What have you done today with your Austin Seven

[Reckless Rat]

A cor nut find it.

[Charles P]

Hi,
Given I've ended up with a few days off work courtesy of the Covid police for being too near someone who may have been positive, I've set to re-plating the Nippy headlamp reflectors with a silver plating painting kit I picked up cheap years ago. One is done and looks tons better than it did. Not sure if I'll get the other one done before my wife reappears and wonders why I've not been doing jobs round the house.
Hopefully, the second one won't take as long now that I know what I'm doing (I think!) - maybe she'll go out again tomorrow?...
Best wishes,
Nick

I'd be interested to see how the plating turns out, perhaps "before" and "after" if you have them

C

[John Mason]

Has anybody tried nickel plating of lamp reflectors. I understand you cam buy kits for nickel plating and just needs an old fashioned battery charger to produce the current and a chart giving instructions on how much crystals is used for the area to be plated.

John Mason

[Charles P]

Has anybody tried nickel plating of lamp reflectors. I understand you cam buy kits for nickel plating and just needs an old fashioned battery charger to produce the current and a chart giving instructions on how much crystals is used for the area to be plated.

John Mason

I nickel plated a stoneguard with a home kit. Works well enough with care, although I'm not sure that nickel is "white " enough for reflectors.

C

[Steve kay]

    [
What I did yesterday was drive the Ruby to the other side of Usk and then take over driving duties in the 19.6 Crossley to Shelsley. Somewhere between character forming and enormous fun. Despite highest temperatures for a very long time neither car got anywhere near boiling, in the case of the Ruby thanks to the recent radiator from Richard in Ludlow. The alleged temperate climes of North Western Europe do not quite account for Shelsley two weeks ago, oilskins and wellies required by the few dozen spectators,  and mid twenties yesterday with sun hats and parasols. in full car parks and paddock Two weeks ago a brave hillclimbing forum contributor managed second fastest in class 1, for amphibious Austins,  with 64.67, though probably for some arcane handicap reason the 2nd place award was taken by Sarah Foster in a Nippy with 72.57. Will Steve be able to explain how that calculation works? The point at which we stopped pretending to be either in some cases educated young ladies or us distinguished elderly gents was watching the BRM Can-Am car being demonstrated, and admitting we knew what it was. Very noisy indeed, and the size being wholly unsuitable for Shelsley, but enormous fun to watch, hear and feel as it left the line. There was an earlier piece on the forum  about a  Mk 2 Ruby formerly in this part of the world.The elderly gent in the back of the Crossley lives a bit further along the Mon & Brec and owns a very late mk 2 Ruby, registered early  1939. I have certainly never seen it in action, but hiding in a shed full of Clynos.

[Dopey]

I found a very rare ( for over here...) barn find 36 Opal. Exact same car as mine, which is a 37. Don’t now if it can be saved, but the treasure trove of spares has me very excited. I took delivery yesterday from a shed in Queens, New York.

[Ivor Hawkins]

Every Austin Seven can be saved Dopey, in fact all that Opal needs is a rub over with an oily rag and it’s ready for the road!

[Ruairidh Dunford]

I found a very rare ( for over here...) barn find 36 Opal. Exact same car as mine, which is a 37. Don’t now if it can be saved, but the treasure trove of spares has me very excited. I took delivery yesterday from a shed in Queens, New York.

Is that you Chris?

What a great find, please tell is the story!

[John Mason]

I don’t disagree with the fact it can be saved but at what cost ? Another case of it’s probably worth more in spares than it would be if restored. The other thing where do you start. In the USA parts are difficult to find and our cherished suppliers understandably do not keep the parts that never wear out such as body parts.

John Mason.

[andrew34ruby]

I don’t disagree with the fact it can be saved but at what cost ? Another case of it’s probably worth more in spares than it would be if restored.  The other thing where do you start. In the USA parts are difficult to find and our cherished suppliers understandably do not keep the parts that never wear out such as body parts.

John Mason.

Yes it might cost more for spare parts than the car is worth, but does that matter? Many of us have enjoyed the process, and when it's finished then we can enjoy the finished car knowing that everything has been attended to.

Whether going for the re-painted look (and paint is expensive)  or keeping the patina (which is not original) the place to start is to cut or free-off every nut and bolt. Dismantle everything. Then clean and repair every bit.

Body parts can usually be repaired, cutting out the bad bits and welding in metal cut to shape.

It's a big job, but it would seem a shame to break this one for parts.