Datsun Violet Rally Car Restoration
Project Undertaken 23rd September 2011 and completed 5th November 2011
Scott's Works-spec Datsun Rally car has come to us having already been stripped and completed in terms of metalwork (to a very good standard I must add!). Our job is to complete some panel repairs, fit the bodykit, and prep/paint the 'shell.
Scott would like to thank James Jeffery for doing an outstanding job of the fabrication/welding work. Also Andy Dawson & Jon Lloyd for all their technical assistance. Thanks guys!
We give the bodyshell a re-blast to clean off the surface corrosion and scale left from fabrication work. As soon as this is complete the 'shell is rolled into the booth for a coat of rust-preventing Zinc Phosphate primer, and seam sealer applied.
Next the underside is given a good coating of Polyurethane-based underbody protection which is tinted to match the White paint which will be going on the outside.
The rear doors are in fairly good order, but the fronts need reskinning - thankfully Scott has replacment skins at the ready, so the doors are fitted, the skins aligned and temporarily screwed in place before being properly fitted. Also in these early stages, the front wings are cut out to allow wheel clearance beneith the wide arches. The pullmax is used with an 'edge-tipping' die set to start a fold around the enlarged arch, which is then manually folded over to leave a smooth edge.
Next, the flanks of the car are filled and flattened out in preparation for fitting the arch extensions. The arches are first aligned and marked out, before holes are drilled into the wings and Rivnuts fitted. With the rear arches on, they are marked out and split along the door-shut line. The arches are then modified to be a good fit. this is done by laying parcel tape on the car around the mounting area, applying fibreglass to the rear (mounting face) of each arch and then fitting them before it cures. The arches are thus effectively remoulded to take on the shape of the car. A similar technique is used on the front spoiler.
Once we are happy with the doors, wings and arches, they go into the booth for a good coat of build-primer along with the boot lid (which has also had Rivnuts fitted for the rear spoiler).
Next up for priming is the 'shell itself....
......which is then remasked and painted inside with a super-tough 2 part Polyurethane based satin black paint.
After the primer has an extensive wet block-sanding session, it's time to get some white on the shell.....
......Unmask it, and take it outside for a look!
The front panel is painted black on the outside as per the works cars, and the panels & arches get their paint.
Starting to take shape with panels etc fitted.
And, our work is compete with the exception of the bonnet which is away being acid stripped and will be painted later.... Let's take it out into the sun for a few snaps!
