Well, it was inevitable! Here is my 126!

[dombooth]

So... Still got some wiring issues to sort, but that's going to take some time to fathom out!!

Dom

[dombooth]

Apologies for no update in a while.........

But anyway, after countless hours continuity checking wiring here there and everywhere, the electrical issue is fixed! One loose connection from the positive feed to the ignition..



So once that was sorted I've started to strip the car down.

Most parts are in the garage loft...



A few random pics...



















... To be continued

[Gadge]

Good work Dom

[dombooth]

Good work Dom

Cheers Gadge.

There is more to update, that you know about, but I'll do that when I've got more time!

Dom

[dombooth]

Righty ho........

The next stage was to remove the windscreen and rear window. (Joy!)

Now I'd rear most threads on here about the best method of removing the windows, asked Gadge for advice etc.  So I set an evening to get it out, and stuck to it.  I pushed and shoved and it didn't come out easily.  I repair laptops so have about 50 blank credit cards I use, I found that pushing these inbetween the rubber and the body inside the car would loosen up the rubber nicely.  So I put these all the way along the top and sides. No pics sadly

But, I do have a video for you all to laugh at:
(skip to 11:30 to just see it pop out)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJICthhqN6U


And out it pops in one piece! In hindsight, I should've asked my dad to stand infront of it just in case.

Here's the rust on the bottom of the windscreen:








Similarly I used the same card method with the rear window (and got my dad to stand and catch it!)
Although to get my feet on the rear window, I had my lower back on the back seat, head in the passenger footwell, feet on the glass, and hands on the dashboard.  Interesting position for a car!   

And here's the rust on the rear window:

[dombooth]

So, I continued stripping down...

Got some of this recommended by Gadge:



And after peeling back the carpets/seats/etc I found this...





Hmm, bit of plastic stuck on (still sticky), after pulling it off it revealed this:







Not too bad though, just wants to Kurust on it, and a little plate to tidy it up. Then I'll fill the sill with cavity seal or something similar.

[dombooth]

And today saw a friendly face in the form of Gadge coming up to give me a hand with engine removal.  I seriously can't thank him enough, there's no way I'd have managed on my own!

We started cracking on with the rusty windows with a file and Kurust (no pics though).

Then got cracking on the engine...







We got the trolley jack under the engine, and put a rope around the gearbox and over the steel for me to hold as Gadge took off the last of the gearbox mounting bolts off (pretty sure this is what the previous owners used it for too..).







A quick peek inside the gearbox looks good.





Out on the floor:





Engine bay:







When the engine is out, make sure the fuel pipes are up, not left dangling or fuel will pour out if you jack up the front... Guess how I found that out? 

After a dash to find an empty bottle, I caught the rest and mopped up the spilt fluid.



Waste coolant that drained out:



As I left it for the night, looking like a 126 4x4:



Gearbox mounts are buggered, and my "to buy" list is now 3 times as long as yesterday!!

Dom

[dombooth]

Bare in mind I'm no film maker... But here's the underside:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhQxnqt8dIU

Dom

[sunriser81]

Hi its nice little BIS looks very solid, good luck with restoration 

[dombooth]

Hi its nice little BIS looks very solid, good luck with restoration 

Thanks.

Dom

[judson-126]

Looking nice!

[dombooth]

Looking nice!

Cheers mate.

Did you do anything to the underside whilst you had it?

Dom

[judson-126]

nope whys that

[dombooth]

Just wondered as some of it looks pretty fresh

[judson-126]

Thd guy before me done a few bits & pieces i think mate, fibreglassed the drain plug holes etc to avoid any water sitting in the floorpan & rotting the jacking points out as there prone to go there going by my old old one which i had to weld up, the bit of plastic covering the sill hole was another precaution to avoid water getting into the sill, looks like its done the job! Happy to see the minority of rust, cant believe its been stripped down though lol good luck & hope it gets done right!