Roadkill's 1983 Chevy Z28 - (Work Starts on Page 5)

[Roadkill]

More pics to keep you happy.  Finally started work on the final bits which need painting.  They're prepped and ready for paint.

Also, I wasn't happy with the finish on the nosecone . . . The repairs by my brother were done quite poorly in this area and the guidecoat heavy meaning that we broke-through the primer when wet-flatting.  And it showed when it came to painting.

So the nosecone is partly back in primer and it, too, just needs a quick going over and it'll be ready for paint . . . then I'm done painting !!

Anyway . . . none of these pictures are of that stuff . . . . .

With Ian's assistance (and Vicky on Jensen watch) we stripped the old, very battered sides off of the large gazebo.
This gazebo isn't designed to be left up overnight so considering it's been up for getting on for two months these pictures show the extensive bracing and repairs which have been done to keep it standing . . . Just in case you're curious . . .

Roof cross bracing :



Additional side support and repairs :



Sides now replaced with scaffolding-grade "tarp" and securely fixed.  I should've done this in the first place !



Some pics of the (dusty) Camaro while I had the chance . . .





The plan is - not that my neighbours know it - is to keep the gazebo up over winter (in its new, tougher format) in order for us to do the engine work in relative comfort and shelter.
The old side panels are now secured across the inside of the gazebo, horizontally, reducing the overall volume inside (but not effecting headroom) . . . this also reduces drafts a lot more and provides an additional, albeit basic, level of insulation.

With the new sides fitted it's actually quite sheltered and pleasant inside !

[Jo]

Looking really good

[Incursus]

Quoting: Jo

Looking really good

[Big Mouse]

Ian had plenty of experience keeping gazebo's up crewing for me

[ianjpage]

Quoting: Big Mouse

Ian had plenty of experience keeping gazebo's up crewing for me

lol yeah with that and MKB gazebos at shows, spose i'm a 'seasoned gazebo pro' now

[art b]

its coming along nicely...

Quoting: Jo

Looking really good

we can tell you dont live in the cul de sac....

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: art b

we can tell you dont live in the cul de sac....

I was going to ask if the neighbours were getting annoyed that the path has been covered, but then I noticed that it ends right by your drive anyway.

Quoting: Roadkill

With the new sides fitted it's actually quite sheltered and pleasant inside !

This is shaping up to be an awesome driveway restoration

[Roadkill]

Yeah, the path is actually part of my driveway so no worries, there.

Out of the 12 houses in the cul-de-sac I get on with 4 of them, I am 1 of them, another 4 are in a different bit so aren't really affected and the other 3 I couldn't give a $hit about !!

They've been pretty good . . . I was dubious at the start but it's actually created some basic communication between two of the neighbours I hadn't really spoken to before.

I'll be happier when the second (little) gazebo comes down as it'll look a lot tidier and I get a parking space back.



Just need to get the last couple of bits painted before the weather fails entirely !!

[Rob]

For Sale in MK.  I've not seen it about, but interesting....!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/chevrolet-camaro-berlinetta-3-gen-rat-look-spares-or-repair-/271075617356?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3f1d5daa4c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/chevrolet-camaro-berlinetta-3-gen-rat-look-spares-or-repair-/271075617356?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3f1d5daa4c

[Roadkill]

That belongs to the guy who bought that crappy bent hood off of me.

I had him on Facebook for a while but lost him in a cull.

Nice guy ... if I had the space ....

[FUBAR]

Quoting: Andy

I know at some point I really ought to do the t-top seals which according to most youtube videos is a bitch.

Quoting: Roadkill

Speak to Fubar about that.

Was an ok, but fiddley job IIRC, and the even with brand new decent seals the front-outside-edge join between the roof panel & the body still leaks slightly.
My advise would be
- Use proper 3m Black rubber weatherstrip adhesive (I still have some tubes spare) this stuff worked really well for me. & use liberally but logically when gluing in the new seals.
- Meticulously clean all of the old rubber glue off, this is long winded & annoying but is essential. this is particularly important in the "used Staple" shaped channels that the weatherstrips run in because if they're like mine they're well glued in.  The new seals won't fit properly and will leak if there's any of this left behind.
- Get yourself a small tin of Clear POR-15 & brush it onto everything that the weatherstrips will be covering or will be glued too, or is not visible when re-built.

I also had the luck that when I was changing mine MDM had Brand new original GM Black T-Bar panels in stock so even though mine was not very rusty apart from in 1 small place I swapped it out for one of these.

- If you can find one and its within budget (mine was $180, i don't care if that was too expensive) definately 100% change this as well.  If not at the very least remove yours (Carefully, its glued and screwed on), clean it up, de-rust it, re-paint it & POR-15 all the bits that you can't see on this panel and the body.

The last thing you want in a couple of years is to have to take your (now very well glued on) new T-Top seals off because this panel is rusty & is leaking

[FUBAR]

P.s. Camaro looking very cool dean Not seen it since before you started painting it, its all starting to come together isn't it

[Roadkill]

Spent a "spare" hour last night wet-sanding the nosecone (again) and the last couple of bits ready for paint . . . . was going to paint them this evening but it's looking pretty damp outside, atm.

[Roadkill]

F*ck !

Another 2 hours of prep on the nosecone before I was anywhere near happy to paint it.

Not happy.  Should've just done it all myself !!!

Still.  The nosecone looks a lot better for it - not perfect - but a lot better.

Using a different gun this time, too.  A Sealey SG-1 . . . . If the Devilbiss was the revolver than this Sealey was the Shotgun !!!  

It was a pig to use and pulsed regardless of what I did . . . . the shocking thing is, though, the finish was excellent !
Not sure if it just suited me of whether I was just spoilt painting in the daylight for once !!!

[ianjpage]

Ah not good then if you had to do that much more prep!

Least it done and by the sound of it looking good!

[Roadkill]

The final painting done in the back-up paint booth . . . . (now partly taken down).



The manky POS paint gun that I borrowed to finish the last bits with.

Apparently my brother had it "soaking for two days" . . . oddly enough the thick crustation inside the pot came off with just a 30-second soak and a wipe around !





EDIT -

I really need to replace the top layer of gravel in the front garden !!!

[Roadkill]

The small, $hitty, back-up paint booth is now no more !!

It's in bits in the back of the Mondeo waiting to go to the tip.  

The front garden looks like it's had a million oil changes done on it without a bowl . . . It's pretty Black (and grey and beige . . ) but should settle down with a rake-over and some rain.



Looks a hell of a lot less pikey, now . . . the big gazebo remains but it's looking fairly tidy these days . . . .

[ianjpage]

Quoting: Roadkill

The small, $hitty, back-up paint booth is now no more !!

Quoting: Roadkill

The front garden looks like it's had a million oil changes done on it without a bowl . . . It's pretty Black (and grey and beige . . ) but should settle down with a rake-over and some rain.

Looks a hell of a lot less pikey, now . . . the big gazebo remains but it's looking fairly tidy these days . . . .

Bet the neighbours are loving it now !

[Roadkill]

Was about to upload some pics then realised I didn't take any !  



Made further repairs and some major re-enforcement's to the main gazebo to help get it through the winter.  
More bracing (tubes from the old gazebo's) and gaffer tape were the flavour of the day.  

It's now solid !

Noticed a cat had been in and made my drivers seat it's bed . . . Was tempted to rig a trap involving electrified 6" nails for it but decided I'd just try and make sure all the gaps are sealed instead.

F*cking cats.

Thankfully it just left fur and nothing else on the seat or I would've gone on a feline killing spree Sunday night !

Anyway.

Got a few little bits back on the car (rear lights, gas door) and cleaned up a few other bits ready to fit when I get a minute.

Had a thorough clear-out of all the $hit inside the car and was reminded of a few little bits I still need to buy / make / modify . . . . should give me some easy mini-projects over winter inbetween doing the engine.

Pics to follow . . . . when I've taken them.

Thanks to Ian and Vicky for assistance on Sunday afternoon.

[Roadkill]

Notes:

2x Bulbs for front running lights - EDIT - On order
2x fab panels for interior rocker panel covers - W.I.P
Drawing for door panels (laser cutting)
Carpet(s) - EDIT - W.I.P
Door seals . . . - Bought Full kit.
2x Power outlet covers. - Mod what I have.

[ianjpage]

going well

[Roadkill]

Dammit !

Forgot to bring the door cards in to measure up !

Hope to be picking up the rocker panels cover plates today, though.  And the weather striping has been posted (stateside).

Carpet is the next big thing to buy . . . Should hold fire until I know the gazebo is cat-free.

[Roadkill]

Amazing how all the "small stuff" takes up so much time . . . especially when I get about an hour or two per weekend at the moment free if I'm lucky and nothing in the evenings !



That said I have brought the door cards into work today so I'll start measuring up those to get a .DXF together ready for laser-cutting the new panels (think I'll go ally and spray them with the crinkle paint I used before . . . )

Also had some in-fill panels made for the gaps left by removing the seatbelt reels in the plastic rocker panel covers . . . Watch this space.

Gonna give the car a good hoover-out ready for the new carpet (not ordered yet).
Also intend to wash/scrub all the interior plastic panels so they're ready to go back in when the time comes . . .

Pics :

Side markers re-fitted



Vents cleaned and refitted, strikers refitted.



15 minutes well spent (?) cleaning these little plastic bits and their screws



The rear lights re-installed (last weekend's little job)



The screws painted for re-fitting the nosecone vents and bracketry for the door mirrors . . .



EDIT -

I'll try to finish the mirror brackets tonight.

Also I rubbed down the rear number plate flap (effort !) and hammerite-blacked that yesterday as well . . . no pictures, though.

[ianjpage]

slowly coming along!

[Roadkill]

Carpet is ordered - am impressed so far as they've contacted me within an hour and asked what side the heel pad should be on.

Of course these cars were available as RHD and seeing as it's for a U.K customer it was an intelligent question.

Have gone for a complete set, passenger and luggage areas, all in black, with no cut-outs so I can make it as tidy as possible around the shifter (about 1" of the floor pan needed to be cut out to fit the T56).

EDIT -

have done the initial DXF take off for the door cards but they need some tweeking before I can offer it up to the doors themselves but is better than I expected for a first attempt.