Project #2...Nissan Figaro

[rtbcomp]

This is the one down my street



She uses it as her daily drive.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Like that one too...I was specifically told to get a green one! I think that they only made them in 4 colours originally....one colour for each season. There was the blue above, green, topaz and the grey. rtbcomp....that looks like a nice daily driver car...thats what I'm aiming for at least initially.

Exuptoy, don't think there is budget for a new paint job...£1,200 isn't much less than I paid for the entire car so this really is a figaro budget restoration....rattle cans at the ready!

 

[Exuptoy]

I was offshore at the time so funds weren't that much of a concern. I'm in a slightly different place just now. I suppose you make the best of it.
I recently built the fork spring compressor and used the 3 stage water based paint I had for the R1 which was all rattle cans and I could not believe the finish!
I'll be keeping an eye on this one. Good luck with it.
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[kenneth waters]

I reckon if you could make it your own and chuck some hp at it it could be a pretty cool wee toy! It might respond well to some mad max/ zombie apocalypse treatment!

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Lol...might just be small and quiet enough to sneak through an entire herd of zombies too. It has a whole 1.0 Litre turbo engine....odd but there is no intercooler on the air feed which did confuse me a little!

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Spot the turbo intercooler anyone...I couldn't see it. Part of the reason for buying the little car was the engine bay...it's nice and honest unlike a few I looked at which were very oily indeed.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Made a start on the Figaro today....started the front end strip down. I'm amazed that so far I've only had 1 rusted bolt....it was in the front grill where some numpty replaced the standard nissan clips with steel self tappers!! Front grille....stainless every time.

Had a job rescuing that piece of front bumper....at about £90 per corner it was well worth saving. So far this little car seems very well put together...I'm impressed. My MR2 was snapped rusted bolts everywhere....I spent days drilling and retapping!!

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I'm looking forward to this one.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Found the rest of the bumper...it really is very thin steel.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Decided to sacrifice the bumper in order to save the front panel which is undamaged aside for a few scuffs. That hole allowed me to get the socket in there and let's face it....that bumper needs more than a panel hammer!!

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Well my day just got a whole lot worse....it looks like the wack on the lower cross member has twisted the rail ends. Straightening is too big a job for me so will have to get in touch with a guy I know.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

The rail damage is localised so I'm going to continue with the strip down to dig out any other problems. I'm thinking there is no point fixing the rails now only to find the corrosion has gone too far in the rear or the floors!! Best assess all the jobs and then make a decision. I paid about half the value that the car is worth broken for parts so not too stressed....yet!!

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Such things are sent to try us...well....you.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Yea...I don't mind...went in with my eyes open. If this is the only issue I'd be very happy....but I'd rather get all the issues uncovered before I use any good mig wire and gas!

That bumper was so thin that I was able to bend it back by hand.

After I get that other wing off then...

Next job is to pull the interior and check the floors and inner sills from inside. If there are no horrors then I'll look at the outer sills and rear arches before finally giving the underneath the once over. Fingers crossed I haven't just bought a cheap pile of nissan figaro parts held together with factory fitted nuts and bolts.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I like the overspray on the radiator...strange that nissan decided to fit the radiator before painting the car? Or "perhaps" someone forgot to mask off the radiator during that extensive restoration.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Not much garage time today as I've been busy building a gate. Did do a little investigating of the outer sills...mostly solid except for the rear 2 foot which fell apart at the mere sight of my toffee hammer!! Seems surprisingly poor given the extensive restoration work. There seems to be a thick black coating everywhere....it's like rubber....the sort of stuff you'd use to repair a roof on a garage...very odd. Although looks bad so far the sills are as expected.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Not much garage time today as I've been busy building a gate. Did do a little investigating of the outer sills...mostly solid except for the rear 2 foot which fell apart at the mere sight of my toffee hammer!! Seems surprisingly poor given the extensive restoration work. There seems to be a thick black coating everywhere....it's like rubber....the sort of stuff you'd use to repair a roof on a garage...very odd. Although looks bad so far the sills are as expected.View attachment 115261 View attachment 115262 View attachment 115263

You DO enjoy a challenge!

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Yea it's all part of the fun and allows me to escape from my day job and forget about work stresses. So far I think that the sills might have been painted in something thick which has then held the water in and caused them to rot even quicker....bit sad really as water always eventually makes it's way out. Interestingly the inner structure is very similar to the MR2 (well I'm guessing based on what remains!)...although with the figaro I expect there will be a few holes in the floors along the inner sills when I get the carpets up.

 

[Exuptoy]

You also have to remember the Figgy was drain channels coming from the roof which has to go somewhere. Not good if it's been sealed up!
Can't remember where the drain channels run on them though.