Club 80-90 Forums

New windows purchased and fitted! Top half pretty much done, now for the bottom half!!!

Thought about time I contributed something.....

Before.



Was originally the Lime Green but someone had decided to paint it (not very well) this Blue which just didn't feel right as well as bits flaking off and general body damage/rust needed seeing to. Especially when they didn't bother with where the roof meets the canvas and the insides which were still their original green.
The black bottom part is actually underseal which they continued over from underneath and was a thick bobbly rubbery effect. Decided that instead of using paint stripper I'd sand it down. Took months and untold sandpaper and I was dreading what someone might have been hiding underneath but thankfully they'd used underseal for protection not cover and it was pretty solid. Sanding it down means I still have a thin layer of underseal there for added protection, well that's how I see it in my mind.

After.



Used RAL 6001 Emerald Green which is kind of close to the original.
The standard RAL 9010 Pure White for the upper half.

I think it just looks and feels right being back to Green again. However I'm not a stock snob and prefer the half n half look to break up the body look. Just think it makes it look brighter and more fun. Hasn't had a polish yet. It's far from perfect when you look closer certain bits need rubbing down a bit more especially one bit where the rain which was definitely not gonna happen, happened just as I was putting on the final bit.

I'm not a natural at this stuff and for me it was a lot of hard work with lots of mistakes made but I'm glad I did it and am pretty pleased with the results.

Cheers for Covkid and everyone else's advice.

In the end it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. If it raises a smile whenever you see it, it was worth the effort. Enjoy it.

Totally agree!!! Ours is not perfect and never will be! Just so long as you are happy with it is all the counts!

CovKid wrote:In the end it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. If it raises a smile whenever you see it, it was worth the effort. Enjoy it.

Exactly. Mines looking better than it ever did and I have the added pleasure of knowing that I achieved it myself.
Now, is there a more cost effective way to get the upholstery done

Said it many times but a S/H sewing machine isn't expensive and its a really good skill to acquire. Thankfully its not gender-linked these days. Very proud of my sewing machine.

CovKid wrote:Said it many times but a S/H sewing machine isn't expensive and its a really good skill to acquire. Thankfully its not gender-linked these days. Very proud of my sewing machine.

Tempted, very tempted!!!

In an old custom car magazine they showed how to make tuck and roll seat covers and door cards. It didn't look too hard. Not sure why vw mags don't do it instead of repeatedly showing how to fit dropped splines.

Cyrus wrote:In an old custom car magazine they showed how to make tuck and roll seat covers and door cards. It didn't look too hard. Not sure why vw mags don't do it instead of repeatedly showing how to fit dropped splines.

So.... from dropped splines to dropped stitches! Oh, that's knitting.

I was getting fed up sanding by hand so decided to buy a sander polisher as I would need the polisher any way and what a diferance it makes
Shame I gotta wait to finishing work to finish the sanding

I'd give it a couple of weks to be on the safe side and use low-tac stuff or you may leave residue behind.

We have given ours about one month and this was the first coat of the bottom half today!!

Frog tape the yellow one that's what we used with no ill effects and can be used in 24hr

In this heat thats possible actually, but its crucial its a low-tac mask. Frog tape would do it:)

I'm amazed anyone is painting in weather this warm though - it dries far too quick and the bugs are everywhere now.

CovKid wrote:In this heat thats possible actually, but its crucial its a low-tac mask. Frog tape would do it:)

I'm amazed anyone is painting in weather this warm though - it dries far too quick and the bugs are everywhere now.

Apart from the bug problem I would think it would be OK to paint in this heat, as long as I can get the van in the shade. Am I right in thinking that CovKid