I work for Beer

This is the place to discuss restoration problems, post questions or projects-complete or partial.
User avatar
ez2wire
Posts: 72
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:08 am
Your car is a: 1971 Opel Kaddet 4dr
Location: Midlothian, VA

Re: I work for Beer

Postby ez2wire » Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:53 pm

Should also mention I use the Wheel paint for ANYTHING on the car that used to be chrome, or silver. Since most these old cars had a lot of pot metal chromed pieces or AL pieces that are degraded. Cleaned up and a quick shot of etching primer (Thats the key BTW to get it to hold to chrome), and then the silver and if you do it to about everythign on the car, it looks like was meant to be that way. Pictures coming soon.

Currently looking for better directions for the top.. as thats one of the last things I have to do.

richmondjefe
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue Oct 11, 2011 11:27 pm
Your car is a: 1975 124 Pininfarina

Re: I work for Beer

Postby richmondjefe » Sat Nov 19, 2011 12:47 pm

The beer supplier here...

It is amazing what Charles has accompolished on a fixed budget and with what we got from A&W and John and the time he has put in , less than 2 months of nights.

We've had some luck just enough leftover red paints to make a awesome color i call Goin' RED
found some pristine hubs ...some other parts from Rockauto.

Everything had to be perfect to be brought back to life.

It has truly been brought back from the dead.

Charles has done nothing on the cheap or marginal...the fact the condition i was willing to give the car to my wife vs what she is going to get .....night and day ... And i will surely be though of as a great guy when I'm lucky to have had Charles..

Damini

Re: I work for Beer

Postby Damini » Sat Nov 19, 2011 7:29 pm

I have some leaves for you to rake, what kind of beer do you drink? :D

katsi

Re: I work for Beer

Postby katsi » Mon Nov 21, 2011 5:21 pm

Wow, what a transformation. :mrgreen: Maybe I'm drinking the wrong kind of beer. :shock:

User avatar
ez2wire
Posts: 72
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:08 am
Your car is a: 1971 Opel Kaddet 4dr
Location: Midlothian, VA

Re: I work for Beer

Postby ez2wire » Wed Nov 23, 2011 11:09 am

Damini wrote:I have some leaves for you to rake, what kind of beer do you drink? :D


Ahh.. working on the car to me is a fun hobby.. Raking not so much :lol:

User avatar
ez2wire
Posts: 72
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:08 am
Your car is a: 1971 Opel Kaddet 4dr
Location: Midlothian, VA

Re: I work for Beer

Postby ez2wire » Wed Nov 23, 2011 11:20 am

So this is what she looks like now.. Pretty much done with the visual stuff.

Have a short list of mechanical issues to address..

1 - The common (from what I can tell on the site) Starter relay or Solenoid intermittent starting issue

2 - Finish rebuilding the front suspension (Which is why in the pictures the New Hub Caps aren't on the front tires yet)

3 - Bottom Seat covers

4 - Find out if the weak charging is Alternator/Votage Regulator/Battery

5 - Installing new Hazard switch and cross fingers that fixes the Turn Signals

6 - Rewire electric fan and find out why the Temp gauge is still not working (replaced the sending units)

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
Like the Silver paint "chrome" job :)

Image

Image

Image

Can you see the tape and spray paint..?

Image

Filled the cracks with Black RTV, glued a little padding down (some dense white fleece), and glued a piece of vynil down. Not perfect, but looks a lot better than the cracked up dash thats for sure.

I am sure some time in the next year, the heating system will have to be addressed, along with center console. As thats a complete mess right now and needs replacing.

Beer of the Week Fat Tire Amber Ale (In 22oz form)

User avatar
ez2wire
Posts: 72
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:08 am
Your car is a: 1971 Opel Kaddet 4dr
Location: Midlothian, VA

Re: I work for Beer

Postby ez2wire » Wed Nov 23, 2011 11:24 am

katsi wrote:Wow, what a transformation. :mrgreen: Maybe I'm drinking the wrong kind of beer. :shock:


I have a rule, My Beer shall not be the same color it leaves my body :)

So if the word "light" or "lite" or the calories are listed on the label I would gather you are probably drinking the wrong beer :mrgreen:

narfire
Posts: 3959
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 2:14 am
Your car is a: 1980 124 spider
Location: Naramata B.C.

Re: I work for Beer

Postby narfire » Wed Nov 23, 2011 11:32 am

I'm giving up on drinking wine...going to get back to Guiness and perhaps this restoration business will go smoother and quicker :D
(Naramata Nut Brown in the mail today)
Looks great.
Chris
80 FI spider
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box

dmwhiteoak
Posts: 1088
Joined: Mon Aug 15, 2011 1:12 pm
Your car is a: 1972 Fiat 124 spider
Location: White Oak Tx

Re: I work for Beer

Postby dmwhiteoak » Wed Nov 23, 2011 10:42 pm

Good job on the car, It looks great. I know she will be proud.
Dennis Modisette

1972 124 Spider
2003 Chevrolet Z71
2007 GMC Yucon

User avatar
boogiedude
Posts: 410
Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2009 5:22 am
Your car is a: 1978 spider 1800
Location: Honolulu, HI
Contact:

Re: I work for Beer

Postby boogiedude » Thu Nov 24, 2011 1:08 am

Nice Opel GT! Lets see some pics of that! and is that a kadett b??

bobplyler
Patron 2022
Patron 2022
Posts: 816
Joined: Sat Jan 30, 2010 7:58 pm
Your car is a: 1979 spider 2000
Location: Charlotte, NC

Re: I work for Beer

Postby bobplyler » Thu Nov 24, 2011 7:57 am

For symptoms of a weak electrical system, you should first try the brown wire fix.
http://www.mirafiori.com/faq/content/bwfix/bwfix.htm
1979 Fiat Spider (since new)
2005 Lincoln LS (the wife's car)
2003 Chevrolet Cavalier (daily driver)
1999 Honda Shadow VLX 600
1972 Grumman Traveller 5895L (long gone).

User avatar
ez2wire
Posts: 72
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:08 am
Your car is a: 1971 Opel Kaddet 4dr
Location: Midlothian, VA

Re: I work for Beer

Postby ez2wire » Sat Nov 26, 2011 2:01 pm

boogiedude wrote:Nice Opel GT! Lets see some pics of that! and is that a kadett b??


Thanks, the GT is a friend of mines car. As soon as im done with the Fiat I'm putting a motor together for him.

The Kadett is my High school car. Its what got me started on Opels (Which are my true hobby), currently working on a Manta with a transplated 2.8L out of a 2004 Chevy Colorado.

Got the wiring done on the Fiat, turn signals had to be "rewired" with a GM turn signal relay. A lot of the wiring was really messed up, so while no optimal (no hazards now) it works. I also wired in the radiator fan to a relay (was just switched) so again not optimal (comes on with key all the time) better than a switch.

Also added a few grounds while i was at it, and that helped the temp gauge and parking brake light came to life.

During testing realized alternator and voltage regulator need replaced and going to install a radio, and then i should be pretty much done. Although next weekend my brother in law is going to rebuild the front suspension. (That doesnt count because im not doing it)

User avatar
ez2wire
Posts: 72
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:08 am
Your car is a: 1971 Opel Kaddet 4dr
Location: Midlothian, VA

Re: I work for Beer

Postby ez2wire » Wed Dec 07, 2011 10:27 am

Still have to do:

1 - The common (from what I can tell on the site) Starter relay or Solenoid intermittent starting issue. Works most the time and the "loose" wire fix doesnt seem to be the issue.. (thinking relay or just bad wiring in general). Added the extra power wire to the ignition switch, also not a big help.

2 - Replace Horn

3 - Find out why with new bulbs (Confirmed working) still can't see the speedo or tach in the dark..

4 - Find out why highbeam indicator is always lit

5 - Check oil pressure as its indicator is always lit too.. although gauge reads about 35-40 PSI


Image

Image
Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image


Final list of work:

ENGINE :

1 - New belts and hoses
2 - New timing belt and Tensioner Pulley
3 - New Valve cover gaskets and distributor base gasket
4 - New Coil/Points/Cap/Wires/Plugs
5 - New Water Pump
6 - New Alternator / Voltage Regulator
7 - New Air/Oil/Fuel Filters
8 - New Radiator Cap

Other Mechanical :

1 - New Clutch Cable
2 - New Tires

Brakes :

1 - New Booster
2 - New Booster Vacuum line
3 - New Master
4 - New Flex Lines
5 - New Calipers
6 - New Pads

Suspension :

1 - New Tie Rods and adjusment sleeves
2 - New Upper Control Arm/Bushing/Ball Joints
3 - New Lower Ball Joints
4 - New Lower control Arm Bushings
5 - New Shocks
6 - New Linkage Rod

Body :

1 - Sand/Patch/Fill Bodywork
2 - Paint
3 - Patched Floor Boards
4 - Sanded and Painted bumpers
5 - New Side View Mirrors
6 - Replaced rear turn signals
7 - New NOS hub caps

Interior:

1 - Replaced Carpet
2 - Replaced Seats (Recovered bottom cushions)
3 - Replaced Door panels
4 - New Door seals
5 - New Top, top gasket, cables. velcro, etc..
6 - Replaced visor
7 - Replaced rear view mirror
8 - Repaired back seat

Electrical :

1 - Installed CD Player and speakers
2 - "Rewired" Radiator Fan
3 - "Rewired" turn signals
4 - "Rewired" lighting
5 - All new dash bulbs
6 - Replaced temp sending units
7 - Replace and "rewire" Horn

I think thats it.. total time about 9-10 weeks

Have a new appreciation for these little cars.. and who knows may have to find me my own sooner or later :)
Last edited by ez2wire on Wed Dec 07, 2011 12:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.

fiat218
Posts: 5745
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1969 124 AS spider

Re: I work for Beer

Postby fiat218 » Wed Dec 07, 2011 10:31 am

why does the top sit up so high?
u just did not push it down in it position?
Jim
East Grand Forks MN
1970 Fiat Spider BS1 ( FOR SALE
1969 124 AS Spider
2017 Abrath
2018 Alfa Romeo 4c Spider

User avatar
124JOE
Posts: 3141
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:11 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 fiat spider sport 1800
Location: SO. WI

Re: I work for Beer

Postby 124JOE » Wed Dec 07, 2011 11:36 am

its because the top ether isnt old so it dont just tuck in. "but thats ok"
and or the velcro at the rear windows isnt ripping all the way loose.

a boot will hold it down when they use one.and without a boot you need to strap it.
when you do everything correct people arent sure youve done anything at all (futurama)
ul1joe@yahoo.com 124joe@gmail.com


Return to “Restoration Projects”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 27 guests