demon Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 Things that have been going on in my garage.... It's been a long slow process since I went back to racing but I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The rolling chassis took me 5 months but the body has taken 18 months so far. This is due to my not so good welding skills and having to rely on a friend to help me. My welding coming along now and so is the tub. So here's a few pictures of the job so far. http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/650/27DSC01888.JPG[/img] http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/650/27DSC01941.JPG[/img] http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/650/27DSC02804.JPG[/img] http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/650/27DSC02739.JPG[/img] http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/650/DSC03113.JPG[/img] http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/650/DSC03120.JPG[/img] http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/650/DSC03124.JPG[/img] http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/650/DSC03122.JPG[/img] http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/650/DSC03146.JPG[/img] Hat channels finally going on..... http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/650/DSC03176.JPG[/img] http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/650/DSC03156.JPG[/img] http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/650/DSC03165.JPG[/img] http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/650/DSC03167.JPG[/img] http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/650/DSC03171.JPG[/img] http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/650/DSC03169.JPG[/img] And finally we test fit the body.... http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/650/DSC031721.JPG[/img] http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/650/DSC03174.JPG[/img] http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/650/DSC03173.JPG[/img] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chappers Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 Very nice piece of work,always nice to see a job being done correctly. regards Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markheliops Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 Looking good - Wish I could weld - Tried it a couple of times and was absolutely pants. Top marks. Markheliops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cripp Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 Nice work you've done so far. I'll be stripping mine to bits come the winter. They look great with a nice fresh coat of paint. How long do you think before you've finished? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demon Posted June 5, 2007 Author Share Posted June 5, 2007 Thanks Steve, I do believe that if you're going to do a job do it properly. Cripp it would be nice to get her done for W&P but I have to fly to Germany testing for 4 days. Then the day after the show I fly to Japan for 10 days for round 3 of the championship, so time is really against me. I have learnt that what ever you do takes at least 3 times as long as you originally thought. I agree that they look great with a fresh coat of paint, but it's all the unseen work replacing bushes, spring shackles, bearings, brakes, gear/transfer box internals, steering system, wiring etc etc that really make the job. This has been a ground up motor pool restoration it's just a shame that it's about 60% Hotchkiss :cry:. The next one I have lined up is a 95% original September 43MB. She looks fine from a distance but when you drive her you realise how much work needs doing. This one will have to wait a year or so before I start her. Still hunting for the last few original items and the funds to complete her to a high standard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cripp Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 I know what you mean about the unseen bits. When I did mine I didn't have a clue really and as I thought I was getting a bit finished I'd find a new bit to fix. This time round should be easier though. Mine's a hotch chassis with 43MB bits and I've got hold of a nice 43MB frame so it's a case of swapping everything over. Easy right :whistle: Good luck with the racing :tup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demon Posted June 5, 2007 Author Share Posted June 5, 2007 Now mines a 43MB chassis (I know this from the changs to the chassis through production) with a Hotchkiss body, fenders, hood, screen and motor. I thought about putting an original body on it but then I would be taking away it's history. It was first rebuilt in 56 then again in 68 then it served with the Gendarme in Noyon then a new motor was put in in 1990. It then seems to have only done 475km on the new motor and sat until it was auctioned off in 1999. All in all it was a good jeep when I got it but needed some work. I did 8000 miles in 4 years and thought I would learn on this one before I do a factory restoration on the original one. Like you said it should be easier second time arond as I know exactly what to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 Blimey Demon - taking your time aren't you :whistle: Seriously - how is the racing going? Cheers Jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demon Posted June 7, 2007 Author Share Posted June 7, 2007 Hi Jack, yes I have been taking my time, I've been a bit of a lazy bugger :whistle:. I seem to have found the motivation again to get her finished. The racing is not going as well as last year but I have had worse seasons. Check out my site for all the latest news http://www.damianrowley.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted June 7, 2007 Share Posted June 7, 2007 Well done that Demon and what a player for pulling off the Virgin Atlantic deal - how the hell did you manage that?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demon Posted June 7, 2007 Author Share Posted June 7, 2007 I think the phrase 'it's not what you know it's who you know' ;-) comes to mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted June 7, 2007 Share Posted June 7, 2007 I like this bit Demon from your site: Injuries Broken left ankle with two screws, torn ligaments in both ankles, 5 broken ribs, shattered knuckle on left ring finger, shattered ring finger tip and middle finger, dislocated and broken right thumb, 3 broken metacarpals in right hand, broken left & right wrist, 2 fractured vertebrae in neck, 2 broken bones in right foot, concussion on several occasions Thinking that you may want to stick with Jeeps - they are just as fast aren't they? :whistle: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted June 7, 2007 Share Posted June 7, 2007 Well done that Demon and what a player for pulling off the Virgin Atlantic deal - how the hell did you manage that?! This is Jack's way of saying "How much to put HMVF on the bike" :whistle: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted June 7, 2007 Share Posted June 7, 2007 This is Jack's way of saying "How much to put HMVF on the bike" :whistle: :whistle: :whistle: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demon Posted June 7, 2007 Author Share Posted June 7, 2007 I think you would shocked at how much it costs :-o :-o. We'll deal in euros as most of what I have to do is in Europe. To give you some idea of what it costs I'll use the factory Kawasaki team for an example. To have a logo on their bike, they do it by length. It's a staggering 1,000 euros :-o for 1cm. It's not quite that much for mine but it's not cheap :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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