Alistairs 1970 Bellett 1500

[mrflibbles]

looks really nice! i too like the white on bellets, although i am sure flat black would look right on the right one! I take my hat of to you for the time you have taken to do this, me i would till be looking at the car in the driveway! keep us posted.

[Alistair]

Got the young lady working on the interior today!


Motor is back in and starting to be pieced together.


Door trims and rubber going back in.


Interior cleaned up and steering wheel polished.


I painted the vent black again, but I think it looks stupid /out of place. Suggestions?

[PR91]

gday alistair.
i don't know why i haven't read this thread yet , but it's fantastic!!
you're doing a top job there mate!!

here's some info that might help, if interested...
-the deluxe badge should be under the drivers side tailight, as per 2ldohc's blue sedan.
-those wheels will fit, with narrower tyres, proved you lower the rear suspension.
i had a very similar prob with my GT. they are only 13x6 wheels, but a 185 tyre would never fit, and a 175 JUST fits, but only after lowering it. this was done by turning the leaf over, as this will lower it by and inch or 2, depending on how strong the coils and shocks are, ie: it goes lower with soft springs and shocks. and from what i've found with these things over the years is that each car needs it's own fiddling with, as one thing mightn't be 100% what's needed on the next.
i found that the tyres would just go under the guard when it was on the ground, but driving it made it rub very slightly when the wheel would come down on suspension droop. suspension bump doesn't effect it, as the wheel travels in an arc, so in theory, the lower it goes in the rear, the more clearance there is. anyway, i've got 1.5 half leaves under the GT, to stiffen it a bit, and the race car actually has a similar arrangement to what pearcesnr is using, but mine has only 3 leaves. with the issue of fitting the wheels each time, i actually have to push the rear suspension down on the race car to get the wheel low enough to remove/fit, as they go nowhere near going under the guards if i don't, and they never rub, so you'll be fine as well.
i WILL get some pics under them this week, as i'm back in the factory from tomorrow (12/1) and show you all. in the mean time, the pics of my GT and my race car (in their respective threads) show the amount of camber on each, remembering that the race car is much more developed than the GT, and is ALOT lower all around as well.
-it looks like you have 2 different types of mounts on the steering rack. the drivers side one is the early type soild mount (my preference), and the passenger side is the later rubber mounted one. as to why it's like that...?????
-white is the BEST on a Bellett, in my opinion anyway, so you've done excellent there mate!!
-your passenger side headlights are mounted incorrectly. the "lines" in the glass have to be vertical to "throw" the light correctly. the drivers side ones are fine. if you look at your early posts and pics before you started the rebuild, they show the lights the right way, so it's and easy fix.
-the headlight surrounds should have the 2 upper and 2 lower raised lines left in a raw, metal finish state. these lines line up with the bars on the grille. the front of 2ldohc's sedan is correct.
-the nardi wheel is excellent, as this is a very good copy of the GT wheel. you've done very well there.
-in my opinion, i'd do the vents as black as you have, but have the raised "ribs" in silver/chrome. this is how the GT-R's were, and i think the sedan's like your's were the same.
-and finally... the lovely young lady is a champ!! they should be more "car chicks" (as my wife calls them, and she's a car chick herself) in the world.

i hope some of this helps, and as i wrote earlier, you're doing a great job.
keep it up!!
cheers.
Brett.

[Alistair]

Thanks for all the info, will get the items you have mentioned remidied!


Interior is all re-assembled, just needs a clean


Motor is complete, fired up and ran well, pierced radiator though, is being repaired + bonnet getting resprayed


Rear and nearly together just tidying up the lights to go back on


Just a quick pic to show I have finished the other side too!

So really 95% complete now, rest of time now will be focused on getting the underneath tidied up and suspension done.

[2ldohc]

Dude. Killer.

I'm speechless at the speed of this rebuild and the quality. I know you're probably thinking 'He can't see all the bits I dodged to make it fit' but it looks great anyway.

The final pics with the wheels as well will be great to see

As PR91 said... Good Job!

Cheers,
Ross.

[PR91]

Thanks for all the info, will get the items you have mentioned remidied!

no worries mate.
glad to help!!

[Alistair]

Miniscule project updates make me feel important.


Before


After, still lots to be tidied in the suspension


Again


Just sealing other tailight then rear end is pretty much complete. Need to space the bumper, doesn't sit right.


Floating Bellett!

[redback]

Looks like you have the "Hover Conversion Kit" on it. heh heh

Looks nice and tidy Alistair.

Neil

[Alistair]

Thanks RB

Todays finishing bits


Undersealing rear


Undersealing rear 2


Ready to go get bonnet


Complete with bonnet on! Missing fuel cap

[2ldohc]

Great job Alistair! That was a good real time Bellett restoration over the space of... what, 10 weeks... October 29 it arrived with you and now (well yesterday) it's on the road and basically ready to rock.

Are you going to keep it looking classic or are some big wheels and suspension work on the books?

Thanks for letting us be apart of the whole process too, much appreciated!

Cheers,
Ross.

[Alistair]

I am unsure as yet to be honest. I would never put "big wheels" on it, I do however have some 14 x 6 starshark rims that I am considering putting on. Or I could leave it as is with factory wheels and suspension height. But other than a little bit more tidying up and fixing a couple of minor issues, this is about where I want to have it for now

Thanks for the kind words, great to have it finished in such a short time frame!

[dave]

That car is _P_H_A_T_.

[JT191]

Is Alistair going to tell us he put up video of the newly painted car?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4o5dD3Cpzg

[BrisBellett]

Well done Allistair! Nice job...when are you going to fix that exhaust leak?

[Alistair]

Apoligies guys, forgot about that video!

Exhaust leak has been fixed now, last few bits I want to do is tidy up the wiring in the engine bay, find some front indicators and decide wether I want to stay stock or put the wheels on!

[PR91]

again, it looks fantastic Al.
apoloies for the pics of the rear suspension/s under my cars... i took the pics last week, and then the PC has refused to accept the camera to download them!! ARGHH!! i'll get it sorted.
modern technology isn't as marvellous as they think... things were much simpler in the Bellett days!!

[Alistair]

No problem bud, I will be looking into the suspension this weekend, will see what I can find too.

[Alistair]

Bit better walkaround without such a truck sounding exhaust

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daEJ9roOaXg

[Alistair]

My badges fresh from sand casting, still to be cleaned up and polished.

[JT191]

That is really impressive. And those have to be stronger than original, they look like their bullet proof. I am so envious and I would have never thought of casting them.