Been in the garage a few times in the last couple of weeks, partly due to the school holidays.  I started by contacting John of 100 register fame and secured a couple of  door locks from a 3000 or even a 100/6 which essentially had the same aluminium casings but slightly different steel levers that go to the chrome handle.  Not convinced that I have explained that well.  The important thing is that I was able to strip them down and build two perfect locks which is very cool.  It was very nice to see John again as he is an inspiration, he had a few overdrive units in pieces and was repairing them.  I now have a degree of an understanding on how they work, whatever next.

I wanted the locks installed so that I could use them to space the B post from the door.  I'm effectively working back from the front wing so this is the last stage on this side of the car.  The photo below shows the lock fitted and the inner wing which is miles too long, a good thing, having been trimmed a little to allow the door to shut.

I now started to do several things at once which is always tricky, I fitted and removed the B post several times then fitted the sill and moved that a few times and finally I started to fit the rear wing repair panel as the original is getting in the way.

The photo above shows the sill clamped in place.  I had to shorten it a little and spent quite a long time moving it backwards and forwards to get a decent looking position for the front and rear wing returns.  In the end I lost patience and welded it on.  I suspect it'll be coming off again later on.

I welded on the B post as well and feel ok about this at the moment although it has been removed and replaced several times already, nothing new there.

I then cut the rear wing off, well the bottom section of it anyway.  I deliberated about how much to remove for some time but as the wheel arch curve looked ok I thought I should go for the whole lot and be done with it.

 The photo above shows the wing repair sat on top of the B post and the original wing sat on top of both of them.  You may recall from an earlier post that I said that the new B posts didn't fit, well I have realised that the wing doesn't actually fit the B post and not the other way round.  If you look below you can see the line of the door and the rear wing and a difference of shape.  This shape would match the original shape of the B post I suspect.  Oh well.  I got a new lead kit for Christmas so I'll be using that to build up the wing to match as there is very little I can do to the door.

I remember reading in one of my Healey books about the production line having several sets of wings and the works trying each set on the cars until they found some that fitted, I suspect I know why.

It feels like I am making progress at the moment.  I always thought that when I am at the stage of having a shell completed that consists of the four wings, two doors, the front and rear shrouds I will be a happy man.  Well I have the shrouds on, the two front wings, the two doors and now I can see light at the end of the tunnel with regards to the first of the two rear wings.  I need to modify the front shroud as one side of it is damaged or rather badly repaired by a 'specialist' and I have yet to fit the bonnet or the boot but it is definitely getting there.