This is a read-only archive of the old Madabout Kitcars forum. New posts and replies are no longer possible, but every thread is still here to browse and read.
WCA, wire brush / sand any loose rust off, treat with kurust, and hand paint over with hammerite paint in any colour.
Done correctly, you will never have a rust problem in that area again.
Hi Scottie, I have just read your entire build thread, it's taken me most of the week in between working on my Marlin restoration.
I have really enjoyed the whole story, you are doing a great build, I really admire your tenacity and ingenuity, working on a shoe string is a great way to discover alternative solutions!
I am trying to read as many build threads as I can, I learn a little every time and it's a good incentive to get out there and do some more tasks. My project has stalled for the last year for several reasons but I am now back on full steam with a chassis up restoration.
While you seem to feel that a formal list of tasks is unhelpful, I rely on my list to stay focused. When I started, I sat down and created a spreadsheet with a list for every aspect of the project, then as tasks are completed I change their status to 'Done' from 'In Progress' or 'Not Started'.
Nice spreadsheet Ed, I used a similarly high-tech tool to monitor my build: an old envelope with a list of tasks scrawled on it in biro.
Plan 'A' then quickly failed when my wife put said envelope in the recycling, so, like most amateur enthusiasts on this site I took a far more organic-holistic than anal-digital approach to managing my build and just got on with it.
Your chassis does look very nice btw, if you finish the rest of the car to the same standard it'll be a corker.
I've always liked the Marlin, it was on my wish list back in the early 80's. I might've actually built one then if I hadn't been seduced by the Covin 356 Speedster. Luckily for me I hadn't actually paid Covin any money when they went bust, and all my efforts then went into restoring the Type 3 Squareback I'd bought as a donor, followed by a Ratty Beetle project then wife/house/offspring.
Once my desire to build a car was rekindled as I approached the big five-oh, Marlin had gone so far upmarket that they were out of my price range for a mid-life-crisis-man-toy. Thank goodness for Gary J and his Sammio project!
If you need some motivation to crack on, check out this month's 'Octane' magazine. You'll find a fascinating article on the Supercharged Alfa 6C 1750 that inspired the original Marlin design -
Wow! You've done me proud Ed, I admire your tenacity!
At times I have tried read complete threads, and always end up just skimming through.
Your Marlin looks to be coming on really well, should look the part when complete.
I often joke about ingenuity being driven by poverty, but really, that is the case.
I wanted an XKSS, and there are several companies in the business of building them, and they talk of "owning a fabulous re-pro, for a fraction of the price of a real one"
The "fraction of the price" in XKSS terms appears to be between
£60, 000 and £125,000.
I really did not have that sort of small change lying around.
So I had to make just about everything myself, but as you say, it goes to show it can be done.
I have learnt so much from this forum and all the people on it, and that has made the build easier than it would have been.
Your list looks good, but I still can't get my head round lists for me!
Its all in my head, and I seem to be able to function reasonably well that way
Good luck with your build and look forward to seeing the finished pics.
Mr T, It's a long story but this is my second Marlin, I restored a Roadster about three years ago on DVLA's assurance that it would not need an IVA, I spent north side of £2300 on it and then they asked for an IVA... Had I known then what I know now I wouldn't have even attempted it but I stupidly trusted DVLA's word.
The really sad thing was I had helped do the original build back in '82 with my mate and I had always fancied the car, but my mate was a bit unpredictable and I was reluctant to ask to buy it from him. In the end he gave it me but it had been stood outside in a wood since about '88 and was in a bad way.
I was put onto this second Marlin which had also stood for a long time, I have the last tax disk which is dated 29/2/92. It was originally a Cortina Pinto build but somebody had swapped the Ford engine for a Rover 3500 but very badly. I am having to rectify all those issues and I am converting it back to a manual gearbox which means modding the pedal box to accept a hydraulic master cylinder.
This is a pretty nice pic of what I am using as a guide for my build.
I have about 100 pix of the 1930 Alfa 6 and 8 cars. I am not aiming at a replica but trying to incorporate as many key features of the original cars, like the bonnet shape and hopefully, eventually the windscreen. Definitely the scuttle and dashboard. I have formed the scuttle from 1.5mm aluminium on my English Wheel which I built myself, I am currently working on the transmission tunnel and gearbox cover, which is almost finished. Only three days to make the gearbox cover!!! ;-) LOL
Better crack on, while it isn't quite so cold outside.
Hey Scottie, some really great progress since my last visit and a good coat of paint... even in a footwell or boot makes a big difference!
I'm glad to hear Mick is building a A352 as well... the more of these awesome looking cars the better!
I'm still trying to decide what to do with my herald... mainly by ogling pictures!! (hopefully moving to a house with a nice big garage in a month will mean I can start a build)
Meanwhile my current little garage has a Marlin Roadster in it which is great fun to drive.
Ed can I ask what reason did the DVLA give for insisting on an IVA? was it incorrectly registered? Anyway hope you get your new one built! The first sunny day drive you go on and it'll all seem worth it!
Ed can I ask what reason did the DVLA give for insisting on an IVA? was it incorrectly registered? Anyway hope you get your new one built! The first sunny day drive you go on and it'll all seem worth it!
Mmmm, long story but the essence was that the original owner, my mate, had used a 1956 Austin A30 logbook to re-register the Marlin after the build. (The actual donor was a Morris Marina van.) Because he liked the number... The A30 had been his dads car for as long as he could remember.
My mate had lost the V5 and although it was on the computer system at DVLA, we didn't know what the VIN # was, we didn't even have any old MOT certs so had no way of knowing the VIN. We knew the kit # but it had been removed from the chassis. It was a very early issue of the Marina Roadster kits. I have copies of the original order and collection paperwork.
DVLA told me they would issue a new VIN, which they did, they even rang me at 8am the day after the inspection to say it wouldn't need an IVA, "Because it was too old." But when I submitter the paperwork including a brand new MOT, they insisted it needed an IVA.
That was a bridge too far, I know Roadsters could pass an IVA but it would have meant another complete rebuild and a lot of new (expensive) IVA compliant parts. Given I had already spent in excess of £2300 another probably ~ £2000 was not even an option. I could have bought a mint clean roadster for well under two grand. What I wanted was to put the one I had helped to build back on the road. The engine (1275 Marina) runs like a sewing machine.
Sorry Scottie, not intending to hijack your thread!
Wow! You've done me proud Ed, I admire your tenacity!
Scottie
You write a compelling and colourful story Scottie, in many ways we seem so similar in our build ethos.
I am retired and divorced, have a couple of lads aged 10 and 14, trying to create a dream on a shoestring. I don't have a garage, one of my neighbours took pity on me and offered me the use of his ageing shed for the build, but frankly there isn't that much difference between inside or outside when the rain and wind are on full song!
I love the dashboard you have created and your attention to detail, even including details like slanted switch knob legends! That's a real winner!
I do worry if your front lights may be too low? Not sure what the lower limit is for sidelights, I think it may be 16 inches, I do believe the headlamps should not be below 2 ft. nor above 3 ft 6 inches. Might be worth checking that if you haven't already, before you start painting... One option for the test might be to incorporate a side lamp in the headlamps?
Don't worry about any hijack Ed!
I don't really care about the front lights, the car will not need an IVA, only an Mot, and I have an understanding Mot person, so things like that should not be an issue.
Regards the side lamps, my car has seperate side lamps at present, just like the Spitfire it is supposed to be, so I don't really see an issue there either, or have I missed a "nasty" that could trip me up?
In a nutshell, headlights need to be minimum 500mm (about 20") maximum 1200mm (just over 47") from the ground, and under 400mm (15&3/4") from the side of the vehicle.
As for your Marlin Ed, it's such a shame you can't get it back on the road. Could you not find a scrap Morris Marina/Ital (with a V5) and 'rebuild' that as a Marlin using your existing chassis, body, engine etc to 'replace' the worn out originals? Just a thought...
Don't worry about any hijack Ed!
I don't really care about the front lights, the car will not need an IVA, only an Mot, and I have an understanding Mot person, so things like that should not be an issue.
Regards the side lamps, my car has seperate side lamps at present, just like the Spitfire it is supposed to be, so I don't really see an issue there either, or have I missed a "nasty" that could trip me up?
Thanks Scottie, Mr T has cleared up the headlamps, but it was mainly the side lamps I was concerned about, you remarked yours are proportionally lower then the original XKSS car, and you have made your car even lower. I suspect Jaguars placement of the side lamps may be at, or near the lower limit, not wanting to make an issue of it but just something I noticed while reading your build and fairly easy to check/rectify before painting?
I realise you don't need an IVA but I don't think it's wise to step outside the regs on a silly thing like this which could attract unwanted attention at a roadside check.
Mr T seems to have a good grasp of the relevant dimensions. My newest copy of the regs was 1966 and they were lost several house moves ago!
Edit:
I have just read the link Mr T gave and it would appear there is no requirement for the height of side lamps, so I'm sorry if I raised blood pressure unnecessarily. I just thought it was worth checking at this stage, I would have hated it to be an issue later and not mentioned it.
In a nutshell, headlights need to be minimum 500mm (about 20") maximum 1200mm (just over 47") from the ground, and under 400mm (15&3/4") from the side of the vehicle.
As for your Marlin Ed, it's such a shame you can't get it back on the road. Could you not find a scrap Morris Marina/Ital (with a V5) and 'rebuild' that as a Marlin using your existing chassis, body, engine etc to 'replace' the worn out originals? Just a thought...
Thanks for the link Mr. T, I have bookmarked it!
I haven't completely given up on the Roadster Mr. T. Nowadays it wouldn't be wise to follow the route you describe, DVLA are well aware of it and are actively on the lookout for such vehicles, revoking the V5's of any they find. Indeed I am told they send a team armed with video cameras to Kit Car shows looking for cars which are not correctly registered.
I am on the lookout for another old Marlin Roadster (with V5) which needs restoration... But not just yet!!! I have my hands full with the one I have right now. Yesterday I passed the 50% point when I completed the gearbox cover and connected it to the bulkhead.
This was formed with my English Wheel:
New Year resolution... I must start my own restoration thread!
Your car is looking good so far, you must start a thread.
Reference the lights, I was kind of aware of the issues you raised, and like you said Mr Towed has sorted that area out. He can usually be relied on to come up with good solid stuff.
Well, to any DVLC personnel reading this, have no fear, I've just measured my lights, they conform to the regulations perfectly, and like Mr Towed's car,
although they look very low, its just an optical illusion!
when I painted my boot out with the "silver" paint, ( which turned out to be grey)
I wanted to refit the battery the next day, but could not do so as the paint was not dry. Nor was it dry the next day, nor the next.
This resulted in me hurling the tin of paint in the bin, with a few choice words.
However, it is now dry, and I re-fitted the battery in its posh new home,
complete with its posh new connections this morning.
I started to make the lid of what will be the passengers glove box.
I didn't put any in it Mr T, it came ready to use, and I still have'nt worked out why it is grey and not silver like it says on the tin!
Of course, I don't have the damned receipt, but after all its only a tin of paint, but annoying to say the least.
Today I bought a tried and tested litre of Hammerite silver, which I will do the passengers floor with.
YAY ! Scotties back posting about the build.
Could you make some leather hinges out of belt thickness leather. With maybe a length of chain to stop the box open too far and magnet closure. All attached via the rivets which would of course be in the jag UAR position? I have some pictures somewhere of an turn of the century steam car with leather hinges on its bonnet, doors, tool box and glove box but I just spent an hour looking for them to no avail. What if one of the centre top rivets was modified to twist and lock the box. Ed.
Your car is looking good so far, you must start a thread.
Reference the lights, I was kind of aware of the issues you raised, and like you said Mr Towed has sorted that area out. He can usually be relied on to come up with good solid stuff.
Well, to any DVLC personnel reading this, have no fear, I've just measured my lights, they conform to the regulations perfectly, and like Mr Towed's car, although they look very low, its just an optical illusion!
Hi Scottie, that's great news, I was a just bit concerned about the lights. Sorry if I raised the blood pressure a bit!
The English wheel is something I made myself, although I have to admit I bought the wheel and anvils, at the price I paid I couldn't have started to make them, I don't have my own lathe any more. I was a bit apprehensive whether I would be able to use the wheel but it seems easy enough so far. I make a trial shape first from offcuts, then having worked out the appropriate technique, I make the real thing.
To make the frame I used scrap box section/off-cuts from a fabricator I know. I think the box section cost me about £25 plus a bit of my time welding and painting. It's very heavy and it seems to work well. From what I have seen I would say it's well within your ability to make and use one. I took me about 3 hours to wheel that flare on the gearbox cover, good exercise for the upper body!
I will make my own build/restoration thread in the Marlin section shortly. I find it very stimulating knowing others with different experience from myself can keep an eye on me and offer guidance and encouragement at times of need. I have just started reading Paul L's 'Another Cordite is Born' thread, fascinating! We all have different approaches to these projects.
This morning I carried on with the build, derusted the minor surface rust on the passengers floor and got a good coat of silver hammerite onto it.
Upon checking the boot paint, (which was bone dry where the battery went back in) I found that on the parts of the paint that are in contact with the Sikaflex sealer/bonder stuff, the paint is STILL very wet after 6 days!
It has to dry eventually, does'nt it? (Should be dry by the time I get to, or if I ever get to Stoneleigh)
On my stereo unit (which is now fitted hidden under the dash), there are 4 or 5 coloured lights that when the unit is in use, flash all different colours, a bit like a mini-disco. This has always annoyed me, and is not in keeping with a 50's style car, so I have stuck some aluminium tape over them, which has done an excellent job. So now they are none functional from a visual point of view.
In my spare time, I work on the glove box lid hinge problem, a fiddly, frustrating awkward job, a bit like most of my build I suppose!
How about using the hinges from the MK2 glove box? You could use a welding joggler to make and indent and glue them on with epoxy. Small glued on magnet would work as a catch.
I am already thinking along the magnetic catch route.
I have fannied around with this job for so bloody long now, I have grown tired of it.
At the end of the day, the hinges are not important, to me at least, what is important is to stick to the principle of my idea,which is to have access to the space behind the lid.
So, sick of wasting so much time on such a mundane (un-important) job,
I have fallen back on plan B, and my compromise is as follows:
I have glued the rivets into the lid, drilled holes in the dash, so the rivets will fit into, and locate the lid onto the dash, and when the magnets arrive through the post, the lid will stay in place magnetically.
So, I have not wasted any more time, and will still get access to the glove box behind the dash, which I can fabricate at any later stage.
At least now I can move on with the more important stuff of the build.
I saw a very simple glove box hinge on another site the other day - an alloy tube bonded to the lower edge of the door and a plain P-clip either end behind the dash for the tube to rotate in.
I was a bit apprehensive whether I would be able to use the wheel but it seems easy enough so far. I make a trial shape first from offcuts, then having worked out the appropriate technique, I make the real thing.
