Restoration story of my Spitfire convertible

Tags: #<Tag:0x00000004e00e58>

spitfire (spitfire) 2010-10-21 20:02:55 +0500 #4521

One more...

spitfire (spitfire) 2010-10-21 20:09:28 +0500 #4522

Fitted temporarily in place with double sided tape and fascia top back to its place to check weather it fits properly....because there is steel dash underneath and this top is already a tight fit...So I wanted to make sure that our repair piece allows the top to sit in place without any problem.....
an important check before fitting it permanently ....

spitfire (spitfire) 2010-10-21 20:13:15 +0500 #4523

View of our dash top (in bad shape) in the car from right side....

spitfire (spitfire) 2010-10-21 20:23:55 +0500 #4524

And from left side...
notice that vinyl covering right in front of wind screen vent slit is also broken in this exercise...which was already intact superficially without any reinforcement/foam underneath...

spitfire (spitfire) 2010-10-21 20:32:28 +0500 #4525

A closer view....

ateekt (ateekt) 2010-10-21 22:55:52 +0500 #4526

Great going project indeed. Once running, it will sure turn lots of heads. Keep up the good job!

CLINTWOOD (CLINTWOOD) 2010-10-22 05:31:16 +0500 #4527

It took me four days to completely read this thread.... I was much addicted to this thread for last four days, and i am not doing my office work properly......
But result of four days is that i have come to know a very rare person with such passion and love for his hobby.....
I don't words to appretiate your passion.....
When i started reading this thread i was thinking that car will be completed in page 100 or 120... But its still going on.... I will be so lucky to see car completed Now....

I also want to acknowledge your down to earth personality.... also a rare thing.....

spitfire (spitfire) 2010-10-22 07:34:32 +0500 #4528

@ateekt....
Thanks dear...I don't know ,when it will be a head turner.....:)...presently it has turned or more precisely "twisted" ONLY ONE HEAD AND THAT IS MINE.....:'(.....

spitfire (spitfire) 2010-10-22 13:18:42 +0500 #4529

@CLINTWOOD....
I am looking for appropriate words to answer your post......
All I can say that I feel so honored when I come to know that there are like minded people around who appreciate what we are doing and spend their valuable time in going through this long and lengthy thread.....
These types of wonderful replies make this exercise worthwhile.....I am highly obliged brother that you took So much time to go through this thread and happy that you like our efforts...
I am also very keen to see and meet my Pakwheel brothers in Islamabad......looking forward to come to Islamabad on the same car INSHALLAH with VCCCP guys ....probably on 9/10 NOV...lets see....
when I started this restoration and this thread ,I had no idea that it will take years to complete....but during this time Many circumstances stopped me from working on this project resulting in further delays...
Any how I feel that we are running quite fast towards the completion..INSHALLAH....
At the end I would like to thank you once again for the nice and kind words you used for me....
Regards...

spitfire (spitfire) 2010-10-22 13:25:05 +0500 #4530

After becoming sure that our repair piece will not offer any resistance in the fitting....fascia top was removed...

spitfire (spitfire) 2010-10-22 13:30:00 +0500 #4531

The repair piece which was temporarily fitted,was removed and with the help of grinder....surface rust was grinded away...

spitfire (spitfire) 2010-10-22 13:32:16 +0500 #4532

From both sides...

spitfire (spitfire) 2010-10-22 13:35:34 +0500 #4533

Further more sharpened /tapered the edges so that it blends nicely with the existing steel plate......

spitfire (spitfire) 2010-10-22 13:39:46 +0500 #4534

Then it was painted and fitted in place using good amount of magic depoxy steel.....
Raees is applying pressure after applying magic on the piece for a good n strong joint....

spitfire (spitfire) 2010-10-22 13:59:36 +0500 #4535

Underside story ends here because rest was quite fine........
Now we came to the upper side...
After thinking and experimenting a lot about the material to be used for filling the damaged areas to regain the original shape of the fascia top for recovering....ended up in deciding that depoxy will do the job....
But first of all we needed some boundary for the slit of wind screen vent for a neat filling job...
Placed a piece of hard board here as you can see...

spitfire (spitfire) 2010-10-22 14:03:24 +0500 #4536

Following pics explains this setup very nicely....
This piece of hard board was fitted with the broken edge of the vent with the help of carpet pieces...as you can see...

spitfire (spitfire) 2010-10-22 14:05:47 +0500 #4537

A good amount of Magic Depoxy steel was prepared....

spitfire (spitfire) 2010-10-22 14:08:17 +0500 #4538

and poured in the cavity....

spitfire (spitfire) 2010-10-22 14:10:51 +0500 #4539

Applied some heat from 100 watts bulb for quick setting.....

spitfire (spitfire) 2010-10-22 14:12:42 +0500 #4540

And result was something like this .......