Bristol Hotrods: car build-ups

Bristol Hotrods car build-ups - past and present.

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Ivor Knapp's 1948 Austin 16		This build story starts way back in 1989, when Ivor bought the car from a fellow Bristol Hot Rodder, John Hall. The build progressed well for a couple of years, but was put on hold when Ivor took on the renovation of an old cottage. Now Ivor is getting stuck in again, with progress well underway.

		Here's the car at an early mock-up stage, prior to stripping down and welding, painting and building everything properly. The 1948 Austin 16 body has been left untouched - all original body panels are being used, with no chop or any other body mods. The body is now fully welded, shot blasted and primed.
Front and rear suspension and brakes are all reconditioned 1970 Jag XJ12 items. Car will roll on Centerline wheels with 31" Mickey Thompson Tyres bringing up the rear.
		Ivor made up his own 'spit' to mount and rotate the chassis for fabrication and painting. After finish welding the chassis, with all tabs and brackets fitted, it was shot blasted and painted 'chassis black'. The spit has made a lot of the build much easier - Ivor says it sure beats scrabbling around on the garage floor.
After preparing the underside of the body, it was painted in the original green colour. The car will be put on the road in primer to check everything is ok before the final paintjob.
November 2007		Ivor has virtually finished the rolling chassis, and will soon be working on the engine - a 1971 Ford 351 Cleveland - which was bought, along with most of the engine and transmission parts, back in 1992. Plans for the engine include forged pistons, roller rockers, a Crower 280 cam, Cloyes true roller timing set, ported and skimmed heads, a Holley 750 vac sec carb on a Weiand X intake and a load of other new bits. Transmission will be through a new Ford C6 Art Carr Street Strip transmission with high stall converter.
July 2007 After a troublesome rebuild, the Cleveland is back together. Ivor reports build problems including incorrect parts, machining problems and loads of expensive additional parts needed, e.g starter, flex plate, crank damper, alternator - the list goes on and on.

		All chassis rebuilding is now done, with everything either new or reconditioned, including ball joints, propshaft, brake discs, pads, seals, bearings, exhaust, pipework, servo, shocks, springs, radiator, fan, trans cooler, another list that goes on and on! Body should be back on the chassis soon!

		April 2009: Ivor's Austin is now alive, and has powered it's way around his village under it's own steam (well petrol) - probably the first time it's moved for 30 years! The picture shows the rocker covers removed as Ivor is fitting the additional valve springs after running it on single springs for the first half an hour, as per instructions - to bed the cam in. Hopefully it should be ready for it's MOT by end of April. It'll be run around for a while unfinished to iron out any bugs.


		July 2009 The Austin is now on the road, having passed it's MOT, taxed and insured. The plan is to run the car for a couple of months to iron out any bugs, but so far Ivor is very pleased with the way it drives, and the performance. Hopefully by the Autumn he'll be stuck into the bodywork.


On his first run out, (minus paint, trim and most glass), Ivor was able to get in some useful track time at Castle Combe circuit - but as they say, that's another story..

		B06

Ivor Knapp's 1948 Austin 16

Ivor Knapp's
1948 Austin 16