69 coupe from SVK

[aslanefe 333]

8 hours ago, mikee said:

So, both door repaired, and checked how lines and gaps fit.

Now I need to install my rack / pinion steering that I finally found as suitable for my car. In loving memory the donor (Opel Astra) and long life to king :). 

 

 

 

 

 

What is the stroke of the Astra rack? Are you going to loose turning radius? I assume you are going to change the center take of and make a custom one so you do not have bump steer.

[JET 445 43]

The RRS rack is based on the same type of rack.

[bigmal 225]

On 5/1/2020 at 5:36 PM, JET 445 said:

The RRS rack is based on the same type of rack.

I've got an RRS rack and there is a significant reduction in turning circle. It's actually a real pain.

[aslanefe 333]

3 hours ago, bigmal said:

I've got an RRS rack and there is a significant reduction in turning circle. It's actually a real pain.

That's why I asked @mikee what the stroke of the Astra rack is. It may have more stroke and no or less reduction in turning circle. Even though Astra is GM, may be the gears inside are different.

[mikee 51]

On 4/30/2020 at 11:21 PM, aslanefe said:

What is the stroke of the Astra rack? Are you going to loose turning radius? I assume you are going to change the center take of and make a custom one so you do not have bump steer.

Yes as JET 445 wrote it is what „RSB“ or  „Steeroids“ is using, also build in SAAB, and Daewoo, and yes I need to figure out position and length of steering rods. I have read about radius reduction on some forum, but I hope It’s not gonna be so bad ... but now I’m scared :)

 

[aslanefe 333]

25 minutes ago, mikee said:

Yes as JET 445 wrote it is what „RSB“ or  „Steeroids“ is using, also build in SAAB, and Daewoo, and yes I need to figure out position and length of steering rods. I have read about radius reduction on some forum, but I hope It’s not gonna be so bad ... but now I’m scared :)

 

Can you measure the stroke and let us know how many cm or inches? Then we can compare it to RRS and see if there is a difference.

[mikee 51]

its roughly 16,5 cm - 6 1/2 inch. 

[aslanefe 333]

On 5/3/2020 at 8:39 PM, bigmal said:

I've got an RRS rack and there is a significant reduction in turning circle. It's actually a real pain.

Can you measure the stroke on your RRS rack to see if it is the same as Astra (about 16.5 cm)?

Thanks

[bigmal 225]

Hi mate,

its a bit hard under the car but the travel appears to be 6 1/8" or 16.5cm. 

It is definitely reduced circle from the original mustang power steering.

[aslanefe 333]

4 hours ago, bigmal said:

Hi mate,

its a bit hard under the car but the travel appears to be 6 1/8" or 16.5cm. 

It is definitely reduced circle from the original mustang power steering.

Thanks mate, I was hoping Astra rack might have more stroke and less reduction in turning radius. Cheers.

[mikee 51]

Hi Stangers,

short update of my project. All steel parts are finally patched and repaired and countless hours of polyester filler spraying and sanding behind me!

[Vicfreg 771]

Nice job!

[mikee 51]

Finally last pieces repaired and shot in spray filler. I used aluminium on the hood. On both of my light buckets were lower valance mounts broken, and  the right one was damaged from old crash, so I made them heavy duty :)

 

 

 

[mikee 51]

On 9/29/2021 at 12:55 AM, Vicfreg said:

Nice job!

Thanks Vic

[mikee 51]

I got lucky, and found used / broken Boss mirrors! Bit of welding, epoxy, filler and they are ready to go. 

This are the last pics of my stang, before paint. Since I have not enough time to be able finnish paint before it starts to freeze, I stopped with spray filler with 320. 

isolator primer, acryl filler, paint and clear will be done by professional :)

  

[RogerC 136]

Can you provide more detail of your light bucket repair? Your repair looks great. I have a crack in the lower pan tab on one and a broke-out lower grill panel bolt hole on the other and looking for a good way to repair them.

[mikee 51]

2 hours ago, RogerC said:

Can you provide more detail of your light bucket repair? Your repair looks great. I have a crack in the lower pan tab on one and a broke-out lower grill panel bolt hole on the other and looking for a good way to repair them.

Hi Roger, Unfortunately I didn't make more pics from the right one - destroyed more, but on both of them I made the the valance mount from 3 pieces of 4mm aluminium plate. Actually only one - with hole should be enough for the valance, but I needed support for cracked part of the bucket. With help of the side ones I was able to clamp the lower lip of the bucket level. After welding corners of all 3 parts I tacked them to body of the bucket. Last I opened the cracks so they have some clearance and not touching, drilled ends with 1/8 bit and under taped them. For fill out I used "Liquid metal", as well as for initial filling of missing surface (pre aluminium filler). I was hard - needed to be filed, but nice to work with.  

[mikee 51]

And some "fun facts", or if someone is planning how to spend some quality time during winter :).

My labour hours up to blocked spray filler and already done some parts restoration:

Total labour hours (h)	938,5
Disassembly (h)	44
Body	20
Drivetrain	7
Interior	6
Miscl	11
Paint stripping (h)	77
Fenders	9
Sandblasting	4
Body	37
Prep for primer	10
Trunk lid	2
Headlights buckets, cowl grille, valances	7
Hood	5
Outside painted trim	1
Mirrors	2
Bodywork (h)	342
Underbody	22
Torque boxes replacement	24
Antena delete	2
R door - skin fabrication and repair	22
Fender	3
Shock tower repair and reinforcement	9,5
Rear frame reinforcement	3
Battery holder and window rim	8
Right floor pan	20
Roof	2
Left floor pan	23,5
Rear frame	8
Subframe Connectors	9
Rear fender L	17
Seat platforms	10
Rear fender R	17
Quarter panel R	17
Roof / Front glas rim	27
Drip rails	12
Dent pulling	8
Quarter panel L	8
L door	27
Trunk lid	16
Hood	5
Front light buckets	15
Hood Scoop cutouts	4
Valances	3
Prep and Paint (h)	150
Preparation and transport for blasting	2
Setup after blasting	2
Primer after blasting	4
Rear seam sealer and antigravel	5
Engine bay sanding and battery holder	4
Seam sealer	8
Primer repair engine bay	8
Antigravel	4
Acryl engine bay and underbody	5
Repair of primer after bodywork	8
Acryl - rear underbody	4
Trunk area	13
interior blackout acryl	3
Sanding for spray filler	11
Primer repair after Fillers, rockers and Quarters	15
Fenders prep and primer	7,5
Doors and hinges	12
Primer doors and fenders	8
Anti Gravel and acryl fenders	5
Hood	8
Mirrors	1,5
Front and rear valance	12
Body filler (h)	276
Filler roof	16
Filler R quarter panel	15
Filler L quarter panel	10
Filler R rocker panel	7
Filler L rocker panel	5
Body finishing and cleaning	7
Rear extensions	2
Trunk lid	18
Spray filler - body	6
Sanding spray filler	57
R door	12
Back end	6
L door	20
R Fender	10
L Fender	13
Door and fender alignment	16
Spray filler fenders, trunk lid and doors	17
Valances	4
Hood	14
Spray filler hood	5,5
Light buckets	10
Spray filler, valances, light buckets and cowl	5,5
Various restoration (h)	39
Door hinges	7
Miscl	1,5
Derusting bolts and parts	2
Steering column	11
Trunk lid springs	1
Door locks	2
Headlights buckets	5
Passenger side mirror	4
Door mechanism (cleaning, restoring)	4
stainless window moulding	2
driver seat	1,5
Drivetrain restoration(h)	4
Rearend restoration	3
Front end restoration	1
Installation - Assembly (h)	6,5
fuel line install	1
brake line install	3,5
Preassembly front	2
Parts fabrication	27

 

[mikee 51]

Painted!

Finally, thats been long time to get here, but was worth every minute and cent :). Winner of my dilemma "titanium silver" vs "pepper grey" is obvious. 

[Mike65 475]

Looks GREAT! Looks like the color of my 2000 Ranger.

[Vicfreg 771]

Wow!  Fantastic!  Beautiful!

 

[aslanefe 333]

Looking good. Getting the car painted in 15 days is unheard of here in the USA.

[mikee 51]

11 hours ago, Mike65 said:

Looks GREAT! Looks like the color of my 2000 Ranger.

Thanks Mike, 

yes, I have 2005 Escape and the color is really close. Fords gray has in some point of view "greenish" look I didn't like, I went with VW 

[mikee 51]

9 hours ago, aslanefe said:

Looking good. Getting the car painted in 15 days is unheard of here in the USA.

Thanks,

well, when I spoke to the painter first time at the phone, I wasn't sure if he is gonna be able to make it before christmas. After he saw the car in person, the attitude changed. He said he didn't count that the car is really "so ready" (as everybody says) just for spray acryl, wet sand to 800 and shoot the paint.  

[RPM 1,190]

Looks really nice, kudos!