Told you I would wait so long till my next post! had a good week thsi week - lots done and some great buys too!

On the work front - a member of my local TSSC area who just happens to be an expert welder came to view the body shell with the intention of helping me get the welding sorted. I was really pleased that he didn't think the shell was basically just scrap! indeed he thought it certainly solid enough to get up to a good standard without any real problems! So with his advice still clear in my head I started cutting (after the body shell was braced with a door gap bar). Not too much though - basically i've removed the passenger side outer sill and carefully cut out the area where the lower A post meets the Upper A post (See Photo). This will be the first area for repair and will need a small area fabricated. You can also see the difference in the bulkhead with no angle for the bonnet roller.

My Welding expert also suggested that the body should be supported on a Chassis rather than a frame as this would allow us to properly mount the car and get the geometry reasonably good. I have two Spitfire4 chassis so, I've spent this afternoon removing the front suspension, steering rack, anti-roll bar, leaf spring and differential from the chassis I'm going to use as a jig. I'll mount the body on her over the weekend. This Chassis is from FC14255 (Chassis Number FC12902) an August 1963 car - It's in very good condition but alters marginally from the chassis for FC316 (which has no chassis number at all) in that it has an extra set of tie down eyes just behind the radiator mounts (see photo). The Red Chassis belongs to FC316.

On the new purchases front I've had 3 really good buys this week! Firstly a new old stock Standard Triumph Keyring in brown plastic - Lovely! :-) I now have two of this type for FC316.

Secondly I bout the 4th (and Last Eversure 4" Spotlamp - this was being new/old stock in it's original box with the correct pull switch! All for £2.50! Bargin!

lastly, and (probably most import for the restoration) was the purchase of two full length floor panels, these are heritage items and given Rimmer Brothers retail these at £130 plus per panel, I feel very fortunate to have bought the pair for £95.

Anyway that's all for now :-) Cheers all!

Jon