classic car repairs

Working in the Background – Wiring and Plumbing Continues on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster

Scott has been hard at work on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster that is being built by Bridge Classic Cars.

Since the last update, Scott has fitted the new radiator along with its dual Spal fans to make sure that when this freshly built 5 litre V12 is fired off for the first time and gets up to temperature, it stays safe and stable in the green zone. In preparation for that important moment, a lot of wiring has to happen along with the plumbing of hoses. Scott has been working on wiring up all the switchgear and gauges so that during the testing period and when the customer is doing many happy miles in the car, they are safe in the knowledge that everything is showing accurately and properly.

The detail of this car is truly amazing. Scott is testing the systems and then going back to make sure all the wiring is bundled and routed correctly to each individual component, should it ever have to be inspected in the future. Along with that is yards and yards of hard and Flexi lines that criss-cross the engine bay. Providing vacuum or air to different systems that run within or off of the V12. The throttle cables have been run from the large disc-shaped rotor out to each of the newly in-house rebuilt Stromberg carburettors so that when all that power is released on the road, it can be modulated and applied precisely.

Importantly aswell, Scott has been working with John to get the brand new belts in place for the engine. In total 5 belts are needed to drive the different systems for the Series 3 V12. These must go on in the right order as they are staggered specifically for the different components they drive. Once the final belt was wrapped around the alternator, Scott could then wire it to the car and its harness so when the car is running it is charging correctly (which will be able to be seen on the dial panel on the dash)

There will be more updates on Fern Grey very soon! Keep an eye on the blog page.

In Plain Sight – The 1951 Riley RMB Chassis back from Acid Dip

The frame for the 1951 Riley RMB that is being restored at Bridge Classic Cars has just arrived back from its appointment with an acid bath.

The chassis had been stripped back in-house but was recommended to be chemically treated by a specialist so that our in-house fabrication team could look into the true condition of the chassis. Overall the frame isn’t in too bad of a condition. Areas of it though will definitely need attention before it is to be used again for the car.

James and Clinton, our in-house metal fabrication experts, will be assessing the frame and coming up with a plan.

Back in Shape – Metalwork for the Scuttle/Windscreen Surround on the 1951 Riley RMB

Metalwork on classic cars is a craft. A skill that takes years to master and dedication to conquer. Our in-house bodywork experts at Bridge Classic Cars have those skills, experience and dedication.

Work is continuing on the windscreen/scuttle for the 1951 Riley RMB by our in-house expert James. Last time he worked on the top of the windshield surround but this time, it was the case of the lower scuttle.

Some of the metal bracing and reinforcement had deteriorated over time quite badly. These pieces help give that stunning spilt windscreen its shape and hold it rigid, so their placement and construction are crucial.

Using the existing pieces as a template, James cut the new parts roughly into shape to begin refining them closer to the originals. Then, offering the pieces up to the panel James could work on shaping them more and more till the fit was perfect.

All of the areas underneath the remade panels were rust treated carefully before being welded in.

New Lease on Life – Throttle Cable Install on the 1994 Piaggio Ape TM P50

The new throttle cable for our 1994 Piaggio TM P50 Ape is on the car!

Our restoration technician Mauro has got a long and personal history with this car so it makes sense for him to be the technician to be working on the car. The throttle cable for the Ape is much like a motorcycle throttle cable and it’s routed carefully through the car down to the little single carb at the back.

Now that it is all in place and back together, we can start to test the Ape ready for it’s MOT soon!

Coming Soon – 1969 MG B GT

Bridge Classic Cars will soon be welcoming this stunning 1969 MGB GT into our Pettistree workshop for a list of jobs to get this beautiful white 2 door sportscar back up and running.

There’s a reported issue with the fuel pump, which in turn means that the carburettors will need to be adjusted and balanced. Along with the bits under the bonnet is a service/overhaul of the points and rotor arm in the distributor upon the client’s request. The customer also reports the overdrive only working intermittently so that will be investigated by our in-house restoration technicians then we will advise on any issues.

Around the car, there are a few areas around the car that our in-house restoration teams will also be looking into. Some rubber seals on the rear hatch have perished in places so to make sure the car is weatherproofed and stop any water from entering the cabin. Next up, our body and paint experts will have a look at an issue with tyre fitment. The nearside wheel arch apparently catches on the tyre but there does seem to have been some modifications done to the offside rear arch to stop that from happening.

Keep an eye out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page for more updates on the 1969 MGB GT.

Out With the Old – Replacing the Wiring Harness on the 1974 Triumph TR6

John has been hard at work on the 1974 Triumph TR6 that is in with us at Bridge Classic Cars for a wiring issue. A rat or a mouse has managed to chew its way through part of the wiring loom.

Consequently, when the owner went to start the car is actually melted some of the wiring! Because of the extent of the damage to the wiring loom. John felt it best to replace the harness as a precaution due to the extensive damage.

John carefully began to remove the old harness for the car, working his way through the separate systems to ensure all the components could also be inspected.

The new loom was then put in place step by step, whilst also running through each part to make sure it functioned correctly now that power could be applied to the harness. Wit the harness now in, its time to test the car completely.

Coming Together – Metalwork on the 1951 Riley RMB

As you might have seen in our previous post on the 1951 Riley RMB here at Bridge Classic Cars, James has been hard at work getting the wings into the best shape possible.

James, our expert in-house fabricator, has been working on the Riley for quite some time. A lot of the panels needed extensive repairs and reworking to be useable in the restoration of this beloved classic. The rear wings are currently the pieces on James’s bench.

After James worked the repair patches into the original wing, he then had to work them carefully and methodically to ensure they met the original shape and dimensions of the car. Also, he has to make sure both sides are identical. This takes a highly skilled hand and incremental adjustments to achieve the finish you see before you.

James has blended new pieces into the originals and almost seamlessly blended new and old together through the medium of metal. Any adjustment to the piece also means that the entire panel must be checked to see if it has caused any sort of distortion elsewhere.

But, these wings are looking absolutely incredible for when they eventually meet back up on the car.

Starting From Scratch – Diagnosing an Oil Leak on the 1963 Jaguar MkII 3.4

Our in-house engine builder at Bridge Classic Cars, Ady, has been working at trying to get to the bottom of the oil leak with the 1963 Jaguar MkII 3.4.

At idle, the engine would behave itself perfectly. Not a spot of oil but any higher in the revs and it would begin to leak. Ady has spent countless hours hanging over the engine bay of the MkII trying to get to the root cause of the issue. He believes he has found the cause.

Upon inspection for the oil leak, Ady has found the bores in several cylinders to be heavily scored.

With some of the pistons, the rings have too much play in them and allow a lot of the cylinder head pressure to escape past the rings, down the cylinder and into the crankcase. With this added pressure, it begins to push the oil out to any opening that may have a weakness.

The rear main seal on the MkII 3.4’s is a split seal design. Meaning at the bottom engine they are cut to allow them to be slipped into place during installation. This, with the added crankcase pressure, has been pushing the oil from the crankcase through the rear seal and out. So a combination of pistons slop, ring movement and too much crankcase pressure have been causing the leak we have been searching for.

The only remedy for this in Ady’s experience, is a full engine rebuild with new parts including a rebore to clean up the cylinder walls.

Keep an eye on the Bridge Classic Cars blog for more updates on the MkII 3.4.

Solid Foundations – Getting the Frame of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Ready for Powdercoat

The frame and body for the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 that is with us here at Bridge Classic Cars have been separated ahead of the frame being sent off for powder coating.

The body will remain here with our in-house paint and body teams to continue work while we wait for the other parts to come back.

Powder coating frames gives not only the best finish but the best protection for the chassis so it’s worthwhile having it done to this amazing car.

The Once Over – Inspecting our 1994 Piaggio Ape TM P50

Those who have been following the blog for a while may remember the 1994 Piaggio Ape we talked about back in July.

Well, it is now in our workshop being inspected ahead of its MOT. Our in-house restoration team at Bridge Classic Cars wanted to check over all the systems on the van/scooter to make sure there would be no problems.

During loading at our storage unit at RAF Bentwaters, Mauro (whose grandfather originally owned this amazing little car) found the throttle cable had snapped so as soon as he got back to the workshop, a new replacement was put on order. While waiting for the cable, Mauro began to strip down the brakes and bearings on the Ape to inspect all of the components and make sure everything was in tip-top condition.

The front drum apparently needs a new shoe but apart from that the little machine seems to be in very good condition.

We’re looking forward to having fun with this one!

Back to Basics – Stripping Down the 1977 MGB Roadster

The Bridge Classic Cars paint and body experts have been busy assessing the 1977 MGB Roadster that is in with us for Aesthetic restoration.

Chris and the team careful began to take apart and inspect every aspect of the car. Removing the interior to assess condition but also to gain access to vital structural parts of the car’s chassis. In all, the car’s underpinnings were in relatively good shape. However, some of the body panels will require work done to them in order for this stunning little roadster to be in the best condition possible.

Chris and Lydia then began to remove the paint for each of the panels to assess any more repairs that will be needed in terms of bodywork.

Cool, Calm and Collected – Fitting the New Radiator to the 1999 Mercedes E55 AMG

We’ve been waiting on the radiator/gearbox cooler for the 1999 Mercedes E55 AMG, but it is now in the car ready for it to be tested.

Some may remember from the previous post, our technician Paul, found a leak coming from the radiator which on the E55’s also acts as a gearbox cooler. Unfortunately, this required it to be replaced with a brand new unit to ensure both the V8 and its gearbox remain well within their operating temperatures.

Now that the new unit is in the car, our in house technicians can begin testing the various systems to ensure that this ’90s super wagon is ready to be used and enjoyed.

Getting into Shape – Windshield Surround on the 1951 Riley RMB

Our master fabricator James has been busy in the Bridge Classic Cars fabrication shop carefully and methodically recreating the windshield surround on the 1951 Riley RMB.

Using traditional shaping methods, James has recreated the original tops of the cowl/windshield surround. The shape is complex with many compound curves and edges but that is no trouble for our in-house fabrication shop. Carefully manipulating the metal through the English wheel and the shrink/stretcher, James managed to create the same sweeps and bends of the original.

Then with the hammer and dolly, finessing the final shape into place. Then, it was time to do it all over again for the otherside. The only way to create this piece was in two separate parts. The skill that our master fabricators have is the seamlessly blend them together.

The two halves were then welded together to create one entire panel that can be fitted into the windshield surround. Later, the welds will be ground back to create a smooth finished piece and then cut down to size for the perfect fit.

Goodwood Members Meeting 2021 – Day One (Part 1)

After we had built up the stand it was time to get some rest before the first day of the 2021 Goodwood Members Meeting.

We were up before dawn and on-site before the first members had even come through the gates. What surrounded us, was pure motoring heaven. The first group of icons we found were not destined for life on the tarmac. This selection of rally cars was absolutely mind-blowing. From the Peter Solberg 2003 Impreza WRC all the way to the Mk2 Escort driven by the master that was Ari Vatanen.

However, things hadn’t even begun yet…

The morning was cold and the dampness hung in the air. The clouds threatened the morning’s proceedings with their presence alone. As the movements of people ebbed and flowed through the tunnels under the main straight, the excitement built. The stillness of a mid-October morning was broken by the opera that could only come from a herd of classic touring cars.

We had stumbled into the staging for the Gerry Marshall Trophy. This was a practice session before the afternoons qualifying for these Group1 Touring Cars. To be eligible, they must have been raced between 1970 and 1982 with full FIA period history.

A varied stable of classic racers lined up along the leafed road. Before being allowed out to appropriately stretch their legs. The ground shook with the war cries of the 8 cylinder Opels and Mustangs while the buzz of the 4 cylinder cars finished off this symphony of speed.

Find out more about the first day at the 78th Goodwood Members Meeting on our next blog post!

Plugged In – Changing Spark Plugs on the 1967 Ford Mustang Convertible

This 1967 Ford Mustang Convertible is having a list of things done to it by Bridge Classic Cars in Suffolk, UK but next up on the jobs is a spark plug change.

Mauro, our in-house restoration technician, has been working deep in the engine bay of the Mustang. As you can see by the photos, the sparkplugs that were in the Mustang had been in there for quite some time. With that, it was decided to renew them as part of the refresh being done on the car. As with all old spark plugs, you need to be very careful as they can be quite fragile.

So, Mauro gently eased the plugs out of the cylinder head ready to be inspected. They were heavily corroded on the mounts and also the ground straps and electrodes were covered in carbon. New plugs it was for this unique muscle car. Mauro also decided to inspect and clean up the threads in the cylinder head ready for the new spark plugs.

With the new spark plugs in the car, it was just a case of getting the leads back on the car according to its firing order ready for when we first fire up the V8.

In Plain View – Cleaning up the Dash and Centre Console of the 1970 Dodge Charger

The 1970 Dodge Charger is in the Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim shop to be fitted out with its interior.

Brian, one of our in-house trim experts, has been cleaning up the Dashboard and Centre Console ready to be put into the car when that point comes. With such effort being put into the fit and finish of the pieces for the rest of the interior, Brian got to work getting the dash and console up to the same standard.

Now with these and the kick panels all up to the same standard as the rest of the car, it was time to safely store these pieces away for when the time comes to install them into the car.

Not Quite Lining Up – Alignment on the 1930 Packard 740 Waterfield Convertible

This 1930 Packard 740 Series Waterfield Convertible has been in at Bridge Classic Cars recently for a check over and service.

Currently, our Workshop Manager John has been looking into an issue with the alignment of the front end. The front end of the car isn’t quite right, so some adjustment is needed on the car to make sure it tracks straight and true. Normally this can be done quite easily but with the Packard, everything is slightly different.

The steering arm located under the front axle won’t rotate enough for John to adjust the alignment on the car. For that, John tried to remove the ball joint on one side in order to unscrew one side and then adjust it out that way. Except the ball joint won’t come loose.

These pre-war cars carry a lot of weight on the front axle so their alignment is very important. John is trying several different ways to get the steering arm loose to make sure this beautiful piece of 1930s American luxury, tracks absolutely straight.

It’s Got To Be Right – Bodywork and Paint on the 1984 BMW 635CSi

The Bridge Classic Cars paint and body specialists need to know they’ve done a job absolutely right. So, once the 1984 BMW 635CSi came in to be assessed it was clear its first stop was going to be with Chris.

Chris carefully stripped back the paint in very specific sections to expose a series of questionable body repairs as well as addressing some very light rust bubbles beneath the rear lights. Behind the rear lights, a lot of damage had been done by the rust. So, a new section of the light cluster housing had to be made and out into the bodywork of this 1980s icon.

After the rust repair section was in, Chris turned his attention to the areas that stood out to him. Mainly where large amounts of body filler had been packed in previous damage. Painstakingly and slowly, Chris removed the filler in order to work the panels back into shape with only the most minimal amount of filler to be used.

Then it was time to tape and mask up the car in the booth. The results are incredible. But, you’ll have to wait for the next update to get a look at the makeover on the 1984 BMW 635CSi at Bridge Classic Cars.

This Just In – 1977 MG B Roadster for Restoration

New to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop is this 1977 MG B Roadster. It is in with us for a full aesthetic restoration which will include a brand new paint job along with a full interior, a new convertible hood and a new radio.

Work will begin shortly and getting this iconic sportscar stripped down and ready for our in-house paint team to work their magic on the car.

Expect to see much more on this MG B Roadster on the news page on the Bridge Classic Cars blog.

Following Along – Diagnosing a Head Gasket Issue on the 1971 Jaguar XJ6

As with any classic car, you want to try and exercise a certain amount of reserve and caution when working on them. Try to be sympathetic to their age and their condition. So, when the 1971 Jaguar XJ6 that we have had in at Bridge Classic Cars developed a misfire our in-house restoration team did everything they could before having to dive deep.

The XJ6 has had its fuel tanks replaced, new fuel lines and was tested by our technicians. Before the tanks were replaced this classic Jaguar had real trouble staying running. Now though, it will run for as long as there is fuel in it. However, now that it was running long enough, Dave noticed a misfire on the big straight-six.

Originally Dave thought it to be connected to the ignition system. It would arc out to the nearest metal point. We also discovered exposed wires in the connectors that join the condenser. Those were all then replaced along with the HT leads but to no avail. It had got marginally better but the misfire was still rather prominent.

With that, our in-house engine guru Ady was called in to take a look at the straight-six. The only thing left to do was to gently remove the cylinder head. Carefully and patiently, Ady eased the head from the block to expose the pistons but more importantly the head gasket. On the cylinder closest to the firewall, the gasket was in tatters. The XJ6 had blown a head gasket. Also, Ady had noticed coolant marks down the side of the block. Another sign that the gasket is not sitting correctly between the cylinder head and the engine block.

With that, it also damaged the chamber of the corresponding cylinder in the head. A large chunk of material is missing from between the leading edges of the valve. But, all may not be lost. The head is currently in the process of being stripped down and assessed so that a plan can be made to get this wonderful straight-six back in action.

Once the plan for the XJ6 engine has been confirmed, work will begin to get the car back to its former glory.

Clean and Mean – New Window Rollers and Trim on the 1970 Dodge Charger

Our in-house trim team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working hard to get the interior of the 1970 Dodge Charger back together. One of the key points of the cars looks is the brightwork and the window lines.

The rear quarter windows are pillarless. They must fit up and move perfectly to the window in the door, so they give the best overall look to the car. It’s the speciality of the Bridge Classic Cars trim shop, the fit and finish which completes the look of the car.

Brian has been working on getting the rear quarter windows in the car so all the trim that accompanies it can be fitted. It’s important with these Mopars that the window components are set just right. Thankfully, everything that was needed was in the car. So, with the windows perfectly in place, Brian could now start to work on the trim.

The trim pieces on the Charger come in multiple pieces which all need to be meticulously dry fit in such a way as to not damage either the pieces or the car. After test fitting, Brian then began the process of attaching them permanently onto the car.

Parts of the inner trim structure actually need riveting to the body. Then the covers are put over them to hide the hardware, this takes some time and a steady hand.

Over the course of an afternoon, Brian managed to get all the rear trims and windows in place so it’s time to move on to the next job on the list for the interior of the Charger.

Gentle and Fair – Reworking the Rear Wing of the 1951 Riley RMB

With a car as intricate and flowing as the 1951 Riley RMB, it’s important that our in-house metalwork craftsmen at Bridge Classic Cars apply all their skills and knowledge to ensure each flow, curve and line are exactly right on the car.

Highlighted in this post is the extensive work our fabricator James has done on the rear wing of the Riley RMB. Much of the original material had pitted in places, and in some places to the point of allowing holes to grow in the metal itself especially along the rear flange. This piece has been replaced before as can be seen by the various patches and pieces along the length of the panel.

Carefully and with much reserve, James began to remove the affected piece from the panel. Removing only what needed to be and keep as much of the original piece as possible. The new section would have to be entirely handmade for this wing but that is no problem for our fabrication shop.

James measured not only the length but the thickness of the piece that would be needed to replace the original flange. Then, using the English wheel, James skillfully began to give the piece its shape and form. Constantly offering up the new piece and referring to the shape of the original. A combination of shrinking and stretching key areas of the panel allowed it to blend into the original piece.

Then, it came time to join the two parts together. Slowly and precisely James TIG welded the parts together at strategic points, allowing the piece to cool at the correct rate and distributing the heat in such a way as to minimise the warp caused to the panel from the process. Once completely married up, James then began to finesse the join.

Using a planishing hammer and a selection of dollies, James began to smooth the joint between the two panels together until there little to no signs they had never been together their entire lives. That is craftsmanship…

Sealed up Tight – Replacing the Pinion Seal on the 1967 Ford Mustang Convertible Rear End

Mauro, our in-house restoration technician, has been working on the 1967 Ford Mustang that we have in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop.

As part of its mechanical refresh recently, Mauro replaced the rear axle seals and now it’s time to renew the rear pinion seal. A key part of the well being of any rear-wheel drive car.

After removing the old seal and inspecting the mounting surfaces, Mauro then put the new seal in place and check the pinion worked correctly. It all worked perfectly. So with that, the driveshaft and coupling were put back in place and it was time to move on to the next job on the list…

Featured – Our 1965 Amphicar is on the Top Gear Website!

Our 1965 Amphicar that is currently up for auction with Car & Classic Auctions has found its way onto the Top Gear website!

The team here at Bridge Classic Cars painstakingly restored this car over countless hours into a full working, fully certified Amphicar.

Check out the article here or check out the auction with Car & Classic here!

Back in Place – Installing the Rebuilt Injection Pump on the Land Rover Series IIA

When work began on this 1970 Land Rover Series IIA, there was a slight bit of confusion. Originally it was thought to be a Series III but thankfully, we have Scott who drives a Series II every day to work.

The other bit that had us scratching our heads somewhat was working out what engine it. The last MOT certificate stated it was petrol, but once Ady opened up the bonnet he was faced with an Injection Pump and Glowplugs. Meaning that sometime between then and now, a diesel engine had been put in its place.

Either way, we need to get the Series IIA running. So, our in-house engine wizard Ady had the injection pump sent off to a nearby specialist to be rebuilt and tested. Within a couple of days, the pump was back here at Bridge Classic Cars.

Next Ady had noted some wiring that didn’t quite make sense. A positive cable leading from the glowplug to the frame, in the same way a ground would be routed. After looking into the matter to be double sure, Ady removed the old wiring and rewired up the glowplug to the correct set-up.

Now, it is time to prep the engine for its first fire-up since being with us. Which you will see very soon here on the Bridge Classic Cars blog

More Than a Mouthful – Wiring Issue on a 1974 Triumph TR6

This beautiful 1974 Triumph TR6 arrived at the Bridge Classic Cars workshop this morning for John to begin looking into an issue with the wiring. The issue is that a mouse has managed to eat through part of the loom causing the car to have some issues.

The customer has told us that it was being stored in its Carcoon when he went to go and start the car but nothing would work.

So, our workshop manager and wiring guru John is having a look into the issue. Because of the damage done to one of the cables, as soon as the car was powered on, it melted several wires. Now, John must try and get access to the back of the dashboard to follow the trail…

Stop and Go – Replacing Wheel Cylinders and Axle Seals on the 1967 Ford Mustang

Our technician Mauro has been waiting on some parts for the 1967 Ford Mustang Convertible for some time now. These parts have all had to be sourced from the US so there is bound to be a bit of a wait for them.

The car was assessed and inspected so that all the parts could be ordered in one go but first on the list is the rear axle seals and wheel cylinders. Mauro had noted down a small leak coming from the rear axle and while the rear drums have to be removed for the axles to come out, we thought it best practice to service the rear brakes. In all, their condition was fine. The shoes had plenty of material and all the hardware looked straight and in good order.

So, Mauro decided that just the wheel cylinders would need replacement. As we got the axle out, the backing plates off the drums it was time to pull the old leaking seals out. Carefully, Mauro removed the old seals and prepped the area to receive the brand new seals. They went in perfectly.

Working back out, Mauro began to put the drums back together. As he did, he replaced the wheel cylinders and bled the system. So now, there’s just one more job to do on the back end of the Mustang…

Over Your Head – Headliner Complete on the 1970 Dodge Charger

Kath, our in-house trim expert has been hard at work finishing up the install of the headliner into the 1970 Dodge Charger we have here at Bridge Classic Cars.

The headliner is such a crucial part of the interior of any car let alone a classic that its fit and finish must be as close to perfect as possible. Thankfully, that is what our in-house trim shop is known for. Kath has carefully stretched and secured the headliner into place to make sure that across the roof of this iconic muscle car, everything lines up.

The interior for this particular Charger is important as it must compliment the vibrant exterior colour scheme but also match the finish of the car. So, next up. Kath will be fitting the 2 piece door cars.

Making Moves – Steering Teardown on the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4

Here at Bridge Classic Cars, our in-house restoration technician Mauro is hard at work continuing to teardown, inspect and catalogue the front end parts of the 1955 Aston Martin DB2.

The steering on any sportscar is what is known to give that feel we all know and love. And for that, it needs to be in perfect shape. So, it’s now the turn of the steering rack of the DB2. Mauro has carefully removed each component from the rack itself.

These will be inspected thoroughly before refurbishment begins.

Awoken From its Slumber – Collecting the 1956 Jensen 541

That’s our 1956 Jensen 541 safely in our enclosed transporter and on its way back to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in Pettistree.

It had been sat for quite a while awaiting its place in line for restoration. Our transport team carefully positioned the enclosed trailer up to the front of the sleeping sportscar. Inch by inch the car was tenderly pulled from the storage unit to keep it and the building around it safe.

With the car and all other parts securely stored and the area cleaned up, it was on its way to the workshop to begin teardown in preparation for its full restoration.