It should all work but BMW knobs are getting harder to find. Audi knobs are everywhere though!
Thanks Munky.
I have thought of using an older style gearstick, and had a couple put aside to possibly use, but the factory one falls nicely to hand so I've left it alone. I will probably change the knob at some point though.
Heater knobs all made and fitted.
I took the grille and side vents off this morning ready to take it for paint on the wings tomorrow. Lights will come out when I get there as the whole front end will be repainted to make sure of a colour match.
Dropped the car off this afternoon and Tigga (250 Spyder) helped me take the lights out.
Whilst the front is being repainted Josh, the painter, is gaining to sort the slight sink marks where the bonnet pins once were and a few pin hole marks on one wing. I pop over tomorrow to photograph the under-wing strengthening.
It is unfortunate, but it's just one of those things that is not expected until it happens to someones car. If the repair looks effective Chris could always decide to add it into future kits.
Hopefully by highlighting it other builders can add some strengthening in the vulnerable area and avoid having the same issue. We are also looking at way to mount the front on rubber pads when it's closed to stop the small amount of movement/vibration that the standard BMW catch allows.
I'm hoping to avoid putting stripes on as if the crack appears again at some point I can use vinyl stripes to disguise it if it's only very slight.
Cheers, Bob.
Hi Mr Towed,
I didn't really explain myself properly regarding the stripes, I'd only use them if the new plan didn't work and I could see the cracks starting again at some future point. Then it would be ok to stripe over the cracks to stop me being obsessed by them. Mostly other folks never see them in the first place.
Anyway, I've been over to the workshop today and am impressed with the panels they are making to strengthen the area.
They will be screwed to the hinge box then the area behind filled with fibreglass paste. the panels will then be refitted with rivets and the whole area fibreglassed over the top so nobody would know that wasn't how the car was designed.
By the time that's all done and rubber pads mounted to stop the front vibrating, if it's still a problem, I'll blame my off road driving style.
Cheers, Bob.
The strengthening panels are now fully fibreglassed in. The cracks on the outside of the wings are redone.
Primer this afternoon then paint this evening.
Polish on Tuesday and I should be able to refit on Wednesday.
I'll have a go at flow coat, Thanks, Bob.
Just picked the car up.
The paintwork is lovely and the colour match is spot on.
This is the underside now it's finished, hopefully the cracking issues are now all in the past.
This is all the photos I could take as the car is hemmed in again by a load of auto jumble that came today and is stacked under the carport.
It shows the areas where the cracks were all looking invisible now.
The grille and number plates went back on this afternoon so I though I'd put the new plates on. The yellow/white ones are still on the car as backing plates to the new ones so I can change them easily if requested.
I thought I'd found the ideal solution to the unattractive black plastic trim under the windscreen, A Jaguar XJS polished panel was in the auto jumble purchase. I may try harder another day but it doesn't look like it will quite first. Shame.
Cheers, Bob.
Simpler than that. They are just bolted to the brackets/body through holes in the same places on both plates.
Just fiddling about under the bonnet today.
I'm going going to do much to change it or bling it up, just some paint and a good clean really.
I used left over paint from the wing repairs to brush paint the front slam panel. Not perfect but much better than it was. Some more will be blue and the rest will be flat black.
I also took the engine covers off to repaint the stripes and have removed the BMW . I've made a plate to fill the space and ordered a new badge to go on it.
Bob.
Well, that's that.
It's finished….well, as far as these things can ever be finished.
I've finished painting under the bonnet, added the new badge to the rocker cover, stuck on a couple of Italian language service stickers and added the gold sticker to the front panel ('built not bought' in Italian)
Inside I resurrected a damaged wooden gear knob I was given and added a spare sleeve to fit the lever.
The sat nag point I'd put in the side of the console didn't work out as well as I'd hoped when in use so it's now in the middle of the passenger 'no air bag' panel with an Italia pin badge glued in the centre.
I'm sure I could think of more bits to do but the line between successful and christmas tree is an easy one to step over so I'll call it a day here.
When the weather gets nicer I'll get some decent photos taken and put them up.
Cheers, Bob.
Thanks to all for your kind comments.
I'm taking a few snaps when the sun shines Paul, not sure it qualifies as a photo shoot.
Cheers, Bob.
I'll look out for that, sadly the feature on it that they were hoping to do is not going to happen now as the magazine is finishing.
I've just found a couple of nice column switch knobs so the car might not been quite finished yet!
Cheers, Bob.
They belong to a mate so is it ok to post pictures of somebody else's?
I haven't been able to get a issue yet so if anyone could scan the picture and put it up for me I'd appreciate it.
I'll still try to buy one though as I'd like to read the Brass Monkey report.
Cheers, Bob.
Thanks gents, Nice to see good friend Graham's 250 convert, Pete's Morris and Simon's '54 Ford gasser.
Will try again tomorrow to get a copy
I've got the relevant Kit Car mag now, thanks. Pleased to see the Brass Monkey report with photos of friend's cars and the Sammio feature on the car I saw there. A nice reminder of a very nice day out.