Subframe analysis

Well, the subframe bar is as good as ready to be mounted. The time to get the bumpers painted I use to make an inventory of the car's state. A State of the Lord, so to speak. Object of this inventory is  the rest of the subframe, under the engine, in fornt of the Blue Lord. Today I took some pictures and stitched them together to see how the situation is, down under. Well, at first glance it seems to be worse than it actually is.
The brown colour is probably rust water emission of a leaking radiator, from the time when the car was still running. I must admit, I never drove the car, it isn't even registerd in the Dutch vehicle register, because it's an import from Belgium. As I was told by the former owner, a mehanic, he repaired the car he bought from an older man. The mechanic worked with classic Fiats, Alfa's and Lancia's in a grarage in Antwerp. The engine runs smoothly and there is some evidence of major maintenace activities on the left and right cylinder heads. I figure the mechanic fixed the radiator leak too, because the distribution caps are clean, free form the brown emission. Well, I don't know for sure, so I'll have to do some more analyses.
When taking up the subframe I'll have to clean the engine bay and the engine. And mount a fresh radiator. Maybe this will be the first job to do, even before the bumpers. Because of the good weather, the car is now outside my garage, on the driveway. For taking up the subframe it'll have to move inside.

We'll see.

Frog's eye perspective of the frontside of the car, subframe bar above, spaghetti exhaust manifolds left and right, on the outer sides, the subframe arms to the wheels. Center piece is the engine oil sump. In hte background my 146.

The radiator is not the best item on the car.

Rust on the lower side could be the cause of the brown emission on the lower engine parts. But there's no emission on the lower side of the car's frame.

Sanding the subframe bar

Sanding is an intensive work. If one wants to do it good. Here some workflow pictures.

Bumpers and bar

The subframe bar in an overview

Now with some rusty corners to do

A nasty corner, but not at all hopeless

Suspension arm mounting bay

Stabilizer bar attachement ends (left) and suspension arm mounting points

Bar front, sanded

The QV bumper with painted top, 

above the undisassembeld SW bumper from my gray 1.3S SW.

Eye and bumpers

Well, the old blacksmith used a little fire to shape his metal. Neighbour Piet has sold me an old gasburner for 5 euro's, some years ago in his garage. Now I used it to reshape the towing eye on my subframe bar. I think it has become rather edgy, but the shape is right. Only the eye isn't still fully operational. It has to be welded on the backside of the bar. A fact that my neighbour Mike also noticed, when he first saw the subframe bar, last week. Now I want to ask him to weld me some points on the eye to fix it on the bar. I don't have a welding machine, neither a grinder.

Contemplative German prune pastry

Since this is a low budget project I started sanding the bar with my bare hands this afternoon. A work that goes with some contemplating and thinking. So after grinding and doing some shopping and drinking coffee in Karken (Germany), I decided to get up the rear bumper of the QV, which was still in my cellar during some odd 6 years. At home I tried it on the bleu lord, and wonder, it fits, even tough the QV was a hatchback and the bleu lord is a stationwagon. I always thought the bumper of the sportwagon was longer in the sides. Happy me. Even more, because the QV-bumper is black with an unpainted lower rim. So I won't be needing the plastic primer to treat the bumpers surface before painting. Only a little sanding and some cleaning will suffice, spraying it in the right colour: Bleu Lord 438 and ready is Kees. The front bumper, it lay beside the rear bumper in my cellar, is also partially painted, so that's a simple job.

Now the funds for some paint and work can be started.

After sanding the subframe bar, tomorrow, a little flask of Brunox is to be sold and the job is practically done (just adding a layer of primer, some clear varnish, maybe). Oh, when I treat the arms of the suspension the same way (sanding, brunox primer, varnish) the very underside of  the Sportwagon will be practical new! Oh dear!

Blacksmith Thei working his way to the eye

Still a little edgy

slowly some progress is made

The end result, before welding it thight to the bar.

See how it was here.

The bumpers

This post is for the first time in english, for I noticed some visitors of my blog are from the wider abroad. Let's see if it generates more visitors (the counter just passed 3000 this morning).
Well, I have to build off my blue lord with its bumpers. I hesitate, because I really want to mount the QV's subframe that lies in my garage, waiting for its employement. I have to derust it, but there's no corrosion damage. Just a good layer of primer and paint will suffice. The two bumpers have to be painted as well, when I want to give my 1.3S a QV look (painted bumpers, stabilizer on the subframe and more dynamic shaped skirts). All parts are stowed in my cellar, but as I mentioned before, I'm hesitating.

I posted this picture before and this is why I'm hesitating. I have to find a solution for this towing eye (is this english?). Either I cut it off, or I restore it.
For cutting I have to lent or buy a grinder to remove the towing eye on the subframe. Maybe I'll ask my neighour Geert, he leaves for India next week and he won't be needing it for the next time.
To restore it, it has to be shaped in its originale shape, and there is some welding to be done.

What's wise?