Los Lunas MK1

CLIFF_MK1

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
212
I want to introduce my MARK 1 Tiger and what I am doing to it now since I started the restoration in October (2014). I was a graduate student in Tucson in 1971. I saw the Moonstone Tiger for sale by the 2nd owner. It was like new and the thing I remember about my first impression was how solid it rode. It also had a great sound. I paid $1,300 for it and had to finance it though Dial finance. In fact Dial is still listed on the title as a lein. I didn't race it or modify it, but I also didn't baby it for the next 2/3 years. Tucson has great dirt roads and is close to the Mexican beaches, and the Tiger saw lots of country roads.Of course it got lots of dents, etc, on the frame which now has to be repaired. One summer, my then girlfriend and 10 year old son packed it with camping and snorkeling gear and camped on the East side of Baja for 10 days. There was still enough room for my son to ride behind the seats.

After I graduated, I took the Tiger to Wisconsin where it stayed in the garage the winter of 1973/74. I drove it to Wisconsin, but It was never driven on the street after the Fall of 1973. I towed it to Albuquerque the summer of 1974 and then to Los Lunas (25 miles S of Albq) where I live. Since then, it has deteriorated terribly. I kept planning to restore it but was always busy with other things. In the late 70's, I had a 6 bolt 289 with some modifications installed, but it was never driven on the street. The mechanic broke the clutch cylinder when he tried to use it on the new bell housing with out the proper bracket. I was not aware of what was wrong at the time. So the motor was started and run for a few years and just sat with the car deteriorating.

In the early Fall of 2014, I decided to get serious about restoring the Tiger. I put it on my lift. As you can see from the pictures, it was a mess. Every body panel had a dent, the interior was totally shot and the underneath had rust, dents and built up grime. I had always wanted to restore it myself or, at least do a lot of the work myself, but I felt really overwhelmed. I had Jim Hardyman look at it. Jim has a muscle car restoration shop near my home and I had been impressed with his work. At first I was going to have him do the body work and I was going to do the mechanicals, but I soon realized that to do the car justice, It needed to be completely taken apart, put on a rotisserie and completely rebuilt. So the Tiger has been at Jim's since October. Jim has one employee, Tommy who is the metal fabricator (along with Jim) and mechanic. One of Jim's cars won "Best Paint" this spring at Super Nationals.

My goal for the restoration is not an original, correct restoration. I am not selling the car, and I am an older guy with out (unfortunately) someone to leave it to who appreciates it. So, It's just for me the way I want it. The changes I am making can be undone, and the body and interior will be stock. I've got a Dale's front end and there will be disc brakes with 5 lugs on all four corners.I plan to use knock off wire wheels. I have a 331 6 bolt roller engine with club headers. I am keeping the top loader for now but have wide ratio gears. I am changing the paint to Midnight Blue since I prefer that color over the Moonstone.

I've attached pictures of the beginning, including my hard top with Mexico Vistas decals. If you like, I'll post progress reports. Cliff
 

CLIFF_MK1

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
212
Here are the rest of the photos for this first post. Hope I am doing it right
 

SunbeamTgr

Silver forum user
CAT Member
Messages
52
Los Lunas Mk 1

That's a great start. Reading your story, I was expecting much worse in the way of body damage/deterioration. Don't let up, this car needs to be back on the road, maybe stay off some of those "off road" rides this time around. Take LOTS of pictures and keep sharing the progress. One of my Tigers, B9471410, (I,ve had it since 1977) was Moonstone, now Alfa Romeo China White.
 

CLIFF_MK1

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
212
Thanks, It's one of those "It could've been worse, but, actually it could've been better too. A lot of the problem with the car is my own negligence. Since the pictures were taken, the cruciforms had to be rebuilt the spring perches reinforced, the front floor panels replaced (or partially replace) and both sill panels repaired/replaced. But, the good news is it will be very solid and rust free. Cliff
 

Twin Turbo Tiger

Gold forum user
Messages
123
Cliff I still have your number and will try and remember to call you next time I travel to Albuquerque.
Good luck on the restore.
 

CLIFF_MK1

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
212
Here's the company phone number. There is also another company that's even closer to my home and uses the same procedures. Let me know if you need additional info. Cliff
 

0neoffive

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
2,853
Gotta Appreciate It All

Just luv watching someone else suffer thru this phase of a project . . . . .
 

CLIFF_MK1

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
212
Update

The basic frame/structural repair is now done. Floor boards had to be partially replaced (thanks Randy) and outer sills replaced. Body preparation for paint is now in progress. I am trying to decide on a hood scoop. I don't want to use a fiberglass hood but am considering a metal style LAT hood. I considered using a rear facing scoop and bought one to adapt; but, it didn't look right. So we're considering a LAT style LAT hood. If the mock-up looks promising, I'll send some pictures. Work has slowed down on the Tiger somewhat, but that's fine since my budget can only stretch so far. Thanks for your comments. Cliff
 

CLIFF_MK1

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
212
Update

Yes, Doug, thanks for asking. Getting some photos together. Body and pieces are ready to paint, engine is together and transmission rebuilt (wide ratio). This is slow going. Sand, sand and more sanding. Cliff
 

tigerracer

Silver forum user
Messages
73
Hi Cliff, I noticed in your prerestoration pics the engine compartment of your moonstone car is painted black. I have a moonstone car in my shop and its engine compartment is also black. Did you paint yours black or is it factory. The car in my shop appears to be factory. Just trying to get the facts.
 

0neoffive

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
2,853
Nope !

Hi Cliff, I noticed in your prerestoration pics the engine compartment of your moonstone car is painted black. I have a moonstone car in my shop and its engine compartment is also black. Did you paint yours black or is it factory. The car in my shop appears to be factory. Just trying to get the facts.

Somebody painted it fer sure. The cheap employers of the socialist labour market only used body colour in the motor bay. amen;)
 

michael-king

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
4,132
Dale,

I'm intrigued by your question, I know you have been around these cars a long time and know the in and out of them. The accepted and proved knowledge is the cars were always body colour inside and out with the satin black in the grill, a post drains and on some of the underside .... The car you are referring to that has a black engine bay, what's under the black? Factory red oxide? The moonstone paint? What's making you think it might have left the factory like that? How early/late production is it?
 

CLIFF_MK1

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
212
Engine compartment paint

I was the 3rd owner in 1971. I didn't paint the engine compartment, and the car was low mileage. I didn't paint it that I remember. Unfortunately, the car has been blasted so there is no evidence to look at except the photos. I twill be painted body color soon. Cliff
 

CLIFF_MK1

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
212
Los Lunas Tiger Progress - One Year Later

Well, it's slow going but the body is ready for paint. Lots had to be done to the body and frame with repaired crusiform, floor panels, sills and preparation. The body was bead blasted and then the following was done,
skin coat (primer can't cover all the imperfections)
epoxiprimer
4 sessions of primer (multiple coats)
Every coat was block sanded
Final wet sanded
Next, a sealer for the base coat to be done in correct color
Then Base Coat - Dupont ChromeBase Midnight Blue solid color
Then Clear Coat and wet sanding and buff
Some pictures are attached.
Transmission is done with addition of Wide Ratio gears
Engine is also done - 1987 roller block with 331 stroker kit, AFR heads, Comp Cams 270-H camkit, 4FB manifold and 650cfm Edelbrock carb & Pertronix Distributor with CAT headers. Thanks for all the information from CAT community. Cliff
 

CLIFF_MK1

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
212
Los Lunas Tiger 2 years later

A progress report after 2 years in the restoration shop.Things have progressed well and we're in the final assembly. Hope to finish most of the car by the first of the year. Painting has been completed. Attached photos are not very helpful in presenting the quality of the paint due to the photos taken indoors with poor lighting. The doors, hood and trunk are waitnig to be installed after the interior are completed. The engine, transmission and rear end are installed. The top loader was converted to wide ratio with David Key Toploader Transmission gears. The 9 inch rear end was from John's Industries. John's was able to put together the housing from deminsions we gave them. The ratio is 3:00 with a TrueTrac. Axels are Ford 5 x 4.5 with wilwood disk brakes, and front suspension is Dale's Restorations. Wheels are 16 x 7 inch with 5 inch back space. Stock Tiger and Dale's front suspension is quite wide which requires a deep back space to keep the wheel inside the fender. This makes it difficult to locate a wheel with a 5 inch backspace. Finally, CenterWheel has several styles with these requirements. Tires are 205 x 45 x 16 front and 225 x 45 x 16 rear.

The dash is from Sunbeam Specialties (SS), and instruments restored by Mo-Ma of Albuquerque. Interior materials also from SS. Chrome plating was done by Custom Plating Specialists of Brillon WI, and they did a great job, especially with bumpers that were twisted so badly they could not be bolted to the frame. Wiring by Pete's Performance wireing. All bolts and nuts replaced with materials from Totally Stainless. Upholstery by SS. Hopefully, next report will be with finished Tiger! Cliff
 

Doug C

Gold forum user
Messages
543
Very Nice

Very nice and it its giving me more motivation to get pushing the powers to be to get mine done. Thanks
 
Last edited:
Top