852 replies to this topic

[JonnyAlpha]

Well today I managed to finally get the Rear Valance fitted, like most things it took a lot longer than I thought.

First all clamped up with Weld Through Primer on the flanges:

 

 

Next I put in a couple of tacs, four at each end of the Valance:

 

 

 

 

Now time for some careful welding around the edges, using some copper as a heat sink:

 

 

Not pretty but welded OK:

 

 

Next I plug welded all the holes along the rear flange and then the opposite closer:

Then a trial fit of the Rear Bumper to avoid drilling after I paint:

 

 

 

 

It was a bit tight at the ends so I made some adjustments, also removed that nasty knob of weld.

 

Next a clean up with a grinding disc and a 60 and 120 Grit Flap Disc:

 

 

 

Just having my Dinner at the mo then out to slap on a coat of Epoxy.

Tomorrow its seam seal and if its cured, spray time

Edited by JonnyAlpha, 18 August 2015 - 01:54 PM.

[Coxie]

Looking good buddy. There's light at the end of the tunnel.

[JonnyAlpha]

Looking good buddy. There's light at the end of the tunnel.

Hope to have it on four wheel by the weekend Some may say why not just finish off the front first but I need to get it rolling so I can get it in and out of the garage - apart from giving me some motivation

[JonnyAlpha]

Managed a coat of Epoxy tonight, ready for Seam Sealing and Spraying tomorrow?

 

 

 

Did the lower part of the rear end as well:

 

 

And along the boot hinge panel:

 

 

[JonnyAlpha]

Ok so finally I am ready to build and re-fit the Subframe and get this thing rolling again!!!

 

Rear underside is now finished, Epoxy, Seam Seal, Epoxy, Gravitex Stonechip and colour coat, I have also finished painting inside the boot to a standard sufficient to commence building, it can be tidied later.

 

First I had to clear everything from the rear of the garage to make room to spray, this took nearly two hours!!

 

 

Didn't take too many pics of the seam sealing and body filling inside the boot too busy I'm afraid But here's the boot with body filler and seam seal, had to fill in a couple of areas where the boot repair panel didn't fit too well. 

 

 

Masked up the underside ready for spraying and Stone Chipping:

 

 

And the rear end ready for spraying inside the boot and hinge panel area:

 

 

Scuffed up the Epoxy and the laid another coat of Epoxy in the boot, concentrating on getting over the seam seal and body filler.

 

 

Hard work getting in here:

 

 

I think this was a shot part way through the Stone Chip? Before applying the Stone Chip as the Epoxy had been left a day or so it was scuffed with 320 grit.

 

 

I laid a smooth coat on the Rear Valance but as the largest needle I have for my gun is a 1.8mm in the end I did a coat with the underbody gun.

 

 

Not very visible in the photo above, it was getting late and the light was not good.

 

I noticed that the Seam Seal had reacted either side of the Rear Shock Top Mount Re-Enforcement Bracket, probably where I smoothed it with too much thinners, so I re-applied some:

 

 

I left this for another day to set before painting.

 

Part way through the Stone Chipping:

 

 

 

The second day I noticed some splodges inside the boot, at first I thought it was a reaction but then realised it was from where I was cleaning the Gravitex Gun and had splashed dirty thinners!!!

 

 

Here's my underbody gun and the U-POL Gravitex Plus, about £8.99 off of Ebay and worked fine:

 

 

Once thing I was told to watch for on the cheap ones is to ensure they have a breath hole on the cap, otherwise it will not work:

 

 

Oh before applying the Gravitex underneath, make sure you mask of any holes otherwise you'll get Stone Chip where you don't want it!!

 

 

But I still managed a couple of splats, cleaned off with thinners and rubbed down:

 

 

Inside the boot I decided to lay down some Celly Primer Filler that I had before colour coating:

 

 

I used a full size gun underneath but used for the colour coat I used a touch up gun as getting inside the boot with a full size gun, Pressure Gauge and Water Trap just ain't Cricket.

 

Once this was done I then started on the colour coat underneath before doing inside the boot. Time was pressing on. it was getting late, my wife kept telling me to get in and my gun blocked twice, the result - a half finished boot, well at least the underside was completed!!!

 

 

The splodges are from the touch up gun, when turning it on its side paint leaked out of the air hole in the lid - lesson for next time!!!

 

Anyway, a fresh start today, I cleaned up, rubbed down where needed inside the boot and fired up the Compressor and Touch up gun for another session!!

This time I held a piece of Blue Roll over the top of the paint container on the touch up gun.

 

This pictures don't really do it justice but ther are a couple of light patches in the boot, but like I said at the beginning this will have to be finished after its rolling.

 

 

 

 

And some of the colour coated stone chip:

 

 

 

And the Heel Board:

 

 

And underside:

 

 

And rear end of the Sill:

 

 

And Valance:

 

 

Oh and don't clean paint off off your plastic pressure gauge with thinners!!!

 

 

Next - BUILD AND FIT THE SUBFRAME !!! 

[Ben_O]

superb.

 

Well done!

[alex-95]

Excellent, colour looks good, I was going to paint mine that colour at one time.

[JonnyAlpha]

superb.

 

Well done!

Thanks Ben

 

 

Excellent, colour looks good, I was going to paint mine that colour at one time.

 

Thanks Alex, though I'd made a mistake with the colour when I did the Sills but now I actually really like it. Got it from my local paint shop BMC Almond Green.

[JonnyAlpha]

Started on the Subframe today, but first I cleaned up my garage ready for the re-build, that took an hour or so. Started off getting all the bits and pieces together to see what was missing.

 

First the Subframe:

 

 

The lubricants and applicators:

 

 

Adjustable Camber Brackets:

 

 

And everything else:

 

 

Lots of head scratching to remember how it all goes back together and a few missing bits, (nuts and bolts), the task begins......

[JonnyAlpha]

Oh and I have a thread going here asking for advice.

[Ben_O]

Cor, look at that big pile of shiny new bits 

[JonnyAlpha]

Cor, look at that big pile of shiny new bits 

Mostly refurbished The new bits were collected over a period of time Ben, not all in one go - oh and don't tell the missus!!

[JonnyAlpha]

A little bit of prep work today, cleaned up my Trumpets, they were really bad when they came off, covered in all sorts including underseal, I had cleaned them up a tad before but today I attacked them with 280, 320 and 800 grit wet sanding. Tomorrow they get a polish.

 

 

Still quite tarnished in places, I was going to spray them with Eastwood Aluma Blast but that's another £20 odd :-( so its elbow grease and make do I'm afraid.

 

 

 

Cleaned and gave the adjustable Camber Brackets a coat of Plasticoat Laquer, it was in the wife's craft box

 

 

Then I gave the black bits a touch up here and there, to cover the odd spot missed when I sprayed them:

 

 

Then I cleaned up my Radius Arm Spindles, they are pretty bad at the outer ends but still work, I blasted out the old grease as well ready for a fresh lot:

 

 

Maybe tomorrow I'll start assembly?

 

 

 

 

[alex-95]

Look's good jonny, the subframes should be fun to keep clean . Is there any play in the radius arms? They need to be good at the ends as thats where they move on.

[JonnyAlpha]

Look's good jonny, the subframes should be fun to keep clean . Is there any play in the radius arms? They need to be good at the ends as thats where they move on.

 

Thanks Alex, there was no play when I took them off so fingers crossed, I'll check them once they are re-assembled. Ref cleaning the Subframe - at least i'll be able to see the dirt, Iv'e been flicking bits of dust off all day and they aren't even fitted yet, let alone on the road :-(

Edited by JonnyAlpha, 21 August 2015 - 08:28 PM.