Early HPE restoration

[Ferrit]

Are you going to fit normal bulbs or LED's?

[peteracs]

Hi Mark

As per the Spider I will fit LEDs all round except the headlights.

Peter

[Ferrit]

so now you need to tell why not the headlights?

M

[peteracs]

Hi Mark

Very simple, when I looked the led headlight replacement bulbs seem to require some sort of heat sink  which complicated the whole rear end of the light. I also wanted to keep the original plastic caps which come with the Carello units, no space for heat sinks etc. The modern replacement bulbs are a big improvement from the old originals.

Peter

[peteracs]

A bit hot to do much and now watching Men's Semis at Wimbledon on TV. Did get chance to apply rust converter and then apply some high temp paint to the 4/2/1 branch exhaust down pipe. Still needs a suitable end to it, but this will protect it  for now. I used this high temp paint on the Spider and it has lasted well.

Peter

[peteracs]

A few more random jobs done.

First cleaned and treated the front indicator/side lights, will add a new connector when I start on the loom as want to use waterproof connectors where I can.

Also cleaned off the blue overspray and washed and treated the plastic covers which fit just behind the rear windows.  I had already removed the rust from the small screw in bolts and now treated them with ACF50 to help protect them from the elements. There are small rubber 'seals' over these bolts which appear in reasonable condition, again cleaned etc, but unsure how far they should go over the bolts, not the greatest design I think, may have to make a mod before fitting.

Peter

[Nigel]

Hi Peter,
Those C pillar plastics have come up really well. I wonder which treatment you used.
I used Owatrol colour restorer which gave a similar result but doesn't
seem to last for ever.
Those rubber gaskets around the studs would work well with a dollop
of silicon grease, which may protect them as well. I think they are mostly intended to provide
a water seal but also to prevent vibration/rattles.

Nigel

[peteracs]

Hi Nigel

I use Autoglym rubber restorer. I used it on the spider and been very happy with the results. As with anything it does not last forever, but it does seem to last a good while and is a pretty cheap solution.

https://www.autoglym.com/vinyl-rubber-care.html

I will look to add something to the seals to give it a more waterproof solution.

I still have to replace the old decayed rubber strip which is attached to the top of these panels.

Peter

[peteracs]

Hi

Some progress on random parts....

On pre facelift cars the instrument cluster has a clear acrylic sheet in front of the instruments which very often goes milky, so it looks like you are viewing the speedo etc through a fog..... My Spider was not all bad in this respect, but the HPE one and the spare I have are pretty bad. So a sheet of acrylic purchased (3mm versus original 2.5mm, 2 and 3mm are common sizes) and in the absence of a band saw, I clamped a jig saw in the vice with a blade suitable for metal, proceeded to cut out a shape based on the original. The only issue is that the original is not just a flat sheet, it has indentations to match the lugs on the surround. This is not a big issue as the acrylic forms the filling in a sandwich of the main cluster and the front bezel. I have left the protective cover on the sheet for now until it is assembled in the dash. Photo shows an original and the new one (note there are extra holes drilled in the original as I used it for some other testing...)

Over the last few weeks I have been carrying on the cleaning, rust converting, etch primer and painting. No particular order of parts except I have stripped the pedal box and associated linkage. I did find the swivel for the clutch cable was missing the ball which attaches to the clutch cable, so looking to get a replacement. Apart from that all the parts have been cleaned etc. Photo shows all the parts , I was particularly pleased with the clutch cable mount on the gearbox which was completely rusty.

Peter

[SanRemo78]

It's pretty therapeutic getting stuff back to a great finish isn't it Peter!

[peteracs]

Hi Guy

Yes, just daughting not knowing how much more there is to go. Body was returned months ago and done almost nothing to it so far (perhaps scared to touch it in case I damage it?).

Peter

[SanRemo78]

Hi Peter, you've got to accept that you're going to scratch it during the build up. It's a case of where and how badly. It can be touched in later! Got a couple of minor ones on mine already but nothing really visible!

[peteracs]

Hi Guy

I think the one area I am most afraid of is replacing the door stainless trim, still looking to see if I can find suitable tape to put on the paintwork before mounting the trim.

If anyone has any suggestions...?

Spent part of the day stripping the handbrake assembly and cleaning..... the odd thing is that it has a black handle and I think it should be brown. Given the handle has some corrosion, anyone have a spare brown handled one for sale....?

Peter

[SanRemo78]

Hi Peter, the refitting of the stainless steel covers on the door frames scared the crap out to me with fresh paint everywhere. I looked at all the trims I've accumulated and noticed a subtle difference in the ones that came off the car to later sets. All of them have a sharp profile on the outer edge but mine had a curve to the glass side that presented a smooth surface to the paint, curving slightly away. This allows you to clip it over the outer edge and, holding it firmly in place you can persuade it over the glass side with a thump of your hand. Don't hit it with a hammer and coat the back of the trim with Dynax/Waxoyl as a lubricant and protection just in case. Looking at the later trims I'd got, a lot - maybe all, didn't have this return and refitting them could well be a nightmare. I suspect that the factory had a tool to do this, maybe bending the edge into shape.

You have to start with the trim on the back edge of the door as the top trim covers this at the top corner. Don't forget the little plastic trims on the lower ends, they have to go on with the trims. When you're doing the top one make sure the door is fully open and all surrounding paintwork carefully masked off and covered with sheets.

I think there might be a photo on my thread showing the end profiles I've described but you have to look very carefully!

Guy

[peteracs]

Thanks Guy

I will have a look through the spare trim I have. Probably a while till I have a go at it. Still cleaning stuff!

Peter

[SanRemo78]

Me too! Actually I looked at a later one more closely that I didn't use and rather than the sharp edge or the return edge it had a fully rolled edge which, like mine, ought to slip over with a bit of gentle violence... But there will be a LOT of polishing to get the black paint off and the stainless steel up to muster!

Guy

[peteracs]

Hi Guy

That is the problem with all the later cars having black trim.

Peter

[SanRemo78]

What are your your rear window frames like Peter? I recall my 1978 HPE having badly rotted frames and, in the end I converted from the pin type hinge to the later type that cover the B post.

Guy

[peteracs]

Hi Guy

The frames were completely rotten at the base as they all seem to be (crap design), oddly the body was perfect under them which was a bonus.

I have a couple of sets of the later stainless windows, one set are the unpainted variety kindly given me by Logan who had them as spares for his HPE. The problem with all the stainless ones is that the fitment is different. The upside is that the pair from Logan had the front brackets broken off, saving me a job, and there is a crack on one of the joints, so they are to be welded and the two lugs per window added in stainless to use the original early style of fitting to the body.

Just another job to be organised and paid for!

Peter

[peteracs]

A few more weeks go by and have spent the time available doing more cleaning etc of rusty parts. The end is sort of in sight in that I am running out of parts that I can find. Next week hope to visit John the body guy who has a small blasting cabinet and can clean up the large box of nuts/bolts/small brackets before I send them to be plated.

Photo is of some of the latest parts to be given the cleaning, rust treatment, priming and painting.

Peter