It begins...

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Alfamet
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Re: It begins...

Post by Alfamet »

So, I'm delighted to say that after a period of enforced inactivity - due to a series of regrettable circumstances (all of which upsettingly were completely out of my hands) - work has now resumed at a new bodyshop to complete my Sprint Speciale's restoration!

I'm absolutely chuffed!! Pictures soon!

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Mufasa
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Re: It begins...

Post by Mufasa »

Delighted for you Colin
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LooLooSud33Spider
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Re: It begins...

Post by LooLooSud33Spider »

Glad your getting it back on track Colin :D . As the old adage goes “good things come to those that wait”.
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Alfamet
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Re: It begins...

Post by Alfamet »

Update!

It's a marathon not a Sprint :roll:

After a positive myriad and multitude of logistical hold-ups and false starts, I'm sooo pleased to be able to say that work has now definitely re-commenced on getting the marathon restoration of my Sprint finished off! :!: :!:

The body is getting several fresh coats of its original Ionian Ivory paint, the wheels are being re-furbished and the bumpers and the bodykit are being treated to a Plasticote finish to restore the factory-fresh look.

This whole process has not been a simple and quick blow-over job. The body was taken right back to bare metal and all rust and evidence of previous botched repairs has been eradicated. it's now completely corrosion-free. The injection of three litres of Dinitrol should ensure that it stays that way too. ;)

One part of the restoration that'll probably have to wait is the Speciale's unique rubber rear spoiler. I've got to decide whether it can be repaired - it has several splits and cracks - to a standard for the sake of originality or whether I get a replica made up from fibreglass or similar. We'll have to wait and see on that one. :geek: :?:

Progress at last, eh? Pictures shortly.
Last edited by Alfamet on Thu Nov 07, 2019 4:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Alfamet
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Re: It begins...

Post by Alfamet »

Undoubtedly, the most labour-intensive of repair jobs was the cutting-out and reinstatement of the roof's complex triple-skinned rear panel, which incorporates a latitudinal bracing bar and a strengthening platform for the rear tailgate hinges.

Regular readers will know that this part of the roof was in a shocking state originally being riddled with corrosion - offering no rigidity to the Sprint's structure - and, once all the paint had been stripped back to bare metal, was found to have a full-width 'repair' consisting of body filler over an inch deep! All of this rusty and filler-encrusted mess has been cut out and a used but completely rust-free section from a donor car let in.

There's also a full-width strip of metal that's been welded in underneath where the new section and the roof joins for extra solidity and the whole thing aligns perfectly. It proved to be a long job as the repair was completed only in short bursts to prevent distortion and with the use of heat-dispersing welding putty to keep things cool.

After this, all of the temporary coat of one-pack primer was stripped off the roof and anti-rust treatment applied before final finishing. It took a lot of skill and patience to get it that far on but, boy, was it all worth it!!
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Last edited by Alfamet on Fri Nov 08, 2019 10:15 am, edited 2 times in total.

Kegsti66
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Re: It begins...

Post by Kegsti66 »

Great news Colin. Glad to see she is finally on track again.
Massive amount of work involved there .
Good luck sorting the spoiler out.

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Alfamet
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Re: It begins...

Post by Alfamet »

It maybe looked like a dog's dinner when the photo was taken Kegsti but that one repair alone, although extremely long-winded and easy to get wrong, has ensured that the car hasn't been broken up for spares or - even worse - sent for scrap. The little legend lives on! 8-)
Last edited by Alfamet on Fri Nov 08, 2019 10:18 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: It begins...

Post by KevJTD »

Glad it's back on track Colin, hopefully it'll be done before it becomes eligible for free road tax :roll: can't imagine that's been the plan :lol:

Fingers crossed again that things progress a bit more smoothly from now on.. 8-)
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Alfamet
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Re: It begins...

Post by Alfamet »

I hope so mate. If it wasn't for the bad luck, I’d have had no luck at all but I'm pleased the way things are going. At last!!!

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Re: It begins...

Post by dave.armstrong »

You're due some good luck now Colin

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Re: It begins...

Post by Sud 145 »

It will all be pukka for next years show season....full steam ahead now.

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Re: It begins...

Post by LooLooSud33Spider »

Glad you back on track Colin. :D
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Alfamet
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Re: It begins...

Post by Alfamet »

Thanks for your support guys. Appreciated !

I'm really pleased with the way things are going now. We seem to have gained a massive load of momentum in the past few weeks and excellent progress is being made.

The tricky and skilful repair to the rear of the roof panel has now been completed to a better than new and structurally stronger condition having been augmented with the addition of extra metal reinforcement laterally. It's all aligned perfectly and the shut gaps around the rear tailgate are also perfect. A sign of the high standard of the fabrication work is that the entire area needed only the lightest skim of filler to finish. I'm well pleased!

The Sprint is now going to go into primer. I'm getting excited now !

Progress pictures soon.

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Alfamet
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Re: It begins...

Post by Alfamet »

I've been a bit busy over the last couple of days but at last I have the time now to attach progress photographs as promised.
One of the merits of being on CAF is that we can, and do, encourage each other to keep going when things are less than ideal. So, on that basis, share with me now the joy of seeing the Sprint restoration finally, finally come together.
Full-width additional bracing is welded into position from inside the car to make the roof repair better and stronger than standard.
Full-width additional bracing is welded into position from inside the car to make the roof repair better and stronger than standard.
The now perfect rear panel is prepped for primer.
The now perfect rear panel is prepped for primer.
Smooth as a baby's bum ready to receive primer.
Smooth as a baby's bum ready to receive primer.
As is the offside rear quarter incorporating new outer wheel arch panel.
As is the offside rear quarter incorporating new outer wheel arch panel.
More to follow.
Attachments
All carefully masked up ready for primer. Note anti-rust treatment to the roof repair.
All carefully masked up ready for primer. Note anti-rust treatment to the roof repair.
Last edited by Alfamet on Fri Nov 22, 2019 9:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Alfamet
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Re: It begins...

Post by Alfamet »

Progress has been good.


Looking more like a Sprint again once the primer had been applied.
Looking more like a Sprint again once the primer had been applied.
Quality.
Quality.
More quality work!
More quality work!
This is what perfection looks like....
This is what perfection looks like....
Close-up it looks even better.
Close-up it looks even better.
Superb work by the body shop.
Superb work by the body shop.
I'm now looking forward to seeing the top coat applied at the beginning of next month. I can't tell you what a happy and somewhat relieved bunny I am. It's been a long haul and yes, even painful at times, but I'm getting really excited now!!! Keep it here....

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Re: It begins...

Post by Kegsti66 »

Great stuff Colin, shaped up nice and will look fantastic when they put the top coat on. 8-)

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Re: It begins...

Post by KevJTD »

The painting stage is for me by far the most enjoyable, even if the hard work is still to come, gives you a big boost and a target to aim for at last.
Looking forward to following progress now you're back on track 8-)
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Re: It begins...

Post by Alfamet »

Progress!
Rear tailgate perfectly primed
Rear tailgate perfectly primed
Bumper refinished
Bumper refinished
Refinished to as-new condition
Refinished to as-new condition
Rear bumper with better than factory finish
Rear bumper with better than factory finish

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Alfamet
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Re: It begins...

Post by Alfamet »

Front wheel arch lips stoneguarded and sealed prior to primer coat
Front wheel arch lips stoneguarded and sealed prior to primer coat
Rear wheel arches receive stoneguard before final paint
Rear wheel arches receive stoneguard before final paint
Rear lower valance gets the same treatment
Rear lower valance gets the same treatment

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Alfamet
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Re: It begins...

Post by Alfamet »

IT'S COMING ON.....

Door apertures receive final coat
Door apertures receive final coat
Looking very good
Looking very good
Rear tailgate finished nicely
Rear tailgate finished nicely
And internally too
And internally too
Up close the painted tailgate
Up close the painted tailgate

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Re: It begins...

Post by KevJTD »

Looking great mate. like Christmas come early for you :D
Are you going to be putting it back together at home?
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Alfamet
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Re: It begins...

Post by Alfamet »

KevJTD wrote:Looking great mate. like Christmas come early for you :D
Are you going to be putting it back together at home?
That's the idea Kev. ;)

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Re: It begins...

Post by KevJTD »

That will be a really nice car to build back up 8-)
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Alfamet
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Re: It begins...

Post by Alfamet »

Top coat went on today. We're getting closer!
Further pictures tomorrow.

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Re: It begins...

Post by Alfamet »

It's moving along nicely :D
Paint!
Paint!
More paint!
More paint!

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Re: It begins...

Post by Kegsti66 »

Reminds me of my old '82 reg 1.5 Veloce. She was in the same colour with the brown velour trim.
Do they plan to get it back to you for the Christmas break?
Good luck on the re-fit.

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Alfamet
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Re: It begins...

Post by Alfamet »

Kegsti66 wrote:Reminds me of my old '82 reg 1.5 Veloce. She was in the same colour with the brown velour trim.
Do they plan to get it back to you for the Christmas break?
Good luck on the re-fit.
Oh, yes!!

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Re: It begins...

Post by LooLooSud33Spider »

Colin. I think you need To rename this thread to “it’s almost finished”
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Re: It begins...

Post by KevJTD »

LooLooSud33Spider wrote:Colin. I think you need To rename this thread to “it’s almost finished”
:D
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Lancia Dedra turbo
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Alfamet
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Re: It begins...

Post by Alfamet »

LooLooSud33Spider wrote:Colin. I think you need To rename this thread to “it’s almost finished”
Ha Ha Ha! Absoutely! :D

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