Too Sexy for you.

Here are some photos of some more finished panels. At present I'm completing some fiddly bits as I'm still waiting for stuff to come home.

Keeping on the move.

With all the panels now stripped and waiting repairs and painting and still waiting for other components to be returned and fitted I'm continuing to move along completing parts and storing them ready for fitting when the time comes. I have stripped all the rear tinware and given it all 4 coats of RFU gloss black. The radiator will be reconditioned next week and fitted up to the radiator panel as well.

All the panels are now stripped.

Today I finished stripping all the parts and paint from the doors which finish all the panels except the bonnet. I have another bonnet which is already stripped, I only need to pick it up.
Its taken a couple of weeks to get the panels ready and I can say with conviction I'm glad that its over! I have worn out 5 wire wheels, 40- 4 inch sanding pads and used 8 litres of paint stripper. I also wore the same trousers and jumper for the paint stripping part (I kept them outside) and they will go straight into the bin.
I have 7 panels to go to the panel beater for minor repairs and some welding. Including the 4 doors (for some minor welding), front and rear left guards and the rear panel.
The photos below show one of the rear doors being stripped from start to finished in bare metal. It will be rust converted today and the inside treated with POR15 tonight and etch coated tomorrow.

 Ready for the first layer of paint stripper.

 Some sections are crazing but most of the paint just softens. 

 First layer of stripper and paint removed, ready for another layer of stripper.

 All paint removed, now to turn it over for the difficult side.
Note the small rust holes to be welded up.

Rear doors in etch primer waiting some minor repairs.

After a couple of weeks of paint stripping, these clothes are destined for the bin!

Panels.

I have finished stripping and repairing the engine lid, right guard, spare wheel door and the right rear guard. These panels are in primer now awaiting some colour. The rear panel, rear and front left guards are stripped and are off to the panel beater today for some repairs I know I am unable to get right.

 Repaired and primed.

 It took a long time to strip this panel.

Rust repairs on panels.

So far I have stripped 3 panels back to bare metal being both right guards and the rear panel. The front right guard has a rust hole at the bottom where it meets the sill which is a common area for rust on the 8's and 10's. Welding in a new piece of metal in the hole was difficult due to the original thin metal used.
Surface rust is lurking behind the bitumen sound deadener on the underside of the panels. I removed this to find the metal never had any paint on the metal from the factory and the deadener was put over bare metal. The underside of all the panels will be treated with POR-15 then primed and painted the same as the top side.
I have completed the fitment of the heater controls, so all I need now is my harness back to complete the dash area.

 Bottom section of front guards. A common area for rust.

 A new section of steel welded in. Rust proofed and awaiting some filler.

Surface rust lurking beneath the sound deadener.

All panels treated with POR15 on the inside to prevent rust.

The most frustrating job so far!

With the arrival of more parts yesterday I decided to install the heater hoses and fan. This is by far the most frustrating job on the car so far. It would have been much easier to put the hoses in without the suspension and steering in place and the car still on its side. I eventually got the hoses in place and found while fitting the heater fan body there was not sufficient room to fit it with modern hose clamps in place. Some modification of the fan body was required.
The control section where the cables connect to the temperature and flap controls was never designed to last for over 40 years and it has broken where the cables clamp down. I removed the broken pieces and repaired them with Araldite. I hope they will work OK when installed.
I've been stripping all the body panels and a couple of the bad ones will be taken to my panel beater for repairs. As paint stripper doesn't work well (if at all) on enamel paints most of the stripping is done by a rotary sander and finished by hand. Dirty and dusty work.
I hope to have some painted panels on the car in the next couple of weeks.

Panels and Parts.

If you have been watching my resto for a while you might be thinking, when is he going to start on the panels? Well you'd be right in thinking I've been avoiding them! Being on holidays now I have no excuse not to get them done. I hope to strip and repair one panel each day and then prime them all together. I have done the rear right rear panel and spent some time making sure the fit is good. The rear of the panel is where the trouble always is and this was no different. Small repairs meant poor panel fit at the back, no mind I think I have it now.
The parts I ordered from Belgium arrived today as well- front heater hoses, caliper kits etc so I will fit them up soon as well. I fitted the lights up front and the new Renault diamond as well so that section is looking good. I took all the radiator panels to have sand blasted yesterday and I hope to have them back early in the week ready for a coat of RFU gloss black.

Starting to look like a Gordini again.

 Awaiting the sanding machine and paint stripper.

Stripped and waiting for a few minor repairs and primer.