more progress today, started on the brakes 1st, they were all fitted yesterday however I didn't have time to put fluid in until this morning, this car has series 3 front brakes (twin leading shoe) and (take note simon) they are sometimes a royal pain in the back side to refit without leaks, the problem with them is the back of the cylinder (alloy) corrodes where the banjo bolts for the link pipes connect.
I had 4 stainless steel sleeved replacement units from the appia consortium and used (from previous experiences) common sence to have the rear faces skimmed to a nice flat un pitted surface, I then chose to re use the original copper washers off the banjo unions but carefully annealing them 1st (heating with gas torch until red/orange and cooling off whilst red in a cup of water)
This all worked well accept for the o/s lower banjo connection leaked under pressure from the resovoir , removed again (back plate off again!!) and inspected, 1 copper washer had a slight bur so I replaced with another spare item which again I annealed , final result is that all the brakes now seem to work and its holding hydrolic pressure from the resovoir , the plunger should stay up all the time to act like a servo under braking , also the banjo bolts must not be over tightened just "nipped" otherwise the banjo unions distort and you have no chance of sealing , when they leak its not always obvious as it runs down between the cylinder and back plate into the drum, the 1st you know about it iss not being able to stop!
exhaust is now on, the center section that I already had in stock is not correct and I presume series 1

its a foot too long and the bends are in the wrong place

so I decided to refit the original front pipe and center with a new back box for the time being,
Fuel tank is now in after being painted as is electric fuel pump and the wiring is now strung in for it too, hand brake took it of sorting out bt again now seems to work ok, done plenty of other little jobs finishing things off, I aim for the car to be finished this week, dad is busy reconditioning 3 starter motors that I have and then mine and matty's carbs