Practically Classics Forum

Loads more done - what was left of the headlining was removed and retained for pattern, window trims removed - nearside windows & front windscreen removed - screen aperture is somewhat very crusty though - I will have a look at how I make it go again in the morning

Windscreen aperture is in a right state - called my fellow Jowett club member and serial Bradford owner - he has several aperture panels salvaged from scraped vans but are all in the same state as this one - so nothing for it - it's going to have be repaired - took an age to get off - all the woodscrews to the ash frame were rusted solid - I ended up drilling the heads off the majority - the bottom rail is in good order which is just as well has this is major job to remove as it is spot welded to the bulkhead panel - I opted to cut the panel at a 45 degree angle at the bottom of the A pillars - had to take care releasing from the ash frame as quite a few of the major joints have let go - the glue has simply given up and I shall have to remake the joints but did not want to distort or damage the frame any more than I really had to - add to this the fragile state that the panel is in in the first place and it was a kid gloves task

First job was to brace the panel up so that the repairs could commence - I welded a horizontal brace to the bottom of the A pillar sections and was able to bolt a second brace through the wiper spindle holes to the upper section - started on the pillars - managed to just get away with cutting out the flat section of the aperture just before the return rebate and welded this in - once dressed back I formed a angle section and spot welded this insitu as per the original - the angle is then drilled through and retains the panel to the frame - both front & rear of the completed pillar section shown with old cut out section alongside

Got both pillars done and one of the radius sections

Meanwhile - I had removed the surface rust from the radius roof side panels with a rotary wire brush on the angle grinder but need to treat the deep pitted rust so a liberal coating of Deox Gel then covered with a thin polythene and left for 24 hours - results to follow

Rear load area cleaned out - some of the planking will require replacement - has will the rear lower cross member to the ash frame - nearside rear door pillar will also require a repair section

Pic of the rear side frame now free from it's upper cover panels gives a better idea of the construction - outer side panels are alloy - Pretty obvious statement on the badge - more to follow later today

More progress on the Bradford - windscreen aperture repaired in sections prior to forming the top angle rail - shrunk to obtain slight radial curve

Windscreen aperture completed but work still required on the A pillars and the roof edge in order to complete the panel - I will get done what I can but now have to concentrate on getting the Javelin painted - I put the last of the Javelin panels into polyester this evening

Guide coat applied to panels prior to them being setaside / guide coat applied to bodyshell