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Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

I thought I will let my 1937 Ruby be known on a forum instead of on just social media. I'm hoping my thread will help others as I'm sure some of yours will be helpful to me. I will be posting plenty of step by step pictures so hopefully you won't get bored at looking at them

Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Back in September when I pick it up

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Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Ady has been posting photos for some time on Facebook and his welding and sheet metalworking skills are very impressive indeed. I'm looking forward to seeing more on this Forum.

Location: Herefordshire, with an "E", not a "T".

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Ooh, this will be an interesting watch, I find Facebook a total pain these days as you have to plough through so much twaddle to get to the good bits!

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

I hope you'll enjoy it. Facebook is so easy to use these days when uploading from phones ect. Trouble with forums is it's a slow process from camera/phone to laptop, then laptop to photo hosting then onto the forum. But as you say it can be a trawl looking for what you want on Facebook when a forum is better for logging your progress

Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

A few more pictures of it as I got it

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Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

My first priority job to do was remove the surface rust of the larger areas which did not need work and get a coat of paint on them

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Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

First areas of the car I tackled was the rear arches. This car has had so many bad repairs/bodges but expected of this age.

I chose to weld up the holes that were there and flap disc them down after. The was also a dent and some holes drill on the passenger side which I pulled out and welded up too. Obviously I had to use a very thin skim of filler to finish of but this was very minimal

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Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Hi I have completed a complete rebuild of a 36' Ruby . I can across many problems like you are experiencing. If you give me a ring , I may be able to assist. I also have paper patterns for internal panels and roof linings which I can lend to you if required .

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Impressive work Ady - you must have b**ls of steel to do the work you are doing - great stuff!

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

CDawson
Hi I have completed a complete rebuild of a 36' Ruby . I can across many problems like you are experiencing. If you give me a ring , I may be able to assist. I also have paper patterns for internal panels and roof linings which I can lend to you if required .


Thanks for the offer. I'm a bit further through the restoration than this. I'll keep posting to catch up. You may see something I need or missing

Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Ruairidh Dunford
Impressive work Ady - you must have b**ls of steel to do the work you are doing - great stuff!


Thanks. I wouldn't quite say ball of steel but I must have something made out of it

Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

I have been there and failed - I stand by my assertion!

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Right, on to the scuttle area. First of all the driver side where the bonnet rests on.I~'m one for cutting the rot out and not covering it up on my cars

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Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Passenger side repair of the scuttle where the bonnet rests on

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Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

When 30 years ago doing this procedure money was to say the least tight I found that the front valance from a Lada worked perfectly as a donor good quality thick steel. A good part of that Lada went into my Ruby restoration.

Location: Oakley ,Hants

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Hi
It is strange how the cars all seem to go in different places - my Ruby had significant rot but the front of the scuttle by the bonnet was fine, though the rear spare wheel well had almost completely disappeared - and I have seen many other cars over the years, all differently afflicted.

Good to see the metal being put back in like that.
Regards
Colin

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Derek Sheldon
When 30 years ago doing this procedure money was to say the least tight I found that the front valance from a Lada worked perfectly as a donor good quality thick steel. A good part of that Lada went into my Ruby restoration.


'If it works then use it' I say. Them Russians used proper steel back then. After this Ruby I've got a old Moskvich I'll be doing next

Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Colin Morgan
Hi
It is strange how the cars all seem to go in different places - my Ruby had significant rot but the front of the scuttle by the bonnet was fine, though the rear spare wheel well had almost completely disappeared - and I have seen many other cars over the years, all differently afflicted.

Good to see the metal being put back in like that.
Regards
Colin


This car has had some bad repairs on it. Wait till I get to the boot/spare wheel area. Quite shocking !!!

Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Great work Ady, the rear arches always go there, but I've never seen a scuttle go along the front edge like that.
Smashin' this is an inspiration to all of us!

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Ivor Hawkins
Great work Ady, the rear arches always go there, but I've never seen a scuttle go along the front edge like that.
Smashin' this is an inspiration to all of us!


Thanks. The scuttle was quite bad.

Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Now onto the driver side of the scuttle panel around the lower corner of window

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Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Moving onto the passenger side. Same type of repair done to this side

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Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Moving on to a bit of rust removal then give the front and dash area a bit of a paint

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Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

It really is great to a Ruby get this level of attention and at such a rate of knots!

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Nice work! I think Ady deserves our thanks for saving this one, which could well have ended up being cannibalised for yet another special. I had to do the same repair to my windscreen opening, and also both pillars which had rotted out - here's one of them....

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Alastair

Location: Port Isaac

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Ivor Hawkins
It really is great to a Ruby get this level of attention and at such a rate of knots!


One tries his best I started doing this at the end of September. I'm almost up to date on the pictures but also about to go onto the next bit

Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Alastair
Nice work! I think Ady deserves our thanks for saving this one, which could well have ended up being cannibalised for yet another special. I had to do the same repair to my windscreen opening, and also both pillars which had rotted out - here's one of them....

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Alastair


Thanks. I couldn't cannibalize it. A few people I know keep saying chop the roof and put a v8 in it. I wouldn't have the heart to. It's reached 79 years old and deserves to be done how it was intended to. Original all the way for this one.

Nice repair you done Alastair. Have you finished the car off yet ?

Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Onto the next stage of the restoration which was the boot & rear valence area of the car. This is one of the parts of the car that has had the start of a bad repair. Because it was unfinished I had to do my own interpretation of how it should be.

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Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Cutting and welding so close to the petrol tank must have been exciting !

Tony.

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Tony Press
Cutting and welding so close to the petrol tank must have been exciting !

Tony.


The fumes are long gone. It,s not had fuel in it for years

Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Right on to the boot/valence area rebuild. This is my interpretation as I never had one to start with. I don't think it will be far out.

First of all the rear panel. I don't use no fancy tools or anything, everything is hand made just using what's laying about in my workshop. My methods are crude but work for me.

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Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Next the front boot panel & the boot floor. These were welded together before been installed.

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Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

The sides took some working out to get right.

First the driver side

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Now the passenger side

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Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

All welded in place. Now just to do the bumper & wheel cover holes. And finally painted up

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Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Location: Herefordshire, with an "E", not a "T"!

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Seeing what you are doing here brings back memories of the work that I done to CDG354 a MkII Ruby. Some of the body work was in worse condition than yours , some better. I remember that fitting complete rear inner wings was a real pain, especially as I found after fitting the first time that they were not the correct profile, a tip to anyone contemplating doing this operation , fit the innerds to the outer space before fitting to the car.
I also found it beneficial to have the whole body shot blasted and sprayed with weldable primer before starting, having to weld up holes that did not appear to be there in the first instant. This tip I followed when restoring my Opal and saved myself a lot of heartache.

Keep up the write ups , most interesting to see your approach Good work.



Location: Oakley ,Hants

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Hi,
What a project. I assume you left a hole on the right hand side of the spare wheel for access to the jubilee clips on the hose connecting the filler pipe to the tank inlet. I had to cut one, but then made a removable cover for the hole. A new hose, in particular, is so inflexible.

Location: Sleety Staffordshire

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Richard Halliwell
Hi,
What a project. I assume you left a hole on the right hand side of the spare wheel for access to the jubilee clips on the hose connecting the filler pipe to the tank inlet. I had to cut one, but then made a removable cover for the hole. A new hose, in particular, is so inflexible.


Thanks. Been honest I thought the hole was meant to be there that's why I left it open. I does make sense why it's there now. I was going to make a removable cover for it anyway as it looks unsightly left open

Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Next bit for repair is to the unsightly battery box. Apparently it was converted to 12v by a previous owner and it was cut out to take a bigger battery.
Been working out for a while how to get this to look half decent as it's one of the first things you see. So I shaped a few 3mm bits of steel and welded them to another bit. Now I have a mold I can press with my hydraulic press into the tin. I was amazed on how well it turned out. Yet to be welded in but it gives a good idea on how it will turn out

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Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Battery box all welded up and had a ick of paint. I'm not worried about the lid yet as may come across one or I might even make one yet. No rush for now

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Location: Wymondham, Norfolk

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

How sad am i? I think this is brilliant! I remember making up boot floor panels for my old Plymouth using the same technique, it looked okay and was good and strong, but nothing like this.

Happily, I only have one welding job on the Box saloon and that is restoring the glove box to its original shape as it was cut out to accept a massive 6 volt wireless!

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

I love metal bashing. It's amazing what you can do with a MiG these days. I must get the Mem'Sahib to buy me one for Christmas...

Location: Gard, France 30960

Re: Restoration Of My 1937 Ruby

Reckless Rat
I love metal bashing. It's amazing what you can do with a MiG these days. I must get the Mem'Sahib to buy me one for Christmas...


Hi RR,
Don't forget to ask for the skills to go with it too!
Renaud

Location: Sunny springtime in Brittany