Robin Hood Series 3

The bodyshell on my Exmo is getting rather tired with stress cracks appearing on a too regular basis, so when I got the chance to get a brand new stainless steel monocoque body as a direct replacement it was too good to miss. The shell is actually 20 years old but has never been on the road or completed but has the same suspension pick up points as the Exmo so doesn't need an IVA test in the same way as Lotus Elans and MGBs can put a new chassis on.The rolling shell was in a sorry state with all mild steel parts well rusted as it had stood uncovered for several years, so a complete strip and rebuild is on the cards. One plus point the 2ltr Pinto and 5 speed box aren't seized so an attempt will be made at some stage to fire the engine up so I am leaving that in situ at the moment.

I have stripped out the front suspension again all unused and cleaned painted and re-assembled loosely as I am doing some strengthening and adding some grease nipples as I go. I am also trying to replace all bolts with Stainless. I have started fitting the pedal-box but again that needs strengthening on it's mountings. The fun really started when I started to strip the rear end, all the bolts were not only seized but the heads had rusted so much that they were round. So out with the angle grinder and set about removing the back axle that way- one new angle grinder i managed to remove the complete rear subfame which is completely rotten- it doesn't matter as i am putting the one out of the Exmo in when I take it off the road. Started addling angle iron strengthening to the roll cage mounts, Seat belt mounts and rear shocker mounts-that will keep me busy for a few days then it will be back to the front end to finish off the mods and get everything bolted in place properly. 

I plan to take the Exmo off the road at the end of Sept. and start transferring parts across.