ELSE Europa restoration 2015 -2018

[BDA]

Great! That sounds like a plan!

[buzzer]

It certainly does sound like a plan, good. Presume you have checked for cracking in the gel coat? Which WILL  show through after you have finished painting it as they will come back. Gel coat cracks can be difficult to see after you have removed the paint. They will show up as hairline cracks, I found by issuing a solvent based marker pen or a dye with acetone will show them up. Don't use water based product (well advise against it) as moisture can potentially get into the fibreglass.
Thats the right approach with polyester primer/filler,

By body is all primed up with polyester primer and I am fitting it out before I get it top coat painted.

Good luck Dave

[LotusJoe]

I used Duratec Surfacing Primer when I had my car painted. Paint is about 10 to 12 years old. Still holding up very well. My car was striped down to the gel coat and beyond in places.

http://www.fibreglast.com/product/Duratec_Gray_Surfacing_Primer_1041/Duratec?gclid=COry257UhskCFY-VfgodACwH9w



Sorry for the crappy picture

[EuropaTC]

From a quick scan of the data sheet I think that's the same material I used Joe, but with a different name/supplier which isn't surprising I suppose as we're on opposite sides of the pond !

I'm not sure what's meant by "polyurethane" primer, I'm not in the painting game and don't keep up with things.  I have seen the term associated with water based paints so I think I'd ask around and see if the usual GRP painting specialists use it. It could well be the modern generation primer and ideal for the job, it's just new to me.

The generic term for what I used is polyester spray filler, the same material as Buzzer used from his post. It's basically resin with filler and sets by chemical reaction rather than solvent evapouration, which is what a lot of older "high build" primers used to do and they were the ones that used to sink after a few months. The brand I used was U-Pol Reface which has been around in the UK for a long time now.

Brian

[LotusJoe]

Duratec is a Polyester Surfacing Primer. I was made aware of the material from a Corvette restoration shop.

[Gmg31]

Thank you all for this advice.  I really appreciate your help.

[Gmg31]

Tonight was quite a special moment.  I refitted the recon steering rack, only a tiny step I know, but it's the first part (after the engine) to be refitted to the chassis.

[BDA]

Baby steps! Congratulations on your progress! Keep it up!

[Gmg31]

This car had been upgraded to Spax at some point in the 70 but hadn't turned a wheel since 79 so they were in great shape with a little surface rust. I stripped them down and had them sandblasted. The springs were powder coated and the dampers painted.  But wow how hard is it to put these back together. I eventually found a local garage who used a hydraulic press and only charged me £20.  However it's impossible to get them back together without damaging the paint finish. So all of the suspension components are now fully reconditioned and I start refitting it next week.

[BDA]

Pretty! Those front springs ar the stock size. I can't tell if your spax are like mine but I was able to use the same diameter springs on the front and back.

The front springs, as you found out, are preloaded in compression but don't remember that the back one are (maybe just for the TC?). A spring compressor fabricated out of two squares of plate steel or aluminum, threaded rod, nuts and washers is all you need to install the fronts, but then you got past that, didn't you? 

[Gmg31]

The problem is that the springs are so small and need to be completely compressed In order to fit the collet. No spring compressors would fit.  I did see a great photo on here from a Guy who used ratchet stamps.

[Nick in Beds]

I must have seen that picture as it gave me the idea to use ratchet straps on mine - normal spring compressor too big - motorcycle one too small!!

Your units look excellent by the way 

[jbcollier]

Motorcycle shops have spring compressors that work on Europa shocks as well.

[Gmg31]

Changed the oil seals on the gear box this weekend. If you haven't done this job it is essential to buy Richard's special tool and listen to his advice before starting.  It's harder than you think it's going to be

[BDA]

Just an FYI for those of us on this side of the pond: r.d. enterprises has a similar tool if you need it.