Blimey, it’s a Project 800 update…

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Well, it’s taken long enough – here’s an update.

The car went away to have work done an hopefully come back with an MOT. That didn’t happen. Instead I got a car back with some new brakes on it and a bit more mould, including actual mushrooms growing in the boot. Delightful. But there we are.

The main thing is, she’s back. She’s in our unit (that we didn’t have prior to buying the Vitesse) so now we can get stuck right in.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”5068″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”img_link_large” css_animation=”appear”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]There’s no point in trying to get the car road legal this year. Even if it was, we wouldn’t drive it. So instead, we’re going to use the winter to go over it, getting looking as good as it can, while also fitting some mods, sorting out some mechanical issues and generally just tinkering. We like tinkering. There’s no time crunch, no pressure. We want to enjoy what we’re doing, not rush it for the sake of it.

That being said, we didn’t enjoy finding out that, after being left outside out of our care for months and months, the boot was full of water. Oh was sweet, sweet joy.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”5069″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”img_link_large” css_animation=”appear”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Brilliant. Or, you know, the opposite of that. Still, we were still giddy to just have the bloody thing back, so we ripped the bungs plug things out of the boot floor and drained it out. The carpet is now fit for being nothing other than a template to make a new one, so we’ll get onto that. But not before we figure out where the water is coming in from and remedy that. New boot seal is the first port of call. Failing that, we’ll just weld it on (we won’t really).

Next, while the boot was doing an impression of a bath with the plug out, we yanked the bonnet off. The scuttle areal is hideous, with rotten trim and lots of sludge/detritus. As such, we wanted to get rid of it all and clean it up before we fit our new (old) scuttle.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”5072″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”img_link_large” css_animation=”appear”][vc_single_image image=”5071″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”img_link_large” css_animation=”appear”][vc_single_image image=”5060″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”img_link_large” css_animation=”appear”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Then we got the back end up in the air, wheels off, axle stands employed. The plan is to start at the back. Or at least that is the plan now, given we found the boot was full of water after sitting outside, neglected, for nearly six months.

As with the Proton, the mission is to first clean it up, and then address the mechanical issues we find along the way. Before having the unit, this would have been near impossible. It’s good to have the space to get properly involved.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”5065″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”img_link_large” css_animation=”appear”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The mounting face of the filler is borked, but there is hope. We think we’ve JUST caught it in time. A good, solid clean-up and maybe some small repairs and it should be okay. It’s heavy surface corrosion, so it’s not eaten right through. Plan of action is some rust treatment, then clean up, paint, protect, that kind of thing.

Had this have been left ignored, caked in road dirt, it would have ended up being a very costly repair. So while it sucks to find it at all, it’s better to find it now than later, when it’s eating through the OUTSIDE of the car. Or at least that’s what we’re telling ourselves.

While we were in that area, we could get a better look at the ‘repair’ that has been carried out by a previous owner. We can only assume they did it at night. While drunk. With their eyes closed. Possibly underwater. It’s solid enough, but it’s about as attractive as our first girlfriend, so it’ll be cut out and done properly.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”5064″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”img_link_large” css_animation=”appear”][vc_single_image image=”5062″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”img_link_large” css_animation=”appear”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]And that’s about it for now. Until we crack on and do some more, enjoy this render of our beloved 800 as created by Simon at Why Grow Up?. He can do you yous for a mere £35, so drop him a line.

Right then, where’s the welder?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”5059″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”img_link_large” css_animation=”appear”][/vc_column][/vc_row]