Don’t know if you’ve managed to get hold of the foam front panel bar bit but just seen this one.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/173824266231

Of course it rained last night while the scuttle panel was off. Cleaned up all the pooled water just now and threw a tarp over the top as it's likely to chuck it down tonight. Tightened up the bonnet and hinge bolts, it's not perfect on the drive side, more adjustment needed later but it's fairly close - I put my arms across the whole bonnet so I could feel the left/right position out. Needs slight adjustment at the catch & rubber stops.

While I was doing it I knocked a plastic cap over the strut top driver side. Very loose, I bet someone did it when they replaced the screen before. Inside - pool of rust ...... I've cleaned all the loose debris out that I can and dried it up, not pretty though. Just saw a Youtube video of someone struggling with the exact same issue.

Fiat parts dept can't work out what part number those washers are, the diagram doesn't look like the cars do and has multiple parts defined for what looks like they might be the parts! Perhaps parts 7 and 11 in the attached. Is there definitely supposed to be one on the lower tube in the condenser?

Forgot to mention - also noticed the rear exhaust hanger (seems to be welded to the exhaust) is REALLY corroded - the metal is just flaking away. Just for now I'm going to loop a piece of strong wire under there in case it lets go anytime soon.

The twinair I had was made before they started fitting caps over the top strut mounts. I just gave them a good clean up and covered them in Waxoyl.

I think the caps might even make it worse if theyre half fitted like mine, no way to dry out or get exposure to air.

Yes there definitely is one on the bottom. I do have some but I’m loathe to give them away as I might need them one day.

Do you have one of each you could take a photo of together so I can show them to the Fiat parts people please?

Got everything to do the painting now, except good weather. Tarp was a good call - chucked it down today.

system11 said:

Do you have one of each you could take a photo of together so I can show them to the Fiat parts people please?

Got everything to do the painting now, except good weather. Tarp was a good call - chucked it down today.

Click to expand...

Yeah will do, will upload shortly

with the bolt and a 50p for size comparison

Good news! Those Vauxhall parts are exactly the same as the Fiat ones, probably using condensers from the same manufacturer. I've got nothing to re-pressurise the system with, it'll have to wait until I take it to get regassed. I wonder if there are mobile aircon refill services? It'd be nice to get it filled while the bumper isn't in the way to keep an eye on the condenser joint.


Today was sanding & primer day, back under the tarpaulin now as it's again due to rain. I'd forgotten how hard it is with rattle cans to hit a small area - quite a bit of trial and error with degreaser to quickly erase mistakes. Also pulled the damaged bumper spoiler off and all the very rusty clips, badge is rusted on tight! Found a small crack on one side down the bottom, going to be hard to repair as it's on a very thin section - also a spiderwork crack in the bumper paint, beggars can't be choosers I suppose. Coolant has dropped since it was filled but I can't see any leaks anywhere so I assume it's just because it's cold now so the heat expansion was in play when I was topping it up. Can't see any leaks.

I’ve got two to get regassed now. There’s a bloke locally who does it on his drive for £25. I used to get Mr Clutch to do it when they did MoT. That cost around £50 from memory. They have to vacuum the air out of the system before gassing.

Total disaster with the paintwork, luckily since nothing had cured long term the degreaser and some hard work brought it back to the sanded bare metal point I was at before.

I'm really struggling with this part - the spray cans are basically useless puffing out a foot wide cloud when I need a 1 inch wide cloud. It's like I need a modelling airbrush or something, does anyone reading have experience here? I could just hit it with a touch up pen but it'd look awful (still less awful than my spray attempt).

Found these guys for mobile A/C work, I'll give them a ring as I really want to know if that condenser seal is good before the bumper goes back on.

https://www.fontwellaircon.co.uk/index.htm

I’ve done bits and pieces with cans but I try to keep it to a minimum. I think the secret is to mask off as much as possible and just use the can farther away in short strokes and don’t try to put too much on in one go.

I just bought a modelling airbrush on ebay - I'll spray loads of the paints into a plastic cup and tip that in the dispenser.

Aircon guy is coming tomorrow afternoon, I think once that's done I'll put the lights and bumper on finally - I'll just do more masking when it comes to the next paint attempt. Itching to give it a quick drive. I am wondering if there's an exhaust leak near the front somewhere - might just be a trait of the engine though I've no experience with these - sounds a little 'frappy' just as you put even a small bit of power on, only at low revs. Past that initial burst even revving it up where the turbo kicks in it doesn't do it though. Is there some kind of valve that opens/closes when the engine is idling?

Still not 100% happy with the panel gaps, have done it 3-4 times so far, brought the bonnet catch up a bit so you don't have to slam it anymore.

Found a Now 97 CD in there. Modern music really is bloody awful.

system11 said:

I just bought a modelling airbrush on ebay - I'll spray loads of the paints into a plastic cup and tip that in the dispenser.

Aircon guy is coming tomorrow afternoon, I think once that's done I'll put the lights and bumper on finally - I'll just do more masking when it comes to the next paint attempt. Itching to give it a quick drive. I am wondering if there's an exhaust leak near the front somewhere - might just be a trait of the engine though I've no experience with these - sounds a little 'frappy' just as you put even a small bit of power on, only at low revs. Past that initial burst even revving it up where the turbo kicks in it doesn't do it though. Is there some kind of valve that opens/closes when the engine is idling?

Still not 100% happy with the panel gaps, have done it 3-4 times so far, brought the bonnet catch up a bit so you don't have to slam it anymore.

Found a Now 97 CD in there. Modern music really is bloody awful.

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Yeah, they really sound like that. First one I had my mate came round and said, there’s something wrong with that. I had to look it up on YouTube t be sure.

I have a lovely collection of old CDs salvaged from inside the players. Car I got last week even had a Christmas tree in the boot.

system11 said:

I just bought a modelling airbrush on ebay - I'll spray loads of the paints into a plastic cup and tip that in the dispenser.

Click to expand...

Spraying into a plastic cup is a good way to get a face full of paint! I turn the can upside-down and hold the button in till it stops hissing and then remove the top of the can with a can opener, the one on my pocket knife works best. Decant the paint into a screw-top jar and let it sit for a short time to de-gas fully. You might lose a bit of paint if you don't use it all immediately but nothing like the amount you'd spray into the atmosphere from the spray can.

Aircon now running ice cold, no leaks detected during clean/refill. It has dye in it and we took a look at the current amount of old dye I hadn't cleaned off very well as a reference point - those seals were good. I need a UV torch.

He also gave me the number of a good cheap windscreen guy - just noticed the Pilkington logo on the one on the car so it's already not OEM for sure.

Airbrush arrived, no manual...

I'm going to need another bonnet.. The lacquer is so weak that some tape pulled a strip of it off. Quotes suggested it's going to be better to find another one than try to get it painted - why is painting so expensive in the UK! I missed one at 07:29 on ebay this morning, talk about bad timing.

system11 said:

I'm going to need another bonnet.. The lacquer is so weak that some tape pulled a strip of it off. Quotes suggested it's going to be better to find another one than try to get it painted - why is painting so expensive in the UK! I missed one at 07:29 on ebay this morning, talk about bad timing.

Click to expand...

My bloke charges me £150

Still feeling pretty miserable about making the bonnet much worse and then missing what looks like a mint one. I've been unable to do anything really due to constant high wind and rain. So close to having this on the road too! The soot/blue smoke that I'd seen when I first got it and when i started it back up for the first time seems to be gone at least.

I've totally run out of money though.