[CJR09]

Well.... finally work has started on restoring the coupes rear end back to the factory XA tail lights etc - not without a couple of setbacks though.

It looks like I will be unable to save the rear tail light panel, theres going to be too much work to refabricate the existing + it is quite badly rusted in a couple of spots - will be cheaper to replace.

Also upon closer inspection once bumper etc had been removed it became quite apparent that it has been in some sort of left rear collision which has never been repaired properly - subsequently this in combination with a leaking rear window and having the battery in the boot earthed in the same area has created a bit of a mess. As the fuel filler was going to be replaced also (had been changed to flap type) the decision was made to replace complete rear quarter :fraz: saving the worry of getting things spot on and in the right place.

Other than that I think/hope everything else will go accordingly - there have been a couple of other minor details that my panel beater picked up on straight away that he will be fixing up of which I had never noticed!!

Thank god he has had plenty of experience with other coupes!!!

Any feedback welcome - any other aspects I should be wary of? Please feel free to place your opinion.

Cheers, Cheyne :hy:

 

[CJR09]

I wouldn't have a clue what you plans are (other than the rear), but the mixture of white and blue makes me think a Superbird replica would be a nice look....??

Funny you should mention that..........


Engine : Y, Trans: B, Paint: 3, Trim: W, other options:88, 03, 05, 32, 39, 68, 84

Date of Retail: May 1973

Everything pretty much going back to stock factory body/interior - with a couple of customisations here and there riest:

 

[CJR09]

Close......

Pity it didn't have the GS option (48). Did you get the rear louvre when you bought it?

I like the look of an XA in white, should be great when it's finished. Best of luck.

Yeah it did come with louvres but the factory ones were long gone - the ones on it when i bought it were aunger type - and guess what?? - they blew off in the wind!

- Superbirds were'nt GS optioned

Should look the part when complete though, I cant wait!! Still got a coupla bits to sort namely the louvres - havent been able to source them anywhere.

 

[CJR09]

I'm not an expert on 'birds, but I thought they were.....

I'm trying to convince myself to buy one at the moment, if I do then I might be able to offer "First Hand" information..!!

Nah they didnt get option 48 like the Goss's and Cobra's - it basically comes down to a combination of a few things - obviously the paint, it will have secondary colour in a few places only - build date in combination with the louvre option - fully instrumented dash ie GT/GS but std steering wheel, little things like that.

There seems to be bugger all of them around, I'm pretty sure mine may be the only one in NZ - but in saying that there will be a few that have been resprayed just like mine had been - still there is only 13 or so on the data base that SUPERBIRD302 was helping get together that they have been working on for a few years.

 

[CJR09]

Some more pics........ it is a scary sight

I dont like seeing it this way but it has to be done for the greater good of the car :whoaa:


From these pics you can clearly see the damage and subsequent mess in the left rear corner - other than that though generally speaking shes in pretty good nick.

Its going to be a two week wait on the tail light panel so while we're waiting on that the car will be trucked to the blaster where the boot, around the doors, rear window, roof line etc will be blasted as well as the new guards.

I opted to grab a few other items while i was shopping - couldnt help myself, mainly interior items window winders, gaskets, caps, console kit etc + new hood lining - I really cant be F'd taking the rear window out again to do that!!

 

[CJR09]

should tidy up your speaker holes while it is apart.

Yeah was looking at doing that, got no idea what it is supposed to look like though - are the holes on the outside (where they've been butchered) supposed to be identical to that one in the middle??

Anyone got any pics?

 

[CJR09]

Here's a link to one...

You might want to look into them also if a new RW is needed. I dont know how picky they are in New Zealand but over here testers have been failing cars with butchered holes for speakers supposedly due to weakening the structural integrity of the car.

Thanks for that Road Runner - think i'll try and get my beatr to make something up get them looking origional, dunno what what sort of speakers they had in there coz my 7x10's only JUST fitted in. I'll just use mdf tray with some packers to suit so i dont have to cut anything more.......

As for RW, i dont think it is really an issue here - Ive been going to the same place for a coupla yrs and he's never said anything bout it before, he did make me take the GT spotties off first time up, reakoned they were too flimsy and moved too much - even though they used factory brkts. I do remember my mates cortina many years ago though, it was failed for holes been too big - so we welded some 1" square section in, that showed 'em riest: definately wont be doing that though!

 

[CJR09]

PM me if you want more details on how to id one

:shh: You losing your memory Superbird302....... didnt we go through that months ago :smlwink:

 

[CJR09]

Some more pics - the new guards and tail light panel are on and all welding is just about done.

The left rear corner where the accident damage, battery was sitting and the water from leaky window was ponding created such a mess was cut out and refabricated and I was quite stoked with quality of the work in this area, I think he really has done a top notch job dollying/tooling it up.

You will also notice the side indicator sections - the rear quarters I had (only ones I was lucky enough to find) were from an XC Cobra wreck so the indicators were changed from horizontal to verticle and all holes were filled where the rear spoiler came down.

Just a couple of things to do before she gets finished off and primed/blocked - the fuel tank maybe stuffed hasnt been leaking but there is alot of surface rust and will have to be blasted to know for sure, dunno whether to go for a drop tank or not then just the parcel shelf to tidy up.