The Autoshite holy grail is now one of us!

[danthecapriman]

Just a thought, no idea if it would work on a real vehicle though...

 

When I make models and paint them, if I want to tone down a finish or weather it to look worn you can mix up a diluted white paint mix. Thinners or white spirit mixed with white paint, then just paint it on over the base colour (in this case red). Once it's on get a rag or similar and wipe most of it off again (but not too hard with the wiping).

This leaves a thin white paint residue behind making the base colour look duller and worn.

It works with any colour, I often use the same method with diluted blacks, greys and browns to make model cars and trains look worn and dirty!

Never tried this fake patina bollocks on a real car though!

[Vince70]

A mate of mine has a rust free early beetle which was imported from South Africa and the paint had faded and the roof was sun bleached but it needed a new wing so he repainted the basecoat on the new wing then sprayed it with a Matt lacquer and you would never know its been painted as it blends in fantastic with the original 50s paint.

But he is a panel beater & sprayer so I guess that helps.

 

So a bit of Matt lacquer over some halfords rattle can cardinal red might do the job and the bonus is you can buy Matt lacquer in rattle cans in the local pound shop and I've used the stuff and it does flow well and hard wearing and I find for the best results is to heat up the lacquer first on low heat in the oven for 10 minutes before painting.

[cort1977]

Yep, a rattle can paint job in Rosso Red would do nicely.  

 

I can confirm that this is a perfect period detail as I once had a cardinal red B plate Sierra estate which sported Rosso Red rear arch repairs for three years before being James Browned.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Why not replace thew door with something better, and rattle can the side of it? You can do a decent job with both the custom mixed cans and the off the shelf ones. That thing deserves to look decent again, and it can be done on a budget.

[Angrydicky]

What Dan said. When I painted the wheelarch I used Cardinal Red aerosols and just didn't bother flatting back or polishing. It matched quite well.

 

The rear corner under the little window has been leaking for years, but I think the majority of water is getting in where the seal wasn't fitted properly when the glass was replaced after being broken.

 

Drivers door is looking much better, btw.

[BorniteIdentity]

Thanks! It was surprisingly easy to pop the door; just the door card off and a push. It's still not quite done, i need to borrow a slide hammer really as the door skin gets in the way.

 

Just waiting on whether or not this motorfactor of Alf892 can actually get a steering rack. If so I'll buy it, and get it fitted along with the four wheels and some new tyres.

[BorniteIdentity]

Why not replace thew door with something better, and rattle can the side of it? You can do a decent job with both the custom mixed cans and the off the shelf ones. That thing deserves to look decent again, and it can be done on a budget.

I was just saying to RobT on PM that, whilst I don't want it to look mint, I do want it to look like someone loves and cares for it. Simple jobs like the wheels matching and the rust disappearing will go a long way.

 

Money's not really an object. I promised Emma solemnly that I'd never sell the car, I have the money to do it, I just don't want to throw away the car's story in the process.

[Noel Tidybeard]

Had a bit of a result over the weekend.  Went to see a very small breaker about 4 miles away to get a wing mirror for my 306 cabriolet, only to find that the hatchbacks and convertibles have different mirrors.  Who'd have known!

 

Anyway, he had a couple of Escorts lying around, so I asked him about Sierra wheels.  3 minutes later he was wheeling out a bASe specification wheel with the square holes!  A small amount of folding exchanged hands, and I've now got 4 wheels that match!  I know this will possibly be the cause of disagreement among the church of autoshite, but that KA wheel on the offside rear really fucks me off something chronic.  Also, the bits are only going to be harder to get - so I'm just picking stuff up as and when I see it.  The same guy has a dashboard in 7/10 condition (ideal) but they're an absolute monstrous ball ache to change - so I'm putting that off!

 

Also managed to find a genuine hub cap on eBay - so that's HOUSE.

 

 

In other news - how on earth do you even start about paint matching to a wonderfully flat (almost patina'd) car?  The rear wing is now leaking, and the replacement is ready and waiting.  However, I can't help but think it must be impossible to match in a new panel?  I'd almost rather it was left in primer/another colour than be perfect 11/10 Cardinal Red.  Any ideas?  This isn't for now - but help cure my curiosity please?

 

what you would've done back then is spray it the right shade but then get a fit of the bovverds about t-cutting the rest to match

[BorniteIdentity]

what you would've done back then is spray it the right shade but then get a fit of the bovverds about t-cutting the rest to match

 

I GENUINELY don't think there's anything left to polish back on the rest of the car.  It feels like brick to rub your hands over, and it's as flat as a witch's titty.  If it'll help the paint match though, it's got to be worth a go.  I just know any self respecting panel beater/sprayer/detailer will say "you need to spray/blend the whole car".

 

This is all very helpful tho, thanks.

[BorniteIdentity]

WOOO!  Sold Subject to Contract to yours truly on Gumtree.

 

 

Anyone near Calne, Wilts that could collect and stash for me?  It'd be good to have a spare in case of the unthinkable happening...

[Timewaster]

WOOO! Sold Subject to Contract to yours truly on Gumtree.

 

 

Anyone near Calne, Wilts that could collect and stash for me? It'd be good to have a spare in case of the unthinkable happening...

 

You could have it sprayed red when they respray all the panels after the restoration.

 

 

 

 

 

*runs and hides*

[BorniteIdentity]

You could have it sprayed red when they respray all the panels after the restoration.

 

[andy18s]

Worth buying just for the Hellas of it?

(Cheesy pun intended)

[BorniteIdentity]

Worth buying just for the Hellas of it?

(Cheesy pun intended)

 

There is a guy in Wales who has a grey hella grille - and wanted about £50 for it.  I was going to buy it for the Green sierra that I had at the time.

 

Fill your boots, Andrew.  I look forward to the collection thread...

[andy18s]

I'm waiting for a 3dr with the facelifted front on it,complete with 2.3 Peugeot power to turn up.....

This one's close...

[Lord Sterling]

Great news on the wheels and door! There is honestly nothing wrong with giving this car a bit of tlc and returning some of the standard items it had when new. Get some pics up once wheels on, the incorrect wheels were making me whince.

 

Re: Paintwork, I'd try a very small area of T-cut and see what you might end up with, you never know...

[BorniteIdentity]

I've taken the pragmatic decision to host future updates on the preservation of the Sierra over on Wordpress.  Following the collapse of autoshite last week I was really worried that the story of the car would possibly be lost (especially at the stage when Dave was saying he was going to step down with a week's notice).

 

So, the important posts have been copied over (and the pictures will be replaced - hosted on Flickr) and I'll continue the story over there.

 

Unless anybody objects, I'll copy the updates over from there to here.  That way if there's another #autoshitedown - I can still keep a log of what's been happening, and nothing will get lost.

 

https://sierrabase.wordpress.com/ for anyone interested.

[Felly Magic]

Keep an eye out for a replacement back bumper, I think that bumper is off a Carina E and has the exhaust cut out on the right, so it fits the Carina E idea, all Ford Sierras have it on the left, no matter the engine. It is nice that this survives and belongs to someone who cares about it, I keep thinking about getting a Corgi 1/36 scale Ghia and make it into a buttery biscuit base in cardinal red

[BorniteIdentity]

I'd try a very small area of T-cut and see what you might end up with, you never know...

 

Well now we do!

 

https://sierrabase.wordpress.com/2017/04/17/mission-creep/

 

This afternoon, I did something to the car I swore I never would.

 

For the first time since circa 1987, the car saw polish.

 

Now, in mitigation, there was an issue. The old boy who owns the mansion where the car is stored has just had his garage doors painted. I’m not sure by which method, but my money is on 10 litres of Hamerite delivered via Cuprinol sprayer. The car has been left with a mist coating of green powder; some of which required T-Cut.

 

The other reason for a little polish? Well, at some stage there will be a couple of new panels added to the Base. Matching new paint to old will only be possible by improving neighbouring coachwork.

 

Anyway, it’s come up suprisingly well. I’ve only done the front because I’m a lazy oaf.

 

Heaven only knows what a proper machine and some G3 or whatever would do. Anyway, we’ll never know.

 

It can get you down a bit this car. Wherever you look, there’s something ready to nick a few more quid off of you. Rusty car doors, awkward bonnet catch, couple of holes. Anyways, not to worry – fortunately we’re not in a rush (!)

[Skizzer]

Oo-er. Shiny. Well done, I think.

[omegod]

I'd be surprised if you find a good early dash, uncracked ones have been known to fetch over a grand to the cosworth lickers 

[BorniteIdentity]

Oo-er. Shiny. Well done, I think.

 

I'm not doing any more - I remembered how much I absolutely detest polishing cars.  The most you'll ever get out of me is a quick spritz of some fashionable "spray on wax" and a quick rub.

 

I also remembered how liberating it is to have a car where bodywork isn't a concern.  It was well worth washing though; both to get 4,000 miles of crud from the wheel arches, and also to get off the errant spray paint.

[Lord Sterling]

Sweet! Looking shiny. Can't wait to see it on its new wheels.

[lisbon_road]

I had forgotten how those grills blended so nicely with the grey bumper.  Looks good.  I like polishing - sorry - but it takes all sorts, right?

 

This is already a rare car, but as a used car with patina, it will soon if not already be unique. 

[Noel Tidybeard]

Keep an eye out for a replacement back bumper, I think that bumper is off a Carina E and has the exhaust cut out on the right, so it fits the Carina E idea, all Ford Sierras have it on the left, no matter the engine. It is nice that this survives and belongs to someone who cares about it, I keep thinking about getting a Corgi 1/36 scale Ghia and make it into a buttery biscuit base in cardinal red

 

i disagree, i think its the correct low spec bumper with the silver strip missing- you can see the slot at the end of the groove where the end was tucked in

the were alot slimmer fitting to the car than mk2 which is why it looks too small/narrow

 

the carina exhaust cut out is a red herring its just broken like the rest of the car!

the mk1 didnt have a pronounced cutout for the zorst like mk2 does

[Angrydicky]

Trust me, the rear bumper isn't a Sierra one - not only is it too narrow, but it has a pronounced cutout for the exhaust on the drivers side - all Sierras had the exhaust exiting on the left. I quite like it though - I think it's a piece of character that should stay.

[beko1987]

I think you should ask Emma (the real one) what she thinks re detailing.

 

If she says leave it, then I'll shut up. If she says polish it up, if only to aid the new panels to blend in, and let the old girl shine for the first time since I was born, ill come and do it for free. It'll only be a hand job, but that's probably safer...

 

Then it can fade back again over a few years.

 

I know what I think, but let's be honest so do you, but my offer is there if you would like

[BorniteIdentity]

I think you should ask Emma (the real one) what she thinks re detailing.

 

If she says leave it, then I'll shut up. If she says polish it up, if only to aid the new panels to blend in, and let the old girl shine for the first time since I was born, ill come and do it for free. It'll only be a hand job, but that's probably safer...

 

Then it can fade back again over a few years.

 

I know what I think, but let's be honest so do you, but my offer is there if you would like

I reckon she'd share my wife's opinion: set fire to it and cause hundreds of pounds worth of improvements.

 

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[beko1987]

Ah, best keep it away from them then, fire would be very sad

[Timewaster]

You can have my redundant Sapphire dash when I get around to swapping them over.

 

How gash would a (slightly cracked) run out face lift dash look in such an early example?