Steve thats brill . Just what im trying to do with my 5 keep it standard and so far so good
Steve thats brill . Just what im trying to do with my 5 keep it standard and so far so good
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Steve, keep us updated in 2015. It would be a shame not to see this complete.
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Hello Folks,
OK Matt, here's the first 2015 instalment...Originally Posted by Matt Cole
Steve, keep us updated in 2015. It would be a shame not to see this complete.
I received a phone call just before lunchtime today, from Karl, saying they had
been busy since coming back to work this week, and it's only Wednesday! The
car is now mostly in bare metal and it might be time to take some pictures.
On my arrival, it immediately became apparent that stripping back the paint
was the best idea. It highlighted a few places that could become future
problem areas, and possibly defeat the object of doing the job properly, just
once. I'll let the pictures take up the story...
Screen drain hole, passenger side
Passenger side front wing
Driver's side front wing. Not original and not for a GTT. The mounting
holes are drilled rather than pressed, as is the indicator repeater socket,
just out of shot...
Still some paint to remove on the pillar, but a clear candidate
for a bit of repair...
...though the drain hole this side isn't quite as bad
This is possibly the most serious area of rust, part of which is
hidden within the door shut. The door isn't stripped as it will be replaced.
At first sight, this rear wing seems okay. However, below the
cheat line, it's a different story. It seems the car has been bumped on its
right side, with this wing repaired and the front one replaced. No sign of which
appears in the documentation!
The rear door and remainder of the car are just in superb condition!
Now some close-ups of some of the trouble spots...
That's the choke cable hanging out, and broken...
Now, two pictures of items that are normally hidden from view...
So, nothing too horrendous found, (looks for "sigh of relief" icon). I'm going to
see if the wrong front wing can be replaced with a new correct one. Most of
this work is Lee's and I cannot imagine the amount of dust he created! The
place was spic and span when I arrived.
Regards,
Steve
Last edited by Lowiepete; 08-01-2015 at 00:46.
That looks really solid! Hardly any rust on it at all. I dare not take mine back to bare metal as I think id struggle to find much with all the rot on it.
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Thanks Steve. I had no idea you were going for bare metal!
That car is unbelievable a condition for its age.
Is this now a nut and bolt restoration?
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Steve really does look in amazing condition in the bare metal with not too much to do other than drain hole around the screen and the wing. Definitely the way to go, will it still be tungy grey?
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Thanks for the kind comments guys. Having chatted with Jason and Lee, before
Xmas, we came to the conclusion that bare metal would be the way to go,
simply to find any potential problems. Seems that this approach has been
justified. I'm certainly not up for ever repeating this exercise, but don't want
any nasty surprises later either! As for nut and bolt restoration, well maybe
not quite to that level.
I certainly won't be doing any part replacements that aren't needed. Looks
like the driver's side wing is staying, for example, though a guy in France
has 5 wings for sale, which was tempting. Although the hole stamps for
the trims are in place, they don't have an indicator repeater socket.
Once the car is in primer, the engine will be coming out. This to re-grind the
valve seats and to powder coat the subframe, along with clutch renewal etc.
With there being so little welding work to be done, it means that money can
be spent on bringing the car back to mint.
It won't become a garage queen, as I'm intending on having some fun with it.
The car will be staying in tungy grey, though that'll be brought really close to
concours standard. I already have the car booked for a wet-sand and special
coatings to be applied in April.
Regards,
Steve
Last edited by Lowiepete; 10-01-2015 at 08:58.
Hi Steve, The new wings, as supplied by Renault, do not have the side repeater holes pre-cut. Seems a bit silly but that's how they come.
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Agreed. I bought a new wing many moons ago and it had no side repeater hole. I recall quizzing the renault parts guy and he said that's how they came. Weird but true!
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Hello Folks,
I've just realised that I've not posted pictures of my work at home on the
car's interior plastics, some of them having been used to illustrate my review
of the ADS plastic restorer. So here's two close-ups of the finished article.
These are seen from differing viewpoints to try and overcome the nonsense
that the camera's flash presents...
This is the interior trim from the driver's side, now cleaned and protected...
The rear window levers on the car needed to be replaced, and having bought
2 second-hand, but grubby, replacements, here they are before and after,
again from 2 viewpoints...
So, the car has been moved back into the workshop for work on the sills to
continue. These have been rubbed-back, rust treated, primed, stone-chipped
and are ready for another primer coat...
Both sides have been treated...
One area looked to be really suspect; remember this?
Seems that there's no hole in the metal after all! Here it is now...
The last picture shows the front wing now correctly rivetted in place at the
bottom...
All the discussions about this car are about how solid it is for its age. As it's
in the main shop now, it is proving to become a bit of a distraction, with any
visitors tending to drool, even in its undressed state
Next step is for the new driver's door to be trial fitted, just to make sure that
seams match etc. I'll also be ordering the new windscreen for delivery before
the end of the month.
Regards,
Steve
Going back to the windscreen...
...and it's Mitchells Renault to the rescue, again. 2 in stock at Renault UK - £120+VAT.
That's cheaper than Autoglass, who incidentally didn't want to honour their written
quote, £147 all in, and preferred to try extracting another 20 quid. That behaviour
adds them to my list of companies I'll avoid at all costs.
So, win win, with a genuine Renault screen
Regards,
Steve
Good news that Steve. Is your screen tinted? Some fives had different tinted glass, either a green or slight yellow if I remember correctly? Have you managed to obtain any new seals?
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Happily, I'm going to be able to re-use the originals. The guy who took out the
existing screen was keen to preserve the originals because they're much better
at waterproofing. Seems he was right, considering the screen was original and
there was only surface rust behind them. The screen is green tinted. The only
other piece I need is the clip that covers the seal ends, which I've ordered from
Mike.
Regards,
Steve
That's a big bonus as the seals are non existent!
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Hello Folks,
This box arrived in the post today...
I was amazed by this demo video...
...where I've seen others cover entire areas, it seems that's a waste. Inside
the front doors, what we'll do is place two mats centrally over one aperture,
with one mat overlapping the other by two or three inches. In the bigger
spaces, we'll place mats side by side with another across the centre of both.
That'll probably become clearer once we get some pictures.
We discussed this round at the workshop and reckoned that by covering the
entire area there was a possibility of creating another "membrane". These
sheets are only meant to take the resonance out of the sheet metal.
So, onto the car, where much work has taken place. The roof is now stripped
of paint and there's been some minor welding work done. Also, a lot more
rubbing down. I'll let the pictures take up the story...
This inside the driver's side door shut, that troublesome area all tidy! The
door has been removed...
Some remedial strengthening was done to this rear bumper mount...
Now the tailgate. This is mid rust-treatment process, using the Bilt-Hamber
protection pair. I asked Jason for his thoughts, as its his first use of these
and both he and Lee are impressed with it.
One point of mirth came when I asked Lee if he was enjoying the task. Back
came a forthright: No! - which gave him away, instantly
Now to the windscreen surround, all tidied-up and ready for its blanking panel.
These guys prefer card to plastic sheets.
This is the roof, with the aerial removed...
My first call into the workshop was on my way to Mitchells Renault to pay for
my new windscreen, where I got a bit of a surprise. It was there, behind the
desk so I took this picture while Paul was preparing the paperwork.
Did you notice that ring? Well, the screen came complete with both the main
fitting seals. Autoglass wanted another £100 for these if added! Even Mike at
GT Turbo Spares charges £50 for each piece.
So, called into the workshop on my way back to share the good news and in
that time, the screen had received its blanking plate...
So far, there have been a couple of occasions where going to the main
Renault dealers has paid off, handsomely! There's a tangible buzz around this
restoration now
Regards,
Steve
Last edited by Lowiepete; 01-04-2016 at 04:33.
I love reading this thread! The car is coming along well. The sheeting you linked a video on, is impressive. Very impressive actually. Makes your car heavier though
Great result on the windscreen with it having the two main seals included! Am tempted to buy the other one and get it popped in my parts stash.
So what's the guesstimate for getting some paint on your car?
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how much did the genuine screen cost?
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That's great news on the screen! Also the sound deadening sheets. I probably need to do this to mine
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You still need middle seal as only two come with screen but your old one should be ok.
Progress looks great.
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Coming along nicely. I can't beieve how little rot there is on it!
Interior plastics have come up well, I'll have to have a look into that ADS plastic restorer you used, looks like it does a good job.
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Coming along very nicely Steve, great work!
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http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...d=111366877782
Anyone tried this, I think it's the middle seal?
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Cars looking very good by the way Steve! Loving the progress pics and looking forward to seeing it in primer next!!
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Many thanks for the kind comments guys
Yes, if you add it wall to wall, but by taking the selective approach and doing aI love reading this thread! The car is coming along well. The sheeting you linked a video on, is impressive. Very impressive actually. Makes your car heavier though
controlled double-up, I doubt that we'll add more than 3 kilos overall. I've seen
others "carpet" their metal and wondered if it was worth it. I was very, very
surprised when that second shelf was turned in that video. However, when
you think about the physics of percussion, it makes sense.
Well, it's in primer next week, then it's engine out, but we're ahead of schedule.
Completion date is intended to be 1st April and I cannot wait!
See Post # 261
In fact, I think I was in the happy position of being able to re-use all the original
seals. The guy who took the screen out has cautioned against using any seals
that aren't Renault original because it's a one-way ticket to the surround rusting!
So, finding these seals provided was just a lucky bonus!
Sadly, it looks like the review I did on DW has caused a rush and Matt the EU
distributor is now awaiting new stock from the Far East.
Regards,
Steve
Hello Folks,
So, the car has been moved back to #1 Studio...
The passenger side door being prepared...
Now, round the rest of the car...
Next stage is some Bilt Hamber anti-rust primer, then an etch primer, then
stage after stage until it has been blocked and primed once more. Sounds
like a week or three more of painstaking work...
...then it's back over to Karl for him to work his magic. I think he's already
aware of how high his brother and Jason have set the bar. His biggest task
will be the 1980's Renault electrics, starting with the "connector of doom"!
Regards,
Steve
Looks like a delorean with all that bare metal showing. Maybe you should just lacquer it and keep it like that!
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Hello Folks,
Part 5 sees the car get a basic detail, visit Snetterton Racecourse and get taken
back into the workshop to get its glass and body-trims removed...
Regards,
Steve
Last edited by Lowiepete; 01-04-2016 at 04:35.
Great film again Steve, Dont think id would know where to start to make one on my car lol. Looking ofrward to the next installment
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Hello Folks,
I've not set eyes on the car in nearly 3 weeks. However, I'm told that it
will probably be in primer by the end of next week, with the engine coming
out the week after. That doesn't mean that there's been no progress though.
Detachable parts like the doors and front bumper have been fettled...
Front bumper...
Passenger door...
Rear door...
Some inner seam treatment...
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, there's more plastics cleaning to do. This time
its the rear speaker pods and parcel shelf bracket...
This won't pass muster!
Much better...
...and a kinda 50/50
This led to another train of thought. With new door trims, and indeed a new driver's
door, I'm thinking about the paper speaker bellows. Time for an upgrade? Well, with
some sound deadening in the body panels, there should be the opportunity of better
sounds, so maybe time to invest in some nice speakers.
A few days later...
Now it came to fitting the pesky things! Much, much easier said than done.
I didn't want it to necessarily show that there are new speakers installed, so
it meant that the loose bracket and its 4 keeper plates had to be lined-up.
Then it was a question of lining everything up with the existing holes in the
pods. The only way to do that successfully was to insert three of the four
securing screws the wrong way round.
Then I found that my self-tappers were about 2mm too short! Grrrrrr...
What I also found was that it was harder to place the keeper plates with the
keeper thread at the back, and that they stay in place during assembly.
When you have gammy hands, things like this can become quite a challenge!
Twice, I had to start from scratch because one or more keeper slipped off.
Definitely a job for blu-tack!
After much blue language, especially when I lost grip of the screwdriver, here
are the assemblies...
The speakers are entirely secure, with the screws making sure that the back
of the keeper plates don't go anywhere. What I'll do is cover the screw ends,
and with them not projecting too far, that'll be a simpler job.
The Philips radio cassette already in the car was a decent unit for its day,
so I'm looking forward to hearing the sound from these speakers. For the
front speakers, I went round to see Jason today because there was a fear
of the replacements being too deep.
Looking at the speaker still in the scrap door, it looks the 46mm depth of the
new speakers will be okay. The existing speakers sit in a cradle that stand it
proud for at least 25mm. I'll be going back tomorrow to confirm this after the
existing securing rivets have been drilled out.
Regards,
Steve
Last edited by Lowiepete; 01-03-2015 at 00:02.
Attention to detail is staggering Steve as always!
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Looks great. Double check the screen seals. They come with the rear seal and inner. Not the outer seal. You will need to buy that separately.
Si
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Hi Si,
It looks like I have quite a choice of seals. The guy who took out the screen was
careful enough to preserve everything and made a point of saying the originals be
kept. So, when he comes back to re-fit the screen, he'll take his choice. The point
he was emphasising was that many after-market seals tend to block the drain holes
and should be avoided. To see seals included with the pack from the Renault dealer
was just an unexpected, but welcome, surprise.
Oh, and if anyone wants the little plastic cover that goes over the seal joint, pop
down to your dealer, he'll charge you the princely sum of: just fifty-eight Pence!!
Regards,
Steve
Last edited by Lowiepete; 01-03-2015 at 00:00.
I really can't wait to see the results from this project.
Attention to detail is amazing
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What I don't understand is why the holes are there. When I removed my screen there were 2 small plastic lugs filling the holes. When I discussed this with the body shop it was decided they were pointless. The inner seal and also the rubber glue blocks the holes anyway..
The screen was factory and the plugs the same, I would say these were to seal rather than to drain.
The other seal is still avail from Renault pic attached better to have a new one rather than the old and the correct style
Si
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That's some luck with the windscreen fittings.If you put two same cars painted by same person next to each other with one being bare mental job, the differences is night and day!
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Hello Folks,
Remember this..?
...and this..?
...and my plans for using this?
Well, a trip to Aylsham today and I brought back these...
With a small mod made...
One of the rear door cards...
...with a close-up of the rather smart stitching
The driver's side door card...
...with more exquisite stitching
Two views with the top panel attached but the passenger side door pocket
laid on to give an idea of the finished article.
When I first mentioned doing this to Karl and Jason all those weeks ago, the
response I got was a bit muted. I'm fairly sure they thought I'd go over the
top, with too much red! We did play a little today, to see what the top panels
might look like if also covered but that was very soon dropped. We couldn't
continue it into the rear anyway, even if it did suit the front. Anyway, on my
return I popped round to show them, and got an instant seal of approval.
The trimming was done by Paul Moore in Aylsham and he's done me proud! As
you can expect, it wasn't cheap, but it was money in fair words. Needless to
say, I'm totally thrilled and my thanks go to him for completing the job on time
and on budget
Regards,
Steve
The red trim sections work really well.
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I think that's stunning and the design really suits the period of the car! In fact, if Renault wanted to improve the gt at design I would imagine something like this!
Really well done Steve. Excellent
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Cheers guys - these red touches, in a car with grey carpet are just what I was
looking for. Matt, that's praise indeed! Thanks.
Regards,
Steve
They look really good. Nice work on the stitching.
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Hello Folks,
Having fetched the correct door pocket and given it a good clean, here's a
proper mock up of the finished door card. I cannot attach it as the torx screws
go directly into the door...
One thing that is amazing with proper leather, it's an absolute nightmare to
cut into. You don't just need a very sharp knife! There are a few more small
holes to cut yet...
Regards,
Steve
Hello Folks,
More work on the doors.
This is the new driver's side door, given the once over after coming out of
its factory wrapper. A quick primer coat and then much blocking work later
reveals a number of high points and some pin-prick dings.
Here it is next in line for its second blocking...
This is the passenger side, mid-way through its second blocking. With some
"blacking" applied, the process of checking and re-checking for low points
goes on. The methodical and meticulous approach toward getting a perfect
surface is just astonishing!
Regards,
Steve
The doors are a particular pain on these cars as the metal is so thin.
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That will explain why I still have ripples in my doors! Obviously the body shop couldn't be arsed with them
Looking good Pete! Can't wait to see the finished article
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Love that interior mate . Nice job
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Hello Folks,
While I'm complaining about parts replacement costs, occasionally you do
get a relative bargain, like these from mister-auto, delivered from Belgium...
Interesting that one is made in Italy, the other in China
Karl has assured me that the existing drive shafts are okay, so I've bought
these boots to refurb them and sell them on...
I'm assured that the engine is due for removal in the coming week. So,
maybe there will be a better flow of pictures than recently.
Regards,
Steve
Never seen new shafts for years!
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Hi Steve
Projects looking good, can't wait to see the finished pics!
The passenger side shaft doesn't look as thick as it possibly should? Drivers side looks right!? Might be worth comparing before you sell the original passenger side shaft?
Keep up the good work!
Cheers
Steve
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Nice work Steve, out of interest how much were the new driveshafts from Mister Auto? Need a pair for the raider as keep knocking on corners and roundabouts.
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Driver's side
Pax Side
£57 each...
Regards,
Steve
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