Build Thread '83 T-top Coupe - Cliff Notes Edition

Davedacarpainter · Feb 1, 2017

I don't have a good before, but here's after

Davedacarpainter · Feb 1, 2017

Got my carpets from LMR. Started to glue and staple them on
Before

After

Davedacarpainter · Feb 2, 2017

So, the back from late for my steering wheel has these contacts for the cruise control.

You'll notice the plastic separation rings are corroded to hell, literally turn to powder when I touch them. How important are those rings? I figure they must be there for a reason. I hate to try to find a replacement piece for this.

Davedacarpainter · Feb 2, 2017

Hold the phone, I just found a good picture of the colum. I don't have to do anything. Non-problem.
It has three buttons that ride on the contacts. No slopping over to the other contacts.

Davedacarpainter · Feb 3, 2017

What for today? Lots of little stuff. Lots of pictures of lots of little stuff too.
First picture is of three parts that had broken off pieces. One part is right side interior windshield trim. Repair area in red circle. Second part is the left exterior mirror trim. Repair area in red circle the green circle on that part and the right mirror trim are areas that are broken off and missing. The piece is supposed to go completely to the top of the trim piece.

I did my usual plastic repair, I sanded the areas with 80grit, made some deep scoring with a die grinder with a cut off wheel. Rigged up the pieces to hold straight and in place. I used the dry wall mesh tape for reinforcement, sprayed adhesion promoter and broke out the PBA.

I used a rivet to maintain the location of the rivet hole right where it needed to be. The piece was broken right through that hole. I removed the rivet after about three hours while the PBA was still somewhat soft, but not flow able anymore.

On the trim pieces where the broken off piece is missing, i made a quick little form using masking tape and various things to support the part in the proper orientation and ran a bead of PBA. I'll need to do a little carving to make it look and fit like it did when it was new.

Davedacarpainter · Feb 3, 2017

I did more. I finally sanded the chrome trim in preparation for paint. Sanding chrome is not easy or fun. I sanded using 80 grit sandpaper to score the chrome surface.

Then i sprayed a nice coat of etch primer and three coats of regular primer.

I'll let all of these parts sit over the weekend. On monday I'll finish the repair on the plastic parts and set them aside till tuesday. I'll try to get the window mouldings sanded and painted on Monday.

On monday i'm going back to the yard to get the lower rear window moulding and the rest of the body side mouldings. I'll pull the carpet up to get some good pictures of the floor pans. I also want to start looking over the EB wiring harness's. See what those rat bastards have done to my mustang!

Davedacarpainter · Feb 3, 2017

Noobz347 said:
Who even know you could repair this chit?

Line up all the crap Dave... What all did you use?

Just these Noobz

Davedacarpainter · Feb 3, 2017

Noobz347 said:
Ur gonna run next the car the whole time to hold those pieces together?

I meant all the crud you're using to repair the panels... Ir was this listed elsewhere already?

Mustang5L5 said:
I really gotta pay attention here. I need to repair that sunroof sunshade I bought. What is this stuff you are using to repair the plastic parts?

I did list it Noobz, but i just mentioned them in passing in these posts.

Beyond the actual preparation of the surfaces with 80 grit sandpaper and doing some deep scoring in different directions with my die grinder with a cutoff wheel attached to it, I used:

Dry wall mesh tape.
Plastic adhesion promoter
3M Panel bonding adhesive (#8115)

Panel bonding adhesive is designed to be used in bonding new panels to a vehicle, thus requiring less welding points. Though it is essentially just an epoxy glue, it is PHENOMENALLY strong bonding adhesive. I have seen the surrounding metal tear instead of it separating from it's bonding point.

There are specific plastic repair epoxies that can be used. But i've never seen any of them that have this strength. Plus, it's easy to work after it hardens. AND it isn't brittle after hardening!

Last point is, shame on you for not noticing that i took a picture of both hands with no help from anyone else.

Mustang5L5 · Feb 3, 2017

Gonna start calling you tripod

Davedacarpainter · Feb 5, 2017

I hate to drift off into car stuff here, but during all of this banter i've been studying my wiring manual and looking at pictures of my car at the same time.

Here's what i've discovered about my engine bay. Some dumb bastard has changed a few things before i purchased said vehicle.

I'm all excited about it though! I can fix the wiring harness and all of those silly vacuum lines! Dang i can't wait to have Robby home!!

I'm going to take a bunch more detailed photos tomorrow evening so i can be ready for it. Like i've mentioned, I'm going to go back to the yard tomorrow night. I have to get a few smalls and LOTS of pictures.

Davedacarpainter · Feb 6, 2017

Ok, another small repair, just need to primer then paint. Not perfection, but these will be silicon glued to the front door channel seal, the repairs won't be seen again for a long, long time. Before and after repair

Davedacarpainter · Feb 6, 2017

So, I did a little more stuff. I finished off the repair on the interior windshield trim and primered it and the mirror trim pieces and the backing plate for the steering wheel.

I went back to the yard after work. I got all of the bodyside mouldings the trim around the right 1/4 glass. Drip rail mouldings from both sides and the package tray.

The package tray is interesting in it's structure. First off, it's semi-flexible. It looks like it's just jute padding that has been compressed around the perimeter to give it structure and covered with a mesh like cloth. This will take a little thought to replace. The only thing salvageable part from it will be the clip attached on the middle rear of it.

I've read of others using a board to replace the backing panel, but this seems to me that it would be too rigid and possibly cause a vibration noise due to its rigidity. Hum........Any one with ideas, throw them out there for me please.

I took a lot of pictures of the engine bay, i'm glad i did. It looks like someone got creative with their wiring skills. I need to spend some serious time going through them with my electrical/vacuum manual. I'll include one for your enjoyment.

I got pictures of the floor board. I definitely need a driver's floor pan, you'll like these pictures. I don't think I've ever seen cracks in the floorboard that big. I might also need to replace the crossmember as well. It is pretty ugly on the driver's side. The passenger's side might need a small patch panel.

Jeeeeez, page eighty!

Davedacarpainter · Feb 7, 2017

Remember these from yesterday.

I removed the metal backing strips, cleaned and sanded them.

Then painted them blue, a couple pics from inside and outside. I had to tilt the board to try and get the sparkle in the paint.

Davedacarpainter · Feb 8, 2017

What now?

Remember those exterior window mouldings

There, done. I'm glad to have them out of the way. One picture with my sun lamp to show you they aren't black.

Davedacarpainter · Feb 8, 2017

Little tidbit. I cut out a new front right 1/4 moulding and shaped it. I'll probably paint it tomorrow with the drip rail mouldings, 1/4 glass trim and mirror trim mouldings.

Friday I'll finish off the interior parts.

Davedacarpainter · Feb 9, 2017

I took my moldings out of the booth this morning. Man, they're perfectly what I was wanting! They're going to look so good against that kona blue!

Davedacarpainter · Feb 12, 2017

Here's another little victory in finding a hard to locate small piece. I found these at foxresto.com. NOS

They're the covers that go on the seatbelt attachment at the upper b pillar area. My old ones were dust after i tried to slip them off. I wasn't sure i'd be able to find new ones at all. They look solid in this picture, huh?
I'll be painting a few small interior pieces black tomorrow, I'll get these shot then.

Here are my rocker moldings that i got Thursday evening.
I don't know if you can see the rear of the right side. Apparently at one time the clip was broken off and a PO just ran a screw through the moulding into the rocker to hold it on. I'll have to repair that and put a new stud back on the rocker
I'm trying to decide if i want to reinstall them on the car or just grind off the clip studs and go without. If I keep them I'll get them sanded down, work out the dents and probably bondo them smooth. Then primer them and block them out. I will be spraying a good rocker guard on them (a type that lays fairly flat). I would do this step to give the paint even more cushion to prevent rock chips. Then they would get painted the same grey as the rest of the trim.

I lean towards the idea of keeping them right now.

Davedacarpainter · Feb 13, 2017

I got more of the interior pieces shot this morning. It would be nice to find that steering wheel center emblem.

Davedacarpainter · Feb 13, 2017

I got the copper cruise control rings back in the backing plate for the steering wheel. The copper looks nice against the black backdrop. B4 and after.

Davedacarpainter · Feb 14, 2017

Little more trim painted today. Outside this time. I'm especially excited about those little mirror trim pieces for some dumb reason.

Build Thread '83 T-top Coupe - Cliff Notes Edition

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...

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