There is more to life with TurboRenault.co.uk

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Alpine Renault 8 GTT

Paint defects a quick lesson
Yesterday I started to flat the shell and doors, the paint is completely flat and displays 2 distinct colours meaning it has been painted, as I started flatting the doors I noticed microblisters as the top layer came off see photo

IMG_20220121_150140760.webp

As you look at the pic the bare metal is obvious , next around this is the Red oxide primer then Grey surfacer primer and finally the dark red topcoat if you look to the left you will see more grey primer and more red, this is the respray. If you look at the edge where the red goes to grey you can see spots which is where the paint has not adhered properly, any adhesion issues must be gone or your new paint is not stuck to the car, so it has to come off. Deep joy..........


Next up a cautionary tale for patina lovers.
The roof was original, thankfully the dodgy respray is only the bottom half (top swage down) it had a few spots on it and a couple of scrapes, but once into the surface the corrosion is much worse than the outside view suggested, once again this means going back to bare metal to find all the corrosion

IMG_20220121_165554497.webp

Patina may be cool in Southern California where the sun has burnt the paint off, but here in Blighty it's the damp that lifts and flakes paint and it's better off all gone, so it can be properly sealed up again

This is the current state of play, then all the replacement panels need the treatment. Good news was only 1 repair found on the drivers doors although there are about a dozen dents needing remedied.

IMG_20220121_165614530.webp

IMG_20220121_165629367.webp

Invisible repair!!!! #roughastoast #rustyraftsRus
More soon........................
 
Paint defects a quick lesson
Yesterday I started to flat the shell and doors, the paint is completely flat and displays 2 distinct colours meaning it has been painted, as I started flatting the doors I noticed microblisters as the top layer came off see photo

View attachment 199014

As you look at the pic the bare metal is obvious , next around this is the Red oxide primer then Grey surfacer primer and finally the dark red topcoat if you look to the left you will see more grey primer and more red, this is the respray. If you look at the edge where the red goes to grey you can see spots which is where the paint has not adhered properly, any adhesion issues must be gone or your new paint is not stuck to the car, so it has to come off. Deep joy..........


Next up a cautionary tale for patina lovers.
The roof was original, thankfully the dodgy respray is only the bottom half (top swage down) it had a few spots on it and a couple of scrapes, but once into the surface the corrosion is much worse than the outside view suggested, once again this means going back to bare metal to find all the corrosion

View attachment 199015

Patina may be cool in Southern California where the sun has burnt the paint off, but here in Blighty it's the damp that lifts and flakes paint and it's better off all gone, so it can be properly sealed up again

This is the current state of play, then all the replacement panels need the treatment. Good news was only 1 repair found on the drivers doors although there are about a dozen dents needing remedied.

View attachment 199016

View attachment 199018

Invisible repair!!!! #roughastoast #rustyraftsRus
More soon........................
I feel your pain! Loving this build!
 
I have not been to the bodyshop this week, as the 8 is getting welded and there is nothing I can help with at this stage, so no point being in the way. I went out today to have a look see.

IMG_20220210_181441969.webp

The transmission tunnel is fitted.

IMG_20220210_181507618.webp


The whole bottom corner of the N/S C- post disappeared, this is looking good.

IMG_20220210_181457426.webp

Thats the N/S rear done

IMG_20220210_181558123.webp

New O/S rear mounting rail is in. In fact the back of the car is done leaving about another half dozen or so small repairs, so It should all be done for the end of the week .
Onward..........
 
Back at the bodyshop today, so a couple more pics

IMG_20220214_142332084.jpg

Floor reinforced where the clutch rod becomes a cable, a known weak point

IMG_20220214_142144305.jpg

Later type 8G gusset plates to tie the scuttle to the A post, This is a very flexible part of an R8 shell and if it is getting a cage, it would be a good idea to brace the front leg to the scuttle under the dash, all my own cars have this mod, the front screen pillars are very upright and provide no resistance to rotation induced by front suspension loads. Modern cars are not like this for a reason.........



This is the part where the inner wing meets the chassis leg and floor triangles and is a rot hotspot this is a minimal as it gets and the other side is OK. never seen that before

IMG_20220214_142228239.jpg

Front lower triangles are a defo rotspot on all 4cv, Dauph and 8 & 10, they were not too bad, but Dave thought it just as easy to make and replace than patch up, as good as the originals as far as I'm concerned. One small area of corrosion to fix on the leg where the chassis is joined..?? Drunk French muppets

It should be welded up by close of play today, then making a mess can really commence
Stay tuned................
 
@DaveL485 . Just to keep an old joke alive, today I went mad and made a momentous purchase

IMG_20220310_212429285.webp

Two and a half quid ! It had better be good. I need 10 years out of this!

It was bought because @paule78 's new outer rims arrived and I was going to re-rim them
SO Start with one Image RA 5.5" wheel

IMG_20220310_203848740.webp

All of these are based on Compomotive dimensions. Undo all the bolts and split the rims, easier to say than do, use a blade and keep going and eventually they part.

IMG_20220310_203853073.webp

Clean the centre and remove the centrecap.

IMG_20220310_203856952.webp

Now the Fun bit removing the old silicone, once again, start with a blade then the heel of your hand ( if its as rough as mine) finally the NEW wire brush once its done which ain't 5 minutes wash with solvent to make sure it's all clean

IMG_20220310_205740205.webp

Everyone has their own way of doing this. My method is to sparingly coat both rims , but staying outside the bolt holes, so you just clip the flat face and do not use a lot!!

IMG_20220310_205743893.webp

Now assemble it and bolt it up. Torque it up crosswise and run a bead of sealer into the join and smooth off. make sure it is stuck down to the ally all the way round

IMG_20220310_212257670.webp

After that leave to set

IMG_20220310_212324251.webp

Cooler than a Penguin's cold bits. Better without the centrecaps
More soon.......
 
Image supplied 4" inner rims front and rear and 2" outers making 6" on the rears and inch and a half outers on the front making 5.5 inch. They need spacers to fit on the front,so I would be tempted to go 4 inner and 2 outer making 6 on the back and go 3.5 inner and 2 outer making 5.5 on the front.
 
Short update. The usual bodyshop story, but he is a friend and works alone, so can sympathise with the day to day problems of keeping a set of ever changing circumstances under control. However its back in the prep area on the stands with all of the dents dealt with. It is ready to be primed, then the big flat, probably a coat of wet on wet and the colour

IMG_20220319_165825391.webp

and the other side

IMG_20220319_165816052.webp

More soon I hope ...................
 
Its Happened

7, R8TT Apr (1).webp

7, R8TT Apr (2).webp

7, R8TT Apr (3).webp

7, R8TT Apr (4).webp

It has been Etched and primed
Next job Stone chip the arches with Pickup bed 2k in the schutz gun

7. R8TT Apr (5).webp

7. R8TT Apr (7).webp

This gives a really nice finish

7. R8TT Apr (8).webp

7. R8TT Apr (9).webp

Next up was to give the insides of the GRP panels a coat of Black High solids 2K as the internal finish on GRP panels is not great and @paule78 's pockets are not bottomless

7. R8TT Apr (11).webp

Day off tomorrow then Flatting for paint commences Mon.
More soon...............
 
Back
Top