Thunder - Crash Damaged Project

One July morning I was browsing through eBay when I came across this..



Now, me being me, the nice guy that I am , I wasn't prepared to allow someone to buy this and break it for spares. So I got bidding :grin:
If it was the standard model I wouldn't have bothered, but you may have noticed that I have a soft spot for Thunders.

So, after winning the auction I paid the guy to deliver it to our spare garage. As it had been off the road since April I decided to give it a bath k:



Having properly assessed the damage, I popped down to my local breakers and they kindly cut the front end off another Puma for me :-D



Now that I have some available space on my drive, last night I got it dropped off and I started work on it this morning :-D
Looks like I'm going to be busy for a good few weeks :lol:

Looks like you only need to swap the slam, that crossmember will bend back.

I was thinking that too... but seeing as they've cut me the whole front end off I may aswell make use of it and repair it properly k:

Also sourced this second hand bumper for the tidy sum of £20 k:
After a good clean and polish its come up a treat

Glad to see you've started making progress! :thumbs:

nice one to fix up there

is it a cat D ?

No, cat C this one.. I was shocked to be honest :shock:

Providing it doesn't pee it down tomorrow before I go to work, I'll get that old, twisted front panel off k:

Made a bit of progress today before I went to work..

Made a cut to the slam to straighten the crease out at the inner wing





Also made a cut in the X member to straighten it out



How it stands at the moment

Yeah I think I know which one you mean, the Magnum one with front and rear end damage?.... I was nearly buying it but the seller was asking way too much for it.

Right then guys, got back from Torquay yesterday and I couldn't wait to get cracking! :thumbs:

Spent a few hours on it today removing the remainder of the front panel and was pleased to discover that the chassis legs and inner wings hadn't moved even 1 mm after comparing them with my donor k:



Removed the parts off the donor front panel that I didn't need



I then tacked the panel into place and fitted the front end parts to confirm the alignment



Ended up with this! :thumbs:







I plan on fully welding it in place and painting it tomorrow... providing that it doesn't lash it down :-D

Made a bit more progress today inbetween showers :roll:



Finally have the front end finished and now I can start the arches :thumbs:













































Might not be an AMAZING project, but at least it's one more saved from the crusher k:

Excellent progress, probably still a few mm to find on the bonnet but that shouldn't be a problem to tweak. Looking very good mate.

Love finding parts in colour, doesn't half make the job easier.

Cheers fella. Final alignment is on the list for tomorrow as well as a full service and engine bay jet wash. k:

Too right mate, finding the parts in the right colour makes it a hell of a lot cheaper also k:

top work, really impressed with this! k:

Well done!! :thumbs:

Right then guys, got the final panel alignment done today... in the rain.. my neighbours think I'm mad! :grin:
Quite pleased with it to be honest, not bad for a DIY job k: . Next ...... ARCHES! :lol:

Right.. think it's about time I updated this :lol:

Finally made a lot of progress with this now..

Got loads of bits and bobs for it as well as fitting a Toad alarm system to it k:

Also got this off my favourite auction site for less than £100 delivered :thumbs:
This will eventually bolt to a Hoffmann race tube centre section and standard back box. I'll be running it on a TAPE ECU so I don't have any issues with the Engine Management System.



Again from eBay, managed to get hold of some new discs and pads for the front and new flexi as well as mental pipes all round.



New wishbones



New drop links




After fitting the new brakes it was time to tackle the arches..



















Both sides have plenty of Waxoyl on the insides of the arches. That should keep the rust away for a few more years.

All put back together ready for the MOT and VIC check on 8th July.. Then it'll finally be back on the road after 15 months :thumbs: