Mk1a Restoration news../Steve K

[Lauren]

Popped down to the bodyshop (they've only had the car a couple of days) to see how they were getting on with wheel arch replacementage:

Down to the bare metal on the near side



On the O/side the guy was just blending in the repair sections




The front number plate was fixed to the bumper, so i've had the holes filled and plate is being moved to proper position. Bumper front will be sprayed black


The front valance was worse than i thought and was bubbling up from behind so this is getting done too:



Have to say am pleased with how its going so far, reckon at this rate it ought to be done by some point next week.

Plus it didn't need any welding for the MOT which surprised me though the pedants at the MOT place failed it for having jagged wheel arches and no front number plate!

[Dave Burke]

Roughly how much should it cost to have the rear arches done Lauren? I need mine sorted soon, so it'd be good to have an idea before going to a bodyshop.

[Lauren]

Roughly how much should it cost to have the rear arches done Lauren? I need mine sorted soon, so it'd be good to have an idea before going to a bodyshop.

Its costing me £500 plus the panels of course.

But they are doing a fair bit more than just the arches. This price includes:

painting front and rear bumpers black
painting engine vent
filling side skirt holes and painting sills black
repairing and painting front o/side valance
painting front lip spoiler black

So i'd guess just for the arches you are looking at a little bit less than that.

All 6 repair panels from JDG (3 per side) cost me £310.

HTH

[Dave Burke]

Nice one Lauren, that's reassuring.

[Dale_V]

They seem to be using alot of filler there

[Lauren]

They seem to be using alot of filler there

Well where the filler is where the joins from the replacement panels to the rest of the bodywork above. Everything below the filler bit is new. Think they have a bit of rubbing down to do as well yet.

[PW@Woodsport]

They seem to be using alot of filler there

perfectly normal...you need to make sure the seam between the new section and old is flush blended,nothing wrong with that repair,often looks worse than it is when filler is used.

[Mk1 Turbo Powered Steve]

Thanks Lauren.I'm sure it's gonna be a stunner! when it's finished.
Keep me updated with the progress.

I was qouted £800 which would have included the jdg arches,fixing and spraying,so your not doing bad having all the other work done too!!

I didn't realise the front valance was as bad as that,i thought it was ok!

Did you have it mot'd before the sills where done,because as you know it failed the mot on the drivers one at my mot station?

[Lauren]

No worries Steve expect lots of pics once its finished!

The car was MOT'd on wednesday before any work was done. It didn't fail on the sills, the MOT guys said they were fine.

The only thing it failed on was the brakes, which i have a good idea why, as one of the rear calipers needs the piston wound in as we fitted new rear discs, so it is binding a bit. Reckon we can sort all that stuff out once its out then get a a pass.

In case you were wondering its now got the brakes off my SC on it, so i know they are okay. It also has the complete struts off my SC though i'm going to swop these with some early struts with koni's once i get the car back.

[Mk1 Turbo Powered Steve]

As i said, Lauren sounds as though it;'s gonna be great!!

It shows you how mot sations are so different,he told me the drivers side sill had,had it!

I look forward to seeing it at some meet soon!

Hopefully at JAE!! If not before!

[Lauren]

As i said, Lauren sounds as though it;'s gonna be great!!

It shows you how mot sations are so different,he told me the drivers side sill had,had it!

I look forward to seeing it at some meet soon!

Hopefully at JAE!! If not before!

Don't worry Steve i full intend to be showing it off at the shows this year, particularly because i didn't make hardly anything in the MR2 world last year.

Can't wait! Mark is un-mothballing his Super Edition too so we aim to get out and about come the summer.

[Porl\'\']

I need to get my rear arches done a little bit. It looks to me that its only surface rust (bubble'd paint, but really solid feeling when you tap it).

If i post a photo or two would one of your mk1 ubermeisters tell me if my thinking is correct?



Thanks

Porl''

[Mk1 Turbo Powered Steve]

Hi Lauren, i saw a really nice 1a yesterday at our pub meet,a very clean example!

I can now see why you want to turn my old na back to standard!!
They do seem to have some character and they are becoming very rare!

[Mk1 Turbo Powered Steve]

I need to get my rear arches done a little bit. It looks to me that its only surface rust (bubble'd paint, but really solid feeling when you tap it).

If i post a photo or two would one of your mk1 ubermeisters tell me if my thinking is correct?



Thanks

Porl''

Would be good to get some photos,maybe some of us will be able to give you some ideas.

Don't want to dissapoint you but when i bought my early na,there was only a tiny spot of rust,within 2 years the rust came through so much that i could see the tyres through the holes!

[Porl\'\']

I need to get my rear arches done a little bit. It looks to me that its only surface rust (bubble'd paint, but really solid feeling when you tap it).

If i post a photo or two would one of your mk1 ubermeisters tell me if my thinking is correct?



Thanks

Porl''

Would be good to get some photos,maybe some of us will be able to give you some ideas.

Don't want to dissapoint you but when i bought my early na,there was only a tiny spot of rust,within 2 years the rust came through so much that i could see the tyres through the holes!

i've just ran outside and taken some photos (dont know how well they will come out seens its getting dark) and i'll try to post them tonight.

Thanks!

Porl''