Recovered from the wedding!
Post by: Oldthumper » Fri Jul 17, 2015 12:09 am
All the glass is coming out after the bulk of the sanding has been completed.
A windscreen man is going to sort out the screen rubber fitting.he was absolutely horrified at how it had been left!
Ray
Much happier now that work is progressing!
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Post by: Oldthumper » Fri Jul 17, 2015 8:29 am
Well,Jim,I too am a little doubtful about the timescale,but have been assured that work will be completed on time.
The team working on the car are very experienced,and equipped,and also have a very good reputation locally for their work.
I am quite lucky that cracking and crazing is very minor,virtually all of it was in the 70s respray rather than the underlying.
The car has been in a dry garage since about 78, so never saw rain in that period.
Fingers,and everything else,crossed!
Ray
The team working on the car are very experienced,and equipped,and also have a very good reputation locally for their work.
I am quite lucky that cracking and crazing is very minor,virtually all of it was in the 70s respray rather than the underlying.
The car has been in a dry garage since about 78, so never saw rain in that period.
Fingers,and everything else,crossed!
Ray
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Post by: Oldthumper » Fri Jul 17, 2015 12:14 pm
Hi Paul, I am using Leewards in Worthing. They have completed a lot of bodywork for me over recent years, and I have always been very pleased with their work. Obviously I am a little nervous about this job, but hopefully the results will be good.
Ray
Ray
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Post by: Oldthumper » Sat Jul 18, 2015 12:24 am
There were a number of reasons why I did not use Miles to do my bodywork. I suppose the main one would be that he really didn't want to do it,and in fact said that he really doesn't want to do any more full body restorations at all. He would have wanted about ?12k and a year to do it,and both of those were out of the question for me. I would be interested to know also if his quotes came close for other peoples work,as I had a very nasty surprise when I came to pay for my mechanical work!
I am sure the engine and other mechanical works were done to a very high standard.
Some of the other work was perhaps not quite as good as I expected.
Perhaps my expectations were too high.
Ray
I am sure the engine and other mechanical works were done to a very high standard.
Some of the other work was perhaps not quite as good as I expected.
Perhaps my expectations were too high.
Ray
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Post by: pauljones » Sat Jul 18, 2015 7:32 am
I'm glad somebody else has had a similar experience with him.
I'll not want to be rude and discredit him but when I paid over 3k for work I expected a little different to what I received.
Less than 10mins after leaving my "new" coil packed up. And wheel came off again.
Thankfully Dad advised me to carry a spare coil and the wheel went back on.
incidently I have changed my spinners to the single bolt style and no problems. And solved the coil by going EFI
Even back then Mlies quoted me 10 to 12k for a full body resto but only wanted it for 6 months. He wasn't keen on doing it without restoring the chassis and running gear..another 10 to 12k..
To rich for my blood,
I'll not want to be rude and discredit him but when I paid over 3k for work I expected a little different to what I received.
Less than 10mins after leaving my "new" coil packed up. And wheel came off again.
Thankfully Dad advised me to carry a spare coil and the wheel went back on.
incidently I have changed my spinners to the single bolt style and no problems. And solved the coil by going EFI
Even back then Mlies quoted me 10 to 12k for a full body resto but only wanted it for 6 months. He wasn't keen on doing it without restoring the chassis and running gear..another 10 to 12k..
To rich for my blood,
Kick the tyres and light them fires...!!!!!!!
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Post by: Oldthumper » Tue Jul 21, 2015 8:14 pm
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Post by: Oldthumper » Thu Jul 23, 2015 9:19 am
Getting down to the interesting bits, finding all the 60s and 70s repairs! I didn't know until now that the car had had at least two front drivers side crashes, both repaired very well at the time. Add to that my girlfriend's 73 near side corner, so the poor little car had quite a tough early life!
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Post by: Oldthumper » Thu Jul 23, 2015 10:53 pm
Hi Paul,
It's been a bit of a team effort, where I've done most of the dismantling,and left the real hard work to the bodyshop. I think they miscalculated by about two days,the amount of time required to get down to gelcoat, but are quite relieved to find the remedial work less than expected. I am very impressed with the attention to detail,and the obvious pride in their work.
They are also becoming obsessed with the idea of originality,much more so than I am!
By the way,are there any definitive colours for the wheels and also the bumpers? I have had a look through the archives, but haven't been able to find a good answer.
Ray
A naked S4 fhc
It's been a bit of a team effort, where I've done most of the dismantling,and left the real hard work to the bodyshop. I think they miscalculated by about two days,the amount of time required to get down to gelcoat, but are quite relieved to find the remedial work less than expected. I am very impressed with the attention to detail,and the obvious pride in their work.
They are also becoming obsessed with the idea of originality,much more so than I am!
By the way,are there any definitive colours for the wheels and also the bumpers? I have had a look through the archives, but haven't been able to find a good answer.
Ray
A naked S4 fhc
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Post by: S3FHC » Fri Jul 24, 2015 6:18 am
Ray,
I must congratulate you on your restoration!
Although she obviously looks a little sad at the moment, she will look beautiful again very soon!
It's been interesting to see all the previous repairs and colours... please do keep the photographs coming!
I really do hope that she's ready in time for the wedding after all your efforts.
If not, the deadline date of the wedding has at least made the entire restoration move along at a great pace!
All my fingers are crossed that the car makes it's debut at the wedding (after some more shake-down miles!?)
Apologies if I've missed a previous post but are you having her painted yellow again?
Mark.
I must congratulate you on your restoration!
Although she obviously looks a little sad at the moment, she will look beautiful again very soon!
It's been interesting to see all the previous repairs and colours... please do keep the photographs coming!
I really do hope that she's ready in time for the wedding after all your efforts.
If not, the deadline date of the wedding has at least made the entire restoration move along at a great pace!
All my fingers are crossed that the car makes it's debut at the wedding (after some more shake-down miles!?)
Apologies if I've missed a previous post but are you having her painted yellow again?
Mark.
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Post by: Oldthumper » Fri Jul 24, 2015 9:06 am
Hi Mark,
I'm no great one for originality normally,but as my car is in many ways pretty original,I have decided to stay with the original colour.( in fact the "proper" lotus yellow rather than the later one from the 70s respray)
My bodyshop was having difficulty obtaining the correct pigments for the paint system he wants to use,but luckily a local classic Mercedes specialist has been able to supply some.
The time scale is really causing me some sleepless nights,but I have been promised it will be done,and also promised help and facilities for putting it all back together!
The two main guys working on the car do say that I have come close to physically breaking them due to the amount of actual sanding they are doing,and are both beginning to look a bit like Popeye after he has had his spinach!
Ray
Soon to be primed S4 fhc
I'm no great one for originality normally,but as my car is in many ways pretty original,I have decided to stay with the original colour.( in fact the "proper" lotus yellow rather than the later one from the 70s respray)
My bodyshop was having difficulty obtaining the correct pigments for the paint system he wants to use,but luckily a local classic Mercedes specialist has been able to supply some.
The time scale is really causing me some sleepless nights,but I have been promised it will be done,and also promised help and facilities for putting it all back together!
The two main guys working on the car do say that I have come close to physically breaking them due to the amount of actual sanding they are doing,and are both beginning to look a bit like Popeye after he has had his spinach!
Ray
Soon to be primed S4 fhc
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