Saving my FTO (photo heavy)

[Chebus]

It's like you could fit a driveshaft down that tunnel...

[MaxD]

But where would the exhaust go.... The red is stage 1 of 4 in the finish.

[ZFL45H1]

Do you really need an exhaust in a RWD Fto lol[WINKING FACE]

[MaxD]

Well, I guess there's no harm in side exhausts. The TVR Sagaris got away with it, but its underside is slightly different & the new TVR looks promising.

[MaxD]

Over the weekend, I spent some time underneath the car. So now the red oxide is back to the rear axle leaving just one section to do.


Whilst the area behind the fuel tank was curing, I made a start on the tank.

I managed to remove the rust on the top of the tank to this state at which point I discovered a number of holes hiding behind the thick rust. The tank had had it.


I managed to get hold of a second tank during the week and it is a winner. All rust removed back to bare metal. Neutrarust applied to top Saturday afternoon.


Then to the bottom Sunday morning.



Finally a dose of red oxide to the top.


No photo of the underside was drying. Three additional coats to go on and it will be ready to go back on.

[Scorpionwally8]

I love this thread keep the good work going mate

[MaxD]

I love this thread keep the good work going mate

Thanks. It's slowly getting there.

[DODO``]

wow awesome.. I've always wondered. what happens to the inside of the panel? just left un-painted?

[MaxD]

The project will continue in April once its warm enough. There's not much welding left. Then it's over to engine strip down and rebuild followed by same thing with the manual gearbox. Respray, custom exhaust and putting it all back together again. Target is June, but I think it may become August. If it's still going in September, it will have become a 2yr project!

I bought a house in December, which is another reason the project took a bit of a back seat.

[MaxD]

Ok, so not exactly 100% saving my FTO, but here are the recently refurbed wheels - better photos due at the weekend. I haven't cleaned the center caps yet, so they're not in.
All 4 were corroded and buckled and 1 needed welding.

I also need to source another nut, maybe two. If anyone has one or knows someone who has one, pm me.

[bjk]

That's an extensive refurb!

[MaxD]

Yep and all for the equivalent of AUD$520 in your money. The firm that did it, did so for cash and fitted in the work when they had down time. I put them under zero pressure. Took them 3-4 weeks.

[MaxD]

Not strictly "saving my FTO" either, but these two items arrived in the post over the last month or three!

[dstocks]

Hmmm. Both pretty rare. Doing some good work there.

[MaxD]

I've now accumulated all the rare parts I want, I just need to put the car back together again. It's a massive jigsaw puzzle at the moment...well, several jigsaw puzzles I'm amalgamating into one!

[Technikhaus]

Those wheels turned out fantastic!

[aza013]

Now this is a show of dedication to the love of an FTO
Great work

[MaxD]

Although the jigsaw has not been put back together, it has grown a little with a few new purchases over the last 12 months including an ARC box in need of repair and these two cosmetic items:





I'm waiting on a quote for a respray as all the other companies I've spoken to have let me down. If this last one is no good, I'll have to wait until my house is built and convert my garage to a spray shop!

[MaxD]

Looks like it may be game-over for my chassis... Both side are rotten and the rot goes beyond the rear ARB mounting brackets.

[bjk]

Oh sh*t. No good man.