Back from a weekend away in Keswick and can finally get a good look at the car, anyone out they never been to the Lake district then you are missing out on some wonderful walks. We climbed Catsbell this time and here are a couple of photos to prove we made it to the top and didn't give up when we hit the false plateau.
Before I went away I put the battery on trickle charge as the garage had to use a booster to get it started, stupidly I thought this was because it had discharged over a long period of sitting idle. I started my inspection by giving the engine a run (checked oil OK) quite frankly I was amazed that the car started on first attempt and ran OK for a few seconds then stalled, OK lets give it another go; not a chance just a whine from the starter motor. 3 days charging and 1 start not good. Getting the battery out was not to difficult just a tight space, on lifting the battery I saw the problem straight away, just a soggy mess in the battery box. I put a meter on the battery and it read 12.4 volts but still of course needed replacing.
Getting the battery box out was a lot more difficult than getting out the battery, I undid all of the screw around the top and levered up to break the mastic seal but no way would it come up. On investigation inside the car I found that the rear of the parcel shelf is riveted to the box so these got drilled out after removing the speaker and out came the battery box. As you can see from the photos the acid did its work. I found 2 pieces of wood in the bottom of the box, maybe from build or an after though to stop any vibration noise.
After washing out the acid and drying the box I could see the damage was not to bad as it did not penetrate the steel. Clean up job for tomorrow.
Start next with a full inspection.
Where to begin,
Surprisingly the hood is in excellent condition, just needs some vinyl clean until I get round to buying a mohair.
The seats are shot which is not a problem as they were always going to be re-covered in leather. Just need to get a pair of headrests, spoke to Bruno and he can get a pair with out much problem. The seats are made by Cobra who have recently stopped production of them so only a few pair for sale and Bruno has them.
The door capping veneer has cracked; maybe it just the varnish, will sand down and a coating of Rustin's or Envirotex Lite will give them back their finish.
The carpets are good and just need steam cleaning.
The door cards ain't to bad but again I want to match these in leather like the seats.
In general there is nothing that can't be fixed, although the dash walnut looks and feels like it is a vinyl replacement as it is very flimsy and does not match the door veneer.
Next to inspect is the bodywork, I had full intentions before the purchase of having a full wings off re-spray as it was advertised as being cosmetically challenged and in a few places that's quite true. A dint on the bonnet that can't be knocked up without cutting a section of the underside heat shield out, the false air intake being slightly deformed which with a bit of persuasion and patience can be straightened. The paint work is blistering in places, mostly where the wings meet the main body but this can be sorted when the wings are off. I have seen the rubber separator that Frosts supply for these jobs that leave a rubber quadrant on the meeting of the 2 pieces and a rubber separator between the join. It is similar to the quadrant used when tiling around internal walls.
The chrome work will need re-working which will of course be farmed out.
The doors are a bit rusted under the capping's where water has been allowed to gather after wet driving. Something to check if you own a Kallista; and the passenger door does not close properly.
Moved on to the engine and this is a bit of a mess. No spoiler on here which I reckon may well prevent a lot of water and road soil from building up. This car ain't seen a lot of love in a long time, everything is rusting from the sump to the engine mounts; all need to be removed for sandblasting and rust prevention.
The engine is leaking oil maybe / hopefully its just from the rocker covers but no doubt with my luck it will be the head.
It may be best to remove the engine for a full sand blast and paint job, I am seriously considering having a un-leaded conversion done so this may well sort out the engine leak. Either way I reckon an engine removal is the only way to get the engine and the bay back to sound condition Anyone out there experienced in engine removal I have access to a engine hoist?
The underside front is in a pretty bad way (ain't got to the rear yet), this is again rust. The lower ball joint gaiters are both split and I know from the MOT that the brake calipers are seized so it will all have to come apart from the brakes to the sub frame.
Offside
On the good side, the exhaust looks good; I thought that the V6 had a twin exhaust from the silencer. This car has a long transverse silencer 2 pipes going in and 1 pipe coming out anyone know if this is correct.
Well looks like I have my work cut out for me. GREAT
See ya Paul
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