Discussion
A week of sanding (when I have had time) has uncovered a previous repair to the back of the car above the number plate. I am not sure how it happened as there are other panels that protrude around it but I will need to reinforce the area of the damage as it is a weak spot.
Most of the scratches in the gel coat can be sanded out but crazing will need more work. At the moment I am sanding the whole body ready to accept paint before I carry out g/f repair or filling.
It is a slow process but I am improving my tan while doing it!
Paul
Most of the scratches in the gel coat can be sanded out but crazing will need more work. At the moment I am sanding the whole body ready to accept paint before I carry out g/f repair or filling.
It is a slow process but I am improving my tan while doing it!
Paul
Spent the day doing glass fibre repairs. This is all new to me but, like most things, it is quite logical and, as usual, if you plan first it is fairly easy to do.
Lots more to do tomorrow but that should see most of it done.
Decided to replace the fuel tanks as there was some corrosion on the ally making it a bit thin in places. I am going to have them powder coated next week to stop them oxidising.
Another 10 days and I finish a contract which will see me semi-retired, so I should have 5 days a week to spend on the Ultima.
Paul
Lots more to do tomorrow but that should see most of it done.
Decided to replace the fuel tanks as there was some corrosion on the ally making it a bit thin in places. I am going to have them powder coated next week to stop them oxidising.
Another 10 days and I finish a contract which will see me semi-retired, so I should have 5 days a week to spend on the Ultima.
Paul
Hi Paul, I'm following your thread with some interest, that's because usually when you finish something you say "if I was doing that from scratch again I would ..." and because I'm half way through my build I'm taking note of some of your 'modifications'.
For example your fuel tanks, is the corrosion a common thing and since I'm about to fit mine should I think about powder coating them before fitting?
Keep going with the updates on your rebuild.
Pete
For example your fuel tanks, is the corrosion a common thing and since I'm about to fit mine should I think about powder coating them before fitting?
Keep going with the updates on your rebuild.
Pete
chucknorris said:
....For example your fuel tanks, is the corrosion a common thing and since I'm about to fit mine should I think about powder coating them before fitting?....
I don't believe there should be a corrosion problem as the build instructions tell you to paint the tanks.To paint them you should start with an etch primer designed for aluminium.
You will not be able to powder coat as the tank is foam filled and will not like the high temperature of the powder coat process.
Steve
Steve_D said:
I don't believe there should be a corrosion problem as the build instructions tell you to paint the tanks.
To paint them you should start with an etch primer designed for aluminium.
You will not be able to powder coat as the tank is foam filled and will not like the high temperature of the powder coat process.
Steve
hiTo paint them you should start with an etch primer designed for aluminium.
You will not be able to powder coat as the tank is foam filled and will not like the high temperature of the powder coat process.
Steve
mine arent painted?
Dom
A couple of pictures of a small mod I made today.
Access hole for the pedals - cut with a dremel
The return created and trimmed
The finished fit. I will insert some fixings and a rubber seal when it's painted.
Getting rid of the speaker holes and filling the gap at the bottom that had an inch high bead of mastic in it when I stripped her down!!!
Paul
Access hole for the pedals - cut with a dremel
The return created and trimmed
The finished fit. I will insert some fixings and a rubber seal when it's painted.
Getting rid of the speaker holes and filling the gap at the bottom that had an inch high bead of mastic in it when I stripped her down!!!
Paul
She is away for paint now. Probably about 6 weeks before she is back.
I have spent a lot of time on the bodywork. I have made a few changes and the number of times I have trial fitted panels only to find they are not quite right and had to remove them for more work, I have lost count of.
Stripped the seats (I am going to repaint them) and made a new plywood board to go behind them so they are off to the trimmers next week.
The guy painting my old girl has got an Austin 7 he is working on for Tony Dron and a lovely little Alfa 2 litre V8 mid engined sports car (worth seven figures apparently). She should be in good hands.
When she's back she will be off to the trimmers for the dash and doors to be trimmed. I am resigned to the fact that she won't be finished until next year at this rate. But I am still enjoying the experience.
I think I am going to have a go at sorting the engine myself next. I am trying to do as much as possible myself. I find I am learning all the time and enjoying the experience.
Paul
PS. Got to sort the electronic dash before the trimmers. A little advice required.
I find that as the years pass I need glasses for close up work these days and I am not sure I will be able to read a pure digital dash. I wanted an AIM but not sure if I will be able to read it without glasses (which I don't need for anything over about 1m away). I am now thinking an SPA will be a better bet despite not being able to give me all the info I was hoping for.
Any thoughts?
I have spent a lot of time on the bodywork. I have made a few changes and the number of times I have trial fitted panels only to find they are not quite right and had to remove them for more work, I have lost count of.
Stripped the seats (I am going to repaint them) and made a new plywood board to go behind them so they are off to the trimmers next week.
The guy painting my old girl has got an Austin 7 he is working on for Tony Dron and a lovely little Alfa 2 litre V8 mid engined sports car (worth seven figures apparently). She should be in good hands.
When she's back she will be off to the trimmers for the dash and doors to be trimmed. I am resigned to the fact that she won't be finished until next year at this rate. But I am still enjoying the experience.
I think I am going to have a go at sorting the engine myself next. I am trying to do as much as possible myself. I find I am learning all the time and enjoying the experience.
Paul
PS. Got to sort the electronic dash before the trimmers. A little advice required.
I find that as the years pass I need glasses for close up work these days and I am not sure I will be able to read a pure digital dash. I wanted an AIM but not sure if I will be able to read it without glasses (which I don't need for anything over about 1m away). I am now thinking an SPA will be a better bet despite not being able to give me all the info I was hoping for.
Any thoughts?
Edited by Storer on Sunday 18th September 21:49
Storer said:
Being a sad git Steve I was hopeing for some element of lap timing and also being able to fit it to receive inputs via can-bus from the ECU.
Have you experience of the SPA dash?
Paul
I have one in the workshop I'm installing for a customer. Will look a little closer at the instructions but pretty sure it does not support CAN.Have you experience of the SPA dash?
Paul
Steve
Hi Paul,
Na! Don't think it does... I have one, can't see anything like that!
BTW, I was wondering if the area where the cab fits onto the top of the sidepods (where you filled in the speaker hole) could benefit from an 'L' shaped ally bracket fixed to the back-end of the sidepod, then riveted to the flappy bit once the cab is down on top. This would make it nice and solid? Not a fan of copious amounts of silko!
Na! Don't think it does... I have one, can't see anything like that!
BTW, I was wondering if the area where the cab fits onto the top of the sidepods (where you filled in the speaker hole) could benefit from an 'L' shaped ally bracket fixed to the back-end of the sidepod, then riveted to the flappy bit once the cab is down on top. This would make it nice and solid? Not a fan of copious amounts of silko!
YEP! Fitted!
As mentioned before, I have the Dash unit + two separate digital dials for easier reading one that does water/voltage and another for oil pressure/oil temp.
The Dash unit has extra channels - 2 pressure (I have used for LP pump line and HP pump line) and 2 temp (only used one for HP return fuel temp)
I ran the Dash cables through the luggage containers in some plastic channel which worked out well (retro-fitted), but ran the Dial cables by the handbrake etc under the centre console out through the read bulk-head, but then... I designed/had made a centre console which doesn't interfere with drivers legs:
I would do the former for the dash...bit of a struggle, but it can be done.
As mentioned before, I have the Dash unit + two separate digital dials for easier reading one that does water/voltage and another for oil pressure/oil temp.
The Dash unit has extra channels - 2 pressure (I have used for LP pump line and HP pump line) and 2 temp (only used one for HP return fuel temp)
I ran the Dash cables through the luggage containers in some plastic channel which worked out well (retro-fitted), but ran the Dial cables by the handbrake etc under the centre console out through the read bulk-head, but then... I designed/had made a centre console which doesn't interfere with drivers legs:
I would do the former for the dash...bit of a struggle, but it can be done.
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