1987 3.2 Carrera Backdate project - Sladeys hotrod

[petric]

Thanks again for the responses.

Ive got this week off work to try and get it finished.

OK so today I started out by digging out the stock chip and trying that instead. Again started up fine. The idle wasn't hunting as much as with the other chip - was not rock steady though. I just ran it for a minute and switched off. I won't bother again until I'm going to drive it. I think the stock chip is the safest option for the time being. Once I'm driving it around I can try the other chip again.

Then tidied the garage up - god there was a lot of dust!

While I'd been eating breakfast I'd remembered that I still hadn't connected the clutch thingy (slave cylinder?). It's held on by 2 nuts, but to get them onto the studs you have to compress the hydraulic clutch rod. You have to do this lying on your back under the car, with your arms stretched out up onto the side of the engine/gearbox. It's stiff. Very stiff. After half an hour of grunting and swearing under the car I gave up.

Then I went onto the rear bodywork - this is the hole I need to fill


Bit of bending, shaping, hammering and got to this stage


Screwed it in place to help get the positioning right


Bit more fettling and I've ended up this this - should be OK


Once that was done I returned to the clutch slave cylinder. Spent an hour making a special tool to let me wind it into place using a threaded bar. Spent another hour trying to make that work.

Had tea

Went out again. Special tool not working. Tried to force it in again - just not happening. Eventually I got a crowbar which after some more grunting and swearing (some baad stuff this time) and I realised enough thread was poking out to get a nut on!!! Got both on and tightened them up. Yesssss! That bugger took me about 3 hours overall. Must remember to use the crowbar next time.

You need to swear a bit more lad you are out of practice ha ha

[Gary71]

Bit more fettling and I've ended up this this - should be OK

Nice metal working

Dare I mention torsion bar access? Or is this different on later cars?

[Nige]

Gary, he's gone coilovers so no need for torsion bar access.

[Gary71]

Ahh! Missed that bit

As you were.

[murph2309]

Rear wing nearly there


Neil was here until 10 last night - this is what greeted me this morning

He's done you proud hasn't he - so important to have people help you with these things, I couldn't have done mine on my own. There's a veritable army been on mine.

Cant wait to see this in paint - you've done so much on this car, real labour of love. Top job.

R

[sladey]

Thanks for the comments guys

Peter I'm hoping for a swearing masterclass at CLM - I know you won't disappoint

OK so this final bit of prep is taking longer than expected - soooooo close yet you keep finding little bits to tidy up

Yesterday started building the spray booth by doing the ceiling


Also hired a small extractor fan


Initially it wouldn't work but we traced that to a faulty 110v transformer - borrowed another one and managed to blow most of the contents of my shed through the garage and across the road

Took both the doors off.

Neil's compressor packed in mine keeps cutting out as well so that's not great news

Today I'm building the rest of the spray booth and Neil's coming by later to lay some primer on

[Nige]

I may have access to a big ass compressor if required. Unused too.

I reckon this will be back on the road close or play wednesday this week.

[Northy]

Go Mark, Go!

I've got an electric spray gun. If you get desperate and can work with it, I'll run it up to you.

Really enjoying your updates, keep 'em coming.

[sladey]

Thanks Nige and northy - I'll talk it through with Neil when he pops in later

Nige do you mean the compressors available Wednesday or my car on the road?

[Nige]

both!

My Dad gave me a compressor that he's never used, it's at his workshop as I don't have space for it until he give me his workshop

[sladey]

Ahaa. Thanks but we're sorted now - Neil had a look at his compressor and a pipe had come loose. Sorted that and it works fine again.

Thanks again for the kind offers though - Nige and Northy

Today's been tiring and I've still got a few hours to go

This morning I finished prepping the passenger door - scuffing it up and filling 5 chips/dents with dolphin glaze. When Neil arrived he said I'd done a good job

Then I cut out the last bit of corrosion - by the rear light cluster


I welded a new piece in there. When Neil came he then filled that bit and finished prepping the passenger door. Then he primed the rear drivers quarter and the passenger door.

Meantime I'd started constructing the spray booth. Going well so far but I've got to finish it tonight


Plan now is that booth finished tonight; Neil to finish priming and masking tomorrow; then put colour on various panels Tuesday; and the rest of the colour on the main shell on Wednesday

I'm back at work tomorrow for a nice sit down and a rest

[964RS]

Cleanest your garage has been for a loooooong time!!

[DustyM]

Will be GREAT coming home from work to see the car in paint, you will be like an excited school kid waiting to get home from the last day of school at the start of the summer holidays. Don't think you'll get much work done!

[sladey]

You're right there Jon - looking forward to that.

OK just finished work 20 minutes ago - that's 13 hours today

No pics I'm afraid but I've finally built the spray booth - will get some pics of it over the next few days. I'm quite pleased with how it's turned out. Now chilling out watching 'for the love of cars'.

Next few days should be exciting!

[Mike]

Good luck with the paint Mark, will be great when it's done