Stages, help me decide
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 341
Likes: 2
From: Elderslie, Scotland
Stages, help me decide
Hi guys (and girls 
)
Need a bit of guidance.
If you've seen my other threads you will see that I have imported a 75 project car from California to Sunny (no chance) Scotland and planning to have a fun drivable car that will look nice and tidy. I am not planning to go the full body off resto. However I would like to protect the chassis as much as I can.
What stages would you go through to get the car finished. The car runs and drives. We have to have our cars go though a safety inspection every year so I will have to do some light conversions to pass. Brakes etc.
Anyway, you can have a look at the posts to see where I'm at. Tonight I removed the centre console and the gauges. Don't think any of them work properly. The only one that moves is the temp gauge Looks like the fuel is constantly full (if only).
I have a whole new interior (carpets, seat covers & weather seals) to go in and planning to put a single DIN head unit and speakers. Looking to completely strip out the interior, tidy it up and put it back.
Do you think I should get it roadworthy and then carry out the work, I'll need to drive it to the paint shop,
Here's what I did tonight.
The connectors are really rusted, could this be the gauge issue?
Your guidance will be very appreciated
)Need a bit of guidance.
If you've seen my other threads you will see that I have imported a 75 project car from California to Sunny (no chance) Scotland and planning to have a fun drivable car that will look nice and tidy. I am not planning to go the full body off resto. However I would like to protect the chassis as much as I can.
What stages would you go through to get the car finished. The car runs and drives. We have to have our cars go though a safety inspection every year so I will have to do some light conversions to pass. Brakes etc.
Anyway, you can have a look at the posts to see where I'm at. Tonight I removed the centre console and the gauges. Don't think any of them work properly. The only one that moves is the temp gauge
Looks like the fuel is constantly full (if only).I have a whole new interior (carpets, seat covers & weather seals) to go in and planning to put a single DIN head unit and speakers. Looking to completely strip out the interior, tidy it up and put it back.
Do you think I should get it roadworthy and then carry out the work, I'll need to drive it to the paint shop,
Here's what I did tonight.
The connectors are really rusted, could this be the gauge issue?
Your guidance will be very appreciated
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,030
Likes: 363
From: Lubbock Texas
It's certainly possible. While you've got the console apart, I would recommend you clean all electrical contacts you can find including bulb sockets to remove any corrosion and then protect those contacts with some dielectric grease. Do the same for the connections at the sensor end of the oil pressure, fuel, and oil temp gauges. You might get lucky and solve your gauge problems and, if not, at least you'll have good connections to continue the diagnosis.
DC
DC
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,278
Likes: 4,372
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi yb,
I'm not sure that it's a good idea to put any of the new interior in place before you have the car painted.
I think mechanical work first, then body/paint work, and then interior.
Regards,
Alan
I'm not sure that it's a good idea to put any of the new interior in place before you have the car painted.
I think mechanical work first, then body/paint work, and then interior.
Regards,
Alan
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 987
Likes: 7
From: Surrey British Columbia
You're a man of great wisdom Alan. This is exactly what I'm doing. I'm rebuilding all of the interior components (steering column, seats, dash, gauges, etc), but nothing goes in until the car is painted. However on this forum I've heard it suggested that the dash pad should go in before the windshield is installed. Probably a good idea.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,714
Likes: 42
From: Austin Texas
check brakes and rebuild/ flush system as needed. Be a shame to spill brake fluid on a new paint job.
Are you going to be doing any of the body work or are you paying someone to do it all? The majority of a good paint job is bodywork labor. It is time consuming and messy.
Also you may think of something like POR-15 for the frame. Check out eastwood.com too for rust sealing products and applicators.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 341
Likes: 2
From: Elderslie, Scotland
Cheers guys. I'll go mechanics (and get it through our MOT test) body then interior. No harm in getting as much of the interior out and tidying it up in the meantime.I am planning to strip and prep the panels myself. Neighbour has a bodyshop and will advise me on what I am doing. Should save a lot of money on the paint job.
I reckon I will have to drop the radiator and refit it. Something not right with it. But thats another thread
Cleaned up the gauge connections and tested the continuity and they seemed all fine. I'll search on here to see what the best way to check them all for signal.
Looks a right old mess
Looks like its been a few different colours through time
I reckon I will have to drop the radiator and refit it. Something not right with it. But thats another thread
Cleaned up the gauge connections and tested the continuity and they seemed all fine. I'll search on here to see what the best way to check them all for signal.
Looks a right old mess
Looks like its been a few different colours through time
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,030
Likes: 363
From: Lubbock Texas
I did the LED conversion and was quite pleased with the results. Some time after that project, I ended up replacing all gauges with Auto Meter gauges. I chose a model that came with LEDs. Had I known I was going to replace my gauges I could have saved some money on the initial LED conversion.