[968TDG]

I've finally gotten around to repainting my 968.  I was tempted to paint it a different color for a change, but I don't want to bother with the engine bay and such, and I just find it unacceptable for it not to match, so red it is!  I've decided to do a clear coat rather than single stage to make it really brilliant, and that's just common practice these days.  My buddy who painted my Triumph TR6 a couple years ago is doing this job as well.  We removed everything but the doors, hood, and sunroof and it is being painted as we speak.  I'll trailer the car to his shop this weekend and he'll finish the job.  It's amazing how many parts there are, and just how much surface area there is to paint.  These bumpers and skirts really wrap around the bottom of the car.

 

The only modification we're doing is removing the center strip in the lower front grill (like Flash did) and increasing the size of the air intake grill.  I like the RS look, but it is kind of a gaping hole, so I decided to compromise and make the hole about 0.75" larger than stock.

 

I'm in the process of trying to order all the rubber stripping.  If anyone has any advice on the best source for this I would appreciate it.  I need the Sunroof, mirrors, door handles, front and rear bumper stripping.  I'm also thinking about replacing the antenna with a fin style unit from another car, but haven't chosen which model yet, I need to do some research.

 

Take a look at the album, I can't wait for it to be finished!  No more pink car!

 

http://imgur.com/a/WyJI4#0

 

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Rap]

I had an orange guards red that I brought back to its original color with a lot of work. People ask me all the time who painted it and what's their number!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968TDG]

BVA did a really nice job buffing the car out at Flash's house a couple years ago, but even then he was starting to go through the paint in a few spots, and there were a few door dings.  I've always wanted to do the mods to the front bumper, I think it helps make the car less dated.

 

My plan after the paint job is to have the wheels and engine cover/intake powdercoated a dark grey.  I'm also finally getting around to tinting the windows and sorting out the delamination on the edges of the hatch glass.  I'd like to have a new set of numbers waterjet cut out of aluminum and have them powdercoat the same color to get a theme going.  I'm going to switch out the gold crest for the dark one to complete the look.  I'm excited to get the car looking how I've always wanted it!

 

Phil

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968TDG]

I picked the car up early this morning from my buddy's paint shop.  All the rest of the parts are painted already.  Still sorting out what gaskets to order, hopefully put it back together this coming weekend.  We will wet sand it once the car is assembled.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[blau]

Looks great. If you aren't planning to tackle the hatch glass yourself, Robert @ R2Racing in Santa Clarita has a guy who has done a lot of them - including mine - and it came out fantastic. I would take some pics but my car is in a garage for the winter...and no more leaking water!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968TDG]

I definitely need to fix my hatch glass.  It seems like one of the worst designed components on the car.  The black painted-on inner laminate is flaking off, the hatch is separating from the glass near one of the hinges, the spoiler was falling off, and the fastening screws on the sides of the hatch are all in some stage of falling apart/ corroding.  I think the struts don't help the issue as I"m sure they put a lot of pressure on the hatch while it's closed.

 

Now is the time for Flash to reiterate that this is why cabs are better than coupes (or at least one of the reasons why).  I have half a mind to just turn it into a truck bed.  It would be a lot more useful for stashing surfboards.

 

How much did the hatch job cost if you don't mind?  Santa Clarita is only 130 miles from where I live so maybe I could just drop it off.

 

 

 

 

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[biosurfer1]

I'm curious of the cost too...it's one of the last things I have on the "968 to-do" list!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[blau]

It was $250. They scraped out all of the loose and delaminating material and re-glued with a nice smooth bead. Not a full-off and reseal, but I'm sure that would be a lot more time and money. This was 4 years ago.

 

And when Flash reiterates how much better the cab is...just ask him how much it cost to get his custom zip-out glass panel in the cab top!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968TDG]

So the material that falls off is just a thin layer of the glue that also holds the hatch glass to the hatch?  That price doesn't seem too ridiculous, though I wonder If I could do it myself If I'm just resealing it in place.  I need to take a better look at where it's failing and try to understand if fixing it seems straight forward.  It's already off the car.

 

Cheers

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Rap]

Lexan

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[blau]

So the material that falls off is just a thin layer of the glue that also holds the hatch glass to the hatch?  That price doesn't seem too ridiculous, though I wonder If I could do it myself If I'm just resealing it in place.  I need to take a better look at where it's failing and try to understand if fixing it seems straight forward.  It's already off the car.

 

Cheers

 

No, I believe what they took out and filled was more than just a thin layer of glue - I don't have the car on hand but next time I'm near the garage I'll try to get in and snap some pics...

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968TDG]

Thanks!  I appreciate it.  I've had another look at it, and it seems like there is a thin film which is the part that flakes off, and then there is a bead of softer material which I assume is the sealant.  So I guess the real issue isn't with the sealant, but with the film on the glass, which flakes off, and creates a gap between the glass and the adhesive as well, causing the leaky glass.  

 

I can't wait to sort out this creaky leaky heavy hatch and put it back on the car.  Lexan sure does sound nice, though it looks kinda cheap...except for on a race car.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Rap]

I'm about to hopefully pick up my red car this week. Has a new hatch with lexan and a duetche nine wing on. Pictures look great. Will have to see how closely the guards red was matched!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Langley968]

I'm about to hopefully pick up my red car this week. Has a new hatch with lexan and a duetche nine wing on. Pictures look great. Will have to see how closely the guards red was matched!

Post pictures when you can!!!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968TDG]

I finally finished painting the old girl and putting her back together...busy year.  I got married, started splitting my time between Quebec and California, went to Burning Man, so she stayed in my garage untouched for quite some time.  Drove her for the first time in over a year yesterday.  I forgot how much I loved this car.  I love getting a car painted or doing a restoration, it's like turning back time.  When there are lots of little defects in the condition of the car my eyes tend to only notice the defects and miss the big picture.

 

Oh, and putting the door handles back on...my god.  One side was easier than the other, but I really had to go zen to avoid throwing tools.

 

   

 

   

 

   

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[williamoss]

What happened to powder coating the wheels dark grey? THAT PAINT JOB LOOKS GREAT I was curious to see the wheels as I did mine in a dark grey to match the classic grey interior. I have cup wheels now, with the dark grey you cannot see any brake dust. And If I could have I would of bought a Guards Red 968, instead I bought the aventurine green one from Pete  of RS Barn in 2010. I still do not love the color, as my eye always loves the red and your looks great. I wish I knew how to work on the car myself.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968TDG]

I'm still planning on doing the wheels a dark grey.  The tires are done, so I was going to paint them in a couple weeks before putting the new tires one.  What color or pantone did you go with for the dark grey?  I was trying to decide whether to paint them or have them powder coated.

 

I know your car, I remember drooling over it.  I really like that green.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[az968]

Your car turned out veryy nice looking - great job! Also, congrats on the marriage!  Did you teach her how to buff out the paint yet?  Install moulding? Getr her trained right away before it's too late :-)

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968TDG]

Thanks!  She doesn't know how to drive a manual shift (thank god) so I just try to keep her away from the car in general so she doesn't scratch it with her jewelry.  She'd probably drop the buffing pad on the ground and then just keep using it anyway.  She went to Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris, so I think it's best if we just each keep to our gender roles

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[MCL968]

Oceanside is awfully close to Lake Tahoe, will we be seeing you this weekend?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.