Bodywork Session 6 - Day 1 - four wheel arches now restored and a surprise

Bodywork session 6 - day 1.

Whilst CRG163’s front step and surrounding area is now ready for rebuild we are unable to undertake the work at this point having found a steel section behind the nearside front bulk head in a poor state. This has been removed for total re fabrication locally and until it is returned the step section cannot be rectified.

We therefore move to CRG163’s rear nearside wheel arch in which the bright work is removed and the wooden piece in the front box section ahead of the arch is removed and replaced.  Once replaced each section is restored.  The bright work is not placed back on the wheel arch so that the vehicle is more easily painted.  All dour wheel arches and box sections on CRG163 are now completed.

On completion of the wheel arch we move to the rear of the vehicle and chase all the hidden screws that lie under the existing paintwork in preparation for removal.  As this is undertaken, water droplets seem to come from the rear bodywork, from a panel to the right of the rear number plate.  At this location there is a known overlayed and grafted panel to the right of the rear number plate which has been in place on the vehicle from the time of purchased back in 2002 at least.  As we are undertaking a major restoration of CRG163’s bodywork we decide to remove this panel to see what’s behind.  We quickly discover that the original rear waist panel is still in place, however there is a hole in the original panel to the right of the rear number plate and a big dent.  The panel colour is leaf green and we assume that the vehicle must have been involved in some kind of a rear collision which must have resulted in an overlayed panel grafted quickly to get the vehicle back on the road quickly.  If anyone knows anything about this, please do get in touch.

Furthermore the shape of the original number plate aperture seems to be different from the overlayed panel we have known for twenty three years.  We will therefore replace the rear damaged panel with a new single panel, and will include the shape and measurements of the original number plate aperture.

John Davies also dropped in to see us, who has a big interest in CRG163.  John drops in to see us every afternoon on weekdays when we are working on CRG163.  It is always good to see him and catch up on all things CRG163.

The extent of the work to CRG163’s front entrance step and surrounding panels can clearly be seen.

Another angle of the work undertaken on CRG163’s front step and panels following the removal deteriorated wood work.

CRG163’s new entrance step cut to shape and ready to be fitted.

CRG163’s nearside rear wheel arch bright work is removed.

The deteriorated wood work from the box section ahead of the nearside rear wheel arch is carefully removed.

CRG163’s box section/pillar is restored with new wood work.

The finished nearside rear wheel arch minus brightwork.  This will be added following vehicle painting.

We chase screws which are hidden under the paintwork and remove the grafted panels also to the rear of the vehicle to reveal a different shape number plate aperture as well as a hole and dent on the right panel from the number plate..

A closer look at the rear original panel to the right of the number plate thats comes to light with hole and dent.

We return to CRG163’a front door section to prepare.  The original Rexin pattern comes to light above the entrance door.

John (Davies) drops in to see us, showing a keen interest as always in CRG163’s developments.  It is always good to see John.  Such a nice person.

Sion is caught through the driver’s cab window as we continue to tackle the difficult section between the entrance door and front nearside window.