Page Forty-One - Body Colored Bits

 

Here’s how close I am to respraying this motor – I’m collecting all the bits that will have to be body colored.  (For the Yanks:  The Brits call repainting a car, a “respray” and they call a car, a “motor” sometimes, anyway.)

Sounds easy doesn’t it, not so much.  I’ve been digging through boxes of parts looking for anything either blue (from the Organ Donor) or black (from Alphie).  Of course, just because it’s black, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s “body colored.”  Even harder, this task requires some thinking, whew!  Yeah, tiring.

Stuff I’ve found so far: scuttle (remember this term? the area in front of the windshield to us Americans) vent grills, hood release pan, boot hinges and springs, firewall supports (see pic), the soft top covers behind the rear seat, hood support rod and petrol tank supports – so far.

Top Row (r to l): hood support rod, firewal support (pass side), boot hinges, hood release tray, soft-top side covers (r & l): Center Row: boot springs, firewall support (driv side, Bottom Row (r to l): scuttle vent covers (fresh air vent covers), petrol tank supports

Soft-top rear cover - behind the rear seat back

If you think of something I’m forgetting, PLEASE leave me a comment!

It’s taking longer than I expected to get all the bits to bare metal.  The bead blaster works best once most of the old paint is off.  To remove old paint, I’m grinding with all manner of abrasives and tools: random orbital, wire wheels, air powered die grander, 40 and 50 grit paper, razor blades and LOTS of elbow grease.

The worst thing that can happen is to find something that should be body colored after Alphie comes back from the paint shop.  (I’m going to ask the painter for some extra paint because I have forgotten stuff before.)

Some finished bits in fetching self-etching primer

Passenger's side firewall support with original Rootes bolts

Driver's side firewall support also with original fasteners

The rear soft-top cover with 1+ hours of elbow grease applied

More elbow grease - the least awesome part of the restoration game,
but the key to awesome paint jobs!