fbekholden.com

Ok, so this has been a long time coming! As most are aware Leo went awol for a couple of days courtesy of some slackers who think it's easier to take other people's stuff than work and earn their own. So now I have finally got the motivation needed to get him back on the road. Yes it's taken awhile to start, but it was very demoralizing and I also have been trying to get my roadster sorted so I had at least one car right. By sorted I mean new radiator, valves, lifters, cam etc...

So here's how we found him....



Wasn't allowed to keep these though.



So time to load him up and bring him home again.



Safely back home after being finger printed.



So Leo seemed to be relatively intact, so that first weekend we went over him top to bottom. Basically he'd been thrashed (joke was on them as tired 161's aren't much fun), and had some bruises and scratches for his trouble. Mechanically he's leaking all fluids bar water. A lot of electrical things were no longer working due to the ever so intelligent pricks who cut or pulled most of the wires under the dash. Quite a few things were now missing and there are quite a few scratches worst being the candy dash and one vent window was just a few shards of glass....








This was Dakams pinstripe job...

So...

First up, get everything working again. So a day under the dash and what do you know. Signs of life.


While I was at it I got a new interior light, found this on eBay and decided to see what it's like.

You could say it adds a red tinge to the trim.....


Also fixed the vent window. Just need to get the rubbers and it'll be like new.


Now for some mods, I also got an oil bath air filter. This is part of a bigger picture which will become apparent later.


Only problem is it doesn't clear the bonnet. That's an easy fix when I have a spare bonnet brace. Little bit of cutting, bending and then some welding and job done.

Now for the not so fun part. Pulling it down to repair everything. Thankfully it's coming apart relatively easy. So seats out.

Followed by carpet.


And the pile keeps growing....


Side glass and trim plus handles.


Everything that comes off is being carefully labelled. I'm hoping not to loose anything this time.


So this is where I'm at as of now. The indicators and headlight buckets have since been removed.



More stuff to store... Or is it a deconstructed EK.


So aim is Renmark Nats, motor and box are to come out to be rebuilt, brakes will be swapped to dual circuit which will hopefully solve where my fluid disappeared to. Rust repair and repaint, trim seats etc... Think I'm gonna be busy!

It takes alot to be able to share your story and be able to move on from what happened. It's great to see the repairs begining to take shape and before you know it will be complete once again. Look forward to Renmark and hope to see you there. Andrew

Well its about bloody time


be interesting to see what path you are going down this time ...... going by the interior light you are going for the "gentlemans club" look

Good work mate the first step is the hardest your on your way now
Pete

Got Craig booked in?
Good to see things happening.

Good stuff Brett. Glad you have got her back and you are back into it. You have done well to come back from having her trashed by some assholes. I dont know if I ever could if it happened to mine. Looking foward to seeing the finished car. Btw intruiged by the fe fc air cleaner. Cross breeding?

Awesome, can't wait to see what you do

Subscribed DR.

Thanks guys, this has been a long time coming. But I'm hoping this thread will help keep me focused on finishing sooner rather than later. Although I have two cars spread all over the garage as the roadster has no gearbox in it due to me.... so while waiting on parts I've been steadily stripping the car and adding to the parts pile.

As for what's planned, paint wise talk is flake on the roof this time but still the red/white colour combo. I'm leaning towards full caps and spats at the moment, will see how that pans out. A mostly stock looking engine bay with a twist. Ditch the blankets for trim and go with something more suited to the end result. But most of all I plan on making it a good reliable weekend cruiser. No more daily duties....

Glad your getting back into it.
Good to see Leo's getting some love
have fun .
Cheers Robbo

Yahhh another work thread. Glad to see your back into it Brett..