My Metallic Black 400SE !
Discussion
Tomorrow the work begins. It's going into the garage for a new starter motor. When I get it back, there are a few small jobs to be done, then its off to the body shop, then a new screen. I will post an update as I go along and perhaps a few photos. With the BBWF coming up I need to get it to an outstanding standard if its going to compete with all the others. Also, with the long summer ahead of us, both car and owner need to be in top condition, so now is the time to start the preparations.
I am very happy with the performance of this Wedge so far. It has a very useful feature. A metal pedal to the right side of the drivers side footwell, when you press this to the floor it wipes out all the images of cars in the rear view mirror. Though, I did have some problem the other day with 911 Porshe behind me. With the Porche I only managed to shrink the image rather than eradicate it. Still its good enough for me. All I need to do now is spend, spend, spend until it reaches perfection.
Tony. TCB.
I am very happy with the performance of this Wedge so far. It has a very useful feature. A metal pedal to the right side of the drivers side footwell, when you press this to the floor it wipes out all the images of cars in the rear view mirror. Though, I did have some problem the other day with 911 Porshe behind me. With the Porche I only managed to shrink the image rather than eradicate it. Still its good enough for me. All I need to do now is spend, spend, spend until it reaches perfection.
Tony. TCB.
mrzigazaga said:
Hi Tony..Was that the one from north london with the gaffa tape holding in the front screen???
Yes. Initially I wasn't interested because of the amount of work needed but the car's history changed my mind, which I never knew before. It has 46000 genuine miles with every single MOT from new and a load of bills. Changing the windscreen is on my list, that's why I was looking for Paul(glassman) and I've found him now. I intend throwing some money at this car to bring it to near perfection. It has the foundations of a good Wedge but there is a long way to go. A lot of people on this forum asked me for my opinion on this car after my initial brief viewing and I gave them my honest opinion. No one showed any serious interest so I reconsidered it and here we are. Dark colours are not my favourite as you know but metallic black doesn't look that bad I guess.Tony. TCB.
Got the car back from the garage. New starter motor and solenoid fitted. Stepper motor cleaned out. Car now starts first time in the morning. The bill was big but at least the starting problem is solved. I fixed the wiring for the passenger side electric window now working. Also fixed the door lock on the same side. Both doors now lock and open. I striped the dash of the horrible carbon fibre rapping. I have decided to make the dash of alloy rather than wood. As the car is black on the outside and the inside, I think alloy would look good on the dash. I have already sanded the door strips down to bare alloy, polished and lacquered them. Now, for the dash I will choose a patterned shiny alloy and get a metal worker I know to make them up so as I can fit them.
Then its off to the paint shop to have the body sorted. Work is progressing and fast. I want this Wedge ship shaped before the festival.
Tony. TCB.
Then its off to the paint shop to have the body sorted. Work is progressing and fast. I want this Wedge ship shaped before the festival.
Tony. TCB.
I have booked the car in to the body shop for Monday. They'll be spraying virtually half the car and also painting the outriggers for me. I have spoken to Paul for the glass and he hopes to fit it on Friday, if all goes well. The sprayer told me to have the glass in before the spray work so that if there are any problems, he will have the paint already mixed when doing the body. That just leaves the dash. It seems I'll have to go for stainless steel dash as no one seems to want to cut alloy. These days no one wants to do any manual labour. It's all done by pressing buttons and using lasers. However that is also in hand. At this rate, if all goes well, I could have the car finished in weeks rather than months.
Tony. TCB.
Tony. TCB.
mrzigazaga said:
Looks much better now..Does it have a black painted edge on the bottom of the screen..cant see it too clearly in the pic?....
Zig. When it comes to photography I am not in your league. It's a bit of a bad picture as I took it in the garage and am useless with a camera.Yes. It has everything. It's Pilkington for God' sake. It has the gradual tint on the top, is tinted green and has the black surrounding. I believe Wedges were fitted with this brand of glass from new. You can tell it's quality when compared to the one that came off the car. The black surrounding on this looks like a Teflon coating. I could fry an egg on it.
Tony. TCB.
Mr Tank said:
Hi Tony
What was the cost and how long did it take for Paul to do the job?
Andy
The old windscreen was an insalubrious Heywood Williams glass and although there were no dramas getting it out, it took a bit of time (HW glass separates from the PVB very easily - you've only got to THINK about coughing near one and it falls apart). We also found some gouges in the fibreglass (possibly from the previous installer) so there was some extra time spend on 'remedial' work. What was the cost and how long did it take for Paul to do the job?
Andy
Overall, I'd say about 4.5 hours in total.
Cost: between Tony and me
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