Ginter, G M (Michael) wrote:
>
> First the story....
>
> Shortly after I purchased my Spit from the original owner, I had to
> remove a 1 inch plug if rust from the pickup tube of the fuel tank. The
> car had been garaged for over 8 years. This weekend I decided to go
> ahead and pull the tank to have it boiled. After 500 miles, I had
> significant fine rust particles in the brand new fuel filter I
> installed. Then I decided to pull the driver's seat to have the broken
> seat back welded ( PO was a rather large woman). Then I thought "you
> know that carpet looks awfully dirty, I think I'll pull it and blast it
> at the car wash while waiting for the tank to be boiled and the seat to
> be welded". Out it came. Whadya know, there is a little surface rust
> (very little) on the side pod where it meets the floorpan and also on
> the pan. I remembered the broken transmission tunnel cover, and made
> the decision to replace it with an ABS cover. Then the rear quarter
> panels looked really crappy, so I pulled them off too. Too make a long
> story no longer than I already have, the interior is gutted except for
> the door panels and dash (those will be another story).
>
Ha! My experience exactly! (Well, *sort of* exactly..) Bought my 77
Spitfire without getting a really good look underneath. (It's solid
from the floor crossmembers back.....)
Noticed the floors seemed a little "soft" under the glued-in carpeting
in the footwells, thought I'd just peel back the corner a little to
"have a look around".
(Famous last words, know what I mean?)
So out comes the interior and the floors, which gives me a good look at
the wiring under the dash, which displayed a level of creativity seldom
seen in the world of machinery. Fuse box, gone. In it's place; 2
(count 'em.... 2) in line fuse holders with literally every wire in the
whole car twisted and DUCT TAPED together!
Out comes the dash and literally EVERY bit of wire in the car.
Now I'm looking at an essentially empty shell, the result of an innocent
saturday afternoon peek under the carpet!
So I'm thinking "May as well pop the tub off and do it right"....
Is this how *IT* starts?
John (77 Spitfire in "race-storation")
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