At least for exterior. That was hard work, little bit of metal fettling to do tomorrow and paint friday I think. Im already chasing very slight surface rust where ive had my mucky paws on the bare metal
Finally got the rear valance installed prior to prep and primer coat.
Milestone on this project I guess.
Its had,
Two full length half floor pans, boot floor rear repair section, heel board, toe board, seat crossmember, lower a pillars both sides, flitch panels both sides, outer sills, both inner wing front halves, full scuttle, two wings, front clip, various brackets and closure panels.
Used loads of MIG gas, and wire, and patience.
But its finally done, and hopefully I won't have to point a MIG at it for a good few years 🙏 but I've probably jinxed myself there !
Super pleased.
Next step, big clean up, some grinding, prep for primer and then i can breathe
But its getting there
I made a post the other day about being worried around home painting the car.
I settled on cellulose as no paint job or car is worth my health, and I don't have the facility for air fed masks tp use a 2k product.
Due to the size of my compressor, and against great advice received, and my better judgement - I thought I'd try a cheap LVLP spray gun, if anything to convince myself HVLP was required.
Well, other than quite a nasty reaction to a previous respray on this panel, im thoroughly impressed, and think ill be sticking with the LVLP and cellulose for this respray.
Pics above are paint as laid, paint after 3000 grit sanding and some buffing, where you can see the difference between the sanded and buffed surface, and some pictures of the nasty reaction some of it has had.
I will mitigate this with an inert primer for the rest of the car, hopefully.
Will sort of miss the welder when I put it away, its become a bit like a member of my family at this point!
So, other than a couple of small patch repairs, I have completed the shell restoration. Now I know I can weld, and I know I can turn spanners, so this part of the restoration has gone ok.
I have found myself really slowing down, as one thing i know im rubbish at is paint! Realistically, it's the next step and I'm procrastinating over moving any further.
I have never sprayed anything past small items and touch ups with rattle cans. I have decent size compressor i can use, but im really not looking forward to it.
I do not have the funds or desire to send the shell for a 'proper respray', and im not after a showroom finish. I would also like to be able to say i did everyt part of the car myself. The goal is 'looks alright', as it is more of a toy to play with the engine, driveability, etc than to try and win awards.
Flat grey (think audi 'nardo' grey, but slightly darker) is the colour we have kind of settled on for the main part of the car, with a black roof, and black everything else thats usually chrome.
Has anybody got and hints and tips for someone whos never touched a spray gun before in getting a respectable finish. 2k? or base and topcoat? plus the million other questions!
For anyone about to start a renovation or just in need of a few panels, I've been buying magnum panels for basic pieces and heritage for complicated/large parts during my restoration. Bought a few panels from m-machine, got to say i wish I'd used them exclusively since the start.
Absolutely night and day, have a side by side
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That didn't go to plan ! It was tight going in the final corner, probably too much pressure from me
Back on it's rear subframe 8 days ago, having finished the full floor and boot pan, and fully rebuilding the subframe and brakes. Its had new cones, will be having new shockers but no need yet.
A pillars (all 3 panels that make up the section), steps and flitch panels completely replaced both sides.
The doors fit, and the front fits, thank f**k!
Radiator / front of inner wheel arch panels on the way. Some lower rear quarter skin repairs, and rear quarter light seam repairs, then its just a few small patches and the light at the end of the tunnel will be visible... at least for the shell.
Boot floor, the cars been rear ended and poorly repaired at some point. Rear subframe to floor mounts are terrible. Boot floor rear repair section, two new valance closing / subframe mount assemblies, two new Boot floor to wheel arch strengthening panels. Some more patching elsewhere, infront of the rear wheel arches, and some of the upper lip for the lower boot hinge panel
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At this rate the entire underside will be new. An entire boot floor is way out of budget and not necessary
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Seat cross member dry fitted ish. Got extra floor welding to be done right way up along with cutting away unnecessary edges of new floor and general beating into shape. After that, it can be flipped again and the floor underside prepped and painted. Then I can repair the wheel arches, door steps, a pillars and boot floor. Hopefully then get the subframes sorted and she can be a rolling chassis again
Thankfully I knew what I was getting into when I bought the car..