Projects Prefect / Willys /Kadett/Thames Gasser Build.

Ok. All doors /handles/windows and felt/and seals installed. Buffed the handles got rid of the tarnish but the pits still remain. Sorry I am not that good. This leaves the windshield and the front cap/lights etc.
and this windshield /and seals have me puzzled. But all the windshield cranks /hinges etc are in good working order. Anyone got a good photo of exactly how that window seal works /goes in ?

 

Ok got a fair amount done on windshield. Got top gasket in groove if you are impatient take it to someone that does this.
Now to do the bottom and put the hinge flanges back on the window frame. Also need setting tape and bolt the bottom on.

 

Ok. Got the windshield back together. Wound up using a super thin window setting tape. As in 1//32 thick. ( bicycle tube).
I could have left it out but I didn’t want any chance of a rattle etc. The small pieces that fill the gap at the bottom of the frame are locked in. Everything lined up and I bolted it together. Looks pretty good. I am going to polish and clean up the hinge mounts. I did mock it up into place just to see. Not too bad. I will bolt to the inside hinges and put the crank mechanism back in but I gotta touch up the inside paint and polish the crank handle and get rid of some of the tarnish.

 

Ok. Windshield in. And the crank mechanism(for opening the windshield ) was also cleaned up and painted. I also put the front cap on to make a final measurement on any chance that my blown six will go in.
Not likely with out cutting the cap so it will Probably stay sbc /injected /and even possibly a blower.

 

And for the record I drilled and taped all the English threads/converted to 1/4 co**** sae. Just make things easier.

 

Still got trunk and rear fenders to go.

 

Tapped mounting holes to 5/16x24. No more English threads. Went pretty easy.

 

Rear fender on for good. That leaves the trunk. Then I can start putting interior back in and start wiring /fuel system and cooling. Will run those the same way I did with the Willy’s.
Also put the big ansens back on the Opel to get them off the shop floor and even found the factory bumpers ( the hard way lol)
To top the day off we ran the Willy’s in on the sauce. First time it’s been fired in almost 4 months. If I ever figure out how to load a video on here I’ll post some.

 

Wes and I got a lot done today.
Trunk and spare tire compartment door installed. Made the mount gaskets out of thin rubber. Found a 1/4 in co**** pan head bolt supplement to get ride of the English thread.
Also mounted the rear bumper. Hard to believe it was powder coated 2019.

 

Have you considered reinforcing the frame where it is 'Z' in the front? like add some tubing from the 'Z' up to the bar from the cage going to the front along with a diagonal from that upright to the bend in that same tube?

 

Its diamond plated( gusset) inside and out.( also what I call cross s***ched) Also the reason for the tapered back edge was for engine clearance. The Z is very small/ and the rectangular / tubing for the inside/ back side brace is like a back brace on a rear end - both sides( just tapered). Both the Prefect and the Opel Kadet were originally built for early Hemi/ and sbc . I've looked at the Limited Edition III( iron headed blown BBC) and other Anglia's / Prefects and most of them have stock frames with no front bars at all.

 

Enloe is gonna post something for you guys. If he pulls it off your gonna love it.
Thanks Enloe.

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/2hpnNRYOwKo?si=c4Chky5_btZskcXv

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/IeXCXn5F9Q8?si=pmkR11Ktj5pRr8ij


man this 6 cylinder sounds so good.

 

Not a problem.
I have done it for quite a few members on here. Feel free to subscribe to the channel

 

Video is private

 

I will see what I can do about that in a little bit

 

I believe that I got it fixed.

 

Works good now

 

That garage/shop is what I would call "Hot Rod Heaven" those 3 cars are right out of the 67-68 eras of the Gas cl*** changing. Great job.

Pat

 

Thanks for the compliments. Wes and I are chipping away a little bit every day/days.
And above all thanks to Enloe for posting. Pics are good but nothing beats live. Hope Mick is pleased. Every time I fire any of this stuff up it gives me chills. I’ll confess a fact now. All the years I drove FEDS and my altered that Mick and I built made me feel like that. I always said when it didn’t it was a sign it’s time to get out and stay out.
Godspeed

 

Just let me know anytime that you want me to post more

 

Will do. And again thanks for making my week.

 

Got Prefect headlights back together and ready to go on. Will Probobly do a pigtail quick disconnect at the fire wall. Gotta do the wiring harness before crossing that bridge.

 

Me and Wes put on headlights on today. Need to adjust driver in a little bit I think but may just be angle of the pic. Nice day considering it will drop near 40 degrees in the next 24hours. lol

 

Wes and I got a chance to work on inner door panels. Pattern then transfer onto aluminum. Appears I don’t have anymore natural (non painted) aluminum. So we will use the big s**** pieces of painted aluminum and make as many panels as we can and then use paint stripper and power washer. ( I hope ). I guess I need to order some more 4x8 or 4x10 aluminum to have in stock.

 

] View attachment 6316764 View attachment 6316768 The last few days have led to some changes and additions. I will not go into detail but I will lay some ground work of what lead up to it.
First: Mick and I had put together a list of cars that we would have loved to have before time is up. ( I guess bucket list or what ever).
When Mick p***ed there were only two left on that list.
1. Thames Panel
2. 57 Handyman wagon.
Second: Doug and I met at the First ever BG Reunion and have been really close friends since then. He was working through the Thames and I was running front engine rails.
I’ll keep the details private but Doug delivered the Thames from Ohio Wednesday night. It rained so one or twos of the photos were before I got a chance to clean it up.
This will be the home of Lost Boy. ( blown six I went and got back last year) if at all possible without major change. Doug liked the idea and that is important to me. I’ll give more details at a later point. Can’t thank Doug enough. For those of you that know this car you know what an honor it is.
I hope to be fitting door panels on the Prefect tomorrow. The Good Lord Continues to smile on me. God Speed

 

Glad it went to a good home!

 

Manage to get the Thames on the scales yesterday less drive train. To get an idea of things/weight wise . Again to see what the hopefull drivetrain weight would be.
typical 250 Chevy is 440 and a glide is 100 lbs give or take. That’s still lighter than the iron headed sbc. / with out the glide.
I have removed a lot of weight (headers /aluminum intake no accessories etc. ,but remember the blower adds some weight).
I still would be willing to say at least 100 pounds lighter. And all to the front.
I have already ordered a 3 inch drop axle that is 3 inches narrower per side to get tires under fenders. Also the plan is to go to coil overs but I want to keep the hair pins.
Will go back to a stock corvair/vega box. And cross steer it. The mustang steering box and drag link is going to leave. I want the steering column cleaned up and more foot room around the pedals. Anglia /thames /Prefect guys know there isn’t much anyway.
So here is the goal. 10.80-10.90. Motor has been way deep in the tens but that was in my fed. So the goal is possible but now you know why the weight is and has to be known.
We will see.