Thread: 51 MG restoration.

Sound meters are normally used, but the range differs by mfgr.
Here’s another vid

This one seems more real world applicable. And to me is what sold me on the product.

I’m wondering how many decibels I was sending out the garage at 2 am the other day? No neighbors came out, but they know I have bourbon in me by that time, looking good Mike, and it is cool your keeping it all in house. I could have had someone paint my tins, but. What I have is all mine. Good choice on the oil less for painting, but they don’t last as long, but for homeowners is pretty good. And if your using a HVLP sprayer you got enough air recovery.

Purchased a shiny new hvlp gun with a 1.5 tip, just for this project.
And realizing the only way to make the fender lips to the accuracy, and strength I want will be with L channel, I ordered a ‘deep throat stretcher’ to facilitate that particular challenge.
Found a good Easter sale, and will need to make a stand and foot control for it to really get the job done, but hell, do it right or stay off the field right?

Hoping it will be available for pick up later today..
Cheers gents. Have a happy Easter.

Originally Posted by Cangooner

Something I've been wondering since thinking about these things: is there a standard for measuring their noise? I.e. how far is the mic when the measurement is taken?

One of the ones I've looked at is by California Air Tools. They say it has a 70db, but it sure is quiet compared to what I'm used to. I wonder if they are measuring it right by the machine while others are tested from a certain distance?

The compressor we replaced at work was a California Air Tools compressor. It was very unreliable. It was also only two years old, and we don’t use a lot of air here. I would not buy another. Also the controls were not easily replaceable. The pressure switch is what died, and maybe if you were near a major Center you might be able to find one. It was shipped to us from KMS and they couldn’t get us a switch and neither could NAPA. We are also limited here by the size of the holding tank. Federal, safety reps, inspectors and the like. I bought the BE compressor, but it is high noise output. We have two BE compressors, and they are both noisy.

California air, almost bought them, but heard the life was limited, and similar part sourcing challenges in ontario.
Hope this hulk fits the Bill.. will advise as it goes along.

Originally Posted by RezDog

The compressor we replaced at work was a California Air Tools compressor. It was very unreliable. It was also only two years old, and we don’t use a lot of air here. I would not buy another. Also the controls were not easily replaceable. The pressure switch is what died, and maybe if you were near a major Center you might be able to find one. It was shipped to us from KMS and they couldn’t get us a switch and neither could NAPA. We are also limited here by the size of the holding tank. Federal, safety reps, inspectors and the like. I bought the BE compressor, but it is high noise output. We have two BE compressors, and they are both noisy.

Thanks Shaun - KMS have the California unit on sale now and I was getting tempted. You may have saved me from a very bad choice.

This is very interesting to me since I need a new compressor but have been waiting to buy one trying to figure out what to buy. I'll be very interested to hear how that works out for you Mike..

Got my shrinker mostly set up on the stand with foot pedal Jerry rigged.



Ya get the jist of what I’m trying to achieve. Need 6” of travel vertically still to give full clamping pressure of the shrinker. This design will allow to shorten up the threaded rod through the lower fulcrum, or up at the 1/2 rod end, as required. .still need to install the foot rest, and return assist spring, but at least I could test it on a little scrap that had a factory straight edge when I started.

Anyone that’s ever repaired a fender will see why I need this to finish the car properly.. I just thought I could work around it with beater bags and dollies, but realized I would never get the results I wanted.
Cheers gents. Hope you all had a hoppy holiday..

Wife donated an old canvas bag which I filled with blasting sand and converted to a beater bag.
Used that to curve my wells to clear the quarters and lips.


Worked well with the stretcher.

Wells out of the way so on to the lips.

For the lips, started with 1x1 angle sheet, marked on the inch so I don’t lose my orientation when switching from shrink to stretch. Also will make copying for the other side easier with reference marks to go by.

And proceed to curve the lip to my desired shape. The key is little adjustments and bites.

Between shrinking and stretching, steer the edge the direction I need it to go.



Close enough to hammer and dolly out the kinks and allow for final tweaks.
Now on to the rear sections of the quarters. Still not sure how that’s going to go.