Tech 1 Sport resto - Update 26/4!!

[j555boy]

Cracking work keep it going

Been trying to sell my tech 1 for a bit now and after reading this entire thread i think i am having a change of heart and i think i am just gonna keep it!

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=78988

cheers jamie

[SCOTT325SE]

Jamie, thats a beautiful example! Dont sell it - you'll kick yourself for years and years and years!!!! What other car will you get for £3495 that will give you as much fun and enjoyment and feedback as your Sport? You probably wont find anything for even double that figure in that condition!

[josh-hocking]

looking good pad!!

[Pad]

ok, real progress made today. After 2 aborted weekends (first because I didnt appreciate quite how much there was left to do, last weekend cost the weather was appalling), I woke this morning to unseanonably nice weather and managed to get out early with a veiw to getting the primer on.

Spent the morning doing final cleaning, first with fairy liquid, then panel wipe. Then masked up, which is time consuming if you want to do it well. Once the majority was masked it was time to construct my paint booth - got this down to a tee now, done in half an hour..

Then with the car in its final position, mask up the final bits and bobs, another wipe down with panel wipe, blow down with an air line and then wipe down with tack rags.

Then on with the paint, which only took about 50 mins for 4 coats of primer. By the time the last coat went on, light was fading badly and the final shots had to be taken under the site lights. Anyway, really pleased with it, just going to finish demasking tomorrow and then next weekend will rub down the whole lot in 1200 prior to applying the final coat.

Some pics for you....





























Cheers,
Pad

[Jesus325iTouring]

What a hero

[SPADGE]

What a hero

Agreed

One question though
Is the drivers wing permanently fitted or does the door require some adjustment as the fit between the two, at the bottom, looks a fair way off? It could of course just be the pics.

[Pad]

well spotted - no, the wing is on loose at the moment, well not even loose really - it just isnt fastened at the bottom as i seem to have less bolts than I started with... why does that always happen? on of the many mini jobs that need doing before top coat.

[whipsey]

looking good mate well worth the effort imo

[josh-hocking]

any more news?

[dodgeyp]

that looks like my cars twin brother in every aspect!!! replaced my front wings, erars arches, sills repaired back, underneath, inner arches, nearly ready for respray, would be good to meet up with other tech 1 owners to see where they have gone down different routes.

while im on the subject does anyone know some one who can re-trim the leather in my tech 1

[josh-hocking]

is it me or is the front wing (drivers) not lined up proplerly?

[Jhonno]

already pointed out by SPADGE.. its not attached

[e30bmlover]

you my man are a leg end!

[Pad]

morning all. No real progress after the last update as I have been busy looking for a new daily car. Kept it in the family though, Titan Silver E39 530d Touring with Sport alloys & Aero kit and black leather... bloody nice motor, wafts along and I got 40mpg on way back from the Fens...

Anyway, should get back on with the e30 this weekend hopefully! And fx that wing on...

Laters.

[Sanchez]

i take it the weathers been shiit down south. looking forward to how this looks when done, sa credit to you for doing in this time of year outside.

[schuey]

I have to paint outside all day for a living,i know how much of a blag it is at this time of year! Loving the spraybooth,I need one of them for painting at home as my garage is at the end of the street and has no power to it
Good effort on the arches

[Pad]

i take it the weathers been shiit down south. .

oh yes....

[tom325sport]

Just read this post, and Pad your doing a great job! Keep us informed. I love tech 1's!!!

[Eddie25]

hats off to you mate. I wouldnt know where to start and the quality of your work is stunning. I have a 325 se here in need of a new arch lol. As already said you are a hero.

[Jay07]

WOW What a thread, and what a talent!!! Pad You've got skills mate!!! Damn.... im still picking my jaw off the floor..... the dude round the corner wanted 250 just to cut out and weld the right side of my rear valance... Cant wait to see the finished product... Well Done!!!

[BIGBAZ]

cracking work keep it going mate!! how did you know the car came from coventry?

[e30cbe]

hats off - amazing effort and have to say a very lucky e30 !!

[Pad]

cracking work keep it going mate!! how did you know the car came from coventry?

picked it up from there myself mate. Had a cracking drive home as well, problems only started when I took the soddin kit off!!

Cant believe Ive had it nearly 6 months now, not the best turnaround..

[BIGBAZ]

thats spooky i aquired a 316 that was sold in littlehampton and mine is rust free

[stormhunt3r]

good job. You are really a great guy. Did u know how to weld before hand?

My e30 is also rusted at the floorboard and the wheelarch. I've got a quote from a local spray painting shop but they say it won't stop the rust. It will come back at the welding spot later on. Is it true? I'm jealous of u as i'm staying in an apartment and there is no place for me to work on my car. How i wish i have a corner house.

Am certainly interested to paint my own car but worry that the end result won't be satisfying. Anyone here with spray painting experience willing to share?

cheers

[Brianmoooore]

. I've got a quote from a local spray painting shop but they say it won't stop the rust. It will come back at the welding spot later on. Is it true?

If all the rust is cut out, the patching done properly, and paint, sealant and wax replaced to factory standards, why should it? The shell is made out of steel welded together in the first place, so what's the difference?

[whipsey]

poor workmanship in most cases as what brian said if its done properly it won't come back

[Pad]

have done some welding on cars over the years but none as much as this... all self taught though, as is the painting but always taken advice from people who know what they are on about.

Managed to flat back the roof and bootlit with 1200 grit this weekend, admitted defeat when the temperature dropped to about 3 degrees and got pissed off with dipping my hand in water.. Will get there eventually...

[cypriot_boy_2k7]

any pic's of the progress

[stormhunt3r]

Ok.. now i know what they are talking about. Guess they are trying to psyco me to believe that having the rust back is a normal thing and got nth to do with their workmanship (which could be poor).

All self taught..you must have been through a lot of wrongs before able to get this result..way to go man..can't wait to see your car when it's all done up..

pls post more pic of the progress of you car..then i can use it as a guideline when i start doing my car..

[Pad]

minor update, although there has been a fair bit of work done. The whole car is now flatted back in 1200 ready for the basecoat and today I primered the body kit. So, once that is flatted back then it is sit back and wait for the right weekend to do the final paint unfortunately I am at the mercy of the weather on this..

Just a couple of pics to keep the interest up...









Cheers,
Pad

[Jay07]

Nice one mate! love the spray shop... keep em coming!!

[josh-hocking]

great!!! carnt wait for the top coat!!
do you rekon you'll get a really shiny result?
thanks
josh

[Pad]

great!!! carnt wait for the top coat!!
do you rekon you'll get a really shiny result?
thanks
josh

shiny wont be a problem as I will put enough clearcoat on to be able to flat back with 3000 grit and then polish with the mop. What I am more concerned about is getting an even coverage of basecoat (the dolphin grey) so that it doesnt look patchy. Once you have sprayed it, you have to put the clear on fairly sharpish so you 'lock in' any defects...

we'll see how it goes!

[Pad]

major headway made this weekend. On Friday it was clear that the weather was going to be good all weekend and possibly as good as it would be this side of spring, so even though some parts were not ready, the decision was made to try and get the top coat on.

Saturday was spent removing glass, doors, final rubbing down in places and start masking up. Today I had help (absolutely necessary) and the final masking was done before blowing down the car with my airline, then tack rag, then panel wipe, then tack rag again.

I was a bit nervous before putting the first coat on, all the months of work that have gone into the car pretty much culminated in todays work. Having said that I am about through with seeing our driveway looking like a breakers yard so just getting it painted in one colour would be something.

So, best let the pictures do the talking eh?

Car washed down yesterday


take off doors and glass


shot of my new wing..


All the bits off the car that needed painting (if I got round to it)


the now infamous paint tent..




finish off masking up and wheels off




my mixing area (promise I wont spill it Mrs Pad )


and off we go...






some shots with just basecoat before clear






applying copious amounts of clear on top of the four coats of base


in progress shot


and, ta-dah! the afters...











and by this point the thinners had got to me head a bit....



needless to say I am proper chuffed. There are a few surface defects and the bonnet could be a bit better but all in all, it looks pretty awesome. The colour is darker than I expected which was a pleasant surprise.

So, all that is left to do is the doors, the bodykit, the ancillaries, refit, MOT yadda yadda...

hope you enjoyed it
Pad