Project #2...Nissan Figaro

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Next up was removing the plastics....I've managed to remove most of the plastics from inside the car except the dash. I also very carefully removed the roof seal...and I mean very carefully!! Easiest way to do it is with a small chisel and take your time. The roof seal wraps around the roof and the rear of the car....I can't imagine it's cheap if available at all!! Mine came off in one piece and is good condition. Figaros rust in the roof channels....this one isn't too bad but will need a little welding to sort. I imagine this would be difficult to fix without removing the interior plastics!

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Most of the plastics are now gone....I was going to leave the roof in place but it looks like just a couple of bolts holding it in so might pull it out too.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

a promise is a promise in my book (yes I know it isn't legally binding or anything but I'm a believer in keeping my word!)

A vanishing sentiment these days, I'm afraid. However, I suspect there are more of us with the same attitude on this forum, than you'd find in sampling the population as a whole.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Yea I started off with a power file....then a flap disc and then finally I evolved to the paint scraper. I use the power file to keep the scraper nice and sharp and just work methodically at it....I do a bit every time I'm down the garage rather than getting it all done in one go. Will then sand off the dregs in the end.....it definitely works a lot better than sanding. Am very happy with getting the roof seal off....that was a real result I think. If a door handle is £40 imagine how much they'd want for that seal!!

Slim...totally agree....I'm a great believer in "my word is my bond". On this occasion I was buying from like minded people and it was a smooth sale. I actually paid the seller up front to deliver the car (made more sense than me getting insurance myself or a transporter)...the next day it arrived and we completed the deal at the price we'd shook on the day before + a cup of tea! I think mostly this works for me...sometimes it doesn't work and I get turned over "a little"...when it doesn't work I put my trust in the universe and the law of Karma and move on

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Having a second Figaro is paying dividends already....not trying to justify myself but...

I originally thought this bow in the floor was some kind of damage that needed fixing (perhaps lots of extra weight in the rear of the car...visions of 4 huge guys in the back....plus shopping!)...but the sill pic above of Chung Lee (Figaro number 2) shows the same shape in the drivers side floor....so either it's original or the same 4 guys then got into a second Figaro and damaged it in the same way!!

 

[mylesdw]

I used these stripping discs on my truck doors and found them very good

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Cheers...I think I've actually got a set of those discs "somewhere" in the garage so I'll hunt them out and give them a go. Was there much dust using these....or did you use them at the end once you'd scraped the bulk of the paint off? Can't handle too much dust these days unfortunately so I'm always looking for ways to keep it under control if I can.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Yea I started off with a power file....then a flap disc and then finally I evolved to the paint scraper. I use the power file to keep the scraper nice and sharp and just work methodically at it....I do a bit every time I'm down the garage rather than getting it all done in one go. Will then sand off the dregs in the end.....it definitely works a lot better than sanding. Am very happy with getting the roof seal off....that was a real result I think. If a door handle is £40 imagine how much they'd want for that seal!!

Slim...totally agree....I'm a great believer in "my word is my bond". On this occasion I was buying from like minded people and it was a smooth sale. I actually paid the seller up front to deliver the car (made more sense than me getting insurance myself or a transporter)...the next day it arrived and we completed the deal at the price we'd shook on the day before + a cup of tea! I think mostly this works for me...sometimes it doesn't work and I get turned over "a little"...when it doesn't work I put my trust in the universe and the law of Karma and move on

Aye, I've done the same in reverse. Sold a Corolla on the 'Bay and agreed a delivery cost with the buyer. Drove it to Kidderminster and took trains home. Both happy.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Finally got the dash out...I did a quick search online and basically the steering column needs to be dropped....so 5 bolts later and she was out. Whether to repair the dash is a matter of personal taste. Some view the cracks as a part of figgy character because they all crack. In practice they don't all crack but most do...Chung Lee has a crack free dash....as did one other of the 7 figs that I've seen. Yet again this car is a bit of a joy...taking the dash out involves removing a dozen or so screws....that's pretty good for a modern car I think!

Before you all ask....yes I did go back down the garage this evening and have another go at it. Well it was almost out and was driving me nuts! I'm leaving the hand brake in the car for obvious reasons....I'll cover it and the wiring with a fire blanket before I do any welding. To get the side trims out also seems to require the dash to come out (from memory)...the side plastic would have been in the way for repairing the floor and drivers side arch + I feel much better having that dash somewhere safe...at £30 a switch I really don't want it to get damaged.

180KPH on the speedo seems a bit ambitious....the only way I can think of a Figaro topping 100 MPH is to drive it off a very high cliff!

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Managed to pull the roof off....it's actually held in with just 6 bolts. It's quite heavy and awkward so really should have been a 2 man job. Started pulling out the wiring and came across this drain hose. It drains into the front part of the sills but either the drain exit hole has been filled in or it didn't exist in the first place. Either way this is surely a receptor for disaster!!

 

[steveo3002]

youre keen i can say that

my polo needs a few patches if you need something to keep you busy after its done

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Today I spent a bit of time taking a profile of Chung Lee's rear quarter (missus!). I did the template out of ply....cardboard I find doesn't really work that well on large curves like this as it flaps about too much. I put a couple of locating tabs on the template and used the top chrome strip as a reference too so basically I could lock it into both cars in the same place and know that I was looking at the same part of the panel.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I then took the template and beat the hell out of figgy1 until it was a close fit....it was actually quite a bit out in places which is probably why when I looked at it I thought it was a bit off! I then used the new hammer and dollies to fettle it...did have to grind them a little but for the price no complaints. The grey is some primer that I'm using as a guide for the high and low spots. I must say I'm very happy with the end result on this. I also made a card profile of the rear panel from the door edge to the arch (in a horizontal plane) and it is now also spot on after some tweaking.

Very pleased with myself indeed!

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Funny how when things go right you then set yourself up for something even more difficult (or maybe thats just me). OK the crazy idea I have is to make the arch repair panels myself. I have basic tools plus I also now have a shrinker/stretcher too...the repair arches that are available are....wait for it.....£150-£199 a pair! Perhaps the rear of the repair arches are coated in gold leaf or something....is it just me or is that just taking the pi&s!

If anyone thinks making the arches is a bad idea speak now please...I do have the second figaro (Chung Lee) to copy from. Also any hints or tips would be much appreciated. Looking at the arches I'd probably do it in two parts I guess. Personally I also like the idea of making them....feels more like a project where as buying them feels like cheating. I think it actually has more to do with the price though....£60 a pair I'd be happy with I think. I have 2 Figaros to fix...£300 - £400 in arch panels just isn't going to happen. I'd rather spend that money on buying more tools!

 

[Cobbler]

I think how I would do it ....... Never done it mind ..... make a plywood or mdf template of the wheelarch curve as a former to dress the metal round. This will enable you to make a 2 dimensional copy, then carefully form the second curve with the shrinker or cut & shut the edge, to follow the shape of the body curve. I can't see why it won't work, but it would be a bit trial & error.

I hope this makes sense to you.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Cheers Cobbler....thats exactly what I was thinking too. On the Figaro there isn't really much of a curve off the arch into the panel so I was hoping some hammer and dolly work and then use the stretcher/shrinker (not worked out which yet!) to form the lip. I don't have much to lost to be honest so might give it a go...worst case scenario I just create a little more steel for my scrap bin!

 

[rtbcomp]

I think how I would do it ....... Never done it mind ..... make a plywood or mdf template of the wheelarch curve as a former to dress the metal round. This will enable you to make a 2 dimensional copy, then carefully form the second curve with the shrinker or cut & shut the edge, to follow the shape of the body curve. I can't see why it won't work, but it would be a bit trial & error.

I hope this makes sense to you.

A friend of mine did this for Rover arches and running boards. He made slices of steel which followed the profile of the wing and welded them to a frame and built new wings around this former. It became a lucrative part-time business.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Sounds like it is worth a go...I took a pic of the Figaro inner arch. It's definitely got rot in the seam so I will need to cut the arch out....was hoping to get lucky! You can also clearly see where someone used a spot puller...personally I think taking off the inside trim would have been much easier....might have saved a bucket of filler too

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Here is the arch on Chung Lee....I think it too has been repaired....let's hope it was a better job and not just filled up with a bucket of filler!!!!

Looking closely I think there is a flat rim to the arch but it's difficult to spot in the pics...will have to use a former or something to get that replicated.

 

[gaz_moose]

is the arch symmetrical front and back?. if so you only have to make 1 buck to hammer round.

ive done them the same way before, 2 bits of hard wood cut to the correct radius, then sandwich the metal to be formed between them. then slowly fold the edge over with hammers. your whole quarter looks like it flares out though.