NEW CAR AGAIN.... 1956 Bristol 405 CHASSIS - 4106. 405GMT

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Kevin H

Nitrocellulose? I hope not!

So forgive me ... but what do you think they painted cars with in the 1950s?

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by Raymond

So forgive me ... but what do you think they painted cars with in the 1950s?

My apologies Raymond. I only know nitrocellulose as an explosive. I didn't realise that it was also a component of cellulose paint, albeit with a lower percentage of nitrogen than the explosive version.

[AndrewA]

Well H
You're either making so much progress you're too busy to post anything or perhaps you've got a new hobby!?
Either way be great to have an update.
Happy New Year.
Andrew

[hesketh786]

Dear Andrew !

Many thanks for your kind wishes !

Happy late Christmas and a happy new year to you too sir !

Nooo new hobby for me ! Just cars cars cars !

The weather has been very wet and dark up here in Cheshire recently so not much done, also my industrial compressor is on the blink, so i've sent it back to the manufacturers who are currently servicing it !

The car is still with me and still pretty much in the same state it was in since we last spoke, have started to contact a few local woodworking companies near me to come and view the Ash frame - as I need/would like this to be re-made as the original is in a sorry state.

How are you keeping ? Hope you had a wonderful Christmas !
Great to hear from you buddy !

Best
hass

[AndrewA]

Been building house but that all (almost) done.
410 going in for gearbox overhaul in a few weeks so that'll be out of my hair for a while so will turn attention to Speedster which needs a steering box overhaul IMHO !
For a variety of reasons it's got a Mk 2 Transit steering box and parts for that are rare - really rare so if it's too far gone we're into bespoke engineering....great!
Catch you later.
Cheers
Andrew

[hesketh786]

Hi all,

I hope you are all well.

Does anyone have the dimensions ( L, W & H ) of the 2L Bristol engine fitted in the 405 model ?

Many thanks,

h

[hesketh786]

started to strip down the interior of the 405 this weekend.

the cars Ash timber frame has unfortunately suffered a great of degradation over the past years.

Is there anyway i can repair this ? Any tips or things i should do before hand.

Please see the pics

best

h

[David C]

That has always been a huge issue with the 405. My father was a very capable woodworker and liked a challenge but that was a job too far for him. He sold the 405 and bought a 406.

Not a very helpful reply so far, but stay tuned.

I bought the Woody 400 planning to do the frame myself but the more research I did the more I realised there is a lot to learn. Nothing desperately complicated but there are different ways of building wooden structures when they are regularly going to be bounced up and down. Bits of it are more of a mechanism than a structure.

Eventually I found Clanfield Coachworks near Oxford. They replaced much of the lower part of the frame for a very fair price. I was originally optimistic that the work could be done without disturbing the aluminium but it very soon became obvious that this wasn't realistic. The roof was carefully cut off and subsequently reinstated at Mitchell Motors.

You may get lucky local to you but I have found that most outfits that are good at this work have a long waiting list. If you can find someone to do the job book them ASAP while you are getting on with the other jobs.

If you decide to do it yourself I suggest you source your timber from somewhere that repairs Morris Travellers or similar. Once you are giving them at least a bit of business you have a chance of asking them for some advice. Hopefully the timber will be suitably seasoned. Ask about which screws - stainless (probably not) brass, plated steel or steel. Which glues to use etc.

Best of luck!