Project #2...Nissan Figaro

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Cheers JP...yea certainly hope so...getting the front foot wells/arches and the door hinges sorted is a big step forward I think. I've got a bit of repairing to do in the rear boot floor but hopefully that'll be most of the rust gone. Still plenty of welding to do but it'll be fitting panels like the outer sills which is a lot more fun I think.

Was hoping to get the welding out of the way before the end of the year but thats looking a bit tight with "stuff" getting in the way of garage time.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

but it'll be fitting panels like the outer sills which is a lot more fun I think.

Yes, and will convey a greater sense of 'progress'.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Cheers slim....couldn't agree more. Getting all the little fiddly jobs out of the way should allow me to refit the doors and set the gap along the bottoms of the doors and the sill outer panels. I find the small repairs are only "fun" if you just do a couple of hours and do them one at a time!

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Been away with work so not much progress and also busy next week too...but I did managed to clear out the rear boot...got rid of the lid and other bits plus scraped off any rubber sealer. Check out the patch job in the boot...tacked on then they stuck a piece of rubber over it so nobody would know. Glad I decided to strip the rubber off! I reckon it might actually be a piece of biscuit tin or something. Very poor effort but totally consistent with the other "restoration" repairs!

 

[Exuptoy]

Well, I wasn't expecting that much work to have been done since I last posted on page 3!!! Just read all 26 pages and I must admit you have some tenacity and drive my friend!!! Excellent work. By the way, when I had the wifes Figgy repainted in the grey with the gold pearl flip the guy dropped me a line and told me the rear arches were rotten.

Just found some pics in my email from 2009 when it was done. The roof just had surface rust on the drivers side front and the rear panel had been repaired following a bump sometime before but not seam welded and this is how the arch rust starts out! Excuse the quality of the pics, there was no iPhone about back then

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Cheers Exuptoy...yea it's been a bit of a mad journey with this foggy but it's getting there. The welding is "almost" completed but man do these cars love to rust. If you find more pics feel free to add them....it looks like aside from poor accident repairs these cars seem to rust in a few common areas. My Figgy also has a bit of roof rust...am hoping it's surface rust but won't know until I investigate. Am leaving the roof until I get it back on the floor.

I've been busy collecting parts the last week....geez are they expensive. I've got almost everything I need except a front bumper centre section which I'll keep looking for. They are around £250 new but I'm being cheap and holding out for a descent second hand one!

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

First up was the rear exhaust...not bad at £90 delivered...even came with gaskets and bolts plus rubber hangers....and a tube of exhaust paste too. My exhaust is toast although I'm hoping the front section is still good.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

This is what £300 of front bumper parts looks like....don't worry I didn't pay that for them!

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Also got a very nice boot lid for £125...and a descent radiator too...the same guy had a good sill chrome strip but I did have to drive a 7 hour round trip to get the bits! Even more importantly I got a bunch of plastic trim clips for free....haven't seen them anywhere on line so this was a good result.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

This will make you laugh....the cup holder (minus the centre console) sells for £200...it's a very rare extra so people go mad for them. When I saw it in the car being broken I couldn't believe it!

I got everything (not Inc the exhaust) for £425....bit insane I know but in the land of figgy ownership that's a huge bargain.

The lower boot lid was a good buy...they sell for £250 new but this one came with all the chrome too which was a bonus as I can just bolt the whole lot straight on....getting a good used one is quite rare.

 

[Exuptoy]

I think I scrapped a spare door I had as it didnt sell and until about a month ago I had a set of seat belts that could have done with a good pressure wash, but they were at least complete, front and rear. If theyre still in the garage youre welcome to them but I think they went. I also purchased a set of front seats as mine were tired but the worn ones got thrown out.
There was a guy in Bridgend area who used to import them and had some stuff lying around which is only 9 miles from me. Just a heads up, I think the seat belts are handed as there was something which caused them to lock when fitted on the wrong side.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Cheers...that very good to know on the belts. Can you remember where you got your replacement belts from as I could do with a set.

Parts prices are a bit insane on these cars...I got very lucky as the breaker normally breaks modern cars. He said this was his first figaro...also his operation I think was based on flipping the parts quickly vs sitting on them and holding out for the highest price.

 

[Exuptoy]

Flee bay. It was a long time ago now when they were quite popular. I have to go up the back later so I'll see if theyre still there.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Looks like there is an ebay seller who will replace the belts with any colour you like for around £175. That sounds quite a lot but I guess if you think of the work required to refurb 4 belts it isn't too bad. I'll be leaving the belts for the new owner to sort out I think....well I can't do everything as part of the fun of owning an old car is sorting out little bits as you go along I think.

 

[atomant48]

I got everything (not Inc the exhaust) for £425....bit insane I know but in the land of figgy ownership that's a huge bargain.

You sound like me when I walk off the snap on truck!

Another great thread you're running, enjoying seeing your work.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Cheers atomant48....I think I'm only missing a front bumper middle section otherwise I have most of the bits I need. Still no garage time in sight so the best I can do for the moment is buy tools .

I really pushed on hard with the project knowing I would become very busy this time of year and into the new year with regular work...just didn't quite get all the welding done as planned. Well actually I did all the welding that was planned....and then I did most of the unplanned welding too. There was just alot more than I was anticipating

 

[Exuptoy]

It IS 25 years old matey.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Yea I guess....but my MR2 was the same age and it's survived alot better I think. To be fair this is only my second project and it's the oldest car I've worked so I don't have a basis for comparison....I always fancied an MG of some description but I can imagine a 40 or 50 year old car might be a real challenge on the rust front. Then again the japs did love to use the thinnest steel possible on their cars...

 

[Exuptoy]

l take your 25 years and increase you to a 73 Bay window camper.
Now that was rusty when I started. Unfortunately I've not put a torch to it in 4 years!

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Very nice indeed...yea I'm hoping my Figaro isn't about to go in the same direction. Too many projects....too little time....and you know you're in trouble when they start backing up too.

I really wanted a 1967 beetle for a very long time but I decided I would really need a lift and a bigger garage to get one done properly as I'd definitely want to take the body off and strip it all back. Either that or an old porsche 911/912...but I reckon that ship has sailed....remember when the project cars were around £5k!

I decided to tackle cheaper cars so I could get some skills built up before I work on anything too rare/valuable. I just need a week free to finish the welding....but it's difficult getting any time these days.