[Car_Restoration] Dimma Restoration

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

I carried out a little more prep work to the floor and have managed to remove the jacking point and old chassis leg from one side all that's left is the other side and repair a few bits and then tackle fitting to my car.

 

 

These are the bits that need repairing not too big a job still a lot better than the floor in my car.

 

 

 

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

I am just going to make up some braces to go across the doors and pillars just to stop the body from twisting when I remove the floor I hoping also that this means I can do the work on my spit aswell as this will make the job a little easier.

Edited June 19, 2013 by Juttie205

[welshpug 1,621]

that's not a jacking point, which is why they're always bent!

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

Oh right these are in really good condition on this floor mine on the car are knackered

[welshpug 1,621]

Yeah the left one looks good still which is surprising, but the right one has been pushed in a bit, the jacking point is on the sill.

 

 

Its a strengthening section for the floor/bulkhead as there's a fair few forces going into it from the chassis leg and subframe.

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

Still this is far better floor than whats on my car

[Batfink 201]

Wow! I'd have just used another floor to make large patches and then grind the weld down to look pretty

[johniban 59 1 Cars]

^^ me too, id like to see this tho

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

using the floor to make patches is still an idea

[Guest Spitfire2k6]

Just read through this thread, car is starting to look the part mate, I'm not a fan of dimmas but I'm a fan of the hard work!

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

Thanks for the kind comment

[NDJN 6]

Brilliant mate! Can't wait to see it finished! I really like the dimmas, it's good seeing how well you can do without experience mate I'm impressed.. Keep up the good work

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

I have made a start on the repairs to the new floor got a little done but rain stopped play today.

 

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

All repairs now done on the new floor and its almost stripped of all underseal and ready to be fitted to the car I have just got to weld some braces into the shell to support it once floor removed.

 

I have turned my attention's back to the sunroof conversion as I had to removed the dealer fitted sliding sunroof due to it having bits missing and was silicone shut so guess it leaked.

I managed to get a complete roof from a scrap 205 with all the vacuum sunroof parts needed. First up was to remove all bits from roof so it only left me with a roof skin which is now the template.

Now I know people will say it would have been easier to fit a new roof but I believe this is easier and on another note if other people wanted to carry out this the no paint would need doing.

 

the two sunroofs

 

I the place the roofskin over my roof and secured into place with a bolt through the Ariel hole.

 

Next up is to drill the holes these are a 12mm hole so to make sure these are drill in the correct position I got my dad to make a drill guide that will fit into the 12mm hole with a 5mm pilot hole through it then I will run a 12mm hole saw through the roof as this will give very little burring.

 

Once all the holes are drilled I will fit some bolts through the roof skins before I jigsaw the hole larger then I will glue the support bars once the new rivnuts have been fitted I believe this can be done to any aftermarket sunroof fitted sunroof as long as the hole is in the right place.

 

My dad has been working on the car rotating stand with the front almost complete and the rear one getting there progress will be very slow now as I going offshore for 3 weeks with work.

 

 

 

 

[ALEX 98 1 Cars]

Can you form the folded return edge like on the template skin?

It'll give the roof skin more strength if you can, but It'll be difficult to do.

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

sadly i thought about doing the lip which will be very difficult and for very little strenght gain so wont b attempting it.

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

I finally got brave enough a drilled the holes for the sunroof I then tried the strengthening beams and happy to say they line up with the holes so next up is to fit all new rivnuts to the strengthening beams and cut the hole bigger in the roof panel then fit the sunroof.

 

 

 

[Weser 30]

Very nice work there! I will echo what others are saying - this is a credit to you and well done for giving this your all and saving the genuine dimma shell.

Fair play.

 

Just seen you not a million miles away - if I am ever up that way I would love to see it.

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

Thanks if your ever out this way your more than welcome.

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

Next up was to get really brave and cut the hole for the sunroof bigger before I started the cut I fitted some MDF under the roof skin to reduce the vibration when cutting.

 

 

Then cutting started

 

 

There where a couple of holes in the roof skin from the old sunroof these where welded up and had some filler skimmed over.

 

 

I then cleaned up the support beams and removed all the old rivnuts new rivnuts will be fitted later today if my dad brings the tool with him then they can be fitted to the car.

 

 

Well that's the hole cut and edges cleaned up had a trial fit of the sunroof I believe its a success.

 

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

The sunroof is in and all ok just got to wait for the glue to go off which wont be a problem as Im off with work for 3 weeks. Really happy how this turned out looks like it has allways been fitted.

 

 

[205turbo 32 2 Cars]

great job looks spot on

[johniban 59 1 Cars]

i cant see the pics anymore

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

sadly my bandwidth has been reach im notvpaying for more but it will reset in 7 days.

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

managed to sort photobucket out.