New Member requires lots of info

[andymyn]

Hiya fellow Gilbernistas, At last, after 42 years I've finally got my hands on an Invader Mk3! FKD 540L bought from Brian in Hampshire. It's going to be a restoration project with a few mods but basically a just a rebuild. I'm just getting my head round a few things and hope that the club can help me out with the answers to a few things. i) Where can I get a full set of carpets from. ii) where can I get a new/renovated dash/console from. iii) I hope to fit 15" x 7 minilites, what offset do I need. iv) Where can I get a headlining from. v) What are the length and rating of the front and rear springs. vi) Where does the plastic tunnel console come from. vii) Is there a list of parts that 'come from where' .
Any help would be appreciated. No doubt I'll have loads more questions and problems in the future and hopefully I'll meet a few of you over the next few months at various events etc. Looking forward to it. Cheers all. Andy.

[rocketman]

Hello Andy,
Welcome to the Clan, you will soon find that we are a close knit community who are ready to help new members when we can.
With regard to springs you are probably best speaking with Gavin McArdle the club spares sec, he may have them in stock or at least give you the specs. Headlining is usually done by your local trimming shop or buy the material and DIY, The last carpets I bought were from 'Bailey Trim & Upholstery' in Norfolk tel 01366 377400, this was a few years ago so not sure if they are still in existence. Dashboards, not sure what Gavin has to offer but I had mine done by a company in Crewe, there are several companies who specialise in veneering that advertise in the classic car mags. I'am also rebuilding a Mk3 and will need the dash to be re-veneered however when it came to the electrical system I found that the original rocker switches are very poor quality and unobtainable so all the apertures will be widened by 1 mm to accept 'modular rocker switch/warning lamps' from
Vehicle Wiring Products ( www.vehicleproducts.co.uk ). The centre consul tray is a Gilbern produced item, Gavin may have a secondhand Item available, otherwise you may have to make one up. What part of the country are you located in and are you aware of any other Gilbern Owners in your area.

Stuart.

[Greybags]

Hi Andy and welcome..

As far as I know, there are no carpet sets available anymore, so it's all down to DIY or paying a car trimmer to do it, same as for the headlining, although both jobs are perfectly fine DIY jobs..
Although to do the headlining it really needs the glass removed.

Most of the other bits should be available from Gavin Spares..

Keep us up to date with your progress, and we love pictures on here..

Grahame

[Maf]

Hi Andy and welcome,

Graham is correct in saying it's best to remove the windows to replace the headlining, however i did manage to replace mine with the windows in by raiding the kitchen drawer of two ordinary blunt knives from an old knife and fork set, heating the ends up on the gas cooker until glowing red, then rushing into the garage and bending the end 3/4" over 90° in a vice.
This makes two nice handy tools, I slide one between the window rubber and roof and pries open slightly then use the other to tuck the head lining material in, working my way around the frame.

Obviously the knife modification is best done when "she" is out as I did, luckily up to press she hasn't noticed the two missing knives, this has been aided partly by making sure we don't have too many guests over for dinner at one time and by storing the bent knives for future use next to the iron.

Regards,

Nick.

[trippdl]

I've got Team Dynamics 15 x 7's on my Mark 3; they have an offset of 18 or 19. Basically, you want to have the backset (the distance from the edge of the rim to the mounting surface) around 4 or 4 1/2 ". I have 195's on there now, on an earlier car, I had larger, but would occasionally rub the chassis when trying to turn sharply into a parking space. No problems with the 195's.

[andymyn]

Many thanks for thr replies, very helpful. Next thing!!!!! Dashboard. The switches are rubbish, worn out, in fact I haven@t got a clue what most of them do! Also, it seems most of them have been disconnected, just wires hanging down! Has anyone got a illustration or whatever of the dashboard and centre console of a Mk3 with an explaination of the controls/switches. Also a wiring diagram and an idea how to remove the top crash pad and dashboard itself.
Also, what heater matrix was used, mine seeme to leak!

Thanks Andy

[Fareham GT]

Hi Andy,

The club sell a reproductive drivers handbook for the MK.111 which would explain the switches, it also has a wiring diagram on the centre pages, I think these are available from Dudley, he is on 01522 274373 or regalia@gilbernoc.co.uk.

Regards

Fareham GT

[trippdl]

Hi Andy - while you're on to Dudley, buying the repro owners manual, splash out on the Rarebit Archive CD; Paul Clark has done a series about the Mark 3 exposed, which tells you all sorts of useful stuff. For instance, to get the dashboard off, start by removing the four screws which hold the windscreen demister vents in place, and the dashboard pad comes off. Also, when you are re-wiring the dash, leave the windscreen out, as it makes it a lot easier if you can reach the wiring from the outside, through the window opening. By the time you've finished reading all the bits about your Mark 3, it may almost be warm enough to go out to the garage and work on it...

[Gavin McArdle]

For the information of all - The Archive CD (DVD?) is only available from Paul direct.
Gavin

[andymyn]

Thanks everybody for the info, very helpful. Next one....... anybody done a power assisted steering conversion? I have bought an electric set up from a Corsa. There is a bit on you tube but it doesn't give a lot of info. I'll be doing it in a month or so , I'll keep a photo record and post it but if anyone has any advice, pointers etc? I've taken the engine out. I was going to do the gearbox separately, but couldn't separate them. It seems that the input shaft is seized either onto the clutch or the spigot bearing. I've tried all sorts of things, subtle and otherwise (read sledgehammer!) and it is still seized. I'm going to have to dismantle the engine, leave the crankshaft on and maybe cut it off! Anybody ever heard of this happening before? Boy its frustrating! Incidently, I've found a company to re veneer my dash in burr walnut for £275. Anybody know of any trimmers to do my seats around Cheltenhan/Gloucester? Won't the rain ever stop, got a lot to do!

[genie]

Ref: anybody done a power assisted steering conversion? I have bought an electric set up from a Corsa.

Talk to Gav @ 3 litre GOC spares. He has just completed this exercise & documented it in the Rarebit magazine a few months ago. It was a follow on article to another GOC members conversion, so there are at least 2 members active in this area of conversion.

Seized stuff?
"It seems that the input shaft is seized either onto the clutch or the spigot bearing"
It's usually the clutch : lot's of heat & followed by freezing cold water is a possible way forwards?

[Red]

Hi Andy
Switches are standard Lucas, as also used on Maxis etc. I found new replacements for mine easily enough and they are still working!
Good luck!
Nige.
Mk3 Historian

[speed weed]

Don't know what you have Andy but I would like some of it, rocketman says" welcome to the clan you soon find us to help where we can and a close knit community"
CRAP
I posted back in Oct 28 after buying a genie saying hello etc am also a member of the club,but they can't even be bothered to answer or say hello! ,maybe it's cos I live in France ?
One membership lost for next year.

[GGenie69]

Sorry Rob,

Noticed the author (speed weed) and thought oh no not another drug dealer.

Anyhow, a belated welcome to the club. Now, is it only amphetamines and marijuana you deal in or can you get XTC as well?

Sorry couldn't help it.

[Greybags]

Hi Rob, and sorry I must have missed your original post..

Normally everyone gets a reply of some sort to say hello and welcome.

We are usually most friendly and good natured, but you have to have a sense of humour and patience as you drive a Gilbern..

Give us another chance, we are not that bad ..

Grahame