Spent seven freakin' hours finishing the side windows. Still have a couple of gaps I need to figure out, but the new-improved (and quite a bit larger) windows are done for now. I did drive the Speedy a bit this morning running some errands. It was warm and sunny, and the top was nowhere in sight :-)
spent at least 5 exhausting hours today watching Desi install a clear Bra on "Purple Haze"....
Big thanks to Desi.....
Big thanks to Desi.....
spent at least 5 exhausting hours today watching Desi install a clear Bra on "Purple Haze"....
Big thanks to Desi.....
Big thanks to Desi.....
Got bored with the Mecum Auction on the tube so I went ahead and put the Reutter and Meister Schaften badges on tonight.
Reviewed the posts on drilling through the fiberglass. Taped over the area with painters blue tape. Used a red small tip felt tip to record the landmarks on the tape. Drilled in reverse at slow speed first, through the tape and "dimpled" the finish. Drilled through on forward at low speed and let the drill do the work. Peeled off the tape and had perfect holes through and through with no cracking or other issues.
Mounted the badges from Sierra Madre and that was it. Total time, maybe 45 minutes tops and only because I measured and checked everything 3 times because I would hate to screw it up.
Thanks to several of you for the guidance on doing this right.
Now I have more time to polish and wax tomorrow.
Reviewed the posts on drilling through the fiberglass. Taped over the area with painters blue tape. Used a red small tip felt tip to record the landmarks on the tape. Drilled in reverse at slow speed first, through the tape and "dimpled" the finish. Drilled through on forward at low speed and let the drill do the work. Peeled off the tape and had perfect holes through and through with no cracking or other issues.
Mounted the badges from Sierra Madre and that was it. Total time, maybe 45 minutes tops and only because I measured and checked everything 3 times because I would hate to screw it up.
Thanks to several of you for the guidance on doing this right.
Now I have more time to polish and wax tomorrow.
Desi getting ready to apply the 'invisible bra' to Vince's new bad-ass PHAT356...
Desi carefully positioning the 6mm film in place before the magic begins...
Spraying soapy water, meticulous squeegee, some steam and blades for a perfect fitting...
Desi carefully positioning the 6mm film in place before the magic begins...
Spraying soapy water, meticulous squeegee, some steam and blades for a perfect fitting...
Midnight drive under the full moon! It was great, 70 degrees out, clear skys and so bright it was tempting to turn the lights off.
Jay
Jay
What makes it stick? Is there an adhesive on the backside? Does there have to be any prep? What about previous wax?
Thanks
Thanks
I HAVE HAD DESI'S PRODUCT ON MY COUPE FOR 18 MONTHS AND I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOT ONE PAINT CHIP
I removed everything from the nose; headlights, nerf bars and mounts, horn grills, etc. Then the existing wax and stuff is cleaned off thoroughly and then the vinyl is applied.
This is NOT a job for a first-time applier, as there are multiple compound curves all across the nose that you're trying to lay a flat piece of 6mil vinyl across and it's a bitch to get everything just right so it lays flat w/o wrinkles. Only with experience will one know enough to get it right and make it look good. Even with experience, as Vince noted, it takes a few hours to get it on right.
Once everything is ready, both the car and vinyl are sprayed with a 50-50 solution of alcohol and water to allow movement of the vinyl and get everything to adhere. There isn't a lot of adhesive stuff there - it's mostly from static cling that makes it work.
Any excess solution and/or wrinkles are smoothed out with a plastic squegee while pulling/stretching the vinyl until the surface is perfectly smooth, and then any excess material is artfully trimmed away for a nice "look".
That's pretty much it, but the complexity of the nose of the car makes it difficult to apply. Once it's on there, it takes a whole lot of force to cause a paint chip to occur, and then the vinyl will keep it in place so you might not notice it. The biggest problem might be if the vinyl is punctured (usually a pin-hole) and allows water/dirt to get under the puncture point. Then, you get a very slowly expanding cloudy spot. If that happens, ASAP you can put a small dot of clear fingernail polish on the puncture to seal the hole and stop the cloudiness.
Mine was applied in 1992 (I think) and it still looks great - most people don't notice it's on there. I caught one rock at speed early after the vinyl was applied (THWACK!) and it punctured the vinyl but I got no crow's feet. I sealed as above and it's been fine ever since.
This is NOT a job for a first-time applier, as there are multiple compound curves all across the nose that you're trying to lay a flat piece of 6mil vinyl across and it's a bitch to get everything just right so it lays flat w/o wrinkles. Only with experience will one know enough to get it right and make it look good. Even with experience, as Vince noted, it takes a few hours to get it on right.
Once everything is ready, both the car and vinyl are sprayed with a 50-50 solution of alcohol and water to allow movement of the vinyl and get everything to adhere. There isn't a lot of adhesive stuff there - it's mostly from static cling that makes it work.
Any excess solution and/or wrinkles are smoothed out with a plastic squegee while pulling/stretching the vinyl until the surface is perfectly smooth, and then any excess material is artfully trimmed away for a nice "look".
That's pretty much it, but the complexity of the nose of the car makes it difficult to apply. Once it's on there, it takes a whole lot of force to cause a paint chip to occur, and then the vinyl will keep it in place so you might not notice it. The biggest problem might be if the vinyl is punctured (usually a pin-hole) and allows water/dirt to get under the puncture point. Then, you get a very slowly expanding cloudy spot. If that happens, ASAP you can put a small dot of clear fingernail polish on the puncture to seal the hole and stop the cloudiness.
Mine was applied in 1992 (I think) and it still looks great - most people don't notice it's on there. I caught one rock at speed early after the vinyl was applied (THWACK!) and it punctured the vinyl but I got no crow's feet. I sealed as above and it's been fine ever since.
Thanks for the pic's Jimbo...and for coming...
A big thank you to the road warrior, Larry Bull who came all the way from Escondildo with his son Dean, that dude likes to drive....
Gordon about covered it, but according to Desi, the new stuff (3rd generation) is better.....but still not an easy task on a speedy..
A big thank you to the road warrior, Larry Bull who came all the way from Escondildo with his son Dean, that dude likes to drive....
Gordon about covered it, but according to Desi, the new stuff (3rd generation) is better.....but still not an easy task on a speedy..
I wonder if Desi would fancy a trip to the east coast.
"Dash sex" yesterday and today, aka dash wiring ....
Lane,
Let me know if Desi is coming! We could make it 2 and maybe more.
Let me know if Desi is coming! We could make it 2 and maybe more.
U guys serious? Maybe I can get my guy interested in comming. Only problem is he will need to be partially covered from the elements and needs good lighting.
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I'm not sure it would be worth the money on mine until I get it repainted. It's already got so many chips with lumpy repairs that, the film would really have to stretch to cover. That said, Marty talk to your "guy" and see if he's interested, and what he'd charge.
If Marty's guy wanted to have a "working weekend", he'd make a decent buck if he brought a bunch of film and squeegies to Carlisle, I'm just saying.......
dan
vince and i could bring a bunch of his film's and squeeze's if we could make a decent buck
vince and i could bring a bunch of his film's and squeeze's if we could make a decent buck
Depending on the price I am in for 3M Bra.
Today Glenn and I put on the new A1 system. Still need to fabricate an exhaust pipe to fit the side outlet. Took it for a ride - seems like we gained 25 hp and 500 rpm's. It rain solidly through 7K.
However, after we finished getting it all back together the oil temp doesn't work - did someone say madness? Sure sounds good though.
Still having a very minor lean condition at cruising speed. Accelerates like a bear. Took off the carbs, cleaned the jets, cleared the transition ports, put seafoam in tank and drove it, adjusted mixture screws, again and again. Maybe its just me but it isn't perfect. Maybe it will heal itself.
Paul
Today Glenn and I put on the new A1 system. Still need to fabricate an exhaust pipe to fit the side outlet. Took it for a ride - seems like we gained 25 hp and 500 rpm's. It rain solidly through 7K.
However, after we finished getting it all back together the oil temp doesn't work - did someone say madness? Sure sounds good though.
Still having a very minor lean condition at cruising speed. Accelerates like a bear. Took off the carbs, cleaned the jets, cleared the transition ports, put seafoam in tank and drove it, adjusted mixture screws, again and again. Maybe its just me but it isn't perfect. Maybe it will heal itself.
Paul
Took my first cruise of the season. Actually it was my first TWO cruises of the countryside with each of my grandsons to the ice cream stand....of course I only indulged once.
Alan..."dash sex?" I spent most of the weekend putting in new gauges and rewiring. Never would have called it that.
New battery..... Took a spin with lights & wipers on. Could hardly see the gauges, horn barely worked....
My battery was 6 years old! DOH!
My battery was 6 years old! DOH!
New battery..... Took a spin with lights & wipers on. Could hardly see the gauges, horn barely worked....
My battery was 6 years old! DOH!
It's ALL GOOD now.
My battery was 6 years old! DOH!
It's ALL GOOD now.
Dropped spindles and it's looking right!
omg, are the body snatchers back?
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Took it for its annual MOT passed ok apart from a rumbling front wheel bearing? took it out looks fine ? should I just change it?
Walked past mine on the way to work this morning. Walked past it again when I got home this evening. Working sucks.
Nolan,
That's the repair of the hit and run accident in October. I was on my way to the "Fiddlin' Pig.
Been a long wait, but I couldn't drive because of the left knee implant. still sore as H--L!
That's the repair of the hit and run accident in October. I was on my way to the "Fiddlin' Pig.
Been a long wait, but I couldn't drive because of the left knee implant. still sore as H--L!
Gerd, we had a guy ascend(descend?) into the adult film industry from Spyderclub, maybe it fell off by now? He sold his Spyder and hasn't been heard from since.
Aaron, looking good.
Aaron, looking good.
Oliver, yes. Better safe than sorry, old chap.
Here's a hit that didn't run...
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took old gauges out. Cut dash for new gauges. Put them in loose, tested some (new tach works, new Voltmeter works). Looked at wires. Disconnected wires and hung red pieces of tape on some of them.
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Is the other half in the back seat?
On a side note..., been there. Hope everybody's ok.
David / dd-ardvark
On a side note..., been there. Hope everybody's ok.
David / dd-ardvark
Went camping in the East Texas Piney woods this weekend. Great drive! Had one scare though... stopped at a stop light in Nacodoches when we started smelling burning rubber. Told Kara I sure hope that isn't us... by the next stop light we had smoke coming out the grill! I shut the engine down and pulled over. The sun was behind us so I couldn't see the warning lights. Any way broke the fan belt and the remnants jammed under the pulley and started smoken. Luckly an Autozone was just down the road...I know I'm supposed to have a spare. Now I do! Lucky we caught it right away.. the engine didn't even get hot.
Anyway we had a great weekend, camped on Sam Rayburn Lake, grilled a couple of good ribeyes, and drove a bunch of cool roads. Added another 500 miles to the odometer, we're now at 3535.
Anyway we had a great weekend, camped on Sam Rayburn Lake, grilled a couple of good ribeyes, and drove a bunch of cool roads. Added another 500 miles to the odometer, we're now at 3535.
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Good catch but find the " why " of way it broke so early on...
Misaligned pulleys? Rubbing? Not re-adjusted since new? Etc...
Misaligned pulleys? Rubbing? Not re-adjusted since new? Etc...
We spent most of the drive fighting the East Texas Bug Wars. For some reason the gas stations in the area do not have windshield washing equipment! Go figure. Still a great drive!!!!
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Hi Alan,
Everything looks straight. Any suggestions on what to look for?
Maybe Crappy import part?
When doing the timing and valve adjustment I didn't notice it being to tight or to loose.
Everything looks straight. Any suggestions on what to look for?
Maybe Crappy import part?
When doing the timing and valve adjustment I didn't notice it being to tight or to loose.
Jay, you probably want to have a quick read here:
http://www.type2.com/bartnik/fanbelt1.htm
or in Muir's book on the same topic. It helps to know the enemy.
As for me ...
After we got done staring at Wolfgang's car on Saturday, I had to take my car out and burn some gasoline. I went through a quarter of a tank; no issues to report. It took hours for me to stop smiling. Perfect weather for a drive, too -- all I took was a helmet and the usual springtime bomber jacket.
http://www.type2.com/bartnik/fanbelt1.htm
or in Muir's book on the same topic. It helps to know the enemy.
As for me ...
After we got done staring at Wolfgang's car on Saturday, I had to take my car out and burn some gasoline. I went through a quarter of a tank; no issues to report. It took hours for me to stop smiling. Perfect weather for a drive, too -- all I took was a helmet and the usual springtime bomber jacket.
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Look for black residue from the belt at the bottom tin, make sure there is no pulley wobble. Place straight edge on the crank pulley it should be straight in alignment to the alt. pulley.
I was probably out doing all that as you were writing!
No residue
Pulleys are in line with each other
No wobble
About a 1/2" of deflection
This is with the new belt... I didn't move any washers
No residue
Pulleys are in line with each other
No wobble
About a 1/2" of deflection
This is with the new belt... I didn't move any washers