A1 Commuting

Normally the drive up the A1 is full of boring rep mobiles. Just once in a while I see an interesting car like this Camaro.

Springs and things

Mostly worked on the Audi Quattro on long term loan from Will Holman of Practical Performance Car magazine.  Today we looking at Springs and dampers so set about getting the uprights off.

The blue Mini came in with a knocking noise at the back.  We also found a fault on front driver side.

brake test

Brake test sheet

We used the rollers to do a brake test today.  I was surprised that the MOT tests for front wheel balance only.  Rear wheels out of balance can pass as long as the total braking effort is high enough.

Jowett comes home

 

Today we unloaded the Jowett Javelin from the trailer it had ridden on back from the NEC Classic Car Show.

NEC Classic Car Show

Lea Francis Lynx

The college do the restoration theatre at the Footman James Classic Car Show.  As a student I got a free ticket great! I went to the show on Friday 16 November.  Bought a welding helmet and a tub of red rubber grease.

DKW

Painting

Today got to do some real spraying.  Having last week sprayed water based paint onto cardboard this week moved up a gear to use proper mask with an air supply and to spray etch primer followed by, after lunch, 2 coats of primer.  Wonder what it will look like in a couple of weeks when I get back after half term?

Subjects covered: How to mix paint.  Cleaning a spray gun.  

Welding

Today got hands on with the college MIG welding gear.  Big machines used in purpose build booths.  Must get some TIG gloves.  Have got some ordinary chrome leather welding gauntlets at home but the TIG ones are better having thinner leather of the hands and fingers makes holding stuff much easier.

Brake system components

Just spent a day investigating, dismantling and rebuilding various brake parts.  Interesting how many different designs there are.

Paul had brought in calipers off one of his cars.  There were dirty see below.

body filler

 Working on a bench using a sanding block connected to a dust extractor.

 A small scratch filled.

Pad Saw handle

Been working on making a pad saw handle.  This has involved starting from a a piece of steel plate and then forming the handle using various different techniques.

Making out on the steel and using engineers blue to make the lines etc easier to see.

Pad Saw handle - work in progress

Brakes

Monday is mechanical repair day.  Today we dealt with drum brakes.  Here is course tutor Steve Gilbertson helping us put it back together,

Video also on YouTube:

Spitfire bits wanted

One of the cars I will working on is Spitfire.  The car is incomplete - no interior stuff.  Some repairs have been done but before we can build up a rolling chassis we need some parts. Here is a provisional list.

1*Dolomite Sprint alloy
2*seats
Other interior such as carpets, dashboard.

Has anybody got a free wreck we can strip out the interior out from.

Please bring your donations to the Leeds City College stand at the NEC Classic Car Show 16, 17, 18 November

Would be great if a local business could help out.  Will ask the Spitfire Graveyard and Yorkshire Triumphs

Read more about the course here

Jenny calipers - more tools

A quick google and I found these for only £3.49 delivered. Bargain.

Body Repair

One third of the course each Tuesday is about body repair. We have started with a couple of exercises setting out and making things.

Introduced to how to measure with calipers, rules etc. Use of pillar drill, guillotine, hole punch, centre punch, shears etc. Already had many of the tools at home, now I have been shown how to use them properly. Decided to buy a scriber and an engineers square to add to my collection.

Stripping paint

Am learning bodywork skills.  Wednesday is bodywork day.

Protective clothing.

Working out what type of paint is on the panel.

Using paint stripper

Using a dual action sander

Jowett Javelin reading material

One of the cars I hope to be working on is a Jowett Javelin. I have found some free reading material on http://www.jowettrepairmanual.com/javelin-jupiter.php 

have downloaded the free stuff to my googledocs collection:

Jowett Javelin shell lub chart
Javelin instruction manual
Jowett Javelin brochure
Jowett profile

Reading material

Got Fundamental of Motor Vehicle Technology by V.A.W Hillier off Amazon for £3.60 delivered to my door.  I already have a whole bookcase of car books but thought I would get this one as recommended by one of the course tutors.  At that price less than a magazine can not be bad.

Cheaper than I thought

Total fee turned out to be £1153.00 - guess I will spend more on commuting than that in the end. (15000 miles)

Spitfire looking for love

 

I have just finished my first week at Leeds City College as a student on their Classic Car Restoration course - great fun with an interesting group of students.

Amongst the many cars for us students to work on is Triumph Spitfire. These 2 images taken on my phone do not show how crusty it really is. Will try to get some better pictures later.

Originally published on my other blog  http://vitessesteve.blogspot.co.uk/

Sad Spitfire

Amongst the many cars for students to work on is this sad looking Spitfire.  Crumby pictures from my phone.

timetable

The course

I have seen the Leeds City College display at the NEC classic car show and been impressed. I saw a feature in Dep-O-Magazine that said the fee was had been reduced so made further inquiries.

Now I am a student on the Classic Car Restoration course

Leeds Classic Car restoration course

If like me you have seen the Leeds College restoration people at shows and thought I wish I could do that - now you can. They currently have a special price on their 30 week full- time course. £250.00 reserves you a place. Fee now only £1500.00 was £3400.00. I have signed up and am looking forward to being a student again!

Read http://www.leedscitycollege.ac.uk/courses/index.php/1020/classic-car-restoration/

Read about fees being reduced: www.dep-o.co.uk/2012/06/fees-slashed-for-leeds-restoration-course/