| I have been tearing up the whole frontal sheetmetal and front suspension. Most of it is related to fxing the leaks - the driver side lever shock, water pump, water neck, etc. But more on that next month. Meanwhile, here's something to look at. |
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I was finally able to finish the stainless sillplates I started a long time ago. I had these strips cut and engine turned, but lacking the rolled beads. So I visited my pal Kartsa and borrowed his bead roller - thanks! Shortly after, I was able to purchase one for myself at an auction. I also
fabricated a simple
tool to punch countersinks for the screws. Works nice after
hardening.
|
 While
the front suspension was disassembled, it was a perfect time to paint
the
sidewalls with Polybond Rubber Paint. It is essentially synthetic
rubber
resin and pigments dissolved in xylene. These are basic radial tires,
Regul
P225/75-R15 (presumably manufactured by Uniroyal). I just masked the
outer
perimeter with tape, rubbed the sidewall with wire wool and copious
amounts
of xylene, let it outgas 24 hours, then applied the paint with a brush.
The paint really smoothens out well after brushing.
Only there was
a problem.
Maybe the shelf life of the can was expired, but when I opened the can
the paint was almost entirely gummed up, and the rest of it was full of
lumps. I had to reduce it some 40% with xylene in order to be able to
run
it through a strainer. Normally 2 coats would suffice, but because it
was
now overthinned, it required 3 coats, letting each coat cure for 24
hours
after applying next coat. It looks rather good now, but only time will
tell how it will look after a season. Update 2005: This products sucks!
It has no UV resistance, and will turn dark grey in a matter of weeks |