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Hungary Bill
Hungary Bill GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
8/9/16 8:32 a.m.

Still learnin to drive I guess...

java230
java230 Dork
8/9/16 8:56 a.m.

It happens. They still make sandpaper

Hungary Bill
Hungary Bill GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
8/12/16 11:09 a.m.

ooh! Rust holes

Wire whip

Kitty hair

sand sand sand

Bondo

Sand and primer

Like I knew what I was doing

java230
java230 Dork
8/12/16 11:12 a.m.

IS that right where the plastic "gaurds" were? Stupid design.... Repair looks awesome tho!

Hungary Bill
Hungary Bill GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
8/12/16 1:15 p.m.

It is. I'm not entirely sure those are going back on as both sides suffered from rust in that area. I MAY do some sort of transparent sheet or something for rock-chip protection there (because I THINK that was Toyota's idea in the first place) but yeah... We'll see

Next up, I'm going to wet sand this side, get all the overspray off, and move on back to the other side to take care of that primer/bondo issue there.

Getting cloooooooser

crankwalk
crankwalk GRM+ Memberand Dork
8/12/16 1:28 p.m.
Hungary Bill wrote: It is. I'm not entirely sure those are going back on as both sides suffered from rust in that area. I MAY do some sort of transparent sheet or something for rock-chip protection there (because I THINK that was Toyota's idea in the first place) but yeah... We'll see Next up, I'm going to wet sand this side, get all the overspray off, and move on back to the other side to take care of that primer/bondo issue there. Getting cloooooooser

I had the same issue on my FJ60. After the sanding and light body work I did the lower panels in bed liner and its perfect. Hides imperfections, strong protection against 35 in tires slinging rocks everywhere and easy to touch up if its ever needed.

java230
java230 Dork
8/12/16 1:55 p.m.

I have the 3m clear bra on my truck. I am amazed at how well it works. IMO it would be perfect for that spot. Bed liner is good too though, Toyota didn't paint any of my lower cladding, I like it for keeping rock chips at bay

Jayisacarguy
Jayisacarguy New Reader
8/12/16 8:12 p.m.

Bill, your build threads are just fun (good times ), this one is no exception. I'm loving how the kids are getting so much time with you on these adventures!

I've got two little boys myself and sadly can't take both in my Z anywhere.

Perhaps I need to shop early 80s yotas.

Hungary Bill
Hungary Bill GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
8/16/16 2:53 p.m.

Thanks Jay! You know, when I bought my Alfa I looked loooooooong and hard at getting an old Z. My parents had a 280 2+2 growing up, and I bought a '71 240 once when I was feeling ambitious (it didn't end well, I was able to save only a few parts...) but would LOVE to get another. There's a silver 280 in my neighborhood ('77 I think?) that teases me every day on my way to and from work

Not much to report today. I wet sanded half the roof and the passenger side with 600 grit, followed by a water wash.

Now the primer looks like I meant to spray it where I did (before I thought it looked like I handed a rattle can to my 4-year-old)

Always good times

Hungary Bill
Hungary Bill GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
8/17/16 8:46 a.m.

Weeeell with the truck dried off I could see that my sanding job wasn't exactly what you'd call "top notch". I was using a block sander yesterday, and it looks like that may not have been the right tool to use (thinking back, I seem to remember being told to use a sanding sponge. oops)

So today I hand sanded again (wet) 600 grit, followed by 1500 grit wet (also hand sanded). If this looks "up to par" when dry, that should just about do it for the passenger side!

good times

(sorry for that last blurry picture there. I was on my way out and running a bit late )

Hungary Bill
Hungary Bill GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
8/20/16 7:16 a.m.

Well, I got a little sand happy in two spots. The first at the back, top lip of the fender, and again on an edge of the tail gate.

I touched them back up with primer, this time I'll be a little more careful with the sandpaper.

Good times

Hungary Bill
Hungary Bill GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
8/22/16 1:10 p.m.

I've been pretty good about this so far, but it looks like I need a reminder:

Remove the masking paper BEFORE the primer dries!

Good times (and almost there)

Hungary Bill
Hungary Bill GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
8/23/16 9:59 a.m.

Ugh, black cloud tuesday today, I tell you what.

It started with the passenger side. Everything I hit with primer turned into a big drip mark. After the third spot I decided to put the can down and to step away from the project. Good thing too because I remembered my truck's battery was dead. I figure the runner isn't going anywhere so I swap the batteries, except the truck still wont start. Lights come on, turn the key and "click". So I swap the batteries back.

I'm running a bit late at this point so I slap a lunch together and I'm out the door. Except I forgot that the 'Runner doesn't have any gas... I make it to the gas station and just let it fill itself while I wipe down the windshield with the squeegee (I don't have the wipers installed and it's filthy from the body work). The hose clicks off and when I pull it out I spill gas down the side of the truck.

The list goes on.

Tonight I'll see why the truck wont start, and tomorrow I'll get the sandpaper out and see what sort of fixing the passenger side still needs. A bad day in the garage is still better than a good day at work

java230
java230 Dork
8/23/16 10:07 a.m.

This thing is going to be a damn show car when your done!

Hungary Bill
Hungary Bill GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
8/23/16 10:19 a.m.

Off subject:

So the tuner in the Runner's radio kind of bites. It needs near constant adjustment to keep a radio station in tune and I'm afraid I don't have any tapes to fill in for the radio when things go all white noise on me.

That is, until today!

A week or so ago I found an old ammo can that I used to use for car-stereo stuff back in "the day" (like when I was 17 or so...). In it was an old Clarion CD deck that I used to LOVE (but lost the face plate to) and a recorded cassette of unknown origin (like a mix tape, but not one I would have recorded. I always seemed to use Memorex.).

I'm so excited I can't wait to see what's on it some old school jams from back in "the day"? Is it maybe an old cruising mix that I forgot about? A kick ass punk album my brother might have recorded for me? Who knows!

Ready for this? Because today is the perfect opportunity. Not only do I HAVE to take the runner into work, but I also forgot to put the antenna back on the dang thing (so if I want music, it's going to be from this cassette)

I pop it in and what comes out is... well, there's no other words for it but "bad 80's music" and it's being played at about 1/2 speed!!! It's like a TGI-Fridays but under water!

Here, let me give you an example. Play THIS at 0.5 speed (you can go to settings). It's awful and so fitting at the same time!

Ok, so naturally I thought I had a bunk tape deck. Maybe just from lack of use, but I flip the tape over and I kid you not I get the Marshal Mathers Lp (at normal speed).

This me genuinely concerned. Did someone intentionally record Human League (and similarly bad 80's bands) at 1/2 speed and then record Eminem on the other side? I really want to find this troubled person and offer them the help they so desperately need.

If you're the tape person and you're reading this, it's ok man. There's help out there for you

Good times

Hungary Bill
Hungary Bill GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
8/23/16 10:23 a.m.
java230 wrote: This thing is going to be a damn show car when your done!

It's really a double edged sword. Since this is "Alfa practice" I really want to do a good job so I can learn, but on the other hand I don't want something that's going to babied either... I think the solution is going to be a narrow trail at high speeds. A few scratches in the new paint should keep this beast from becoming a pavement queen.

Mezzanine
Mezzanine HalfDork
8/23/16 10:44 a.m.
Hungary Bill wrote: This me genuinely concerned. Did someone intentionally record Human League (and similarly bad 80's bands) at 1/2 speed and then record Eminem on the other side? I really want to find this troubled person and offer them the help they so desperately need. If you're the tape person and you're reading this, it's ok man. There's help out there for you Good times

I'm here in my closet office, laughing loudly while listening to The Human League at 1/2 speed. Is this some kind of sick social experiment? Because you win. I did this.

Hungary Bill
Hungary Bill GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
8/23/16 11:21 a.m.

Isn't it... well, I don't know what it is (awful, awesome, awesomely awful?) Just to warn ya, I'm keeping the tape. The next time we take the 'Runner out shooting I'm going to play it for ya (it's even better in person)

Mezzanine
Mezzanine HalfDork
8/23/16 3:11 p.m.

Can't wait! I have a big bag full of cassette tapes that you're welcome to peruse. Mostly easy listening mixed with other adult-ish crap from the 70s and 80s. Plenty of classical, and also lots of great new-age hippy bullE36 M3 like pan flutes. I love popping an old mystery cassette into the player!

Hungary Bill
Hungary Bill GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
8/24/16 8:03 a.m.
Mezzanine wrote: Can't wait! I have a big bag full of cassette tapes that you're welcome to peruse. Mostly easy listening mixed with other adult-ish crap from the 70s and 80s. Plenty of classical, and also lots of great new-age hippy bullE36 M3 like pan flutes. I love popping an old mystery cassette into the player!

Cassette roulette. I'm in!

So, I've been driving the 'Runner to and from work the last few days and yesterday I thinks to myself "Self! It's not often the truck makes it out of the garage. You should snap a few shots to try to capture a better picture of the work that's been going on"

So I do.

And that's when I notice the thing missing in the last picture (hint: middle of the tailgate, right above the bumper and below the "toyota")

I was going to post this as soon as I noticed it, but didn't want to jinx it for the drive home

Good times.

84FSP
84FSP Dork
8/24/16 10:13 a.m.

HAH - oopsy - you can hope the policeman is a GRM fan.

java230
java230 Dork
8/24/16 10:38 a.m.

At least there is one on the front right? Looks good out of the garage.

I think I have an old deck if you want it, IIRC the screen only works half the time, but once stations are programmed its no biggie. And it plays, wait for it, CD's! Oh and I want to be invited to the shooting party....

Hungary Bill
Hungary Bill GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
8/24/16 9:56 p.m.
java230 wrote: At least there is one on the front right? Looks good out of the garage. I think I have an old deck if you want it, IIRC the screen only works half the time, but once stations are programmed its no biggie. And it plays, wait for it, CD's!

HA! I was actually thinking about buying another face plate for my Clarion CD deck that was in the ammo can. I saw one on ebay for $15

Java said: Oh and I want to be invited to the shooting party....

This has to happen

Hungary Bill
Hungary Bill GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
8/24/16 9:57 p.m.
84FSP wrote: HAH - oopsy - you can hope the policeman is a GRM fan.

I had my excuses all lined up, just in case: "Oh no! Did it fall off? What should I do???? Aw and I've been working on it all month!"

Hungary Bill
Hungary Bill GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
8/25/16 7:56 a.m.

Getting closer

PPG Omni base with euro clear. Toyota paint code 143. It ran about $280 out the door. I was originally going to Maaco this beast, but I found out the hobby shop on base has a paint booth. They don't let us spray but it only cost us $200 for the work. I'm going to head over tonight after work to try to get more details (do I need to mask the vehicle, etc)

With the money I'm saving by going this route I had enough to clear those stickers I wanted ($250) Plus this will be a 2-stage paint (base and clear) as opposed to the color with integrated clear I opted for with Maaco.

Good times

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