Rear Tire Cover/Paint Removal/Parts Sorting

Tonight I spent a couple of hours removing paint from the rear tire cover (which is a bit bent and dented from years of work) and the area on the right left around the rear wheel well area. I wasn't in the mood to do patch panel work so taking my 3M disk and removing some paint that was left over from the chemical strip was a good way to spend the evening. Somewhat menial work but necessary and in many ways satisfying as the layers of paint appear and disappear down to bare metal. The car certainly couldn't take another layer of paint so it is "necessary" work from a project completion perspective.

The paint removal was not without it's challenges: I had to remove 4 of the hold down attachment points for the flap on the side curtains so I could remove the paint which were fairly well stuck and hard to get at the nuts but with patience and perseverance I triumphed (no pun intended). I also went through one of my big plastic parts tubs sorting out what parts I have accumulated and what parts the previous owner had taken care of.... More work to be done there.....

so 3 hours spent today....2 body work and 1 sorting....a good productive day...

Rework on Back Splash Plan

Yesterday I went into the garage and reworked the patch panels I had started to fabricate for the rear of the car. In fact I started all over again on the left hand side. Instinctually I knew I could do better so instead of excepting a compromise I revisited the work. By chance I glanced over at a piece of the old fender that was sitting on the floor that I thought would work well instead and it did. The panel I am working on is curved and the fender piece fit almost perfectly...The work flowed well generally but I got very tired in the afternoon and left after about 2-1/2 hours of productivity. Good country and western music on CKUA which added to the experience. -It would have been good to spend a few more hours metal bashing but a good incremental improvement...An 8 out of 10 day all round.

Parts/Parts/Parts and Workspace Maintenance

Today I ventured into the garage after a couple of weeks of non-action. Vacation called out and I answered followed by a consulting job opportunity that I needed to explore. Now I am back on track for some Triumph project progress.

Before I left on vacation my mother very generously gifted me some money to assist with the restoration. The gift was unsolicited and as such very much appreciated as a spontaneous gesture. The cash will help me purchase the parts I need to finish the car to a "drivable" status. In preparation I transferred my needed part list to an Excel spreadsheet I am keeping and looked up the part numbers and prices in the Moss catalog. Although tempting to order the parts I have decided to hold off temporarily and adopt a "just in time" approach...

The rest of my time today was spent cleaning up the garage getting ready for my next work session. I am physically weary today and as a result determined not to do any actual work on the car.

Saturday in the Garage

I spent about 5 hours in the garage on Saturday. A good productive time focused mainly on the rear panel below the spare tire compartment. I decided to use the remaining sections of the harvested rear left fender to make the new patch components I needed. There was some rework involved as I had already fashioned a few panels back in the summer but I was not really happy with the outcome so back to some creative panel bashing. I also removed some more paint from the main body. Really good music on CKUA assisted me in staying focused. An enjoyable day all round.

Paint Stripping

Today I spent a few hours out in the garage using my aircraft chemical stripper to remove the last bits of remaining painted areas on the car. The car is now about 95% stripped. Tomorrow I will use my dual action sander to remove the rest of the paint and get the panels ready for primer. I focused on the front area between the dash and the firewall and the rear valance where the gas cap goes. Many layers of paint came off. I am glad I used up the rest of the paint stripper product-now I just have to get rid of the can at our dangerous goods drop off .

I needed to remove the faded red paint to get revved up about the grunt work I have to do over the weekend. I have decided today's task was pivotal in getting me a few steps closer to claiming the car as my own (new paint.new color)....

Left Rear Fender Patch

Today I took my hacksaw and tin snips and made one good rear left fender out of two. The second fender was purchased damaged as a "donor" for $150. I contemplated repairing it for a short period of time but after a bit of panel bashing realized it was too far gone for restoration and I should go back to my original intent of using the front portion as a splice. The splice was harvested and it worked well (primary fit only) and now I have the rest of the damaged fender to use as raw material for other repairs I have to make. A win-win for sure. I spent 2-1/2 productive hours today. Good times...