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'72 180B SSS project
http://ozdat.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6581		 Page 1 of 18
Author:  Dave [ Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:11 pm ]
Post subject:  '72 180B SSS project
Here's a few progress pics of my 180B project.

The latest plan, and one that won't change as I've started accumulating the bits and pieces needed, is to run a supercharged, efi L18.

I'd had my eye on this car for a long time, as it was owned by a friend of my father-in-law. He had owned it from nearly new, but unfortuately lived only 50 metres from the beach. This accounted for a bit of rust :(

He had passed it on to his son, who had used it for a few years before deciding to upgrade to a commodore wagon (or downgrade ?). I got a phone call one night to see if I'd like to buy it, as they wanted it to go to someone who would appreciate it.

Money was handed over, and I drove it to work for a few years before the rust started to take over and I took it off the road for restoration.

After stripping the car down, it was obvious it had taken a hit in the driver's rear 1/4. This had been replaced (badly), but not rustproofed after replacement , leading to massive rust probs in this area.

It had also taken hits on both front corners, though not as badly.

Attachments:
File comment: Rust from a bad repair job in its past life
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3.jpg [ 18.48 KiB | Viewed 8436 times ]
File comment: Start of stripping it down. Nice tidy shed !!!!
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2.jpg [ 29.38 KiB | Viewed 8275 times ]
File comment: Only shot I have of it before work commences
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1.jpg [ 29.88 KiB | Viewed 8280 times ]
Author:  Dave [ Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:14 pm ]
Post subject: 
More rust shots :(

Plus the old motor on its way out. Spot the 1600's in the forst and last shots :!:

Attachments:
File comment: Where's the 1600 ?
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6.jpg [ 27.67 KiB | Viewed 8247 times ]
File comment: Taillights had the odd bit of rust
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5.jpg [ 20.21 KiB | Viewed 8249 times ]
File comment: Both front and rear screens had rust like this all the way around
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4.jpg [ 22.2 KiB | Viewed 8250 times ]
Author:  Dave [ Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
First corner of the car finished :D

Attachments:
File comment: All primered and ready for a bit of bog
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9.jpg [ 18.59 KiB | Viewed 8231 times ]
File comment: Corner section plug-brazed back in place after it wa removed to make repairs easier
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8.jpg [ 27.23 KiB | Viewed 8231 times ]
File comment: All welded up and file-finished
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7.jpg [ 38.38 KiB | Viewed 8239 times ]
Author:  Dave [ Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
After plenty of paint stripper, wire wheels and the odd night in the shed, its starting to look nice and shiny :D

The complete engine bay has been stripped to bare metal and had all extraneous holes filled. Windscreen washer bottle mounting bracket has been removed as this is where the Subaru water-to-air intercooler will be mounted.

Attachments:
File comment: Welded up the odd hole or two on the inner guard and firewall
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11.jpg [ 19.13 KiB | Viewed 8216 times ]
File comment: OOOHHHH, shiny !!!
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10.jpg [ 25.06 KiB | Viewed 8215 times ]
File comment: Hours of work here, just stripping the underbody sound deadening off
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13.jpg [ 17.11 KiB | Viewed 8219 times ]
Author:  Dave [ Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:36 pm ]
Post subject: 
Whole front half of the shell just about finished :D .

Pity the worst rust is in the back half :(

The rotisserie has been an invaluable addition to the project. It did take me two months to build though :oops: Main reason it took so long was that all welding was done with oxy.

And finally, all the good bits in the second pic will be going onto the original motor in the third pic after its fully rebuilt.

Attachments:
File comment: Original factory L18, matching engine number and all !!!

Doesn't look like its been apart in its life.
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15.jpg [ 22.51 KiB | Viewed 8202 times ]
File comment: Some of the good bits.
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14.jpg [ 26.7 KiB | Viewed 8206 times ]
File comment: Front half all done.
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12.jpg [ 29.89 KiB | Viewed 8211 times ]
Author:  Jarrad [ Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
awesome stuff there Dave! love seeing resto's done on oldschool cars to this extent, especially when its a datto! keep it up mate
Author:  turbovan [ Wed Nov 09, 2005 8:25 am ]
Post subject: 
Looking good Dave

had some pretty bad cancer in there

should be schmick when its all done
Author:  Bozo510 [ Wed Nov 09, 2005 9:22 am ]
Post subject: 
Good to see another early model 180b being saved. You would have found my old shell that I got towed invaluable for your rust repairs dave.

If I knew at the time I would have let you know or cut out the bits you required :oops:

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Author:  Dave [ Mon Mar 27, 2006 12:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
Making progress (slowly :? )

So far the car is almost completely rust-free and completely stripped back to bare metal from the radiator support to near the rear wheels, both inside and out. This is all coated in POR-15 rust preventative paint and primer.

Only exception is the bit of the radiator support panel that runs underneath the radiator. This has rust, but I may need to open it up to alter where the brackets for the castor rods bolts on. Won't know till I sort out the 200B x-member, so I'm leaving it till then.

Attachments:
File comment: Closer look - no filler at all !! I'm quite happy with my rust-patching skills now.
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u4.jpg [ 17.81 KiB | Viewed 8106 times ]
File comment: Nice shiny underside - all stripped back to bare metal.

Rust repair is area marked.
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u5.jpg [ 35.07 KiB | Viewed 8109 times ]
File comment: Rust in rear floor (was worse on other side)
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u6.jpg [ 19.61 KiB | Viewed 8107 times ]
Author:  Dave [ Mon Mar 27, 2006 1:16 pm ]
Post subject: 
Nice and clean inside and out :D

All surfaces have been stripped back to bare metal, then painted with POR-15 rust preventative paint. This will be covered in primer, then topcoat.

I switched from the black POR-15 I was using inside the car to grey on the underneath as I thought it would be less obvious if the topcoat chipped and the rustproofing paint showed through.

The underside will be filled where neccessary, smoothed, then painted the same silver as the rest of the car. Instead of normal clearcoat, I'll be using another product from the POR-15 range - an extra hard, extra glossy clear coat to hopefully reduce stonechips.

Attachments:
File comment: Underside painted with POR-15 rust preventative paint
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u3.jpg [ 40.66 KiB | Viewed 8101 times ]
File comment: Inside rear floor painted in POR-15
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u2.jpg [ 38.27 KiB | Viewed 8098 times ]
File comment: Inside front floor done with POR-15, then primer. Plus a little bit of the final colour (silver) as I couldn't help myself. Had to test the final colour somewhere !!!
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u1.jpg [ 19.5 KiB | Viewed 8098 times ]
Author:  SSS 610 [ Mon Mar 27, 2006 6:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
Nice work dave, i'm glad mine dosen't have rust to that extent

keep the pics coming

cheers
Author:  Dave [ Sun Apr 16, 2006 11:23 pm ]
Post subject: 
Moved onto the bolt-on panels for a bit of a change.

All the front end panels have been stripped and are ready for repair / filling (except for the bonnet - anyone in the Sydney / Newcastle area got one they will part with ???)

I've never been a fan of the plastic blob things that fill the holes in the tops of the guards where the Jap-style mirrors would go, so I've welded these up.

The left hand guard has pretty bad rust, but I've found rust repair sections available from Rare Spares. Made to order with a 3 week wait, but for $40 its easier than fabricating my own from scratch.

Attachments:
File comment: Welded up and file-finished, ready for a skim of bog to complete the job
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3.jpg [ 24.27 KiB | Viewed 8036 times ]
File comment: Never liked these holes, so the patch no the right will be welded in
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2.jpg [ 23.1 KiB | Viewed 8039 times ]
File comment: Stripped inside and out - has rust though ....
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1.jpg [ 34.07 KiB | Viewed 8043 times ]
Author:  Dave [ Sun Apr 16, 2006 11:31 pm ]
Post subject: 
Next thing to tackle - the spare wheel well.

And a gratuitous shot of the new wheels :roll: - an eBay special at $280 for the wheels (brand new :D ), with the second hand tyres I've had for a while mounted up on one wheel. Pity it's still going to be a long time before the car's back on its wheels :?

Attachments:
File comment: Its even more depressing viewed from the inside with the light shining through all the rust holes
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5.jpg [ 11.88 KiB | Viewed 8026 times ]
File comment: Viewed from underneath, there's a fair bit of rust in the spare wheel well
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4.jpg [ 45.48 KiB | Viewed 8030 times ]
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6.jpg [ 45.3 KiB | Viewed 8038 times ]
Author:  jdmdatsun510 [ Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:36 am ]
Post subject: 
Dave..

Your doing an awesome job on your SSS mate.
Next resto I undertake will be using the patent pending "Dave" resto process. :wink:

I should have done my 1600 resto like your doing now.

Keep the pics rolling in mate.

Dave M
Author:  Dave [ Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:38 am ]
Post subject: 
Aww, gosh, thanks :oops: :oops:

I do tend to get carried away with things. The SSS was only supposed to be a "practice" project to perfect my technique for the "REAL" project - a 1600.

The more I do on the SSS though, the more I'm liking the lines of the coupe. I know its sacrilege, but I'd even go so far as to say its a more attractive looking car than a 1600 :shock:
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