Nice progress Ade :)
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Nice progress Ade :)
continued...
Sunday 10/08/2008
Finished off the inner arch - had to repair the bottom corner as it was missing or rotten - this included som of the inner structure...in progress -
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...DSCF0011-3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...DSCF0014-3.jpg
I then started to weld up the outer skin - this was a nightmare. For whever reason my welder just wouldnt weld properly or summut would go wrong! The weld just wouldnt flor - it was like a bad earth - odd thing was when I moved to the inner arch for test it the weld was fine?!?
:mad:
Then it went really bad - started by welding the wire to the bit - tried to remove the bit after freeing the wire and it jammed. Used mole grips to remove the bit and the thread snapped in the end of the gun!!!
:eek:
Had to drill the fecker out.
Lost an hour ar$ing about and finally started again but for whatever reason the weld just wouldnt flow - then after another hour messing about (and running out of gas!) it started to weld properly. By this time though I'd managed to get a coupld or warped spots in the panel!
Anyway - they werent too bad and I'd have to skim the skin anyway so with a careful bit of doly work I'd be able to lower the high points and smooth it out...
Outer arch "mess" - (looks worse than it is)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...DSCF0020-4.jpg
I then drilled holes in the arch lip to plug weld the inner and outer skins together.
Ground these back and then gave it a coat of etch primer -
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...DSCF0021-4.jpg
you can see the ripples in the panel!
Once this cured I gave the inside arch a good wad of seal sealer making sure the inner arch, inside the car and in the cavity areas was well packed.
I then gave the outer skin a skim of filler. This was sanded back. By now it was 10pm and I'd been on the go since 7am and feeling a tad tired.
I applied a final layer of filler to level it off completely ready for final sanding Monday morning.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...DSCF0023-2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...DSCF0026-3.jpg
I'm working 12-8 tomorrow and will sand flat tomorrow morning and apply a final layer of cellulose stopper. Then in the evening I'll sand this back and prime it ready for final sanding and top coat Tuesday morning (Hopefully!)
lol
I'm hopeful this is the last of the big welding jobs I need to do. Although I've not checked under the passenger carpet yet...
More quality work Ade :)
So she'l be at the meet for definate ?
:thumb: works looking good mate. Top job
Vaughan - yes she'll be there - need to de vynal and doors though as she looks odd with just the doors in vynal!
Nice one mate - Will be awsome to see it all tidied up
Looked good at PVS though
Lovely bit of work as per usual mate, nothings easy though hey. looks nice though and fair play for keeping at it, might have found myself another nova today too, should be concentrating on my project but found an A reg brown SR with a snowplow front end.
cool - A reBrown nova with a snowplough front end? The reason I got into Novas in the 1st place was due to a brown a reg nova hatch with a snowplough nose! Went out with a lass at Uni for over 2 yrs and she had the exact same Nova! brings back amazing memories! - especially the one when some bint reversed her fiesta into us at a junction aftrer hitting the wrong gear and the snowplough totally wrecked the back of her car! Caved the boot in but did feck all to the Nova!
I think the reg was A113 NHG?
Monday 11th/Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th August.
Been working back shift this week (12-8) so been getting up early to work on the arch, then coming in after shift and doing more work - totally shattered!
Anyway - over the last few days (for a couple of hours a night) managed to smooth the filler down and applied a nice even layer of cellulose stopped.
The next day this was sanded smooth and touched up - with it being further sanded down once cured using 400 grit wet n dry (dry).
I then sprayed the whole panel with etch primer. This was then flatted back with 800 grit and a layer of filler primer was applied to remove any blemishes -
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v13/danga/primer2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v13/danga/primer1.jpg
This was flatted back the next day (Tuesday) and a final topcoat of white primer was appied ready for painting that evening -
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v13/danga/primer3.jpg
I've been spraying the panels I've been replacing with Halfords Glacier White paint and have been fairly happy with the job to date - It's not perfect but then it doesnt matter because I intend to get the exterior of the car resprayed anyway. however this last wing was an absolute balls up when I came to spray the top coat on that evening.
I managed to flat the final white layer back fine - used 800 grit applied wet with soapy hot water and it was a really good finish. I dried it off using a heater to get the panel nice and warm and degreased it fully.
I shook my 3 cans well and as always sat them in very warm water the loosen the paint up to make it flow better.
But when I can to spray it I swear the 1st can was filled with water! The minute the paint touched the panel it was like the panel was soaking wet! beads of water appeared on the panel and ruined the job!
I stopped and checked the panel thinking condensation but it was dry on the arreas I'd yet to spray?!?
Anyway - after getting annoyed I waited for the paint to flash over and then used a heat gun to finish it off - wet sanded it back and started again.
the second can wasnt wet but for whatever reason the paint went on like a fecking zebra! It's supposed to be white so why do I have grey streaks in it!
AHHHHH!
Let it flash over than turned to the final can which I'm pleased to say was fine - however although it covered the panel I can still see the zebra stripes through it when you look at a certain angle.
Oh well feck all I can do about it - the main thing is the rear panel is finished and until I check under the passenger side carpet so's all my main welding jobs! the arch is all sealed up and the inner arch is chassis blacked for protection until I can shutz it.
This morning I reassembled the car and after finishing off a bit of chassis black (which I got all in my hair and on my right ear!) she went back to being my daily runner...
much to my wifes delight!
Ended up having to T-Cut my head to get the fecking paint out of my hair though!