The Restoration of PRRROWL
TIGER # B382000221
An Article by John Crawley
February, 2001
Page 7
The front valence, as built by Rootes was, at best, a very flimsy affair. Hammering a wire edge around the valence edge and around the ventilation openings will greatly strengthen this flimsy piece. Wired edges are accomplished by bending a quarter inch of metal at a right angle all the way around the edge. This lip is then hammered, with a cross bean hammer, over a piece of 16th inch welding rod. Support the back of the bend with a flat dolly. The process is not hard — just practice on some scrap metal before trying this on your TIGER. This is a procedure to be done to a "driver" car but may not be appropriate for a show car. Done correctly it will not be noticed and it will be stronger but it also will not be original.
Rustproofing The Body
Many people who restore cars for the first time get obsessed with rust proofing their car because they have to fix years of rust and neglect. They feel that rust proofing is the most important part of their car’s restoration. What you will do in this area will depend on your objective for the final use of your car. If you are going to drive it, as an everyday commuter, in slush and snow then be sure to have heavy under coating applied. If it is to be a show car you will want the paint on the underside as good as the pain on the top. The decision is yours but remember most TIGERs will never have to suffer the same abuse after restoration as they did in the first 30 or so years of their life.
Small parts
- If you wish to rust proof small pieces of metal try "Industrial Plating." This consists of sandblasting the part and then having it chrome plated without polishing. It is very durable and not too expensive as polishing is the costly part. The rails that the seats are attached to are excellent candidates for this treatment.
- Also most plating shops will galvanize (zinc plate) a bucket of sandblasted bolts and parts for very little money. The silver, but not shiny, look of new springs, nuts and bolts is usually this finish.
Rust Proofing Small Parts at Home
- Another method of rust proofing (not as good as Industrial Plating) is to use an old method of Bluing. This works fairly well on small metal pieces that can be heated without damage.
- Heat the piece to be treated with a torch and then immerge in old oil. Remember that this will also harden the metal, particularly if you over heat to a cherry red.
**
