strip off

Its been a long time coming, but i finally got down to the workshop over the weekend and got my strip on.
Since the cage its in need of some colour over the top to keep the rust out. Although as you all know, Paint is in no way shape or form, Cheap. So for someone like myself on the tightest of tight budgets this is something that i only want to pay for once. So obviously, to save me having to do it again i will get it done properly.

Apologies for the shit average cellphone pics, I forgot my camera. As mentioned paint is not cheap, So the more work done by myself before it is shipped off to the panel shop the cheaper its going to be. So being A tight ass, im going to do as much as i can.
On saturday i got down there and pulled out the bottle of Tergostrip i had purchased earlier on in the week.
Tergostrip is a brush on paint stripper that has a texture much the same as PVA glue. The stuff is amazing. You can basicly brush it on and watch the paint peel off as you stroke the brush. Although it burns really bad if you get it on your skin, And makes you feel pretty light headed if your using it in a poorly ventilated space.

As you can see, Round one of Stripping is complete. After a quick water blast this is what the out come was. Due to the previous owner applying a spray can or two of Porirua Pearl Black over the original paint i will need to go over it with another bottle of Tergostrip to get the rest of the paint off but most of it is either off of close to falling off. Then its on to the Scotch to scuff up the surface, a bit of grinding to shave off the extra tags and brackets that are no longer needed and a few holes welded up on the fire wall then off it goes to be painted a nice black. to keep things neat and tidy, Yet easy to fix up if it gets a ding.

But before it goes off to the panel shop the whooooole interior of the car needs the same treatment so i still have quite a way to go before i can put it on the trailor.

On a side note there are alot of people who recognise these cars even in the bare state mine is and recieved a few compliments while it was parked outside getting the stripper blasted off. Most notably a small Asian child pointing and saying to his mother "AE86!".

Next time i will bring my camera with me and get some better quality pics. Once again sorry for the poor quality images.

Jim

high in fibre

Progress has been slow on the AE85 due to a bloody annoying Flu that left me feeling shit average on tuesday so taking a day off work on wednesday was the only option my throat was twangin to say the least!
Sleep in is was good but what does one do when your sick, home alone and car mad you say?
Internet car goodness was the only option so browsing i did, but when one has a race car in the build sometimes things can get out of hand and one makes the most of the few dollars he has with help from the kind folks at visa.
A phone number was written down and called, Some money transfered and with that a deal was done.
My car is now going to be a hell of a lot lighter because of these...

Two fibreglass doors. Money was going to be spent to get the doors on the car fixed up because whoever did the bog job did a way shit job. So for a few dollars more it wasnt really a big expense at the end of the day. The ones i get wont have the bracing on the inside of the door because i am not running any window winders or glass for that matter there for saving more weight. some polycarbonate windows will need to be cut up to shape and fitted with a slide opening. I will also Probably fit some NACA ducts on the rear quarter windows for a bit of extra ventilation.

I took a trip to Bunnings warehouse today to grab some paint stripper and a paintbrush to apply the paint stripper. Unfortunately, due to illness i could'nt really be bothered doing it. So next time i get the chance i will be down there brushing it on and sanding like a mad man to gert the engine bay and interior prepped for paint.

Rods And Race Cars, Rocks and Water

The last few weekends have been jam packed full of automobile goodness for me, Last Sunday i Got up nice and early to get my dads Holden out to the Western Bays Hot Rod show, Expecting to drive his WRX out to the show, I was shocked when, After driving the ute he said "see ya there". So i went with it, Cautiously driving down the streets, Swinging past Jades House to pick her up so we could hang out during the day.

The car made it there, No problems, scratches or dings whilst in my care. The show itself having about 100 different vehicles on display, from a vintage 1932 ford pickup truck in original condition right down to the paint, To choppers and bobber bikes, To a blown V8 Hilux Surf.

There were alot of imaculate cars on display this time round, There were the obvious stands outs of the show, like most shows there is the dollar factor, But for me thats not all that Appeals. If the award for peoples choice was awarded by me alone, The runner up would be this absolute animal...

No cheap piece of steel but Damn this thing appeals to me, Mainly because its street driven and 90% street legal... But the car that takes the cake was probably one of the cheapest in the building and not even particularly exotic was this...

The humble MkII four door escort. This thing was AWESOME! Not mint condition, But just had appeal, Huge racing heritage and did'nt have a dumpy exhaust...
It wasn't just the cars in the show that were awesome, Infact, Some of the coolest cars were the ones that turned up in the car park outside. The coolest of which, was this...

That would be a Rouch Cobra. The only example in the country and a cool way to not get a ferarri....
The Sunday just gone was also filled with Motorsport. To be exact, Shelly Bay Street Sprints held at Shelly Bay. A notoriously unforgiving stretch of road that never fails to take a victim. A beautiful day may have given the illusion of a grippy road, However this is never the case. The road is riddled with stones that get thrown onto the road if the driver before you even slightly cuts a corner making for a real hairy ride...

These facts never seem to be an issue for the people ballsy enough to race the event, But like i said, It never fails to take a victim. This year, It took a victim that really made me die a little inside...

The car came screaming round the corner sending tingles down my spine, looking like it was going to put down a very quick time... Then there were no cars... Then the clerk of the course came round followed by an ambulance... after a few minuites it came back... followed by this...

Hey, Thats motorsports... You don't enter this event if your novice, and you don't enter any event assuming you will get your car off the track as mint as it went on. But thats all part of it.

Seeing this car racing, And hearing it for the first time was pretty awesome. This car Sometimes Has sleepovers while it gets work done in the same work shop that my AE85 resides. Powered by an Abosulte screamer of an A15, This thing absolutely hauls ontop of being absolutely imaculate.

Another victim of the bay was this madcool Anglia powered by some sort of V8. Giving the bank a bit of a love tap and almost completely destroying the driverside rear quarter panel. But not wanting to pack up early he raced throughout the day with the damage. GOOD MAN!

As far as im aware, This was second fastest on the day, Sounding awesome it came past with constant blips and bangs just begging to be unleashed, Which for the most part was due to the blisteringly quick times, Only bettered by this...

The most bad ass FC3S RX-7 i have ever seen in my life this thing was fast! also carrying passengers throughout the day no doubt having an absolute blast! Now im not one who typicly enjoys the sound of a rotary, But this one had me sold. Amazing car.

My new boss turning up, Was passenger during the day in the Yellow FXGT piloted by Rob Vibert. Unfortunately Wayne was unable to race his SR20DET powered MKI Escort due to a broken finger. Fair enough considering the previously spoken about unforgiving nature. One to look out for at the up coming Port Road street sprints.

This is one event i don't think i will be entering right away when my car is done but is one that i can see myself enjoying thoroughly. On topic of the AE, it now has no fuel or brake lines and will be hit with a few cans of paint stripper so i can get the engine bay and interior of the car painted by dave, The owner of the pristine yellow datsun Racing above, At Classic Panel and Paint in Newlands.
Exciting, Expensive stuff.

Jim