The Counts Beige Mk1

[Count Vaux Alot]

HI All,

As some of you may know the last month i've been working flat out on some one elses nova so I've had no time for mine however, due to sh!t sh!t weather today i spent some time indoors.

So i have a spare door and i wanted to see if it was worth saving

Said door

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/DSCF8199.jpg

And the crisp in the corner

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/DSCF8200.jpg

Sanded it off

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/DSCF8201.jpg

to reveal a hole under some bodge

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/DSCF8202.jpg

chopped that out to find more rust

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/DSCF8203.jpg

Annoyingly the frame is quite pitted so i will have to consider what to do with this door - its probably easier just to find a clean pair.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/DSCF8204.jpg

Dissapointed with the door i moved on to the other turret, I had used 4mm steel for the top of the other one and i felt that was overkill so went for 3mm on this one to see how it turned out.

Cleaned up the turret body

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/DSCF8205.jpg

stuck a shamfer on the edge to be welded to help penetration

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/DSCF8206.jpg

cut out the top

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/DSCF8207.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/DSCF8208.jpg

And put a shamfer on that edge too

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/DSCF8209.jpg

Tacked the top in place

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/DSCF8210.jpg

[Count Vaux Alot]

Happy with the position I welded it up

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/DSCF8212.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/DSCF8213.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/DSCF8214.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/DSCF8215.jpg

At this point i felt that this one had turned out better than the first so i re did the first one with a new 3mm top

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/DSCF8216.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/DSCF8217.jpg

Twins

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/DSCF8218.jpg

After some tidying up they will be ready for instulation :)

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/DSCF8219.jpg

James

[MK999]

Out of interest how did you do the bends in the turrets? Is it detailed earlier in the thread?

Also what are you using to trim bits out? Because I don't see a grinder 'swipe' from a disc at the end of your door cuts lol

[gazz]

:thumb:
Nice welds to ;)

[Benn]

Love the turrets, perfect welding as always. Does the chamfer mean you can weld in the dip to get a better run?

Who's Nova you been working on?

[MK999]

More penetration, and we do like more penetration.

[paul080803]

Love the turrets, perfect welding as always. Does the chamfer mean you can weld in the dip to get a better run?

Who's Nova you been working on?

Mine :d should be finished soon :thumb:

[Count Vaux Alot]

Out of interest how did you do the bends in the turrets? Is it detailed earlier in the thread?

Also what are you using to trim bits out? Because I don't see a grinder 'swipe' from a disc at the end of your door cuts lol

I bent the metal using a metal roller, not its not detailed in this thread as i did them some time ago.

I'm using 1mm cutting discs on a grinder as i usually do, there arn't any grinder 'swipes' as i'm not a savage.

[Benn]

Mine :d should be finished soon :thumb:

Pics or get the funk out... lol

[*Jurgen*]

Very nice fabricating Count Vaux Alot, have been watching your projects a while now and it looks very good everytime!

[Rickyb]

1/4 time please :D
and great work as always dude.

[MK999]

I bent the metal using a metal roller, not its not detailed in this thread as i did them some time ago.

I'm using 1mm cutting discs on a grinder as i usually do, there arn't any grinder 'swipes' as i'm not a savage.

I was hoping there was secrets to it, not just mad skills lol Still confused as to how you managed to bury a disc in the door deep enough to cut it that neatly without even touching the inner skin!

[Benn]

It's a fine art skill Mark.

[Count Vaux Alot]

Evening,

Made some progress after work tonight on some Leda coilovers i bought second hand ages ago, they need a clean up before i send them off to be refurbed.

Scott all this goes out to you....

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/7bc66578.jpg

One was weeping

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/856b9675.jpg

the threads were very rusty and covered in paint

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/541200ea.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/bdbb2de6.jpg

So i stripped them down

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/49cce7d6.jpg

and soaked the collars

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/756e0c61.jpg

then wire wheeled the threads around the collars so i could see if i could get them to move, they were locked solid until this point.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/eabb46e0.jpg

luckily they budged

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/225a1c69.jpg

so i wire wheeled the rest of the thread off up to the top of the body

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/b3d3c53b.jpg

allowing me to wind the collars off

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/15d29f6e.jpg

These will need sorting later

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/ab2ba34e.jpg

All in the degreaser

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/06f8c821.jpg

and the hot wash

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/9fe730ac.jpg

dried off

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/8f91be34.jpg

Leaving this

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/95cdaa8e.jpg

[Count Vaux Alot]

so in to the paint stripper

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/e4154c67.jpg

blitzed

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/f712ac67.jpg

washed and dried again

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/bc028d9c.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/80f07574.jpg

then i removed the worst of what was left with the wire wheel again

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/1a597ff0.jpg

taped the ends up, ready for some blasting

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/9dce062c.jpg

in to the blast cabinet (very fine sand)

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/8f676b8c.jpg

the result

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/dc404b96.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/05b95639.jpg

A comparison

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/f369b9cf.jpg

Now the threads were clean i could give them a final wire wheel off and tape them all up so i could blast the bottom of the body with a more aggressive media.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/2d1ed742.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/b460bcae.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/6c2041fd.jpg

[Count Vaux Alot]

Stainless shot this time

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/7dedb74c.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/44322246.jpg

I them primed the bottoms with acid etch just to protect them

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/1e14597e.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/7a8c0820.jpg

Ready to be sent off now :)

James

[paul080803]

Awesome work! So handy having access to all those facilities!!

[Benn]

Leda re building them?

[Count Vaux Alot]

Leda re building them?

No Benn Leda dont exist anymore IIRC however Gaz will rebuild them.

[Benn]

Oh, Gaz rock so that's good.

[scott.parker]

Jesus man, you make it look so easy!.. lol well with them tools it is, but it took me ages to get one stripped back on mine!
Still to do the other and get them primed etc..

Good going as always dude.

Scott

[Count Vaux Alot]

Jesus man, you make it look so easy!.. lol well with them tools it is, but it took me ages to get one stripped back on mine!
Still to do the other and get them primed etc..

Good going as always dude.

Scott

I can't deny the fact that the results are better with the facilities I have available however, it still takes ages and ages to get parts to come up as clean as they do. The fine media isn't very aggressive meaning you have to go over and over one spot so patience is the key as ever!

[Will F]

Are you sure theyre Ledas? The finish/welds etc dont look like they are and virtually all Leda struts have those massive adjuster knobs on the body?

Are they not damping adjustable?

[Count Vaux Alot]

/\ I can only go on what i was told when i bought them - they were Nick J's and they were leda blue under the yellow. Other than that no.

[Rick Draper]

No Benn Leda dont exist anymore IIRC however Gaz will rebuild them.

Yes they do:

http://www.leda.com/

However IIRC some of the Leda staff now work for Gaz as they relocated to the midlands after they went bust/were taken over.

[Rick Draper]

They look like leda's to me.

[Count Vaux Alot]

Yes they do:

http://www.leda.com/

However IIRC some of the Leda staff now work for Gaz as they relocated to the midlands after they went bust/were taken over.

Thankjs Rick - I stand corrected, i didnt realise they were going again - i will send them an email and see if they can help out.

[BRoadGhost]

I just sent a rear damper back to them because of an oil seal gone after just 10,000 road miles

Bam £100 gone for the sake of some 50p o ring that's clearly not up to the job.

I don't expect such failures from a quality, serviceable part tbh; not happy atm.

[Benn]

£100? Christ!

[Count Vaux Alot]

I was quoted worst case £60 however if they are gona cost too much I will buy new.

[BRoadGhost]

£60 is for the service, few quid for the oil & seals, plus the vat and the carriage, on top of the tenner it costs to get it to them.

The guy was fairly insistent on me having both done at the same time too.

[calibra-keith]

missed this one, how many projects do you have on the go now ? and i could really do with that blast cabinet right now lol

[Count Vaux Alot]

Two doors and two mk1 front wings required good people :)

[chrisd1986]

Ive got a n/s front wing

[maddogdaz666]

I have a very good GTE wing without the side repeater hole but can't remember which side lol I'll look tomorrow for you

[Count Vaux Alot]

Ive got a n/s front wing

How much dude?

[Count Vaux Alot]

I have a very good GTE wing without the side repeater hole but can't remember which side lol I'll look tomorrow for you

Please do mate and let me know what you want for it. Thanks

[Count Vaux Alot]

Still on the hunt for wings and doors if anyone can help? :)

[burgo]

Who are you?

[Count Vaux Alot]

Who are you?

Don't start lol!

[Count Vaux Alot]

Anyone interested in the 1600 16v turbo engine I was going to put in this originally? Or for that matter the small block 1.8? Think I might have changed my mind engine choice wise again! lol

[corsakid]

What you going with now?

[Count Vaux Alot]

I'm thinking diesel and boost!

[Rickyb]

Were all thinking stop talkin and get cracking.

Please xx

[Count Vaux Alot]

Were all thinking stop talkin and get cracking.

Please xx

I would love too - I may get up the workshop tomorrow and have a sort out so i have some room to work on the nova!

[Count Vaux Alot]

Also is it me or are nova parts more expensive and even harder to find than ever?! I only want two fecking doors!

[craig green]

Doors have been rather elusive for some time now imo, I kept a good pair back from an SR I broke a few years ago, sold them too cheap when I needed space though.

PM incoming about something else.

[The Simps]

i have 2 rust free doors and 2 brand new wings but hoping on using them one day! lol

[Count Vaux Alot]

Thanks simps :roll:

Pm returned Craig

[Count Vaux Alot]

It has begun!

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/9D685157-3D6A-46AD-B752-F84C1123C6B4-2014-000002BFC0694FFF_zps1cef1419.jpg

I can't wait to chop the sh!t out of this side :)

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/DB7F90E0-9B33-47DC-937E-703F8663C8ED-2014-000002BFC8F9D49D_zps6fee4c84.jpg

Minor issue - No space to work on it :(

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/C235014C-376A-4DFB-AD3F-A00A847079B2-2014-000002BFCF8E9DAF_zps1e80a299.jpg

Best make some then!

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/2E48BE06-E74D-48A0-B27A-058BEA53055B-2014-000002BFD6347C63_zps20f340c7.jpg

And the with the kadett back in

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/91EC662D-985D-4AA6-A81C-A64B11B20D95-2014-000002BFE2EFDFEF_zps570def88.jpg

It still needs some work but I think the nova will fit!

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/14134E91-E796-4654-A659-0F471932C372-2014-000002BFF206B1E8_zps746416e7.jpg

A step closer - watch this space :thumb:

[scott.parker]

I want your kaddet!..
How much??

[Benn]

1 to many projects on the go maybe?

[Count Vaux Alot]

1 to many projects on the go maybe?

What's new?

[Benn]

I mean with the Kaddet and Nova.. (still have them springs fort you too)

[Count Vaux Alot]

I mean with the Kaddet and Nova.. (still have them springs fort you too)

I know I've had them both over a year now, besides its the house that's the problem not the cars lol

[Benn]

lol oh, the really costly project.

[Count Vaux Alot]

I want your kaddet!..
How much??

Its not for sale lol

[Count Vaux Alot]

Well today brings good news - Ive managed to drag the nova back in to the workshop! :d

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/IMG_4307_zps7a6cf5df.jpg

Small problem some of it appears to be missing!

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/IMG_4308_zps8ed8076d.jpg

Underneath doesnt look a sh!t as i expected

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/IMG_4309_zps829548ca.jpg

So first things first - i started to think about how to attack the inner whel arch on the N/S. I havent decided what exactly im going to do here yet.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/IMG_4310_zpscab56760.jpg

The shaps awkward so i will need to fit the new quarter up to find out exactly whats needed

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/IMG_4311_zpsa3ac2dbb.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/IMG_4312_zpse197e9ce.jpg

I decide to hang the new quarter just to make myself feel better, I like it that it now has hundreds of cat foot prints all over it!

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/IMG_4313_zpsa27f6b96.jpg

I could remove the old inner arch and take some new metal straigt out to meet the new quarter following the line of the ruler - just a thought.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/IMG_4314_zpsa9fadf9b.jpg

Im looking forward to getting some work done on her over the long weekend, until then i put her back to bed

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg167/Count85/Beige/IMG_4315_zps5ebaa56a.jpg

[bazil]

Semi tubbing the rear is the way forward I beleive, that's the route I'm taking this time to allow for better tyre clearance,

You can buy inner arch repair sections too though,

[Benn]

Id i could, i'd semi tub too, following the line from your steel rule out.. You'll have loads of room then for maxium slammage.

[Count Vaux Alot]

I feel the same about the 'semi tubbing' I just need to have a go really and see if I can make it the way i want it as well as look neat.
I will have a play at the weekend.

[Benn]

See what you can do...lol What ever. With your skills a bit of tubbing will be easy.

[Benn]

Oh to help you think... ;) xx

http://img.overpic.net/images/g/9/t/xg9t448cxh931bw9drt0a.jpg

[Edd]

^^^ I really wish that chap would put a build thread up

[Benn]

Me frigging too! Been on at him for ages. Bloody good car.

[Count Vaux Alot]

Hhhhmmmm yes many points to consider. I wasnt planing on going mental on the tubbing, however on the O/S there is a fair amount of the inner arch that requires repair. This makes me lean towards a complete tub as apposed to anything else so we will see.

[Count Vaux Alot]

^^^ I really wish that chap would put a build thread up

I'm going to third this!

[Benn]

Sounds like you wanna make a tub up then... With the turret in there too.

[Count Vaux Alot]

Bringing the turret and the tub together is area I'm thinking over ATM.

[Benn]

Yeah, all in one as it saves time late. Make it all out the car then fit and weld in...

[Count Vaux Alot]

Still on the hunt for feckin doors!!

[Benn]

Really? I'll keep an eye out. Maybe worth asking Craig as he would come across them easier...

[kingwick]

Just read 83 pages. Amazing car so far. Any more progress with it ?

[totalnova]

Don't think this is happening anymore, hasn't been updated in a long time, it's a shame because the quality of work was very good.

[bazzap8389]

I could be wrong but I thought it was for sale about a year ago?

[Count Vaux Alot]

I still have it lol

[totalnova]

Build it then;)

[scott.parker]

Yes, please finish it!..

[Benn]

Would be ace to se this finished.

[craig green]

I still have it lol

I assumed you had emigrated or something.

[LDAWSON]

Some really nice intricate fabrication work you've done James, can't wait for an update....

[Southie]

With all these posts I was expecting more... Sadly nothing... Is this going to be rekindling some fire this year count or should I cancel my subscription to your high quality build thread lol

[LDAWSON]

Haha, yeah sorry to get everyone's hopes up....I read the full thread and had to comment.....took me about 2 hours mind, be nice when she's finished....

[craig green]

or should I cancel my subscription to your high quality build thread lol

Have you been paying?

[Southie]

Have you been paying?
Yes in kind :p

[LeonStr]

Is this project still alive? :d

[Count Vaux Alot]

Maybe forsale soon...

[totalnova]

Finish it.

[carlo46]

How much for project mate

[Southie]

Maybe forsale soon...
Bollocks :(

[Benn]

Maybe forsale soon...

You still have it? i'm impressed.