So, following my recent unfortunate incident, I'm looking for a new shell. Ideally I wanted a series 2 car as that's what I currently have. Anyway, finding a good series 2 car seemed stupidly hard, so I'm going to go get a series one car.

 

Anyway, given I'm going to be getting a rolling shell, I'm going to need to move everything over. Wiring loom, engine, gearbox and pedals, interior (S2 into a S1 car) including the electrics.

 

My problem is that I'll be doing everything on my drive. How hard of a job is this going to be? I think I'm mainly worries about moving the engine and gearbox as I've never done anything like this before. Is there a specific order I should be doing stuff in? Like any hints and tips etc.

Thanks for that, I had not seen it only from description, can see how it would look originally but after removing the bent bits and jigging it, a lot is unbolt removal and replace maybe some welding, a half decent body shop would fix that for way less than a shell swap, having said that unless the car has real sentimental value many would see breaking as the best option, but then Lee has been here before waiting for millennia whilst a " garage " did his last shell change, probably can do it quicker as it turned out eh lee? lol

 

Jeff

 

Haha. Not so much Jeff, it was sitting with Andy Duff for ages waiting for him to do the engine in the original blue zed I had. I then took the car and all the bits to Phil in Manchester who said I should consider a new shell as the blue UK car was a bit rotten. So I did. Once phil got all the bits he had the lot done including the engine rebuild within a matter of a couple of weeks or so. Really quick.

I spoke to a couple of body shops initially and they didn't really want the job. The welding needed for the hole has the loom right there so I think that putting them off a little too. Basically they didn't really want the job. Plus its right next to the bracket for the upper control arm and I don't know how far that rust/rot will go before you find good metal to weld to.

Thanks for that, I had not seen it only from description, can see how it would look originally but after removing the bent bits and jigging it, a lot is unbolt removal and replace maybe some welding, a half decent body shop would fix that for way less than a shell swap, having said that unless the car has real sentimental value many would see breaking as the best option, but then Lee has been here before waiting for millennia whilst a " garage " did his last shell change, probably can do it quicker as it turned out eh lee? lol

 

Jeff

I totally agree with Jeff, I had an old dink pull out on me and demolished the front of my S2 and I cut the front off and had a good secondhand one welded on. So much easier petting the mechanicals back on the area affected than a total shell swap. I attempted that on a Ford..........never again as there is an order of actually doing it, get it wrong and your back to stripping out again. One thing I will say is that the metal used in a Zed is sturdy and is heavy to align and position but if you can find a body shop with a jig and willing to take it on then it is so much better. Of course the big decider is the condition of your existing shell.

My opinion......

 

.....Either get it fixed or get rid. If you can't get it fixed, then get rid. Buy yourself a decent, sound and complete car - then just swap out the best bits from your old one and scrap what's left....:sad:

 

Sorry if that sounds harsh, but swapping a shell just doesn't sound economically viable to me Lee.... Good luck mate - whatever you decide!

 

Richard:clover:

I think to get the current shell right itd be just as dear as buying a rolling shell. Surely, its just engine and box swapping over then the interior.

 

I could do the interior no bother, had it all out before and was pretty easy and straight forward. Not sure how simple the electrics are but can it really be that hard?

 

I can do all the suspension stuff myself too which again isn't that hard, I even have access to ramps for that. I guess I could get a garage to do the engine and box etc so I have a car there then I do the other easy stuff if that makes sense. I wouldn't think the engine and gearbox etc would be too hard for a garage?

Sounds like you aren't really talking about a "full" shell swap like I think a lot of others think you are.

 

What you're planning sounds like a good idea if there's a certain number of parts on your current car you really want to keep. But I personally wouldn't be looking to change more than that, just not worth it from a time point of view let alone money.

 

That means getting a decent car to begin with mind so still not going to be cheap.

Sounds like you aren't really talking about a "full" shell swap like I think a lot of others think you are.

 

What you're planning sounds like a good idea if there's a certain number of parts on your current car you really want to keep. But I personally wouldn't be looking to change more than that, just not worth it from a time point of view let alone money.

 

That means getting a decent car to begin with mind so still not going to be cheap.

 

So, I already found a good shell which only has about 60k mileage. It's a series 1 sadly lol but the price point is right. I'm going to have it painted while the engine is out so the engine bay etc is done too.

 

I guess I don't know how much of a swap it'll be as such as I'll be taking all the suspension across, the engine and gear ox as well as the interior. Not really sure how much more there is I could be swapping really

What's wrong with a series 1 birdy boy?

The seat belt location... And I have a series 2 interior lol. Isn't there a difference in the air con controls too?

 

Edit... The car is red too so I'll need to change that lol

The series' as we call them are a bit of a made up thing. Don't think the Climate control changed till much later. The door belts thing is an easy fix too, certainly I the grand scheme of your plan.

Yeah, think the seat belt location will change along with the other stuff kind of thing. But yeah, I just think that might be the way to go long term. The current shell has a couple of rust spot (both arches, a could I spots near the back lights too... Other than that and the rot where the 'issue' is, the current car seems good. But fixing all these little bits might mean it costs as much to fix as the replacing of the shell

The series 2 aircon pod and ecu allowed more control of fan speed and where the air blows, whilst removing the outside air temp display

Came in around 93 from memory

I did a shell swap at home, it's not to bad a thing to do and I really enjoyed doing it to be honest

The series 2 aircon pod and ecu allowed more control of fan speed and where the air blows, whilst removing the outside air temp display

Came in around 93 from memory

 

Do you know whether all the doors etc are the same out of interest? Just wondering if it's just the ecu and pods need changing or other stuff

Do you know whether all the doors etc are the same out of interest? Just wondering if it's just the ecu and pods need changing or other stuff

 

Mine's a Series 1, mate, and everything worked perfectly when I upgraded to an S2 pod and ECU.

Do you know whether all the doors etc are the same out of interest? Just wondering if it's just the ecu and pods need changing or other stuff

 

The only other air vent difference i know of ( excluding manual aircon controls which are different) is the small vent in the pannel under the steering wheel which blows at the drivers balls. Some cars have it, some don't

Ah, the ball vent. Highly Recommended.

I'm not so sure I have this ball vent lol

Have you inspected this shell thoroughly to ensure it's not also rotten in specific places? The last thing you want is to get balls deep into a shell swap only to find the sill galleries or other "expensive to repair" areas are also in poor condition.