My DLM rebuild (photo heavy)

Hi Thought I'd introduce the DLM

This was first registered in April 1959, and I'm the second 'registered' owner
I say Registered as I bought it of a friend in the early 1970's (71-72 can't recall)
It had been in his garage for, if memory is correct, about 7 years.

It was covered in bits of fibreglass resin, the bonnet had been used to mix said resin on.
Anyway we moved it out of the garage, checked the engine and gearbox rotated by hand, checked the brakes worked. drammed and refilled all oils, a gallon of petrol, a battery and we started to see if it would run.
It spat and banged but wouldn't run, so we tried a tow start, it ran but smoked like a train wouldn't stay in any gears and the back axle sounded like it wanted to leave the car.
Too late I had already fallen in love with it.

And for £20 it was mine.

At the time I was told it was an Austin chassis, a common thought from other classic enthusiasts due to the front wheels.

This was what it was in the 70's (as I was told)
Engine : 1953 Ford E93a with full Aquaplane conversion, camshaft, head, manifolds and twin MC2 SU's
Gearbox : Ford E93a
Rear axle : 1930's Morris ??
Chassis : was told Austin 12 shortened
Front axle, hubs and drums : Standard 9 but with Ford 105e back plates and brakes
Wheels : made for the car from West London Wheels.

After a lot of fun and games trying to source parts for last years rebuild (the second in my ownership)
I now know the Chassis to be from a 1935 Standard 9 but with a few changes.
Standard 9 steering box removed and rack and pinion steering fitted, the steering arms on the hubs are hybrid as well.
A frame work has been welded at the front of the chassis to take the bulkhead, top shock absorber mounts and radiator top mounts, and the cycle wing tops are bolted on to it via a bracket each side.
There is a bolt on frame to the rear, to this is fitted an A frame from the top of the rear axle, the bracket to take the tops of the rear shocks, and with another small frame the fuel tank sits on top.

When I got the car home and stripped it was found that the engine had no piston rings ??
The gearbox was past it and the Morris axle was found to have a two inch bolt in the housing, never did find where it belonged, but the damage had been done.
So the easiest and quickest route was another axle modified to fit.
One Ford 100e rear axle modified with spring hangers and top mount for the front of the 'A' Frame was fitted (hence the wire front and steel rear wheels)
Rear wheels were also modified by West London Wheels, they had a lot of work from us with the VWSOC.

Took the engine for reconditioning, seemed the right thing to do after finding the state of it.
While at the garage
Says I "Do you know were I can get the gearbox reconed"
Says he "What gearbox"
"For this engine" says I
"Hang on a moment" says he and disappeared out the back.
Came back with a crate on a sack barrow.
The crate was still unopened with a brand new gearbox, the recon and gearbox cost me £40 OH! how times have changed

So after a few months, new gearbox recon engine, modified rear axle and a couple of planks we were running up and down the mews.
One broken rear spring later we stopped p'ing about and got down to the proper job.

I think it was about 9-10 months then it was off to MOT, and on the road.

As soon as I recheck how to, I'll post a picture as was in 1973.

Have tried to post an image as per the guide.
All I get when I click on the "Host an Image" tab is a blank box and a security pop up asking if I will allow an image hosting site access.

Do we need to use an image hosting site or have the image on our PC's

Image hosting site is no problem for me as I use one regularly

Thanks
Roger

This was 1973, taken in NW London
Then started having running problems, time and money, money and time we've all been there.
Then we moved and it got put further back ending up in boxes in about 75/6.

Hard to believe this was April last year.

That large wooden box/shed is were most of the car sat for 25-30 years.
The engine and gear box are wrapped up under the front of the body and on a couple of pallets.








First job was to build a garage extention

I see the photos are still a tad wide, have shrunk them to 800, I'll try 700.
Save having to keep scrolling.

Roger

Yep 700 seems right
Now to do the other 2000.

Don't wory I won't flood the server

This was from half way down my driveway April 2009

The box/kennel on the left is for a mobility scooter

The move starts.




First site of daylight in 30 years
Lorry tarps. and 8x10 sheets of polystyrene did a good job of protection





Chassis on a sack barrow
The farthest it had moved in years.

The silencer I think had had it
Now got one from a Massey Furguson.



That was about the only part that neede changing.

Airial shot of a Nude car



And this is were it stood while the garage was made ready.
Good job the neighbours are friendly.

A start was made on the extention but had to posponed for a couple of months so it was in July that we had to start the extention and in over a week the main cover was done.

The rest took a little longer.

From this




To this in 8 days, includes day out shopping etc.



Then one man operation 5 weeks to this.





Doors have been sealed around now.

Great pictures & good idea, look to be a really handy space now.

Will be even more when I can afford to re roof the old garage, going to continue the steel, with the same slope, down to the end of the old garage.
Got a enough old secondary double glazing windows to glaze the one side, above the bricks.

Also a workshop at the bottom of the garden, can move a lot of the "I'll need this one day" junk out of the way.

The amount of light in the new part was an added bonus, considering its only one window at the side and the part glazed front.
AND being steel, south facing with the sun all day keeps it warmer.

Indoors at last

My mate is standing were the body was a few shots before.




As can be seen surface rust,




I started to scrape and wire brush but it was going to take forever,
If I could get to every little crack.




Decided the cost of sand blast and powder coat worth it, and beeing a lazy B was easier.




Back from the oven

Brilliant, can't wait to see the next lot of pictures!

~Lee

OK I'll skip a few and start from the suspension and axles on

A Ford 100e rear axle
Before




After
and now on the springs.




Both axles on, brake pipes done, wheels on
The frame at the rear, over the axle, takes the fuel tank, it sits on top.



Daylight at last





PS.
A close up of the A frame, stops the axle from torqueing
I forget the proper name for it

Now with some trepidation the engine and gearbox.

If the engine had to be rebuilt any Major overhaul machine wise would have been out of the question, it was maxed out on the last re-con and would have meant another unit.
Gearbox remember is relatively new.

Looks grubby.



So, Off with is ead.
And the gearbox, clutch being removed.



First look in the bores looked bad,
but a cellulose soaked rag and elbow grease removed what turned out to be old oil tarnish, or that what it seemed to be.
Any way the bores looked as clean as could be expected.
Everything moved as it should, all went up and down were it should.
Oil was drained off, looked clean. Things were definitely looking up.



Engine and Gearbox now cleaned and painted.
Neither were stripped down, apart from what can be seen, as everything seemed ok it was "Try it and See".


Back as one


THERE WILL NOW BE A SHORT INTERMISSION WHILE I GET A BEER

Hatch DLM wrote:

THERE WILL NOW BE A SHORT INTERMISSION WHILE I GET A BEER

Nice sharp pictures Roger, what camera do you use?

Thanks Tony

As to the camera, an old Fuji Finpix 9500.

Still can't believe how quick it all went
This was Novermber and exactly two months since it was first under cover.
Mind you being so basic and simple, "A four wheel motor bike " was a friends reaction.

Engine in, no hoist needed, no access problems.

Head on water pump on steering rack on


Propshaft and speedo drive


The seat looks dodgy hahaha


Bulkhead/firewall on, just a couple of alluminium sheets.

Bits and Pieces


Looks better without the body HHAHA

Only a couple of months
I started to worry that everything was going back together too easy and I'd missed something.
But then again I prefer it that way, Easy that is.


The one job I hate wiring, but it was not as bad as I expected,
mind you with help from a professional made it easier.


Anyone for spaghetti

The old 'Tatty' dash panel


The new alluminium panel marked out and part drilled and a lot of fileing, kept me warm


Temperarily hung in place to check cable lengths and runs.

Veneered, cut out, ready for varnish.


After about 6 coats yacht varnish.


Now in place ready for the wiring

Engine run up
Checking out systems etc. before starting on the bodywork
It was found to have a water leak, water pump needed all new innards
Click on the image for a small video

PS.
Feel free to poke around the other album if you wish.
Some other classic and old photos.

Anothe link to my other bucket for more classic cars

https://s469.photobucket.com/home/Mitzisweetie/allalbums

Just checking everything fits, no snagging, cable runs etc.



Rolling chassis, home for a while till the body is ready.
Was covered over with a few dust sheets, the old garage door can be closed and sealed off for when the spying starts.



But that would be after a while of preparation.