1987 3.2 Carrera Backdate project - Sladeys hotrod

Post by **Bootsy** » Sat Jun 07, 2014 7:34 am

3 weeks should be fine

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:12 pm

Turned a corner today and reassembly started

Ian's a name round and we started on the headlining - aiming to finish it tomorrow

Cleaned out the inside

Spent about an hour fitting the bonnet catch/lock. There are a few gotchas with this and I think I'd be able to do it much quicker now

Neil came round and we (mainly he) fitted the doors

Tomorrow's going to be a great day

Post by **Bootsy** » Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:21 pm

Looking good. Every day a step closer

murph2309 · Post by **murph2309** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 2:47 pm

Looking great - it's amazing how the troubles melt away when you've made progress huh?

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 12:00 am

OK well today's been a big day. I knew I'd have a lot to do and in my head none of the jobs would take too long. Popping the front wing on only takes me about 10 minutes doesn't it?...... nope

So in the morning I had to free off the captive nuts for the door latch mechanism - I'd painted epoxy mastic over them and they'd set in place. Working inside the rear arch I managed to free one off with a crowbar, but using it on the other nut the crowbar slipped and I got my first dent! A small one poking out, but still a dent. Not happy. I told Neil about it later and he said he'd see what he could do. I came back into the garage 10 minutes later and he'd sorted it! Couldn't see it any more.

Started transplanting black carpet into the car but ran out of carpet glue. Also I reasoned the next deadline is the mot on Wednesday - it'll still get an MOT with no carpet. I moved onto bigger stuff

did the rear lights and the engine cover

I hadn't thought there were any shims there when I took it off - shows what I know - it needed a few when going back on, but overall pleased with the fit.

Rear lights were a bugger to fit but they always are - just fiddly. Look good though

Then onto the windscreen wiper spindles - I was stressing about these a bit as I'd nicked the paint when removing them - it's really easy to do that with a spanner. Eventually managed to sort that out and was there fore able to put the heater hoses and pipes back together (after a fair bit of head scratching).

Ian came round and carried on with the headlining. Started peeling off the double sided tape and fixing the Headlining in place. Was all looking great until realised bits weren't sticking. Roll out the glue in a few places. Still some more to do on it - Ian's popping back tomorrow evening to finish off. He was meant to be helping me do it but as it turned out I let him get on with it - doing a good job.

Once the heater was in place bonnet went on

Neil came over and finished fitting the doors. He also flattened some of the bits that had got into the paint - they flatted off nicely. Neil also brought me a couple more bits of black carpet - I'm almost at the full set now!

Got onto the wings about 5pm. I started at 7:15 this morning and knew I still had both wings to do so I was getting a bit tired and grumpy. Then had a bit of a glitch with the drivers wing

At the bottom it was fouling one of the oil pipes. AAAAAAAAAARGH! It had taken me a while to get the wing on and now I was going to have to take it off and then cut a bit of the wing off. Not happy. Went in for my tea. I was concerned about sorting it out but also concerned as it meant I wouldn't get both wings on tonight.

Helpfully my middle daughter pointed out that 'God dad, it's only a car - I mean no-one's died or anything'. Kids.

I went back out and looked at it again. There was actually a bit of room behind the offending pipe, and both pipes were clamped securely on the sill. I got out a piece of wood and a 4lb persuader. A few taps/bangs and the pipe had moved out of the way. Yesssssssssss!

Still took a while to fit that wing and I'm still not 100% happy with the fit. Having said that it's better that it has been for the last 8 years.

Then went onto the other wing.

By 11:00 tonight I finished up with this

While taking the wheels off I fitted the 5mm spacers all round. Happy with them at the rear but not sure on the fronts - may be too wide. Front needs the ride height sorting anyway.

By the time I came in I was too knackered to be happy. However, a hot shower changes things.

Now pleased with progress. Neil's spraying the rear bumper tomorrow and buffing up bits of the paintwork round the handles etc.

Tomorrow night I'll do the bright work while Ian does the headlining hopefully. Tuesday the windscreens are being fitted and Neil will buff the rest of the paint. Fit the interior Tuesday night and take it in for the mot on Wednesday

johnM · Post by **johnM** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 5:19 am

What a days work. These cars are always a rollacoster and looks like you had a day full of ups and downs. Keep making small steps forward and you will get there.

Kind regards.

Gary71 · Post by **Gary71** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:41 am

Great stuff! Small steps like getting the headlights in can suddenly make it look like a car again and help with motivation

The stance of your car was spot on before so I'd be tempted to avoid any spacers.

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 8:04 am

Thanks guys. Woke up this morning with a splitting headache and completely knackered! Been out into the garage to tidy up and now feeling a lot better

Will start the shiny bits this afternoon

On the spacers I was only looking to change because the arches are slightly wider. Looks right at the rear, fronts may have to go

jury · Post by **jury** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 8:47 am

Really great stuff Mark, coming together nicely now.

If those front spacers would fit the rear of my car, you might have a potential buyer

Keep at it !

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 9:35 am

Cool Chris - they are 5mm - they'll fit your stud pattern and your studs should be long enough anyway.

Will make a decision when I drop the front of the car

DustyM · Post by **DustyM** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 9:47 am

Nice progress Mark. Reassembly always takes longer than you think it will when you plan your day.

Fingers crossed for Wednesday.

Cheers
Jon

Nige · Post by **Nige** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 9:52 am

Must make sure your horn works, all the lighting and indicators and apart from possible headlight miss alignment I reckon it'll breeze through the MOT.

Max911 · Post by **Max911** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 10:10 am

Great and fast progress!
Working-like-no-tomorrow

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 10:19 am

Thanks - going home this afternoon to carry on

The horn definitely works - managed to knock it a few times when inside the car

DustyM · Post by **DustyM** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 11:16 am

sladey wrote:Thanks - going home this afternoon to carry on

May as well, your mind definitely isn't on your work

DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker