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Pigeon_Droppings2
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Well today I attacked the rear quarters with p40 and the builders festool sander with the vacuum attached. It produces very little dust...great little machine. The rear quarters look fine so I really cannot comprehend why there was so much filler! It looks like the arch was patched badly so he decided to just botch it! The fibreglass was just too hard to sand off so I decided to leave it....I can see a weld line so it looks like a badly fitting repair and a load of filler to cover it all up.
On the top edges I just took it back to the original green from the factory....yes it did take me an absolute age to get all that filler sanded off!
On the top edges I just took it back to the original green from the factory....yes it did take me an absolute age to get all that filler sanded off!
Pigeon_Droppings2
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Turns out he was that stupid....the door is actually also full of filler too...this guy really was the king of the spreader! I think the dent in the rear quarter in front of the rear wheel probably affected the door....I had assumed (incorrectly) that they just replaced the door but no....they just stuck a load of filler in it.
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Something funky is also going on with the rear light on the drivers side...yep looks like another filler job! My little tip for anyone doing this would be to take the single screw out of the base of the chrome trim (see single screw hole in the picture!)....you can then just pop the chrome off and fill it properly! The chrome strip doesn't even fit correctly any more because of this hideous mess!
Pigeon_Droppings2
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Pigeon_Droppings2
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Pigeon_Droppings2
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Yea I reckon the next time I buy a Figaro I'll take it in and weigh it....or just measure the body and see if its bigger than the specs. I would not be surprised if a lot of them out there are like this under the paint. Any time you get a "sought after" older car you get this type of "repair".
My first project was the MR2 which I've owned since 1998....there was no filler on the car anywhere so this is a new experience for me. Am I missing something or is this a complete botch job?...I'd accept it I think if it actually worked but it didn't. There were about half a dozen obvious cracks in the paint which is basically where the metal underneath has corroded pushed the filler off and cracked the paint. In my book if the repair has failed within 4 years then it was rubbish to begin with. Such a shame as I quite liked the paint work which was part of the reason I bought the car....oh well live and learn I guess!
My first project was the MR2 which I've owned since 1998....there was no filler on the car anywhere so this is a new experience for me. Am I missing something or is this a complete botch job?...I'd accept it I think if it actually worked but it didn't. There were about half a dozen obvious cracks in the paint which is basically where the metal underneath has corroded pushed the filler off and cracked the paint. In my book if the repair has failed within 4 years then it was rubbish to begin with. Such a shame as I quite liked the paint work which was part of the reason I bought the car....oh well live and learn I guess!
slim_boy_fat
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@Pigeon_Droppings2 Think how much lighter, therefore faster, it's going to be when you're done.
I admire your tenacity,
a lot!!
I admire your tenacity,
a lot!!Pigeon_Droppings2
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Cheers guys...to be honest I really like working on the Figaro....it really corporates and almost wants to be restored...it's not fighting be at all at the moment.
How many cars do you know that were built in 1991 where you can remove a rear light by just taking off 3 nuts and then just push the light out....and it just pops out....without breaking any rubber gaskets too! I know I'll regret saying this but I'm actually enjoying working on this car + it's small enough to easily fit in my garage too....whats not to like
Just had my first major expense on the new project...it's a set of panel beating hammers with dollies. It was a whole £10 too!..bet they are going to be beautifully finished at that price!! What's that saying....buy cheap buy twice....as many tools with the savings!
How many cars do you know that were built in 1991 where you can remove a rear light by just taking off 3 nuts and then just push the light out....and it just pops out....without breaking any rubber gaskets too! I know I'll regret saying this but I'm actually enjoying working on this car + it's small enough to easily fit in my garage too....whats not to like
Just had my first major expense on the new project...it's a set of panel beating hammers with dollies. It was a whole £10 too!..bet they are going to be beautifully finished at that price!! What's that saying....buy cheap buy twice....as many tools with the savings!
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Another day sanding filler! It appears that the door is a basket case...I reckon the rear quarter dent was probably done with the car reversing...the door lip got caught and bent (it's hard to see in the pic). The inner return was also full of filler....hard to see but there is a slight curve in the door shut which would have prevented the outer panel being pulled back into place - it's perfectly accessible from behind so I should easily be able to knock it back into place. The door has corrosion along the bottom edge which is the main reason it's a basket case....I'm thinking new door and then straighten the lower rear quarter properly to match new door. There is an over plate I think on the sills....or that's the way nissan joined the quarter to the sill (doubtful!). If that sill repair was done after the rear quarter "repair" then I think it will lock the rear panel in place so I'll need to cut it out to fix properly.
I think for now this is as far as I will go on the door and rear quarter....conclusion so far is badly repaired originally but should be easily fixable with a hammer and dolly.
Next job is to take a look at the petrol tank and see if I can drop that out while I have the rear end in the air....then finally I'll stick the front in the air and have a poke around.
The black sharpie in the last pic is the area where the lip has been bent back....this pushed the door skin inwards which then required another bucket of filler to cover up. I don't know why he didn't just straighten the lip instead? I would have just straightened the door up but while stripping the chrome handle I spotted lots of corrosion underneath.
I think for now this is as far as I will go on the door and rear quarter....conclusion so far is badly repaired originally but should be easily fixable with a hammer and dolly.
Next job is to take a look at the petrol tank and see if I can drop that out while I have the rear end in the air....then finally I'll stick the front in the air and have a poke around.
The black sharpie in the last pic is the area where the lip has been bent back....this pushed the door skin inwards which then required another bucket of filler to cover up. I don't know why he didn't just straighten the lip instead? I would have just straightened the door up but while stripping the chrome handle I spotted lots of corrosion underneath.
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Pigeon_Droppings2
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Managed to pull the fuel tank...was a frustrating day so not many pics. I made the beginner error of checking that the tank gauge said empty (it did)....so I optimistically bought a 5l Jerry can and undid the nut under the tank. Well 6 Jerry tanks later and it was finally drained. I made a mental note to check the fuel sender before refitting!! On the up side I did get 25-30 liters of free juice for my MR2 . I also remembered to keep the final can full in reserve for when I eventually finish the project....sorry it's the only pic I took...it was no fun disconnecting those hoses I can tell you.
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While nervously waiting for Jerry cans to fill I had a poke around the rear quarters. It seems some plonker plated the drain hole...where is the roof drain going to go? They also melted the drain hose too! At least the drain itself is still attached to the melted hose so I won't have to find a new one! The two pics are from either side...they should both have a rubber drain sticking out.
Notice all the fine cracks in that rear panel in the last pic...I suspect there is a load of filler in that panel too!
Notice all the fine cracks in that rear panel in the last pic...I suspect there is a load of filler in that panel too!
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Pigeon_Droppings2
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Yea pdg I might have been better off doing the same...now I have to fix the door and correct the repairs previously done too. I was worried about welding in the arch repair and the sill in the wrong place hence the strip back so that when I fix it I get it correct. The problem with filler when it's done badly is the filler blows off the steel and then the paint cracks and it looks a mess. If I had left it we'd be forever chasing up and repairing blown filler!
slim_boy_fat
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^^ Granny > eggs here, but make sure all lines etc are clear of fuel AND fumes - e.g. will the fuel filter allow back flow to the tank end, or will there be fuel trapped forward of it? Even a grinder sparking at start-up or in use will generate sparks, won't have to be welding.
But then,you'll already be awake to this possibility......
But then,you'll already be awake to this possibility......
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Cheers slim....totally agree. There was indeed fuel in the lines too. My plan is to empty the lines when the front goes in the air...i will then leave them for a few days and then finally I will bung them and tape them up before any grinding or welding. I'm so paranoid when it comes to this stuff...keep the safety advice coming...although I've done one project I'm still learning.
Tank has been relocated out of the garage...the 5l of spare fuel is in a safe container....I'll include a pic....it will also be removed once the welding starts. 5l is a surprising amount of fuel if you think about it.
I'm usually over cautious but I got caught out with the MR2 when I wiped some panel wipe and left the rag on the floor. I started grinding and it went up so fast....luckily I spotted it...tried putting it out with my welding glove and took a while! I was wondering today whether the tank was safer left in the car!!! But the thought of welding a car with 25l in the tank just doesn't sit well with me.
I also removed the fuel cleanup tissue and rags...these are just as bad as the fuel itself I think! With petrol it's the volatile vapour that's a big danger....people always assume you need fluid but it's not the case at all....a soaked rag will do nicely as I found out with the panel wipe.
I have a fire extinguisher by my exit door....but today I had the main door open all day just to prevent the fumes from concentrating in the garage and sitting at floor level.
Tank has been relocated out of the garage...the 5l of spare fuel is in a safe container....I'll include a pic....it will also be removed once the welding starts. 5l is a surprising amount of fuel if you think about it.
I'm usually over cautious but I got caught out with the MR2 when I wiped some panel wipe and left the rag on the floor. I started grinding and it went up so fast....luckily I spotted it...tried putting it out with my welding glove and took a while! I was wondering today whether the tank was safer left in the car!!! But the thought of welding a car with 25l in the tank just doesn't sit well with me.
I also removed the fuel cleanup tissue and rags...these are just as bad as the fuel itself I think! With petrol it's the volatile vapour that's a big danger....people always assume you need fluid but it's not the case at all....a soaked rag will do nicely as I found out with the panel wipe.
I have a fire extinguisher by my exit door....but today I had the main door open all day just to prevent the fumes from concentrating in the garage and sitting at floor level.
