General Franko the 1971 500L

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General Franko the 1971 500L

Cheers Peter,
no just the 2 side sections. I aim to use the last 10" sections that join the rear floor, and remove the top plate which holds the levers etc as this is critical especially for the gear lever.
I also need to replace the black heater duct extension that bolts to the tunnel.
It is heavy corroded on the bottom lip that sits on the floor.
There are about 80 euros, but i am going to try and make the lower section first by bending a piece of steel. Shouldnt be too difficult and then weld the upper section on to it.
 
Yes Tony, I think it might be stronger than the original.
I have done a bit more today.
Removed the outer arch & welded the new one in. This panel is made of 2 sections. I decided to split them at the spot welds and just put the rear half in for now. Why? because it doesn't fit very well.
I have lined the wing up to where it needs to go and then welded in the rear half. Once you have got the inner arch fitting snug with the bottom of the wing, the rest is down to lining it up with the inner arch and the bulkhead panels. However when I put the wing back on, the arch section doesn't line up with the wing. I will need to work this to make it fit, but I have a feeling I will need to cut it and reweld the panel to make it fit. That's the trouble with these parts, they don't fit like modern replacement genuine panels.
When I have done the other side I will then try all the front panels in place and see how it all fits.
One thing I did notice is that the front inner arch doesn't line up with the front wing where it meets the front panel, its totally the wrong shape.
I wonder could someone take a few photos of their car where the wing, outer arch, and front panels meet at the bottom corner for me please?
that way I can work out what it is supposed to look like.
Oh, my centre tunnel has been delayed, went to the company who were supposed to be making some sections for me, they haven't touched it. So I have got it back and will try somewhere else.
 

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Cheers Peter,
This is my problem, the outer arch section doesnt match up with the shape of the wing.
 

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I guess in that case you will be going with the wing profile and tailoring the inner. A bit of a nuisance and you might understand if fitting new parts against your own fabrication but new against new? and probably from the same supplier?
I think I re-used offcuts from other panels for that area as I purposely didn't want to mess with the geometry round there and repair a far bigger area than I should have. I remember there was quite some "persuasion" needed at that corner. I was left with a few imprints and depressions where clamps had to go way harder than they should.:mad:
 
Cheers Peter,
Yes it is quite frustrating, i have always fitted genuine parts which tend to fit exactly. Like you mentioned in your build, its easier if you can fit one panel at a time, but i didnt have a great deal of choice. I guess the best way forward is get the wings fitting to the doors first, then clamp the front panel in place, then fit the inner front panel and shape the arches to fit. Its going to be tricky but i have the wings all lined up nicely with the front panel and the bonnet looks quite good fit as well.(y)
 
I saw that one yesterday Tony, it did make me feel a whole lot better.
I have my eye on a new project already, but i cant say anything yet!
You will have to wait and see;)
 
There are some very brave people around that's all I can say!!!!!!

In the second picture it looks like it is about to break in half on the roof gutters.
 
Well she is certainly a challenge, looks a bit too far gone in some serious areas to enable decent repairs. At best she looks like a donor car to me, there are some reasonable looking parts, the seats look ok, I bet the headlights are RHD lenses too and they are like rocking horse doings.

Good luck to whoever gets it, I think £700 + is a bit much to be fair though.:(

Hugh Jarce
 
There are some very brave people around that's all I can say!!!!!!

In the second picture it looks like it is about to break in half on the roof gutters.
......... brave? yes!

Like Sean(y)...
and even me:) (although me more stupid than brave)

I wonder if cars like that might have a value to turn an import into a RHD both physically and in paperwork terms?

In any case that's already surpassed my expectations and looks like it's already made the current owner despair judging by the spare panels.

PS. Hugh, I don't thing headlights are hard to get anymore, or at least I got some last year no bother and at no exceptional expense.
 
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I had my original RHD lights when I started and I was going to cut off the lenses and bond them to some new light bowls. Unfortunately, my mate thought the old lights were scrap and binned them. Hence LHD versions are fitted. I have seen some on Van Der Laan, might have a pitch at them. Let me know here you got yours as I don't like putting the blanking stickies on the lenses. (y)

Cheers
Gary
 
I forget exactly which supplier I got them from...it will have
been the cheapest...Fiat Ricambi in The Netherlands I think. The lenses are as original with Carello embossed etc. Watch out though. .rubbish quality on the sidelight inserts and poor manufacture of the main bulb hole pressing.
 
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