It's in bits now

[neiltechspec]

Finally got around to & started my repaint job.

Dismantling the front end first.

On closer inspection, it would seem the cowling is in a worse state than I thought. Lots of crazing on the sides, I guess caused by the 'incident' from a few years ago when it got written off. Could take some time & loads of filler to sort this out.

Unless of course, anybody happens to have a spare 'Triumph' based cowling for sale.

[CosworthCabrioLee]

Hi Neil, it will get better, once you have got it apart, and pictures ?? before then after

[neiltechspec]

I was just a bit dismayed when I saw how bad the cowling actually was.

Mind you, it is the worst part of the car. The rest of it isn't anywhere near as bad.

Neil.

[neiltechspec]

A few pics of work in progress.

Original rear wing holes filled & primed (they were lowered a few years ago, I never actually filled the original holes in properly).

Original running board bolt holes below the door welded up & primed.

Cowling removed for gelcoat crazing removal / repair.

Neil

[CosworthCabrioLee]

I remeber it well but it does get better.................

[neiltechspec]

Main body now primered & virtually ready for topcoat.

Neil.

[Mike]

Neil

Are you sleeping in it at night? - is that a red quilt I see?
Or is it an old set of curtains?

[trevor_ford]

Great seeing someone else doing what I did this summer.

[stevejgreen]

Hi Neil.
I am no body specialist, you should see my own, but what, in your opinion, is the best method for repairing crazed gel coat?

[listerjp2]

Hi All

Try Capt. Tolley's Creeping Crack Cure, I use it all the time.

Have a look at http://www.captaintolley.com/

Adrian

[neiltechspec]

Steve,

The only truly succesful method of removing cracked gelcoat is to grind it out to just beyond the area of any cracks. You need remove the all gelcoat all the way back to the base fibreglass below it. If the base fibreglass below the gelcoat is also damaged, you will have to drill holes to prevent the crak from spreading and then reinforce the structure from below.

This is the only successful method I have found where the cracks don't reappear after a while particularly in an area that is prone to flexing.

Just my opinion of course, but I don't rate that 'creeping crack cure' in areas that are prone to flexing - it will come back.

Neil.

[neiltechspec]

Mike,

No I'm not sleeping in it. It wasn't curtains, just an unused 'unpopular' colour double bed sheet.

Neil.

[neiltechspec]

Body tub now painted, needs a week or so to harden now before flatting & polish (damn winter, would have only been a couple of days in summer !).

Neil.

[neiltechspec]

Painted the doors today, took ages to remove the 26 year old Thixofix that were holding the trims on (wrecked them getting them off as well). Cowling - all cracked areas ground out to the base fibreglass, filled & primed, just a little bit more filling & priming to do then ready for paint, maybe by the weekend.

Will take a few more pics at the weekend.

Neil.

[neiltechspec]

A bit more done over the past few days, cowling now painted and the bonnet. Not sure about these as I used 400 & 800 grade for the prep and you can see scratch marks, have to wait until I try polishing back. May have to flat back & give another light coat.

Did the rear wings on Monday, it was supposed to be a dry day !, so rolled the car outside to give me room to spray the rear wings in the garage. Bugger, it started to rain just as I was spraying so I hurridely 'bladdered' on loads of paint - of course it ran all over the place.

Flatted the wings back again today (with 1000 grade) & applied another couple of coats, no runs this time.