Sierra XR4i full restoration.

[Domdom]

Will try and get my Brother to take more photos. Even if he won't post them himself, I can do it.

I think it is important to recognise that the project isn't all about me. I'm just a daft old codger who can weld. There's the other side which is all the details really. Without all those little bits it would be nothing but a welded up bodyshell with some paint on it. About the only mechanical part which is down to me is the engine, which I still have to rebuild with the new bits it needs to make it a good one.

I will also do the wiring when the time comes. Back in the 80's I used to do a lot of X25 cabinets, which involved a ton of wiring. It's something I can do so one of my jobs.

The end result, as and when it's back on the road, well strangely, that bit doesn't interest me enough to want to own it. I love the car, always did, but it will be a weekend toy for my Bro, which is kind of the pleasure I get in all this. There are a couple of cars on my personal list, neither of which I can ever imagine getting to, a Rover P6 and/or a Jensen Interceptor. The Rover I have owned before and they are lovely. The Jensen, way too impractical nowadays, no parts available, all rusty as hell, way too hard to restore well. But neither would interest my Brother, which is 90% of the enjoyment for me, getting to work with him on something we both enjoy. If money was no object I reckon we would open an old Ford resto shop, but we all know there's no money in restoring cars, and we both have to eat.

 

[indy4x]

And his take on how to keep the overspray down inside his garage. A cheap greenhouse. Brill!!

View attachment 397414

that is such a good idea, I'm off to buy one

 

[Cato]

Will try and get my Brother to take more photos. Even if he won't post them himself, I can do it.

I think it is important to recognise that the project isn't all about me. I'm just a daft old codger who can weld. There's the other side which is all the details really. Without all those little bits it would be nothing but a welded up bodyshell with some paint on it. About the only mechanical part which is down to me is the engine, which I still have to rebuild with the new bits it needs to make it a good one.

I will also do the wiring when the time comes. Back in the 80's I used to do a lot of X25 cabinets, which involved a ton of wiring. It's something I can do so one of my jobs.

The end result, as and when it's back on the road, well strangely, that bit doesn't interest me enough to want to own it. I love the car, always did, but it will be a weekend toy for my Bro, which is kind of the pleasure I get in all this. There are a couple of cars on my personal list, neither of which I can ever imagine getting to, a Rover P6 and/or a Jensen Interceptor. The Rover I have owned before and they are lovely. The Jensen, way too impractical nowadays, no parts available, all rusty as hell, way too hard to restore well. But neither would interest my Brother, which is 90% of the enjoyment for me, getting to work with him on something we both enjoy. If money was no object I reckon we would open an old Ford resto shop, but we all know there's no money in restoring cars, and we both have to eat.

I'd love an Interceptor, but that'd take a modest lottery win. If it was a humongous lottery win then there'd be an Iso Griffo in the garage alongside the Jensen.

 

[Domdom]

A bit quiet on here lately, work is mental, which is kind of a good thing. Anyway, I have been doing stuff but the shell is covered up now pending getting the little bits done, like doors, bonnet etc.

The weather was lovely today, warm and almost no breeze, so I set about the inside faces of the 2 doors and the inside of the bonnet with top coat. They had the epoxy primer on and we’re nicely sanded, so a bit of panel wipe and I shot the top coat on. Here are the results.

Mipa 2k acrylic from Devilbiss GPG, 1.4 tip at 1.8 bar. This is lovely paint BTW.

 

[Domdom]

Found a local windscreen chap today, independent rather than one of the national chains. Very good he is too. Got the front screen out, which was scrap anyway, and got the back one out in one piece. Very glad I did too cost there's the makings of rust in the reveals. Damn stuff is a real nuisance. Now I'm wondering about the 6 lights just in front of the tailgate. The trouble with those is the XR4 logo and pattern in the glass, impossible to get hold of now and they probably won't come out in one piece. Hmmmm.

Anyway, as normal, no pics, didn't happen. So for your delectation gentlemen.....

 

[angellonewolf]

Found a local windscreen chap today, independent rather than one of the national chains. Very good he is too. Got the front screen out, which was scrap anyway, and got the back one out in one piece. Very glad I did too cost there's the makings of rust in the reveals. Damn stuff is a real nuisance. Now I'm wondering about the 6 lights just in front of the tailgate. The trouble with those is the XR4 logo and pattern in the glass, impossible to get hold of now and they probably won't come out in one piece. Hmmmm.

Anyway, as normal, no pics, didn't happen. So for your delectation gentlemen.....

View attachment 404457View attachment 404458View attachment 404459View attachment 404460View attachment 404461

dont look much rust there could you clean it up/treat with out cutting metal out ? unless you find more than whats shown there

 

[Domdom]

Oh yes, agreed completely. But if not done now it will be screens out again in a couple of years.

 

[Onoff]

Now I'm wondering about the 6 lights just in front of the tailgate. The trouble with those is the XR4 logo and pattern in the glass, impossible to get hold of now and they probably won't come out in one piece. Hmmmm.

What 6 lights?

 

[Cato]

What 6 lights?

I was taking it to be the quarter lights at the 'C' pillar?

 

[Domdom]

These ones

 

[reb78]

I bet the windscreen guys will get them out ok. I guess, worst case, if they did break someone clever could supply an OEM transfer (like a tint sheet) to fake the pattern on them?

Eta - theres a tiny chance my uncle might have some in his loft...

 

[arther dailey]

re rust, yup you have done such a good job so far it would be foolish and regretable to not get all glass out and do what needs to be done , while its a shell .

 

[minimutly]

Found a local windscreen chap today, independent rather than one of the national chains. Very good he is too. Got the front screen out, which was scrap anyway, and got the back one out in one piece. Very glad I did too cost there's the makings of rust in the reveals. Damn stuff is a real nuisance. Now I'm wondering about the 6 lights just in front of the tailgate. The trouble with those is the XR4 logo and pattern in the glass, impossible to get hold of now and they probably won't come out in one piece. Hmmmm.

Anyway, as normal, no pics, didn't happen. So for your delectation gentlemen.....

View attachment 404457View attachment 404458View attachment 404459View attachment 404460View attachment 404461

Even the rust is rusting on that thing. Again though, such a thorough job you're doing there.

 

[Domdom]

Was at a loose end today so I decided to paint the bonnet. Also had the windscreen guy remove the 6 light windows which thankfully came out in one piece.

Going to mop it tomorrow but quite pleased with how it came out of the gun. Devilbiss GPG with a 1.4 fluid tip, a shade under 2 bar pressure. Will be going back with my brother on Sunday, a bit of a moment for me. Finally seeing the end of it now.

 

[reb78]

Lovely.

What breathing gear are you using when painting? I'm sure you have said but what paint are you using? I wanted to do my 110 panels as i rebuild it but got scared off in case i killed myself with the wrong gear/paint combo.

I then have a car a little older than yiur xr4i to do.

 

[Domdom]

Paint is MIPA 2k acrylic, the full-fat stuff, not the non isocyanate version. Breathing gear is a Devilbiss air fed mask

 

[Domdom]

Lovely.

What breathing gear are you using when painting? I'm sure you have said but what paint are you using? I wanted to do my 110 panels as i rebuild it but got scared off in case i killed myself with the wrong gear/paint combo.

I then have a car a little older than yiur xr4i to do.

As it goes, I also have one of those cheap Far Eastern air fed masks as a spare. My air set up has multiple take offs with a set of breathing filters as well as the belt pack filters. So there are 7 filters by the time it gets to the mask unit including 2 charcoal ones. The head mask part is not overly different between the 2 units, just a pipe to the chin area with some foam over it. But the Devilbiss does seal better round the face. Either would be fine but I wouldn’t rely on chinesium filters alone.

 

[Domdom]

Made a bit more progress at the weekend, assembling enough of the rolling gear to be able to trailer it to a spray booth. Fed up with trying to get any sort of results in a filthy garage so we are renting a booth for a couple of days.

As normal, the pics below.

 

[RWD3M]

Ooh! Starting to look like a car now!

 

[reb78]

Nice!!