Picking up my new steed!

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Andy

and possibly the plastic bulge bit above the grille

That would be a step too far IMHO.

Looks good, though.

[Andy]

Had a few weekends where I've had a chance to paint a few more bits. I think I'm mastering it slowly. It's all in the prep!





I also diagnosed and fixed an intermittent buzz sound I had. Thought it was something in the dash, turns out its the engine cover tapping on the black inlet pipes at the front. Only happens occasionally at idle. Anyway, fixed that by jacking up the engine cover hold down bolt a bit. Proper job!

[Roadkill]

Be careful, any more will be too much.

[Motorama]

Its already too much

[Andy]

Quoting: Roadkill

Be careful, any more will be too much.

Quoting: Motorama

Its already too much

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: Motorama

Its already too much

Looks tidy!

I think the variation with the black air-filter box is good.

Quoting: Andy

Given me a little more confidence in painting, next is taking on the rear boot deck of the camaro...

What are you using to paint, rattle cans or a gun?

Quoting: Andy

paint the grills in gloss black, giving the front end a much sharper look.

This would be interesting to do I think

[Andy]

Quoting: Cunning Plan

What are you using to paint, rattle cans or a gun?

Rattle cans for these. Have a small tank compressor but no gun or knowledge of mixing the paint to spray.

I'm getting a finish I'm happy with if I'm honest. It was just something I'd seen on other cars and thought I'd like to give it a go. No one really knows its there until you pop the bonnet anyway

I'm not going to do the grills as the guy who did this has said since the paint doesn't like to stick and it stone chips badly.

I'll leave as is now.

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: Andy

Rattle cans for these. Have a small tank compressor but no gun or knowledge of mixing the paint to spray.

Looks good for rattle-cans, but as always with paint, it is all in the preparation!  

Quoting: Andy

I'm not going to do the grills as the guy who did this has said since the paint doesn't like to stick and it stone chips badly.

Can you powder-coat plastic?

[art b]

Quoting: Cunning Plan

Can you powder-coat plastic?

newb....

powdercoating is a process that requires heating the item to 180 deg..

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: art b

powdercoating is a process that requires heating the item to 180 deg..

My bad, but although it is not going to be the same type of plastic, it isn't that stupid as most manifolds are made of plastic now and they must reach those temperatures easily.

[art b]

Quoting: Cunning Plan

it isn't that stupid as most manifolds are made of plastic now

i call newb... again..

you wont find an exhaust manifold made of it...

induction manifolds are cooled by the air rushing through

[Motorama]

No offence meant Andy, just my opinion, i think the engine cover looks ok but i think the two smaller ones contrast against the inner wing and dont blend so well. At the end of the day its your car and fair play for putting your mark on it, and its all good practice for the Camaro

[Andy]

It's alright Andy, if I'm honest I just wanted something to see if I could spray and do an alright job.

The contrast seems to be that the paint on the wings doesn't have any lacquer on it, I guess all that in the bay is just a quick once over.

As for the Camaro, a new body shop has opened up on our estate and offered to do the rear deck lid for a decent price. If they do a good job and it looks good I'll get them to sort the lacquer peel on the nose and the ding I put in the side from the t-top.

[Roadkill]

I'd still be inclined to try the rear panel yourself.  What's the worst that could happen ?

[Andy]

Well I know it's no show car but as yet none of the panels under the bonnet have really had the finish I'd like. I did respray the rear bumper on my old Mondeo, that was hidious and really put me off spraying. I am at the moment doing little bits like the rear hatch surround and the t-top surrounds. Also sprayed a few parts under the bonnet with some matt black VHT.

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: art b

you wont find an exhaust manifold made of it...

[Andy]

He's got a point though

You come in here waving your high temperature plastic manifolds around... You won't find one for an exhaust.

[art b]

Quoting: Andy

He's got a point though  

You come in here waving your high temperature plastic manifolds around... You won't find one for an exhaust.

yea tell him andy ....

no plastic in engineering threads.....

[Cunning Plan]

Yeah, yeah.

[Andy]

Happy 50k to my Focus! Still hasn't let me down, just had bad things happen to it:

1 deer strike
2 rabbits
1 drunk driver
1 Ford service person dropping something on it

Bits bought for it:

2 AC Condensors (1 received the full force of a deer, the other a large rock thrown up from a lorry)
4 new tyres
1 new door mirror (drunk driver)
1 new grill (deer)
1 resprayed bumper (Ford technician damage)

Still the best car ive ever owned and now doubles up as my mobile toolbox, fitting all the tools, jacks and axle stands in the boot. Also collected my mates engine from Birmingham in the back.


... I will clean it soon, I promise!

[art b]

50k ..justa baby...

[Roadkill]

I'm actually considering a Focus over a Mondeo next time .... Mainly so I don't get stuck being the one to take all the stuff to site for work.

Also, I figure a Focus is gonna be slightly more economical being that little bit smaller .... ?

[Andy]

Mine is a 1.8 petrol and I'm now seeing a pretty solid average mpg of around 32mpg throughout the year.

The drop off in mpg is pretty dramatic once temps start regularly falling below about 12*c outside. The summer it'll be in and around 36-38mpg but now its around 30mpg. Thats with my standard 8 mile A and B road commute and little Motorway driving.

I kinda wish I'd gone for the 1.6, but the 1.8 petrol has the timing chain over a belt and is a better engine over the 1.6 VCT option which is known for having some weaknesses in the VCT area.

I don't know how much difference you'd expect between the two, but I can't imagine the weight difference is huge.

[Roadkill]

I'd need a Diesel for sure . . . Over the last 7 days I did over 1,250 miles and averaged 64mpg+.

Smokers for the win !!  

[Fieldy]

I've just grabbed a 2005 focus after my Mondeo ended up at the scrapyard. 3rd car in the last 6 have ended there, this was the first that was due to me shooting it with an air rifle though

Far better car than the Mondeo ever was. Handling is brilliant, I get 45mpg on the motorway, 32mpg on a full tank of town driving, that's with a 1600 durance petrol