The Restoration of PRRROWL
TIGER # B382000221
An Article by John Crawley
February, 2001
Page 8
Fixing Paint (Restoration vs. Re-paint)
A friend’s Alpine had been stored in a garage for years before he bought it. At one time the inside of the garage had been painted white without the black Alpine being pushed outside. When Ron first got the car he brought it to a Club meeting and I thought that he should have called it measles. He tried everything to get the paint off and was nearly to the point of having it repainted when he discovered a professional auto detailing shop. His Car is a testimonial as to what can be done. His black Sunbeam has retained its factory original paint and is considered one of the best - a true Benchmark car
Windshields
You can install a TIGER windscreen yourself!
- Glue the rubber windscreen surround it to the windshield with contact cement. Spread the contact cement on the rubber and on the windshield, let dry then press the rubber into place. Do not use too much glue.
- You can now use the old "string trick" to pull the rubber and glass into the frame. This consists of placing a string in the grove in the rubber that the frame lip is going to go in. Place the glass/rubber tight behind the frame and pull the string slowly out the front of the frame. This pulls the rubber lip into place around the frame. The big trick is to have the glass centered in the frame before you start. A little liquid detergent is sometimes needed to make the rubber slippery enough to pull through the frame.
Alternatively take it to a glass shop and have them install it that way if they break it they buy a replacement.
- Fit the frame to the car with the body-to-windscreen rubber in place under the frame. Tighten each of the hold down bolts a bit at a time and watch the fit of the bottom rubber. You may have to hold the body-to-windscreen rubber in place with masking tape but be sure that it seats properly as a poor fit will result in leaks. Be sure to research the postings the been on the TIGER list (See Links - Online Resources, "Get Connected to the Tiger E-Mail List") about the spacers that determine the windscreen angle. Another solution is a new design adjustable nut, that Sunbeam Specialties now sells (See Links "Sunbeam Specialties") , to make this job a snap.
Bonnet
Welding small triangular pieces to each back corner can make a square cornered bonnet into a round cornered one. The basic shape of the hood is the same. Fold the corners over after welding to make a double thickness like the original. Conversly, by carefully welding additional metal, a round corner can be made square. Both are difficult, and purchases of good used parts, or trades may be more suitable.
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