Got rid of all the left over mk1 cortina stuff I had one rh light 2 trims and about 10 assorted lenses for £2 last year just to get them out of the way good ones are hard to find.

Started working on the Manta, at last, today.  Rainy day so ideal garage day. Started small but logical.  The steering column came inside the buggy (not fitted) and its a bit hard moving it around on my own without one. That was the logical start.  Pulled it apart to see if it was ok.   Quite a bit of surface rust so given a coat of Jenolite and looks better already.  Think it will get another coat tomorrow and then I can spray it. Pics below were after a good wire brush and a some wire wool.  Forgot to take any after the Jenolite - but it really did look better 







And I could not resist polishing this as it was looking very sorry for its self



For its first rough polish its not looking too bad.  Will need a few more goes before I get it really polished and smooth. 

Those concertina sections fill me with dread on buggies, check it very carefully for cracks and rust. They don't work as they were designed to on a buggy anyway, the way the column is mounted.

Quote from: Manxdavid on April 12, 2022, 06:55:03 PM
Those concertina sections fill me with dread on buggies, check it very carefully for cracks and rust. They don't work as they were designed to on a buggy anyway, the way the column is mounted.

My sidewinder doesn't have one so thanks for the advice as this is new territory for me.   I plan to give it a good clean again tomorrow and will give it a good check.

Had one snap clean off luckily I was just going hard left into the drive a pair of universal joints in a solid column is a safer option.

Quote from: snoopy on April 13, 2022, 08:02:14 AM
Had one snap clean off luckily I was just going hard left into the drive a pair of universal joints in a solid column is a safer option.

The front axle/framehead is not a crumple zone and columns are invariably solidly mounted to the dash frame (Beetles had slotted mounting holes or shear bolts) so I prefer a solid column.

With no beetle bonnet and spare wheel to absorb impact the thin frame head crumples although not designed to making your column move back towards you, here is one I tested a while ago.
Buggies are best not crashed with a heavy front impact even with a collapsible column that will not collapse as the beetle bulkhead is missing.

Snoopy that looks sad.

Did it get rebuilt ?

No it got scrapped and I can say the early GP bodies burn ferociously, if you are going to do something do it properly it was damaged from rolling as well as the impact.

How would you recommend I get rid of the crumple zone?   Is it a simple cut out?  Never done one as my Sidewinder was done before I owned it.   I can have a good look at it to see if I can work it out but any advice would be very welcome.

You could cut out, and then weld a tube over the top which has the same ID as the column OD.  I have seen this done in the Hot Rod Beetle world when extending the column.

I've bought a Pre 67 Steering Column, I got it on ebay just before Christmas as I'm changing mine, simply as I don't want a key hole type shroud.  It's a solid straight metal and doesn't have the crumple area.

It's on one of my to do lists....  Worth looking out for one to replace the one you have.

get a pre 67 column and use the bottom 1/2 to replace the crumple section and lower 1/2 of your post 67 but fit a sleeve tube inside the join and get it welded solid, you can extend or shorten the column to suit your driving position whilst doing this.

Thanks guys - good advice an now back on ebay 

Tony I have both a MIG and ARC if you need assistance or want to borrow them, or I can suggest Ron France's place: Engineering Fabrication Services on Brookfield Industrial Estate (Behind Conways)  I've taken loads of stuff to him in the past, he always does an amazing job.