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** ON TO THE NEXT BIT ** Nose to Tail - 1972 Spitfire MkIV restoration upgrades!!


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It was a full bare metal for the whole car. About two years later the paint started to blister on the bonnet, I assume at a hot spot above the engine. It went downhill from there.  Now I am wanting a rolling respray but am trying to find from forum members what works and what doesn't. Like your comment about the compatibility of paint. I assumed when it was dry, next coat of whatever (except paint stripper or mixing cellulose and acrylic .  I have actually been looking at the Frost range of paint for the top coat something like this red..

https://www.frost.co.uk/por-topcoat-red.html

.. so I would be better using their range of rust treatment. I would like the use this one because of the inherent problem of the paint cracking (especially around the head-light pods) due to the flexing of the bonnet, and the POR15 chassis paint gets wonderful results but I have no idea about their top coats and other 'layering' (undercoat, primer etc) products. I am quite prepared to wait to start the job while I do the research.

Anyone else out there with any ideas please?

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I’d be inclined to take it back to bare metal, remove as much of the rust as possible via strip disc or wire wheel, then treat the rust with a passivator like Kurust as this then stops any new rust forming.

I’ve been using FE 123 rust converter from these Rustbusters, see link below.

http://www.rust.co.uk/fe-123-rust-converter/c28125/

Next step, which I haven’t go to yet, is to apply several coats of epoxy primer, which appears to be the modern alternative to etch primer.

http://www.rust.co.uk/em-121-epoxy-rust-proofing-chassis-paint/c28117/

Unlike etch primer, epoxy mastic is not porous, and therefore can be left for prolonged periods without the risk of rust breaking out under the primer.

My 2 cents.

Karl

 

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First job is to strip back the old paint, which as you can see from the photos is quite thick in places, rub down.. and prime as I do each area. I have some 120 grade flap wheels for my angle grinders. Would I be better with strip disks? Is there much difference and which does the least amount of damage to the metalwork? Still not decided which primer/paint to go for. I think I'm scared of making the decision and finding out it's the wrong one!! Thinking of calling into Frost's as they are only about 15 miles away from me and having a look at their paint system.

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What is the difference in the colour coding. Black, purple etc. The ones I have come across up the now have been 46 grit, which looks more aggresive than the 120 grit flapwheels I have. Never used these before so not sure what grade, material or quantity to get. Please educate me!

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Went out last night, only a 15 mile run. No problems until parking up when the oil pressure light came on again, gauge reading about 5/10psi at idle. Would this be normal or should I worry? It was, as you would expect at the moment, very hot, but the temp gauge was showing normal. could be that it is the quality of the oil, thinning too much at running temp. Currently got some cheap 20/50 in from Wilkinsons (I know!!!) with an additive (STP I think) to boost the zinc content. Going to dump it shortly in favour of 'Classic Oil' 20/50. Any thoughts, anyone?

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Thanks again Karl. Had already ordered a couple of cheap purple ones off fleabay to practice with. I think I will start on the hardtop, an try a combination of upol acid 8, high build primer and top coat from rattle cans to see if there is any reaction. Then progress onto the bonnet using the apollo spraymate. I wanted to top coat with red por15 but reading various reports it looks like its not uv stable so back to the drawing board. At least all my panel work has been done. I don't think I would want to embark on a mission like yours these days.

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Karl - Following your recomendation, I have had a better look at the range of products from Rustbusters. There are an unbelieveable numbers of products on the market, and having gone through the whole bare shell respray once, I want to make sure that this time its done right. It looks like their Fe123 rust converter, and epoxy mastic 421 might now be the way to go, with a standard cellulose top coat. Would I need anything else apart from thinners? The epoxy mastic looks like a similar product to POR15 but in 2 pack. This could solve the problem of the paint cracking due to the Spitfire bonnet flexing.

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I was just going to use the Fe123 to neutralise any remaining rust, then give the surface a good roughing up with an 80 grit flap wheel or sanding pad, then on with the epoxy mastic primer.

The keying of the surface is important as all the epoxy mastics are designed to be used over a surface that has been media blasted or needle gunned.

I’ve read of instances where the surface had been wire brushed, which has a tendency to polish the surface rather than abrade it, and the primer has peeled off in sheets, so surface prep is everything.

To be honest I wasn’t even planning on using top coat on the underside of the car, just using one of their greys that was half decent match to my Dolphin  Grey on the chassis and under body.

Karl

 

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Sounds goods. I have been following your thread with interest. I have never done this myself. Watched it being done first time around 30+ years ago. This is for bonnet, and the rest of the body, so I need to know the right way to do it. Plus I will have to repair any filler that I damage in the stripping. I may send rust.co an email with pictures and ask them the exact stuff I need to buy and what to do. I see that they recommend cleaning the bare metal with their products in a similar way to using por15. Not worried about buying the products but want it to be right! If any info that I get will help you, then, of course, I will post it. These doesn't appear to be a great number of 'home body shops' on the forum at the moment.

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I found this guy over on Retrorides.

http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/204767/jowett-jupiter-accident-repair

He is a professional restorer specialising in Jowett, but the techniques apply to any car.

He has done a few articles in Practical Classics as well, and really knows his stuff.

Have a look through his threads as they an education in themselves in sharp contrast to some of the other threads on there.

Karl

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Just read the 'Jowett Jupiter' thread - thanks Karl. Thinking of replacing the bodged headlight mounting panels (https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-818872P) before I start. Would it be possible to 'chemical weld' and pop rivet these in place (as per the references in the Jowett thread) as I have no welding equipment and no welding experience. While I am doing the job I may as well do it properly.

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Glad you enjoyed the Jupiter article, below is the thread that first brought his work to my attention.

http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/196036/jowett-bradford-utility-power-retro

With regard the attachment of the light mounts, they probably add some strength to the forward section of the bonnet, and therefore would need to be spot welded in.

A mobile welder should be able to do this for not a lot.

Karl

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