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I added myself to the map a few weeks ago, and things are starting to move quickly (for the time being at least). I collected this mk3 GT6 a few weeks ago and now my body kit is almost ready for collection! I need to get moving stripping the bodies and either scrapping or selling them as soon as possible.
Anyway - This i guess marks the start of my build thread - A 1973 Cordite 'GT'. It started with my official garage pass a couple of month ago when my partner bought me a lovely moto-lita wheel to my suprise (thanks Andy for helping her make the perfect choice!).
Hopefully, there are some pictures below...
Collecting the car...
In the garage (its a little tight at the moment!)...
I'll do my best to make regular updates. I'm certain i'll have plenty of questions too! Note the industrial size WD40 is already in use too.
Hi Adam, and a warm welcome to you. we're all looking forward to seeing your build and I hope the current Cordite builds here will help you on the way.
Productive day in on Monday, although the garage is even more of a tip. The red body stripped as naked as the day it was born. Some stuff servicable, some stuff to sell and a lot of stuff to scrap!
Found the tax disc too - last on the road in 1994. Explains a lot.
Had some thoughts about colour. I really like the old english white look with black wheels and trim but, I work for a certain green F1 team and I could probably get a very cheap paint job if I want green!
Hi Adam, As I said before, I would really love to see the Cordite in your team colours. Whichever direction you go in though it will be unique to you and wwe all look forward to following your build.
I've finally made some progress this weekend after spending quite a while clearing junk out of the garage and building in storage and a decent workbench (my bench vice is already seeing heavy usage).
I'll post some pictures soon of the now body and suspension stripped GT6 ready for the long road of renovation! Quick work through, with 2 friends, we managed to strip the rear suspension, diff and prop, and both front suspension corners in one afternoon. Main problem though is rusted bolts inside the rubber bush collars. Any tips anyone, or am I just going to have to get medieval on this with some not so medieval power tools?
Also, has anyone got the Canley classics rear hub puller tool? Tried in vain to use a standard puller but not even close. If anyone has one, are they any good and worth the money and/or has anyone got one that they’d consider selling or lending out!?
A few more weekends like that and I’ll be ready to start cleaning everything up and replacing quite a few bits I think. The chassis looks OK apart from the front outriggers probably need replacement but I figure that I can position them to match the frame so not a huge problem!
Sounds like you and your friends are having some fun. All my bolts were fused into the bush inserts too. Tried loads of penetrating oil, hammers, ball joint splitter etc, but noting worked. I just cut them off and replaced the bushes and brackets where they were beyond repair.
Can't help with the hub puller I'm afraid, but I'm sure someone will have one...
Ah, the seized bolts in bushes. I couldn't believe how much pressure they would take and still not move. Even after having been soaked in diesel and other penetrators/lubricants.
In some cases I had to put a 1mm disc on the grinder and cut the bolt both sides inside the bracket. Then I just forced out the bush and binned all leftover pieces.
Forgive me father, I haven't confessed for quite some time!
Since last posting I've been chipping away (quite literally) at all the old bits stripped off the donar vehicle. Bodies were chopped up and scrapped, making space for the new body shell which is in suspended animation hanging from the ceiling and also allowed space to build a work bench and somewhere to store all sorts of stuff that was knocking around in the garage.
It's amazing how much space I now have without 2 GT6 bodies clogging everything up! I bit the bullet and bought a hub puller from canley classics and I have to say, it's mega. Stripped the rear axles in no time and now have most of the suspension components stripped too. Santa also gave me a parts washer to help me along my way
Here's a random selection of progress of stripping parts and the satisfying moment when I actually have something to show for all the effort! The only real downer so far is after cleaning up the gearbox I found a crack in the casing around the oil drain plug where it's been over tightened - new case or a serious repair required :-(
A load of parts ready for paint (I'm using POR-15 then a top coat of something like satin or Matt black from a rattle can)
...and here's some I did earlier, including the diff.
Loving following everyone else's builds so about time I documented mine! Aiming for chassis, running gear and engine ready sometime this year then we'll see after that!
Viatron - yup, it's a 3 rail with a d-type overdrive. If you have a half decent casing spare that would be a marvellous help. I'll PM you!
Paul L - I think it's bonding paste impregnated into the laminate of the glass fibre. It's in the corners to reinforce them, or at least that is what Gary told me when I collected it.
So, I'm afraid my progress will be mostly mechanical for the foreseeable, but I know everyone likes to see pictures of progress and its a useful record for future builders.
Rocker cover before and after. At one point I had delusions of polishing bare metal but I soon realised that would be the work of a lifetime so resorted to paint instead!
Distributor stripped and cleaned. Short panic when I realised its fitted with luminition electronic ignition and couldn't find the power box but that's now safe and sound.
Big tidy up in the man cave resulting in the complete shelf and the clean and ready to paint shelf.
Thanks Paul!
Made a trip up to see Viatron on Saturday to collect a gearbox that he kindly offered me. Top chap and had a good chin wag about all things Ribble. I now know all about the 'cut' that my cordite might need too.
The gearbox was only really needed for the casing as mine was cracked. I was daunted by the prospect of rebuilding the box but after I'd built a quick casing jig and an hour or so of disassembly, it's in pieces and ready to swap!
I found the reverse idler was chipped and the main shaft has a bit of play but that doesn't matter as I'm going to use the GT6 internals which I think are in good shape.
So I guess it's as simple as assembly is the reverse of disassembly....!?
One replacement case to be cleaned up and ready to be reborn with an overdrive bolted to the back...
Looking forward to seeing your progress.
