how long they'd been standing) and pulleys with less rust than the unmentionable red 33 had when her belts went last!


In case anyone's wondering, the odd angle of the rear pulleys is just because she's got her rear wheels off and the suspension is at full drop - still, it makes you realise how much abuse those belts have to take at times!

The rear wheels and brake drums also came off (adjusters were actually free!) to reveal good drums (bonus) and (as expected) knackered shoes and cylinders:



In fact, the shoes don't look all that bad but I really don't fancy trusting brakes to 30+ year old bonded linings! The marks on the drum are only stuck bits of shoe which come off happily with a little wire wool - must watch that asbestos dust though!

Having successfully undone one of the (through the floor) seatbelt mounts I also got to lift the n/s carpet and check the footwell. Why was the other one not like this? ;D



Finally, before wrapping it for lunch, I made a start on engine removal. The bumper, support bar and grille bolts all undid without complaint (although one of the bumper ones tried to round off with a 12-point socket forcing me to break out a single hex) and she now looks like something's actually happening to her:


There she was left, with all other nuts and bolts gently marinading in penetrating oil ready for the next stage. So far I've found nothing that makes me doubt that, if I was determined to get the brakes sorted and the engine running quickly, this little car could actually be back on road in a week or so!

Those old type heater pipes were great at cutting down the noise entering the car, made of a type of paper and foil I believe?

Bob

Not fair its just taken me 6 hours of heaving and swearing to relieve Gladys of her engine!

This is a good thread. I've been mentioned twice now!

Keep up the good work Joe. Do try and get that stuff from Halfrauds. Yoy will notice the difference. Honest.

i'm gonna go sulk that she looks better than isabel.... then attack her with spots

The latter sounds a better plan.. after all Isabel has already had a respray in her life, and Matilda hasn't (had as much)

RESULT!!!! ;D



Looks like she may get to keep her own number

;D

That's much the same reaction I had when I saw them. Car interiors rarely get me drooling - I think the last one that did was the pure red, shameless plastic, of the early Corvettes. But these cards had almost the same effect as Detroit's finest when I saw them

That cleaning is paying dividends now Joe, well done you! Generally I hate cleaning and detailing, but when the results are so clear it becomes a pleasure.

I definately make you right. Do the mechanics first and the paint can follow. You might as well empty the rest of the engine bay and get some paint in there though.

Good progress there Joe.

I noticed you where complaining about corrosion in the impellor which suprised me. I wonder when DAF started using plastic ones like Gladys has fitted. What's on your 33s? Plastic, Ally or Steel?

That means Tigga will have a metal impellor, great!

Shame you have to remove that dash Joe, but as you need to do it I'd be most grateful for a template of it! ;D

If you need to remove that front parcel shelf (for cleaning of course) then I'd be grateful to know how it is attached as I have one ready to go into Gavina.

Told ya!!!!!!! Hehehehe.

Looking good !
Hey , at this rate , Matilda will be done by January , so can I pop mine down and then collect her , rebuilt , in March ?.......*=)