DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

Booked the trailer for the delivery to Barry yet?

Those rear bumpers were far better than mine were in '89!

Hi Gary, PM sent.
Rich

Back end assembled

I do like it when bits fit! These are the horn grilles I bought from Kirk a couple of months back.

My old ones never followed the line of the wing.

Made some small bits today that will get fitted after the sills and quarters are finished.

These weird bits that fit up the B pillar and get trimmed to hold the quarter trim in place.



Then the little door seal flange extensions that run around the bottom front corner next to the hinge. And finally the bracket that fill the gap at the front of the sill. One of these is the Restoration design part. I was pretty sure I had the other hand but rather than spend 2 hours searching the garage for it I made the other side.



Next job is to make some decent alternative battery clamps as the original over centre straps are frankly a bit crap and don’t fit modern batteries very well.

The plan is to fit a strong lip to the back of the battery box that will trap the edge of the battery then make a clamp for the front that uses the original M8 nut the strap goes into.

Nice work again Gary

As mentioned above the ineffective battery straps have always annoyed me so I’ve made a few parts to hold them in a more modern way.

Bracket inside the battery box (will be plug welded from the other side)


LH clamp was easy enough:


RH was a little more unconventional due to the lack of symmetry. The back of the little box has a T slot so you can slacken the bolt and slide it off.



Think I’ll also lose the big Halfords stickers before rebuild time!

Nice Idea. As you say the original straps are a pain.

Another big investment this week on the debt card...

Taking Barry’s advice I bought a new OE engine cover. Doesn’t fit straight out the box of course as it needs backdating. To what extent I’m going with this I’m not sure as I don’t want to cut up this nice cheap panel too much.
Spot the difference:


Bit I’m not sure about doing:


Bit I’m defiantly not bothering with:


Essential bits are number plate lights mountings and holes for the badge lettering.

Number plate light holes cut in:


Next job is the badge holes. I’m going to cut the skin off the old panel by sanding around the hemmed edge and use it as a drill template. That’s tomorrow’s job!

The old panel died a graceful death and donated its skin as a template:




With that done and primed I’ve got back to cleaning. There are many levels of clean from ‘got the worst of the crap off’ to ‘almost ready for primer’ It’s taken while and several revisits to areas I thought were done, but just maybe I’m getting to the last stage in the luggage bay:

Hi, in case it helps also remove the sound deadening of the inside of the new engine lid if you don’t the pins on the letters aren’t long enough for the fixings to connect.

HTH
Alan

Thanks Alan, I’ve tackled that off already with a heat gun. Not an easy job as it’s almost crimped into the hem!
Noticed a lack of paint under it in places which was surprising. Now sanded back and etch primed.

I’m so bored of cleaning I think this will do. Most of it is under stonechip, a fuel tank and carpet anyway!



I’ve brushed a 2k epoxy into the seams and over any repairs before the overall coat goes on tomorrow. I can see the concours enthusiasts going pale at the sight of brush marks The bits that don’t have stonechip will be flatted back before spraying.



I’ve not sprayed anything for years so tomorrow maybe a day of experimentation!

All looks most excellent Gary.

If you're spraying epoxy, be aware that whilst it's an amazing product as far as the car is concerned, it's a different level of evil to breath. Carcinogenic for one thing and generally a whole heap more potent than a normal 2K primer.

No doubt you'll be using an air fed mask but be extra careful. Btw, it's also very sticky so overspray will lock onto things some way away rather than reaching them as a dust like other paints.

It is absolutely awesome as a paint though and effectively stops the clock dead, unlike etch.

Cheers Barry, Good advice on the spraying, maybe I’ll use a roller and leave the garage door open! I’m not really set up for spraying properly anyway.