X's Restoration: Update 16th July!

Just a quick update on where im standing on the car availability front…


My dad's not going to be able to give me my car back until the weekend, so that means thats even less time to get work done (mind you, ive got a year to do it, so im not that bothered)

Also, some of the bits that my dad bought for me (Rocker cover, Golf driver badge set, and strut cap covers) has been bought around the postal strike, so im expecting it sometime around christmas

No work done so far, but itll need another clean, as the weight distribution is wavering as the front of my pride and joy is being plastered in flies (mind you, it means that you cant see as many of the stone chips

X

There's no flies on it now - they were all blasted off by the tropical storm that I drove to work in this morning  :roll:

Another question - the third (fastest) fan speed isn't working - I seem to remember a common problem with them - also affected a Mk2 Polo my wife had a few years ago - is there a fix, or is it a case of find a replacement?

There's no point asking me dad, im as stumped as you are :wink: I'll have a look around for some replacements, but if anyone here has one ill have it (as long as it works) *asks crazyquiff*

X

isnt white spirit, well how can i put this…highly flamible?
it looks awesome, dont get me wrong
but is it safe using that stuff so close to the engine?

FEAR NOT!!!!

After i White Spirit a part of the engine, i use T-Cut after it, to get the shine back, and to get the white spirit off it, although i should be okay as long as i dont use it as fuel…

X

YAY!!!!!!! ive got my car back…

and today ive been doing a few odds and sods… i took the grille off and cleaned behind there, which took a while because it hadnt been cleaned before in its life

i nearly finished off the bonnet, but i ran out of light, so ill have to do that tomorrow, ill get some pics up later this weekend

X

THE BONNET IS FINISHED!!!!!!!  

just to show you what work ive done on it… this is what it started off as:


and now its like this!


I uncovered some worrying wear marks along the way:


But its super reflective now ive got some T-Cut on it:



On a different cleaning journey, when i cleaned off behind the grille, i quickly realised that it hadnt been cleaned before in its life:


I'm very pleased with the progress so far, ive only had the car about a month, and 2 weeks of that i couldnt do anything with it, so ive managed to clean the exterior, and completely clean the bonnet in just over a fortnight.

The only thing left to do is the engine… (just to remind you):

This is going to be the time consumer, as i have only a Haynes manual, so i cant take the engine or gearbox etc out… and some of the bits that need cleaning are in awkward places

but at least i can make a start on it as my dad has his italian stallion back on the road

X

Just to give you some insperation here a pic of my old drivers engine before and after…..

Woah… and i thought i had my work cut out, but youve certainly done a fantastic job of cleaning it, thats something to keep my sights fixed on then… thanks for showing me

X

your getting thair x keep up the good work mate

Thanks, I've just put on a new rocker cover which i sprayed black (sorry, my dad sprayed black because i couldn't be arsed :twisted:

Ill get some pics of it by tomorrow, and then ill explain my plans for it

X

Quick sit rep on whats been happening on my car over the last few days:


It attracted a bit of attention at the Birmingham meet last Wednesday (18th) which is always nice, but thats when i realised it still needed a lot of work.

Soo… today ive got quite a bit done (no pics as yet, batteries are dead ) i managed to get the cam belt cover off, and my Dad and I wire brushed it down (using a drill :mrgreen so that it was nice and silver (I have a pic somewhere), thats currently being painted, but is drying in my shed

After that, i decided to paint up the sprocket side engine mount, because it was looking a bit nasty… I only got one coat on today as it took 30 minutes attacking it with hammerite and an artists paintbrush but it is looking better.

Because im bored to death of white spiriting off the waxoyl, ive been doing a lot of repainting work recently, so i thought id have a go at the Rad cowling  :roll: (big mistake)… it paint was bubblier than a bath with a fat man eating baked beans so i had to just sit and wire brush it as far as i could go…


Thats pretty much all ive got done today, which isnt bad considering i got up at 10.30am

P.S. Im not gonna get all that much done tomorrow either cos ive agreed to give my dad a hand polishing his pocket rocket


X

I've agreed to give my dad a hand polishing his pocket rocket

That sounds so wrong.

Tian

when you've finished cleaning yours up, could you come and give my cabby a clean? please??? i'll make ya a cuppa and a nice bacon butty!do ya like red sauce or brown?  

ive agreed to give my dad a hand polishing his pocket rocket

except that he's bogged off to his GFs for the night - not home yet, so not much polishing done this morning

teenagers today? tssk! When I were a lad……… :roll:

Tian said

X said

I've agreed to give my dad a hand polishing his pocket rocket

That sounds so wrong.

Shut up… I meant his car, although he was so busy getting his bloody HID lamps sorted we didnt even get that done (and we were watching the GP)

X

Pics at last!! Just some of the progress i have made over the last couple of days:

When I got the cam cover off, it was in terrible condition but after sanding, it looked like this:


It's drying from its triplicate painting (first time it had bits in it, then sanded it down again. second time I prodded soft paint :roll:


looks quite good I reckon

I've also painted the engine mount (twice, cos i put a cloth on it when it was wet ):

I admit that it doesnt look quite right but thats because i still need to clean around it.


Finally, Here's a pic of my new shiny rocker cover:


That's all for now, i have made a start on the drivers side suspension strut mount, and I plan to get the whole side clean by the beginning of November *rushes*  

X

you dont have much luck with paint do you?  :wink:

:roll: paint just isnt my thing… thats why i got my dad to do the rocker cover  

Im gonna carry on with the drivers side of the car (cleaning) tomorrow, and get some pics up

X

just wondering if you used heat restistance paint for the rocker cover? if not this may peel off when hot