New to me 'A' frame and the bracket's have been cleaned back to the steel, then had three coats of epoxy 121 applied at 5 day intervals, then left for over 2 weeks to harden .
Sorry didnt take any pictures of the epoxy coatings, but here is one of the A frame cleaned back just before applying the first epoxy coat ..


After about two weeks i gave the epoxy a scuff up with 320 grit and then coated it and the brackets with stone chip..



Then left for 7 days or more, and then a base coat of white x3 and a coat of lacquer x3 ..


Then left for 7 days..

Next was to fit the new A frame bushes, (power flex)
So i made up a jack press, (from some timber off cuts) and a 4 tone bottle jack .


It worked very well, and the bush went in easy.


The finished refurb....




Also the box section of the A frame was jet washed out, then injected with dinitrol rc 800 and later flooded with dinitrol ML ........

Now thats the easy bit over.......... NOW to remove the old A frame .......

 

XKR-DAY,
I love what you're doing, and great improvisation on the press!

 

Well done....

 

Very inventive pressing.

Graham

 

XKR-DAY,

Well done. You’re doing a great job and the right thing. I did similar to all my suspension but with only one coat and no lacquer (Bilt Hamber 93% Zinc 42micron galvanic primer with grey 100micron 2-Pack Epoxy Mastic Zinc Phosphate Top-coat).

At that time, the twin coat was considered ‘Marine grade’ protection and overkill so yours will probably last over 50 years - the rest of the car will be dust!!!! lol!

It has proved very hard wearing despite the inevitable stone chips which do activate some localised self-healing galvanic discoloration. These images are after cleaning from 3 years and ~7000 miles driving in the UK. Admittedly, after all that reconditioning effort, I’m now very conscious of it and drive less on wet roads.

 

Thank you all for the comments and likes .

PKWise .... Exhalant job you have done there, lots of time and hard work to achieve, very impressive ..
I have seen your work on other threads and this is what i would like to achieve, but iv got a long way to go yet..

The rest of the car IS dust!!!!..........lol.

The coatings to the A frame were more of a practice run for the sill repair am doing, and i think i did get a little over enthusiastic ..lol

As for the home made timber press, it worked well for this particular job, but to get any more use from it i may have to plant some apple trees.

 

I've done A Frame refurbishment myself but must confess not to the impressive level of diligence of XKR-DAY or PKWise.

For members in the UK who want an alternative, Eurojag at Darlington supply refurbished A Frames:

https://www.eurojag.com/37-xk8-parts-1997-2005/

I've used both A Frames and Rear Hubs from them for quick repairs when short of time.

Graham

 

Well that was difficult......

Took me all day to get the old A frame off the car.
All the fixings where badly rusted, and i had a right struggle with them. Looks like i will have to get all new bolts to refit the refurbished one.

Some photos of the rusted A frame.








Next job will be to remove the rear subframe and do some more welding....(working my way around the car)

 

XKR-DAY,
Crikey well done getting that off! It was never gonna get through the MOT.
With the subframe in that condition, it does beg the question about all the other parts.... Did you see any other horrors?

 

Wow, what a mess, but you'll be glad it's now off the car.

 

PKWise , Didnt see any other horrors as bad as that A frame. some surface rust found on the under body, and the two A frame bush mounting drop legs need some welding doing in the usual place.
The rest of the rear subframe looks in good condition, its coming out so i can weld the drop legs, so it will get a refurb before it gos back in.
The left side sill/rocker will need lots of fab and weld doing, just like iv had to do on the right side.
After the hell i went through to get that A frame off, im not looking forward to the rear subframe removal..

 

Yes im glad its off, it makes you think how thats gone through the last 3 years MOT's ..
Looking forward to the day is all done and i can get back out for a drive in the sun... next summer maybe .

 

Eccchh. That must be seriously weakened.

Upside is that you have a lot of work behind you by now.

These days I usually spend about 1/3 of my time working, and the other 2/3 admiring what I've done...