[Sunbeam Talbot Email List] 55 Alpine Restoration

Sat Jan 30 09:40:02 EST 2010

Hi All, Attached are some pictures of the 55 Alpine I am restoring. 

SOME NOTES:

1. I am zinc plating all bolts /nuts and mechanisms that were originally plated i.e.the emergency brake lever mounted to the rear end and gear shift linkage etc. Using a Caswell Kit - it is quite easy and rewarding.

2. One picture shows the boot on the back of the leaf springs. I put out an inquiry about this boot to STAR but never got a reply. I do not know the purpose of this boot but both my 55 Alpine and a 54 Sunbeam Talbot 90 spare parts car I bought had these boots. Maybe they are just for appearance when viewing the car from behind? I made them out of burlap as the originals and coated the with rubber(the kind you dip tool handles into)

3.I have all parts detailed  just waiting for reassembly. Every item has been rebuilt or NOS parts found on Ebay. I spend 1hr.+ every evening on Ebay looking for parts.

4. All body parts are ready for paint(Coranation Red), waiting for warm weather. I fabricated and rebuilt the floors, tailight surrounds(salvaged from parts car) and surrounding structures ,rocker panels,wheel well surrounds, spare tire compartment, 6" and bottom of doors,tunnel cover,etc. All repairs are welded and leaded. In some areas I had to use polyester glazing to scim. All parts sprayed with zinc chromate etching primer than topped with 2x high build primer and blocked. I made a body rotisserie out of two HD motor stands- the body work would have been impossible without the ability to position the body in any position for welding.

5. The frame was in pretty good shape. Had to make two new front leaf spring mount wings-originally they never incorporated a weap hole for water drainage so these units were totally rotten. I also beefed up the backs of the front motor mounts which were both cracked from engine tork on fairly thin metal. Frame painted with Imron.

6. Large chrome parts(bumpers,grill etc) are being done by NEL in Phila. I am picking them up next week. I am doing all the small parts myself, ie headlight rims on down in size. Using the Caswell product. VERY FUN.

7.Rear end totally rebuilt-the crown carrier was cracked-luckily the one from the spare car was good. Motor being rebuilt by Tivvy Autocraft in Danville VA. An Englishman who rebuilds high end English and German cars and vintage races his own XK120-the fastest one on the east coast. Was able to get +40 pistons from Bob Hamilton. I am also buying the recently rebuilt and tested overdrive and trans for Bob Hamilton. THANK YOU BOB!

8. Staying with column gear shift- But do have a Kneer floor shift from the spare car if anyone is interested in it.

9. I am a woodworker by hobby and re-did the steering wheel in walnut. The original plastic grip was totally gone.

10. Modifications I plan or have done-Contempory Bilstien shocks on the rear mounted on custom towers I made that bolt to the frame were the original arm shocks were mounted. I had to make new mount tabs for the axle,which could easily be changed back. Bilstein shocks on the front mounted inside the front coil. I modified the bottom A=arm bottom plate for mounting but kept the originals from the parts car if someone wants to turn it back. I plan on running an Alternator and converting to negative ground. I am having a racing windscreen built as per the Rootes option. I will run an AC electric gas pump and radial black wall tires. Other than these modifications the car is plumb stock.

Regards to All,Thanks to those who helped me along the way and thanks in advance for those who will help me to completeion. I bought this car at a local auction(rural NC-but it came out of NYC 20 years ago) for $3,000 and knew nothing about them other than I thought it was cool looking-especially the factory hood louvers(why did they have plates to close them off?). I am not new to restoring cars so the challenge was welcome and I am enjoying every minute.

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