Door Panel Fabric Ready

We had a busy non-Vogue weekend but somewhere Laurel found time to sew up the remaining three door panels (one is already fitted - see here). It's up to me now.

Ev Sound Bite

This 14 second sound bite was extracted from an episode of Futurama.
Sound Bite

All Wheels back on

The front wheels were finished on schedule on Saturday and I put them back on the car Sunday.

 The front wheel looks pretty odd here as it's not sitting in the wheel arch properly due to jacking the front up on the crossmember. The wheels need to roll to settle the suspension again (or jack under each wishbone).

In this photo extracted from the second drive video you can see the normal position of the front wheels in the arch.

I spent three hours under the Vogue on Sunday afternoon struggling with the driveshaft front bolts. No matter what I did I could not get my hex-head bolts to pull the universal joint yolk up to the coupler. After a couple of hours (and a rest for my bruised fingers I must admit) I came to realise that the holes in the coupler were out by a very slight amount and that the uni yolk was drilled for 3/8 inch bolts. A 10mm threaded bolt would go through but was an interference fit. That and the slight hole mis-alignment meant I didn't have a hope. I removed the whole driveshaft and drilled the yolk holes out to 10mm - it then went in relatively easily. The yolk centres on the coupler with an internal "ledge" - the bolts are not used to centre it, so it should be fine.

So the Vogue is drivable again. All that remains before I take it for new tyres is to black mastic (seal) some of the window rubbers where water could leech onto the headlining, and to finish the door linings.

Front Wheels on Target

So far, so good. The front wheels have been wire brushed, sanded and have a coat of rust converter on them - insides and outsides done.

Rear Wheels on, Front Wheels off

The rear wheels are finished and back on the car. (New tyres to come soon.)

I even brushed a coat of satin black under the wheel arches.

I'll need to paint under the front wheel arches before the front wheels go back on.

 

I did the wire brushing, sanding and de-rust coat on one wheel tonight.

Hopefully I'll prepare the other wheel tomorrow night.

The plan: Prime both wheels on Thursday night and two coats of black on one side Friday night, last two coats on the other side on Saturday. Let's see how we go...

Rear Wheel Rims Finished

I haven't stopped doing stuff on the Vogue but things have been slow this week. I finished painting the rear wheel rims and painted (satin black) the inside of the rear wheel arches. I have yet to put the rear wheels back on the car and remove the front ones for preparation and painting.

Rear Wheel Rims Outside Edge Done

Small steps I know.
I managed to get two coats of glossy black on the outside of both rear wheel rims last night.
According to the spray can you can recoat after one hour but before two hours - or wait 24 hours. I recoated after 1 hour and it appeared to work well.

I carted the wheels inside in front of the space heater for 1/2 hour before spraying (then took them outside to spray) as it was getting cold outside. It was clever of me (not!) to figure out that I could mask up two wheels at once just by using more newspaper and tape.

Preparing and Painting Wheel Rims

I had collected some prices on getting the wheel rims on the Vogue restored professionally but it hasn't worked out to be very convenient. So, in between the rain showers this weekend I managed to get the two rear wheels of the Vogue wire brushed, sanded and rust inhibited (where required). I also did the spare which I won't carry but at least will be available should I get totally stranded and it has to be bought to me.

No wheels again. I'm hoping I get enough time to prepare and paint under the wheel arches. It would look a lot better.

On Sunday afternoon there was a couple of hours without rain and I got all three wheels primed.
The tools.

This one was first.

And this one just got primed. I won't be keeping the tyres but it has to look OK for a little while - hence the masking tape but not-so-careful line. I did the insides as well.