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XK-150 Moves Closer To Completion
After some delays due to the amount of work in our restoration department,
we are once again making quick progress on this very early XK-150 roadster.
This stage of a restoration can go quickly as major components such as lamps
or bumpers can make the car look whole again in a matter of hours, but it
can also be extremely slow and frustrating if things don't fit correctly
and require painstaking adjustment or modification.
Since our last installment the chassis and engine restorations were completed and the engine/transmission unit has been reunited with the chassis. The body was then painted a gorgeous shade of maroon, removed from its surrogate chassis and installed back on the original, fully restored, chassis. We make it sound so easy, but this is a back-breaking procedure with no margin for error, as even a minor slip would mean a trip back to the paint shop.
Once the body is firmly bolted to the chassis and everything is appropriately shimmed, things start to pick up speed. The wiring harness, being the veins of the electrical system is usually installed first to ease routing, and then the tail lamps and headlights were installed, followed by the instrument panel and dash switches. After the body and chassis were reunited, we installed the doors and window mechanisms. Again, this is not a morning's work as the winder mechanisms had to be rebuilt and everything adjusted to maintain the proper clearance between the side windows and windshield pillars - all while maintaining consistent and pleasing door gaps. We also had problems with the door lock tumblers not quite aligning within the door lock barrels, all of which were issues solved through the painstaking work of our technicians.
The final phases of this project are upon us. These photos were taken
in our in-house trim area. The interior in coming together nicely, the boot
is already complete, and the engine compartment nears completion.
Along the way we also bolted on the newly re-chromed front and rear bumpers, the windscreen wiper rack and the floor panels. Most of the body rubber seals have been installed, so we've started with the interior trimming and installation of the convertible top. Stay tuned.
Next Installment:
XK-150 Completion and Delivery
