AT LAST! Hairys Resto!!

Fantastic work and nice pictures you've posted.

Loving the tip about the copper sheet (keep that in mind!) and you've got me wanting the small air grinder - I know I'm gonna need it to get into those nocks and crannies!! 

Thanks David  

Yep, the grinder is nice    

Hairyarse said

Thanks David  

Yep, the grinder is nice    

Men and their tools nowadays    

Hairyarse said

I've not used filler in over 20 years so wasn't a bad first stab!  

…and I've forgotten how tedious it is sanding by hand. It's like pleasuring yourself without the pleasure!    

So I spent a couple of hours sanding, you think you haven't put much filler on until you have to sand it off! I did buy a sanding sponge yesterday and I'm glad I did, it made sanding the contours of the bottom of the A-post much easier.

It's not finished and think I'll need a little stopper here and there but it's getting there;



Got the filler rubbed down on the top flange over the welds too.

More of the same tomorrow  

Hairyarse said

 It's like pleasuring yourself without the pleasure!    
 

 

   

Looking good mate, neat and tidy as per usual

Cheers Andy, trying to do a good job. I find myself getting a bit OCD sometimes - was sanding one part of the filler you can't see in shot here as there was the tiniest  edge in it. No one will ever see it and I could have just left it, but I'll know it's not finished so carried on!  

One question to throw out there whilst I think about it - kind of OCD, well no actually, just wanting to sort out a boo-boo!! lol

When I received the sill panel from VWH, the crease/swage line in the panel just above where the sill black trim strip goes was frankly pants - barely noticeable and not quite in the right place on the rear end. This was odd as the panel I think was the same make as the outer arch panel from VWH and the line on that panel was very good like original.

I planned to address this and make the crease in the panel but with all the other prep work I completely forgot until the sill was pretty much welded to the car  

This older photo shows the crease line issue quite well;



So my dilemma is what do I do now??? Options as I see it are;

1. Try and put the crease in with the panel in-situ. Maybe possible but high probability of screwing it up!
2. Leave it and hope that once the trim strip is fitted it wont be noticeable
3. Leave it for the body shop to sort before the car is painted
4. Or any other thoughts?

Any comments appreciated on this  

If you try and knock it in without a support behind it'll just cave in where you don't want it to and won't have a nice definition.

Not sure with that one Andy - I'll ask my panel beater tomorrow - he's full of tricks!

Thanks Graham. The only thing that sprung to mind was holding a flat bar or similar inside the panel then 'beating' the front.

I'm just kicking myself as knew it needed doing and just clean forgot about it until after it was welded on. That's one (another!) downside of being in a tight garage, you can't stand back to look over your work!    

I've taken the crease out completely, not going to have the sill trim on.

Probably one of the easiest options i could take but sadly im going standard so the trim will be going back on

This is an epic amount of bodywork Andy !!

How did she get so rotten ?

The crease for the sill trim on my car is exactly the same as yours mate. I'm going to fit the trim regardless, I'll probably try it with double sided tape first to make sure it looks ok

lhasadreams said

This is an epic amount of bodywork Andy !!

How did she get so rotten ?

It's just this side Ade, due to a previous owner part welding/part sticking with silicon sealer a complete sill panel over the original - which actually wasn't that bad but moisture got under it and screwed up the bottom of the A and B-posts.

The rest is typical MK1, crud build up around fuel pump and rot anything within a foot!!

Near side of car needs minimal work on rear arch and lower, outsill. Then front panel will be replaced but mostly mullered due to duck-bill getting repeatedly bashed. So hopefully, it's all downhill after this epic section of work is done. Well, fingers crossed!! lol

Melteddrummer said

The crease for the sill trim on my car is exactly the same as yours mate. I'm going to fit the trim regardless, I'll probably try it with double sided tape first to make sure it looks ok

Ah fair enough, I was thinking you wont much notice once the trim is on. I need to drill the holes for the sill trim still so was going to fit the trim to see

You fitting a full size duck bill, Andy?

I'm thinking of fitting a smaller one, seeing as I'm going lower.

I plan to yes, love the look of the big-un lol

I don't think my suspension will be lower than before and when I owned it I didn't scrape it much - although the lane I live down may dictate I have to go small.

We'll see, but big one will go on first, then if I rip it off I'll get annoyed at the damage then fit the small one  

thats a proper job going be good

Thanks chap The pics probably flatter it though!

So today's update - I HATE SANDING!!      

Got to this stage on the A-post;



There were a few small marks needing filling so skimmed a little more on;



…and a few spots on the sill where there were deeper scratches - maybe a bit OCD as this will be hidden by the sill trim but need to do it;





I sanded more off the A-post but not finished yet - no more pics though, these a dull enough!  

Kind of feels like one step forward, one back at the moment. The A-post still feels uneven on the front lower corner, I guess it will never be seen really but I don't know if to re-skim over it. Will sleep on that one!

Just keep going until you start to enjoy it lol

That may take some time! lol

Looking good so far Andy