Day two of the mk2 Uno 70SX stripdown dawned bright and sunny. Except Jai was busy getting the white Tub sorted out down in West London and yours truly overslept after being wiped out from the day before.
So somewhat later than planned the second installment of the stripdown began. This is what faced us, and you can see much strippage has already taken place.
Spot something missing? Is that daylight shining through the floorpan? Yes, first thing to come out was the fuel tank. It was surprisingly easy to get out with the most awkward part being trying to remove the rusted fuel filler and breather clamps. Typical.
And here is the tank in Jai's back garden. I need this fuel tank as it has the SPi electric in tank fuel pump. The design is different to my 1986 45 plastic tank that unfortunately can't take the internal electric fuel pump, a shame as being plastic it is better for resisting rust. The 70SX pump can be swapped for the MPi pump very easily, and with the plan being to convert my humble 45 into an MPi sleeper this tank will do the trick at supplying the fuel system.
Next step of the plan was to assess whether the crucial bolts/ nuts/ fasteners would release themselves allowing the the entire suspension assemblies to be removed. We had to decide whether we would finish stripping the car today or whether it would have to be completed Saturday morning as the car couldn't be left outside in the open. Semi gutted car, local Chavs with matches, not a good idea! Fortunately all the nuts and bolts released their grip and we decided that we would get the car done by 7pm, which was the latest the recovery guy could get to us before finishing his day.
So after much spanner twirling, skinned knuckles and many expletives, suddenly this plopped onto the ground:
One front crossmember with steering rack attached! The front anti-roll bar had already been removed and Jai had been busy attacking the hubs with a large mallet. And lots of swearing. Such as "You cock, get undone you f**ker. Bitch! Arse!"
Somewhere along the lines the rear beam axle also dropped onto the ground and got dragged into Jai's garage. Here you can see it along side the front crossmember.
And here is the space where there was once a crossmember:
Nearly new front suspension, a front anti-roll bar and radiator fan.
Just for Pottleflump (
), here's the amount of rust running down each side of the car!
Someone had already had a go at patching up one of the sills. So that explained why the sill cover was hanging off at that end then
Mr. Metal Moth has been munching away...
If in doubt, cover the hole with something that resembles Polyfiller :bang:
Big empty space under car where there used to be suspension and a crossmember!
Chas attempts to remove the fuel filler surround and pipe by cutting through the metal, only to find that the area is double skinned :bang:
About all that was left that we didn't take were the engine and gearbox (shame as they were good but didn't know anyone who needed them
) and the front windscreen. No doubt someone will now tell us they desperately need a 1.4 engine/ gearbox and front screen
Fill up the shell with scrap metal to keep Mr. Scrapman happy
Loaded up ready for her last journey to the scrapyard.
Bye bye mk2 70SX. You will drive once again on the great road in the sky while many of your parts will help the survival of other Unos back on earth
Mrs. Jai had yet to come home and see her back garden. I don't think she'll be very pleased with me turning her garden into a memorial to dead mk2 Unos!
All the mk2 panels will be offered to other mk2 owners with the exception of the doors (I'm keeping those). Otherwise the panels are also off to the scrap yard if no-one wants them within the next week or two.
Wings, bonnet and tailgate need to go!
And the rear bumper with spats and front bumper with working fogs have to go too. The fogs won't fit a mk1 bumper, and besides I already have mk1 SX bumpers and loads of fogs, plus I prefer the look of the mk1 rear bumper on a mk1
Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of Jai's garage full of Uno 70SX spares, but this is where we stand now. Loads of Uno bits and needing to find somewhere to put them all. I'll be making a couple of trips to Jai's garage on Saturday to move the worst of the junk to my place and somehow find somewhere to put it all...
Then when I finish my exams in June I can get cracking on making a little tarmac terror out of my 1986 45S! Will take a while so don't hold your breath!
Oh, and I'm aching all over and my fingers are sore and covered in cuts. What have I let myself in for...
