AE86 booter project

[Myles1970]

..... masking tape removed before it turned to concrete

 

[Haz87]

Not going to lose that in a car park! Good progress

 

[Myles1970]

Not going to lose that in a car park! Good progress

Thanks... It wasn't until I took the bonnet out into the sun that I realised how bright it is

 

[Myles1970]

Over a month since my last update, I haven't been completely idle, but covid followed by a flu, then my mum took a wee turn (she's grand now though), and my two older boys starting uni.... Priorities have punched the ae86 in the face
Anyway, I've been working on the doors



A small bit more filling and I'll give it another coat or three of the Besa epoxy high build. It actually sands quite well after a day or so. I hope to have colour on them by the end of the week

 

[Myles1970]

Doors painted... at last. Think I'll take a wee rest now

 

[Myles1970]

All one colour now

 

[Myles1970]

..... test fitting the front end with the early (repro) grille. I would fit the offside wing if I could find the antenna that's hiding in the garage somewhere

 

[Myles1970]

Wings are on.... the bonnet fitment reflects the low price. Flares and rear spoiler tek-screwed on for test fitting. I'm not sure if I'll leave the flares in orange or paint them black

.... I'll probably wait for a brighter day and push it out into the sun before I decide

 

[angellonewolf]

looks like a delorn

 

[atomant48]

Looks amazing. Can you use some sort of app to try the flares in black before you paint one ? I reckon some sort of grey would go with that orange well and the spoilers too. Lovin this build. I’ll have to go back and refresh on the motor - have you got that ready to go ?

 

[Myles1970]

Looks amazing. Can you use some sort of app to try the flares in black before you paint one ?

Not that I know of....

the motor - have you got that ready to go ?

A pal of mine is doing it..... although he's getting it hard to find the time

 

[Myles1970]

I've de-nibbed and colour sanded the paint, using 800 grit wet in a few dry spots and runs, but mostly 1000 followed by 1500. Followed that with 1500 and then 3000 dry with a da sander.

I've got the roof, boot-lid and driver side buffed and polished with a heavy cut compound using a guild polisher from argos. Back-breaking work for an old git like me..... so I've left the passenger side for another day...

There are some light scratches left in a few places, but overall I think it's better than the bonnet which I did last year.
I did start to rub-through in one spot on the bonnet so I had decided to leave it and I may go with a carbon fibre wrap on there...

 

[Myles1970]

I was thinking of getting a paint thickness gauge before I hit it again with the 1500/3000 on some bits that are still a bit peely, but it seems the affordable ones are pretty useless and I may be getting a bit anal as regards the finish... So I think I'll just carry on as I have been and get a few opinions before going sanding again, I really don't want to rub through again. As it is there are a few spots I'm gonna have to touch up...

 

[Myles1970]

Just a few pics to show small progress.... The temperature/damp does nothing to encourage me to crack on. Also, I'm starting to see more and more imperfections in the paint, which is annoying.

Fitted a little TRD illuminated badge to the grill... it had occurred to me that there's nothing to identify the make/model

.... have to remove the front bumper and bash-bar to jack the car up; even with the low profile trolley jack...

Fitted 55mm hubcentric spacers to the rear, I'm not sure what size to go with at the front... there's no engine in there yet to weigh it down so I imagine it will cause the fronts to splay out slightly, as it sits there's 30mm spacers plus the 25mm extended lcrs. Spoiler and flared arches have been bolted-on using rivnuts and m3 Allen headed bolts with neoprene washers. I've left them orange....... for now

I left the ignition barrel and door locks with a locksmith, so hopefully he can match them up.

 

[Myles1970]

Refitted wheel arches and rear spoiler with m3 rivnuts and dome-head Allen bolts and neoprene washers.... All fitted OK until the nearside rear arch





... also fitted gas struts to the fibreglass bonnet. As with a lot of online accessories they came with the wrong fittings so after some searching I finally got them fitted

 

[Myles1970]

Finally, I have the bottom end back assembled with new crank, oil pump innards, bearings and rings.... Cylinder head and valves all cleaned up.... I'm going through the process of lapping the valves. There seems to be differences of opinion regarding valve lapping ; my mechanic mate says an hour on each valve. HP Academy say just a light lapping to highlight any areas of concern and that too much results in a concave finish reducing the contact area and hence, the seal.....

 

[atomant48]

An hour seems a little bit excessive but I am far from experienced. Guess it’s something that’s relatively easy to redo if needed.

 

[Haz87]

An hour is far too long. If you are spending more than a couple minutes max p/valve, then they need looking at properly, possibly recutting of the seats etc. Its meant to be a v.quick and light finishing process.

 

[Myles1970]

Ya, I suppose it would be different if I were replacing the valves/seats with new ones, they would need to be properly ground to match? Anyway, next job is to replace the valve seals, reinstall the valves & springs, fit the head, the cams and then check the valve lash

 

[Dieselman 63]

An hour would do nothing but damage imo. These are new inserts, we blued the valves and gave them a light contact. New valves and seats need hardly anything.

You’re not so much going for contact but a sealing ring.