Nick-Rackham
Well-known member
Hi all, well here goes. I took the plunge and I'm now the very proud owner of Mollie (named by my daughter) a 69 Devon Bay. Plans for Mollie are a full restoration (body only) and then have a look at disc brakes all round, a new custom interior (will be getting plenty of help from my friends on this one) and finally a new power plant.
OK, so as my daughter is going to be helping keep this up to date, here's where we started. Friday night 19:45 we get in the hired recovery vehicle (shameless plug for Fork Rent of Ipswich) and head off out of Suffolk down the A12 towards North Devon. We took my brother in law along for the ride. Midnight saw us in Taunton looking for a Travel Lodge! Up early and filled up, all day breakfast, and on our way. Got there about 10 ish, and had a good look round, parted with the folding stuff and loaded her up. Got back to Suffolk about 8 Saturday night. Unloaded her and headed off to bed with Nurofen for a sore back!
Realistically, these will be three stages, Body / Chassis first, followed by Brakes and Interior, followed by a new engine. I've set a target of 9 months for stage 1. Anyway, enough rambling!
Meet Mollie
Various photo's of RUST!!!!
You get the idea! Underneath has been fitted with the floor panels so can't see what the floor is like, but all outriggers have gone so they are on the list as well!
So the clean up and clear out begins. Meg (my daughter) and her friends stared to clean her, unfortunately they hadn't listened to instructions (which teenagers do?) so Mollie is part washed!
I started by looking at the interior and decided that it wasn't what I wanted.
So out it comes!
Left this in
Time to see what the engine is like!
Seems to be all there, so key in, lights, nothing.....
Spent the rest of the afternoon checking connections and getting battery charged. Tried again, no click, starter stuck? Out came the toolbox, quick tap on the starter with a hammer, tried again and it burst into life, well, more like resusitating a 40 year old asthmatic smoker :lol: But seriously (as a middle aged asthmaic smoker) it was good to see she runs.
So, where to start? I figured I'd pick a corner and start there, so on the phone and rear corner, wheel arch, closing plates and wheel tub ordered for off side. Should be here for the weekend.
I had originally planned to do this on the drive, but having had a long chat with my mate who lives opposite, (and having had arc eye in the past) I decided that as their childrens windows and lounge look right down my drive, it may be best to do this in the garage. Less space, but has the benefit of being dry, with light, and no chance of accidental arc flashes disturbing my mate and family!
So into the garage! hmmmmm..... Haven't unpacked since I moved in 4 years ago, so now I need to board the loft, and get all that boxed stuff I will probably never need out of the way! so, looks like a bit more work needed to clear up before I can start in anger!
OK, so as my daughter is going to be helping keep this up to date, here's where we started. Friday night 19:45 we get in the hired recovery vehicle (shameless plug for Fork Rent of Ipswich) and head off out of Suffolk down the A12 towards North Devon. We took my brother in law along for the ride. Midnight saw us in Taunton looking for a Travel Lodge! Up early and filled up, all day breakfast, and on our way. Got there about 10 ish, and had a good look round, parted with the folding stuff and loaded her up. Got back to Suffolk about 8 Saturday night. Unloaded her and headed off to bed with Nurofen for a sore back!
Realistically, these will be three stages, Body / Chassis first, followed by Brakes and Interior, followed by a new engine. I've set a target of 9 months for stage 1. Anyway, enough rambling!
Meet Mollie
Various photo's of RUST!!!!
You get the idea! Underneath has been fitted with the floor panels so can't see what the floor is like, but all outriggers have gone so they are on the list as well!
So the clean up and clear out begins. Meg (my daughter) and her friends stared to clean her, unfortunately they hadn't listened to instructions (which teenagers do?) so Mollie is part washed!
I started by looking at the interior and decided that it wasn't what I wanted.
So out it comes!
Left this in
Time to see what the engine is like!
Seems to be all there, so key in, lights, nothing.....
Spent the rest of the afternoon checking connections and getting battery charged. Tried again, no click, starter stuck? Out came the toolbox, quick tap on the starter with a hammer, tried again and it burst into life, well, more like resusitating a 40 year old asthmatic smoker :lol: But seriously (as a middle aged asthmaic smoker) it was good to see she runs.
So, where to start? I figured I'd pick a corner and start there, so on the phone and rear corner, wheel arch, closing plates and wheel tub ordered for off side. Should be here for the weekend.
I had originally planned to do this on the drive, but having had a long chat with my mate who lives opposite, (and having had arc eye in the past) I decided that as their childrens windows and lounge look right down my drive, it may be best to do this in the garage. Less space, but has the benefit of being dry, with light, and no chance of accidental arc flashes disturbing my mate and family!
So into the garage! hmmmmm..... Haven't unpacked since I moved in 4 years ago, so now I need to board the loft, and get all that boxed stuff I will probably never need out of the way! so, looks like a bit more work needed to clear up before I can start in anger!
