1955 Pre A Continental Coupe, Vin 53232 Restoration

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Brad Ripley
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Re: 1955 Pre A Continental Coupe, Vin 53232 Restoration

#16 Post by Brad Ripley »

Many great close up photos of structural details -- for future referral by others doing serious restorations.

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Alexander George
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Re: 1955 Pre A Continental Coupe, Vin 53232 Restoration

#17 Post by Alexander George »

Wohh
More pics......

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A bit annoyed as the panel wasn't a pre-A but an A so have to change it (check the indentations)
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Cleaned off all the surface rust
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Better Trunk Sides For Pre-A
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1955 Pre A Reutter Coupe Vin #53232

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Phil Planck
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Re: 1955 Pre A Continental Coupe, Vin 53232 Restoration

#18 Post by Phil Planck »

WOW!
Phil Planck

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Alexander George
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Re: 1955 Pre A Continental Coupe, Vin 53232 Restoration

#19 Post by Alexander George »

Time to Post some pics.
Please do let me know if you see something not right.
Thanks

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1955 Pre A Reutter Coupe Vin #53232

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Alexander George
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Re: 1955 Pre A Continental Coupe, Vin 53232 Restoration

#20 Post by Alexander George »

Cleaning and grinding before Spraying the gray Primer
No Bondo, filler or lead at this stage just priming the bare metal.

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1955 Pre A Reutter Coupe Vin #53232

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Alexander George
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Re: 1955 Pre A Continental Coupe, Vin 53232 Restoration

#21 Post by Alexander George »

Preparing the floor panel

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1955 Pre A Reutter Coupe Vin #53232

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Wil Mittelbach
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Re: 1955 Pre A Continental Coupe, Vin 53232 Restoration

#22 Post by Wil Mittelbach »

Alexander -
An admirable undertaking and progress despite the limited 356 resources on Malta island.
Carry on!

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James Davies
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Re: 1955 Pre A Continental Coupe, Vin 53232 Restoration

#23 Post by James Davies »

On the orange floor the round depressions at the front for the pedal cluster will have to moved over, fyi. For some reason the company that makes them, makes them wrong. You can probably do that after installation of the floor when you weld back in the pedal cluster.

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Re: 1955 Pre A Continental Coupe, Vin 53232 Restoration

#24 Post by Jon Bingham »

James Davies wrote:On the orange floor the round depressions at the front for the pedal cluster will have to moved over, fyi. For some reason the company that makes them, makes them wrong. You can probably do that after installation of the floor when you weld back in the pedal cluster.
that's correct ,we went through the same correcting procedure.

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Spencer Harris
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Re: 1955 Pre A Continental Coupe, Vin 53232 Restoration

#25 Post by Spencer Harris »

James Davies wrote:On the orange floor the round depressions at the front for the pedal cluster will have to moved over, fyi. For some reason the company that makes them, makes them wrong. You can probably do that after installation of the floor when you weld back in the pedal cluster.
The depression needs to be moved +/- 36.5 mm toward the center of the car.
30DSC_0189.jpg
Attach the pedal box to the master cylinder mount to mark the exact position required. After you determine the needed position, cut the indentation and surrounding panel; flip it around and weld it back in place.
30DSC_0196.jpg
The purpose of the circular depression is to match the protrusion in the base of the pedal assembly. The large red circle outlines approximately the depression in the pedal assembly base. The small socket for the brake pedal return spring is highlighted by the smaller dark red circle.
30DSC_0197.jpg
These photos are from a '53, and the pedal box is attached with steel rivets and spot welds. Your '55 pedal box may only be welded.
Nice work on your car Alexander!
Spencer Harris
San Joaquin Valley, CA.

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Alexander George
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Re: 1955 Pre A Continental Coupe, Vin 53232 Restoration

#26 Post by Alexander George »

Spencer Harris wrote:
James Davies wrote:On the orange floor the round depressions at the front for the pedal cluster will have to moved over, fyi. For some reason the company that makes them, makes them wrong. You can probably do that after installation of the floor when you weld back in the pedal cluster.
The depression needs to be moved +/- 36.5 mm toward the center of the car.
30DSC_0189.jpg
Attach the pedal box to the master cylinder mount to mark the exact position required. After you determine the needed position, cut the indentation and surrounding panel; flip it around and weld it back in place.
30DSC_0196.jpg
The purpose of the circular depression is to match the protrusion in the base of the pedal assembly. The large red circle outlines approximately the depression in the pedal assembly base. The small socket for the brake pedal return spring is highlighted by the smaller dark red circle.
30DSC_0197.jpg
These photos are from a '53, and the pedal box is attached with steel rivets and spot welds. Your '55 pedal box may only be welded.
Nice work on your car Alexander!

Hi all,
Thanks for the help,
I didn't know about that and you illustrated it really good with the pics and explanation.
Its a pity they don't get the panel right straightaway.
Re my pedal box, it was riveted and not welded. Shall i spot weld it or just rivet it back?
I also had some extra support to the battery box riveted and than spot welded
Thanks
Alex
1955 Pre A Reutter Coupe Vin #53232

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Spencer Harris
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Re: 1955 Pre A Continental Coupe, Vin 53232 Restoration

#27 Post by Spencer Harris »

Re my pedal box, it was riveted and not welded. Shall i spot weld it or just rivet it back?
I also had some extra support to the battery box riveted and than spot welded
Thanks
Alex
These photos are of the pedal cluster off of '55 coupe #53070. I had a welder friend remove it for me, and I don't remember if it had spot welds or not. My photos don't confirm there were spot welds supplementing the rivets, but there wasn't much metal left of the floor anyway. Unfortunately I no longer have the assembly to look at it more closely. I'll send you some additional photos on a PM, but these are the most definitive.
40CIMG8463.jpg
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Spencer Harris
San Joaquin Valley, CA.

John Standish
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Re: 1955 Pre A Continental Coupe, Vin 53232 Restoration

#28 Post by John Standish »

With greatest admiration of your skills and knowledge, may I say, you guys are nuts for building cars from floor sweepings of rust particles. To the best of my recollection I once owned 53733 and I wish I had it back.

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Alexander George
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Re: 1955 Pre A Continental Coupe, Vin 53232 Restoration

#29 Post by Alexander George »

Hello All,
Im finally back and will post loads of pics.
Still a lot of work left but will get there.
Sorry for not posting but had a problem with photo bucket, looks like its sorted now.
Thanks
1955 Pre A Reutter Coupe Vin #53232

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JohnLiles
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Re: 1955 Pre A Continental Coupe, Vin 53232 Restoration

#30 Post by JohnLiles »

Hi Alexander , I have only just picked up on this thread . It is really interesting with the many pictures of the metalwork.

I have 1955 Pre A Continental Coupe , Vin 53453 , so it was made soon after yours ! Someone did the restoration in Australia some 20 odd years ago , no pictures of that work exist however so nothing to compare with yours .
It was turned into an Outlaw with 356C transmission/ disc brakes and 912 motor , so is interesting to drive !

good luck with your project , the rust will be slow in Malta , I lived there for 2 years back when pre As were still being made !
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1957 'A' and 1955 'Continental Outlaw'

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