703 replies to this topic

[notna]

A little more progress of the slow and steady, Project Papaya, kind.

With both front guards very nicely finished to a stage where they can receive colour, I have turned my focus to the front apron.

This is one that came with the car, but is not the original. The guy I bought the car from had sourced some nice, clean spares, and this panel was by far better than the original one, which was very rusty.

Purple is such a 70's colour, is it not....

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But sadly, it doesn't go with my delish Papaya resto, so off it comes... more paint stripping!

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Such a disgusting job! The smell is what gets me... it lingers for a LONG time afterwards...

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As you can see, it took a few goes with the stripper too... paint stripper that is... get ya minds out of the gutter....

But once I had done the usual Project Papaya, thorough and anally retentive job... it came up VERY nice indeed....

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And that's as far as I have come with that panel. It will get some etch primer and hi-fill next weekend.

Stay tuned....

[Statler]

Panel stands are freaking fantastic! One of those 'tools' that everyone needs!

Just curious m8, but are you using 1mm cutting discs? Your cuts look thicker?

[notna]

Yea Col.... I can't believe I restored cars previously, including one for a magazine, without them! They are ESSENTIAL!

Lee... PICS!! I wanna see what you use. It could well be what I also have and use for paint stripping, but I find they heat the panel and tear at the metal a little bit. They also BLOODY HURT when a bit of wire breaks free and lodges in your face!

[TerrA LX]

After the first block back, the high and low spots became much more apparent. There weren't that many though mond you, but the few that were visible, WERE VISIBLE!

You may want to get yourself a long board, I had a similar problem on a hatch quarter, blocked it with a shorty like your cork one three times with no joy then it hit me, the short block was following the profile of the low spots, switched to a long board and they flattened out first time on hi fill, no bog required.

[notna]

Long board eh? I might hit ePay up now and see what is available. Good tip that. Been meaning to update from my single cork block for a while.

Lee, I once came in from the garage after wire wheeling for hours, and when I looked in the mirror, I had about 5 or 6 wires hanging out of my cheeks. Must have been a cold day because I didn't feel them at all!

[TerrA LX]

You can get air powered ones too for the big hard jobs



VG auto paints is where I do most of my shopping if you want to feel the item or shop on line.

[notna]

Your top pic... the one on the right.... I have that and one half that size, but I only really use them with coarse paper and dry.

I was looking at these... http://www.dura-block.com.au/ and thinking that 5 piece kit might be good? Could use wet with some finer paper. Anyone used those and can rate them?

[derrin71]

I've got some. They are excellent.

[notna]

You still wrap your wet&dry paper around them?

[TerrA LX]

I just dry sand upto 400 to knock it flat, still finish all my sanding prior to paint with a soft block or wet hand sanding 600~800.

[notna]

Some progress today....

The weather was shocking once again, and the kids sport had been cancelled, because the council believe that just because we pay rates to maintain the public playing fields, it's no right to actually USE them! [wankers...!]

So in the garage I pottered about, sanding my already bare metal front apron, wanting it to be treated like a brand new one.

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Once I was happy that I could apply my PPG green etch... I did!

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Now I can let it sit safely for a few weeks, then I will have to weld up the LH "T.O.R.A.N.A" badge holes and sort one tiny little dent, and hi-fill prime it for storage and colour later on.

Slow progress, but it is the progress none the less, that I love best

[torana_nick]

Great work as always. Intrested to know though what do you do with your panels before you apply primer?
Do you oil them? Or just try and keep them in a dry area?

Cheers
Nick

[notna]

Absolute MAGIC stuff that!! Can leave a panel in its bare state for weeks... months too. I still give them a wet sand all over the same day I paint etch primer though. I'm not sure how the paint process would go, just painting straight over a panel treated with that stuff. Never tried it.

[mika03au]

A little more progress of the slow and steady, Project Papaya, kind.

With both front guards very nicely finished to a stage where they can receive colour, I have turned my focus to the front apron.

This is one that came with the car, but is not the original. The guy I bought the car from had sourced some nice, clean spares, and this panel was by far better than the original one, which was very rusty.

Purple is such a 70's colour, is it not....

 filename_01.jpg   171.39K   4 downloads

But sadly, it doesn't go with my delish Papaya resto, so off it comes... more paint stripping!

Stay tuned....

Purple a 70's colour? I think Papaya might be too, dont get me wrong the 70s colours are awesome (mine is going to be Papaya as well)
Those colours are making a come back, see the current crop of Ford & Holden colours since about 2008!
Can I ask what paint stripper you use?
Some of the stuff I have used is pretty useless.
Cheers.

[notna]

GPI Automotive Paint Stripper. I bought it online, not from here... but this is a good price anyway----> http://smashsupplies...ripper-4lt.html

[notna]

Had some time today to weld up the SL/R smile and LH "T.O.R.A.N.A" lettering holes.

I did my research and felt pretty confident that the SL/R smile was LH only? If I am wrong... then I'll be drilling out those welds ASAP!

First to be welded was the smile holes, from where rivets held the clips previously on this front apron.

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The the lettering holes got the same, and grinding flush, and a lick with the file....

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And the same along the bottom too....

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Small updates, but I get excited.... coz progress is PROGRESS!

[lxsstorana]

The stickers look better anyway.

[notna]

The stickers do look better.... were they standard anyway?

And Matt... don't tell me that!!

I went off these threads, that were really the only ones I could find....

http://www.gmh-toran...0497-slr-smile/

http://www.gmh-toran...ipes-blackouts/

The brochure in that second link kinda shows a stocko SL/R with no smile.

If I am proven wrong, and I am happy to be, then Matt... got any of those metal fasteners that hold the plastic clips?

[StephenSLR]

I'm fairly certain the "SL/R smile" was standard on both LH & LX SL & SL/R. Only base model "S" didn't get it.

There are two types of smile, one is the metal trim and blackout, the other is just the blackout with no trim.

I have an LX SL/R and there is no trace of the smile, painted or trimmed. I've checked the front end and can't see any sign to indicate the apron was replaced but I could be wrong.

s

Edited by StephenSLR, 18 June 2012 - 06:53 PM.

[hanra]

Hey Anton I'm no LX or Torana expert. But stole some pics from Norms Darwins Torana Tough Book. Some LXs do have that smile some don't...It almost looks like The SLR models didn't get it but perhaps the SL range did?

But one thing I will ask though.... I've got to fit those clips for my SLR smile. So please take a few more pics of your nose cone so I can copy the hole locations!!! :-)

Edited by hanra, 18 June 2012 - 10:45 PM.

[notna]

I love a good mystery!! Maybe the smile was a factory option? Something to dress up your Torana with, back in the day?

As for the holes.... I think the panel should have the little studs for the plastic clips to attach to, like on the doors. The holes are there because the plastic clips were riveted to a panel that didn't have the lugs. I think... maybe.... ??