- Joined
- Mar 30, 2017
- Messages
- 2,392
- Reaction score
- 884
- Location
- The Netherlands
- My Car
- 73 Grande 351C
71 Mach 1 429CJ
As many parts were restored over the course of the winter, this past weekend felt like xmas.
Finally it was time to put back things together, unpack many prepared parts from their masking tape, bags etc..
Last but not least, while the weather was real bad in the country, somehow the north was lucky (for once), we even had the first "paint ready" temperature, and oh boy did I use the opportunity!!
Among my victims: the first of the 2 pancakes assembly with the arm... Putting back the spiral spring with the correct load was a bit challenging, but the work was mainly about ensuring that all the rotating points and contact point were properly greased.
Once the whole was back together, it was time to test again that baby to make sure all was operating as it should. Well, looks like the motor liked the make over. With all the pivot, gears in fresh grease, I'm pretty sure the window will go up and down much stronger and smoother than they were when I tested before dismantling.
Another victim that got my attention: the column. Here some picts while putting it apart. Even loose it was not really turning nicely, found out the axle bearing was shot, rust had found its way on many parts and oh boy it was amazing the crap that had accumulated inside over the years... removing every bits of the column wasn't a nice experience and even had to use force at times... but hey, it was a perfect way to occupy myself in a winter day!
My now routined paint removal/de-rust/plate/repeat turned extra hours on this baby... While most was done in past weeks, its still not fully done, I actually still have brackets and hardware in my acid bath as I type, which I hope to finish this week so I can think about putting it back together. How many parts are in this column? Many!!
Slowly but surely the first results started to show up... Motivating me to get them to the next level.
All these pristine parts had to wait weeks before I finally could spray them. Too cold, wet.... Past 2 weekends were finally allowing it!
The car having a ginger interior, most metal parts are all painted in what is supposed to be a mat "chocolate" looking paint.
Unfortunately it gets another connotation in my eyes.. Just like all I do on this car, with the idea to respect the original, yet enhance it.
I went with a few "poo" looking parts to my fav painter. After measuring, comparing with monsters, I ended up let mix a the to the eye exact same brown, except it was now a high quality paint metallic with fine particles. The idea being to get more contrast and nicer highlights that the original would ever give...
Dang it, paint is expensive thee days!! :O
After spraying the colour on the parts primed last week with great care to obtain a nice distribution of the particles, I was at this point a bit disappointed, as it was my first time spraying this color, I was afraid it might be a tad too dark...
But the moment I started to spray the top coat, it all came alive! As the round parts are subjected to keys and close to the eye, I opted to spray at a slightly lower pressure than I usually do (2 bars) to obtain a substantial layer of coat. More durable. I must say getting it done wasn't as easy as one may think as runs are easy when that wet. I have listened my painter who recommended me to wait 10 minutes after a not too thick layer, the surface being at this point very sticky, you can then dare more wet than usual. Pffew, the tip payed off!
Very hard to photograph it looks beyond my expectations! I know purists would prefer the mat, but as you know by now, I want my car be... my car! :O
More little guys were also set back together. The pedals for instance. dirty, rusty... no more!
I'm glad it's Monday, my eyes need to recover from so much bling bling!
I did more but will post later about that...
To be continued...
Finally it was time to put back things together, unpack many prepared parts from their masking tape, bags etc..
Last but not least, while the weather was real bad in the country, somehow the north was lucky (for once), we even had the first "paint ready" temperature, and oh boy did I use the opportunity!!
Among my victims: the first of the 2 pancakes assembly with the arm... Putting back the spiral spring with the correct load was a bit challenging, but the work was mainly about ensuring that all the rotating points and contact point were properly greased.
Once the whole was back together, it was time to test again that baby to make sure all was operating as it should. Well, looks like the motor liked the make over. With all the pivot, gears in fresh grease, I'm pretty sure the window will go up and down much stronger and smoother than they were when I tested before dismantling.
Another victim that got my attention: the column. Here some picts while putting it apart. Even loose it was not really turning nicely, found out the axle bearing was shot, rust had found its way on many parts and oh boy it was amazing the crap that had accumulated inside over the years... removing every bits of the column wasn't a nice experience and even had to use force at times... but hey, it was a perfect way to occupy myself in a winter day!
My now routined paint removal/de-rust/plate/repeat turned extra hours on this baby... While most was done in past weeks, its still not fully done, I actually still have brackets and hardware in my acid bath as I type, which I hope to finish this week so I can think about putting it back together. How many parts are in this column? Many!!
Slowly but surely the first results started to show up... Motivating me to get them to the next level.
All these pristine parts had to wait weeks before I finally could spray them. Too cold, wet.... Past 2 weekends were finally allowing it!
The car having a ginger interior, most metal parts are all painted in what is supposed to be a mat "chocolate" looking paint.
Unfortunately it gets another connotation in my eyes.. Just like all I do on this car, with the idea to respect the original, yet enhance it.
I went with a few "poo" looking parts to my fav painter. After measuring, comparing with monsters, I ended up let mix a the to the eye exact same brown, except it was now a high quality paint metallic with fine particles. The idea being to get more contrast and nicer highlights that the original would ever give...
Dang it, paint is expensive thee days!! :O
After spraying the colour on the parts primed last week with great care to obtain a nice distribution of the particles, I was at this point a bit disappointed, as it was my first time spraying this color, I was afraid it might be a tad too dark...
But the moment I started to spray the top coat, it all came alive! As the round parts are subjected to keys and close to the eye, I opted to spray at a slightly lower pressure than I usually do (2 bars) to obtain a substantial layer of coat. More durable. I must say getting it done wasn't as easy as one may think as runs are easy when that wet. I have listened my painter who recommended me to wait 10 minutes after a not too thick layer, the surface being at this point very sticky, you can then dare more wet than usual. Pffew, the tip payed off!
Very hard to photograph it looks beyond my expectations! I know purists would prefer the mat, but as you know by now, I want my car be... my car! :O
More little guys were also set back together. The pedals for instance. dirty, rusty... no more!
I'm glad it's Monday, my eyes need to recover from so much bling bling!
I did more but will post later about that...
To be continued...