I know it's been a while, but i have been chipping away at this project. Nothing that interesting or critical, but still jobs that need to be done sooner or later!
The next main job on the list is to get the gearbox mounted and all the sheet metal work that will involve (see here for an idea of what to expect:
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showt ... E21/page81). While i'm at it i'll finish off the pedal box install and fix the rust in the foot wells and sills, but i'm waiting for warmer weather before I start that weldathon!
The engine build is stopped waiting for piston rings (been on order for 3 weeks now) and I also need to get the head skimmed, so not much more to be done there. I do need to look at the sump, but again - welding - cold outside - can't be bothered!
So, to keep me busy, and keep some momentum on this, I finally got round to picking up my motorsport valance from my mate. I bought this about 6 months ago and got said friend to collect it for me and stash it in his garage. I needed a new valance because, as you may remember, my original one looked like this
Not long after getting the car, I picked up a typ 2 valance as it was cheap and nearby, but it still needed a bit of work and i prefer the typ 1 valance to be honest. Ideally I wanted a motorsport valance, but all sellers wanted £300+ for one and, frankly, I'm too cheap for that! So when this knackered one turned up on ebay for £35 i snapped it up! It needed a LOT of work, but worth the risk i'd say.
Here it is once i'd got it home - very twisted, peeling paint and bodged cracks at both corners.
First task was to get it un-twisted, so I removed the rubbing strips and the worst of the loose paint and left it hooked over the radiator with some things weighing it down for a week.
Worked a treat!
Next up, the cracked corners:
Started by removing the various layers of paint and filler, and the previous repair - a sheet of metal riveted behind the crack. This probably would have worked if they'd drilled the end of the crack to stop it growing.
Other side:
Weld up the cracks and holes with ABS filler rod and a soldering iron.
Then sand down
I'll need to do another pass with the welding rod to bring up the low spots (instead of using filler), but all in all it's turned out alright. The welds seem to have taken well and the welded area is strong and flexible, just like the rest of the bumper!
I still need to strip the rest of the paint. Although alot of it peeled right off, the bits that remain are stuck fast! I've tried sanding, but the paint is over 1mm thick in places so it takes aaaaages to get down to plastic!