The "Today I did something to my car" thread

Nissan doctor

MCMLXXV wrote: »

The Sentra I can appreciate, the Sunny not so much!

See that's the difference, generally most people would look at the sunny and say they where rubbish when new etc etc....and they'd be right. But I look(at that one) and see a one owner car from new, with less then 70k miles, an underside and body that looks like it could still sit in a showroom, central locking/electric windows f+r which are very rare for an original Irish car and I have a huge appreciation for how well its has survived and been looked after and I think it would be shame to see a car in that condition go to a scrap yard just because its old and not a sports car or whatever.

The sentra was a barn find with only 50k on it.:eek:

Nissan doctor

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Something that I would love to do is do a full engine overhaul on one. Would you ever considering stripping the engine and putting uprated components for a laugh?

I've already destroyed one immaculate old car by modifying it, by which I mean that its now almost impossible to find an example in the condition that mine was before I turned it into a track car. I'm very much into tuning/modifying...but I'd rather do it to a tattier example.

dgt

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Its a late model cinq I got(98) and its got an airbag so I presume that's the reason. Don't know if they were standard by then or an option.

That's the reason it has that wheel. Standard on the last cars, optional till about 97ish

I'd agree, t cutting might not work, full respray is the way foreward the laquer coat doesn't look the best in places...

Looking foreward to seeing how this turns out, I just about remember sitting in a few when they were new!

L-M

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Why do you say that?

i've done loads of them, none of them last. That red part was as pink as the rest of the bonnet the next day, it's such a hard task and such a waste of time.

colm_mcm

Pretty sure that's not an airbag, you can just pull that centre bit off usually.

dgt

colm_mcm wrote: »

Pretty sure that's not an airbag, you can just pull that centre bit off usually.

On a Seicento, yes. They had the same wheel for airbag and no airbag. Conveniently, I have one here...

You could put an Alfa wheel in there if you went down that route

ottostreet

Both of mine were picked up and sent to be stripped and prepared for manual conversion!

Silver one is donor car, black one is the good one!

Rich11

Today when i got from work i finally decided to sort out my headlights, heres the results:):

Before:



After:


Just need to give her a wash now!

dgt

That has to be the narrowest car I've ever seen :pac:

retrohead

On Saturday I put a rear parking sensor kit on the wife's car.











If that doesn't work, nothing will :pac:

eringobragh

Almost there....mirrors and most the spoiler done today! Hard to get pics of the spoiler with the sunlight and all that but it was as bad as anywhere else on the car!


Drivers Side Mirror:

Hard to get in at the attachment that joins the mirror to the car but I'll have a look at that when I'm installing the folding mirrors.

BEFORE:





AFTER:

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Passenger Side mirror

BEFORE:





AFTER:

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eringobragh

I done the middle bit I lost out to the rain a while back...it wasnt too bad anyway but gave it a once over.



Moss or some organic built up was jammed in tight so I moved the the adjustable spoiler just enough to clean it.







The Pivot bolt had a small bit of rust on it so i got treated with some kurust.

---

Spoiler (Middle)

Hard to take Pics but this was the general condition.



AFTER:





Spoiler:

I'd done the outer piece but the centre cap shows the scratching.

BEFORE:



AFTER:

gollywog

That is some great work i just finished the last of my car this morning! It took me 7 days of between 3 or 4 hours a session... Is that too long?! :eek:

MetzgerMeister

gollywog wrote: »

That is some great work i just finished the last of my car this morning! It took me 7 days of between 3 or 4 hours a session... Is that too long?! :eek:

That's not long enough!!! Get back out and finish it properly!!

Eringobragh's work is something to aspire to

eringobragh

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

That's not long enough!!! Get back out and finish it properly!!

Eringobragh's work is something to aspire to

Cheers man..slow process though

had a few compliments about the cars condition and told the wheels let it down (which they do)...getting them powder coated in the next 2 weeks probably :cool:

TrailerBob

I'm off at the mo, so I said I'd have a go at refurbing my alloys. Had a look at Owen's guide and have done a bit of spraying before.

Cruiser looks odd up on blocks& stands



1. Sample of the wheels - blistering and peeling abound!





2. Centre caps had also faded badly since '03



3. Wheels prepped



Centre cap primed and finished in Toyota Silver




4. Wheel with one layer of grey primer... Will have to finish them tomorrow.



Not a professional job by any means, but will be better than before

BUBBLE WRAP

@Trailerbob - did you clear the alloyes as well?

gollywog

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

That's not long enough!!! Get back out and finish it properly!!

Eringobragh's work is something to aspire to

Seriously?! crap i was well cheffed with myself....
I have to say the paint looks great now tho
Now next up is clean the wheels, iron x, and seal etc etc. Anyone know when there'll be a few days sunshine comin??

vectra

gollywog wrote: »

Seriously?! crap i was well cheffed with myself....
I have to say the paint looks great now tho
Now next up is clean the wheels, iron x, and seal etc etc. Anyone know when there'll be a few days sunshine comin??

Should have done it last week. I was up your side of the country and the weather was lovely compared to here.

OH
As already said
Get back out again and spend more time at it. I spent close on 60 hours on the Toledo so far :P

TrailerBob

BUBBLE WRAP wrote: »

@Trailerbob - did you clear the alloyes as well?

I used sanding wheels in a drill to take the old paint off, and finished prep with 2 grades of wet/dry sandpaper by hand. Only the first step is shown in the masked picture. Took a while to prep them.
They'll get another rub down in the morning with 1000g paper, then two more coats of primer, two colour coats, and a lacquer... That's the plan anyhow!

MetzgerMeister

eringobragh wrote: »

Cheers man..slow process though

had a few compliments about the cars condition and told the wheels let it down (which they do)...getting them powder coated in the next 2 weeks probably :cool:

Don't I know it's slow haha At least when you're finished you can look at the car and say "I did that"

Trailer bob - That's a fantastic job you've done on the wheels. Good prep is always reflected in a good finish

BUBBLE WRAP

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

...................................................
............................


Trailer bob - That's a fantastic job you've done on the wheels. Good prep is always reflected in a good finish

+1

Very ture.

Jimdagym

Yesterday I chickened out of the serpentine belt roulette game I had going on with my car. Sounds so much better with bits of the belt flapping around :pac:.

Hopefully now we will get a few hours sunshine the weekend and I will try take apart the air con distributor flap.

dgt

Juuuust another day up here :pac:

Sorry barura


Eventually


Better!


Then I got bored... So I started to take a Zetec engine apart :pac:



Oh the things I do for shíts and giggles :pac:

166man

dgt wrote: »

Juuuust another day up here :pac:

Then I got bored... So I started to take a Zetec engine apart :pac:

Oh the things I do for shíts and giggles :pac:

And to think I spent today sitting at a desk in an office...:(

Nissan doctor

dgt wrote: »

Oh the things I do for shíts and giggles :pac:

Its better when your getting paid to do it:P

dgt

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Its better when your getting paid to do it:P

Indeed it is! But alas, I didn't want to go down that route...

Better to keep busy than do nothing atall

Rich11

dgt wrote: »

Juuuust another day up here :pac:

Sorry barura


Eventually


Better!


Then I got bored... So I started to take a Zetec engine apart :pac:



Oh the things I do for shíts and giggles :pac:

love the saucepans for all the fluids:D i really hope you didnt use them for cooking again.........:pac:

dgt

Rich11 wrote: »

love the saucepans for all the fluids:D i really hope you didnt use them for cooking again.........:pac:

But that's the oil I use to fry my breakfast with and the water I use for my coffee :pac:

MetzgerMeister

dgt wrote: »

But that's the oil I use to fry my breakfast with and the water I use for my coffee :pac:

You've got coolant in your veins