My '72 P6 V8 is back in use on UK roads and once again wearing its silver on black 'K' plates!

Re: The optimist

mrtask said:
Today I f*#ked up whilst fitting the bootlid ... Does anybody know if this can somehow be 'flattened out' now?
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We've somebody here in town who calls himself the Caropractor. I kinda like that. Ambulant panelbeaters is a great idea 8) and I'm sure those dings can be undinged. Undingified. Or something.

But most of all, good going on the car Al! It is really looking handsome in that colour, look forward to show-off shots of it finished in afternoon sunshine or whatever you plan to arrange...
 
Re: The optimist

You could shave in the reflection from that paint !
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I ought to stop shaving until I get the car finished. I'd probably look like Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top by the time I get that far though.
Undingified
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:LOL: Neologism of the week. I think I'll be using that, thanks Tor. Loved your 'through the windscreen' photos on the other thread, by the way. Only ever-so-slighrly jealous!
Thanks for the advice on door reassembly chaps. Reckon you're right, and I hope I don't have to take them off and put them back on again.
Next query: the outer front bumper irons can only go on after the front valance is fitted, right? Furthermore, they must be bolted on from in the wheelarch, with the 2 1/2" long bolts facing forwards, through the 'outrigger' and into the captive nut on the outer iron, right? The illustration in the parts catalogue shows the bolts the wrong way round, I reckon.
Off to my shed, gotta get this show on the road, my chin is feeling bristly already...
 
Re: The optimist

You can fit one of the outer brackets first, but it is best to fit them both with the valance in place and suitably fettled

And yes, the bolts faces forward unlike the parts catalogue. Best to get them all on (Inners ones and number plate bracket as well) before tightening them up.

Car is looking ace by the way - perfick 8)

Richard
 
Re: The optimist

Looks way better now I've finally got the outer sills, front wings and front valance on. Even though the valance, like the panel in front of the windscreen, is an ever-so-slightly paler shade of blue than the wings and bonnet! Reckon the front bumper will conceal it, but I'm not entirely happy, I must say.
 
Re: The optimist

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You can't see the colour mismatch with the bumper on. Didn't get as much on this weekend as I had hoped to, but never mind.
 
Re: The optimist

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At my snail-like pace I've actually managed to get all the newly painted panelwork back onto my car now. Which is not so say that the panel alignment is perfect, or in fact anywhere near, but at least there aren't panels occupying every available space in the workshop. It looks like a car again, pukka with the single bonnet scoop and new bonnet badge. I had been hoping to add a can of fuel to the tank and start her up today, having just refitted the locking filler cap, but with the bonnet still firmly jammed shut (see my other thread in the Bodywork section) that didn't happen. Instead I spent the day dismantling two spare driver's side doors and extricating the Sundym glass. I had hoped I would be able to fit the green glass straight to my blue doors, now resplendent with handles, push buttons and locks. However, there was a graunchy gritty sound from the bottom channel when wiggled... the previous owner had glued the side panes into the lower support channels, which had rusted through in places, and took lots of tea and cursing and cutting and scraping to budge. Two more to remove next, then refurbish four lower channels and source some suitable lower rubbers, and re-fit. Judging by how much of a pain in the posterior it was to remove the front window frames on my own, getting it all back in a properly fitted up will be a barrel of laughs.
One of the front sidelight units doesn't want to fit into the aperture in the wing, which looks like it has had a knock, and which will need fettling by somebody more knowledgeable and confident than myself. I'll keep plugging away, must remember to take photos, I'm approaching the final straight now...
One of my old mates back in London called last weekend to tell me he's bought a tidy '68 P5B Saloon in grey with a dark red interior on Rostyles. Looks the business. I'll try and get him on here, dunno if this is his cuppa tea. I'll ask him if can post the photo he sent me. He reckons he's got some old photos somewhere of teenage me sitting grinning on the bonnet of my old Lincoln Town Coupé, can't wait to see them again...
 
Re: The optimist

Love it. That's looks better everytime.

Are the quarter panels behind the rear doors painted or vinyl?
 
Re: The optimist

The D post covers are painted, but have facelift viking ship emblems. No more vinyl on the exterior. De-badged at the back and sides, Series 1 reflectors are going to go on the bootlid lower corners, smooth wings, for now at least.
 
Re: The optimist

Looking really good now, can't wait to see it all finished.
The last pic you posted shows how good it would look to have unframed glass on the doors and of course one step further, pillarless-ness :D
Keep up the good work, one day when mine's finished in the dark green we could get a photo of them together.
I think we like very similar aesthetics :wink:
Jim
 
Re: The optimist

Yes, for a moment, I wondered why I only just picked up on the fact that you'd made it a two-door, then realised there were no window frames. :LOL:

Those Magstars look superb. Better than all the other wheels that have been touted on here over time........except Bruisers Revolutions of course. :wink:
 
Re: The optimist

I've been pottering in my garage as often as possible of late, trying to finish my project. I refurbished all four door window frames and refitted the Sundym glass. This time without glueing the side panes into the lower channels, as the previous owner had done. I've got three of them back in the doors so far, and hope to get the fourth one done tomorrow, depending on the availability of a handy helper monkey! No way they were assembled by just one chap on the production line! The proper outer rubbers with the stiffening plates are so much easier to fit than the wobbly repro ones, but sadly a couple of my good ones had split, so I've had to fit a couple of flexy ones. They don't want to sit nice and straight, like the real thing, despite much fiddling. I'm also halfway through fitting a black nylon carpet set. I bought it a few years back before I found out my late lamented Organ Donor NKT599M was so far from waterproof it wasn't worth fitting the new rug set! I'm missing the 'L' shaped bits for the inner D-posts and behind the rear armrest, but I'm sure I'll be able to find a suitable offcut somewhere. Managed to regain entry to the engine bay, but haven't re-fitted the lock properly yet. My list of to-dos is shrinking, I hope I'll be ready pretty soon. Certainly feeling optimistic now, I'm on the home stretch! :)
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I managed to get the placement of the Winguards ever-so-slightly wrong, despite lots of repeat measuring. The quarterlights don't foul them, at least. Also managed to get the bootlid reflectors an eensy weensy bit out of whack, by a couple of mm. Never mind, any wiseacres will get a slap! ;) Eagle eyes might spot the rubber rear bumper blender-thingamyjig smoothing the chrome into the rear wing. German export issue rarities, saw 'em twenty years ago on a black P6 in Hamburg and took until last year to find a pair. Just need that Scandinavian export headlamp wash wipe set-up now, and maybe some thin Federal side strips... :roll: :LOL:
Stay tuned...
 
Re: The optimist

Hello Ian. Big chunky UK rear number plate lights look much nicer, in my humble opinion, than the dinky little individual German ones. As for the chunky German glove box covers with the extra padding next to the centre console, eeuuurgh, ugly, no thanks, spoils the tidy functional look of things. I'll give both bits a miss, ta! :wink:
Frankly, it caused me no end of anguish having to drill holes in my doors and fit mirrors, which ruin the smooth lines of the car. Had to be done though. Have you ever seen a P6 headlamp wash/wipe rig? Is such a thing really no more than a teasing illustration in the parts book?
Here's one you'll know Ian: whilst fitting the car carpet yesterday I thought I had a rubber bung for the hole in the inner A post, down by the passenger's shin. Alas, no, 'twas one of the bungs for the rear lower edge of the back doors, and needless to say I fumbled and droped it, and now it's in the inner sill, out of sight, and out of reach! Aaaargh! Annoying. Anyway, should there be some sort of bung there, or is this hole just covered up with underfelt and carpet?
 
Re: The optimist

hi mrtask,
that hole is for your wire for the door light, in my case + electric window loom and door buzzer. a rubber grommet, if you have one big enough to stop the wires chafing. the headlamp wipers, yes i have seen them on an export car that is up in durham ( can't think of the guy's name ) brian probably knows him.

ian
 
Re: The optimist

The more I look at your pic's the more I love that colour - looking very nice :wink: .
 
Re: The optimist

Carpets fitted, interior is coming back together, looks great. Doesn't photograph well at all though, being black throughout.
 
Re: The optimist

Looking at the photos of other forum members cars out and about at the summer shows made me envious, so I decided to enjoy the bank holiday morning by starting up my project and emerging from my lock-up into the sunshine. First time I've seen my paintjob in the daylight, I'm really delighted. I took a few snapshots before reversing back into my gloomy den. I'm hoping to be able to sort out the last niggling little (I hope!) problems and get it road legal and back into service in the next week or two.
My remaining to-do list includes banishing Lucas, the Lord of Darkness, and making my four new headlamps work. Then there are the indicators, which aren't up to much either. :roll: Panel fit needs attention, bonnet and therefter the bonnet lock need fettling etc, etc, etc. Actually I won't bore y'all with the rest, just wanted to share my enthusiasm and good mood today;
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