Project 'Flipper'.

[Purplebargeken]

On reflection, I think I'll be ok. The ones in Flipper will be fine. I just don't have the space to store too many seats to be honest

Thanks for the heads up though

Tomorrow will see the removing of the carpet, door trims and the head scratching re: seatbelts.

[Purplebargeken]

A busy morning was had in my garage. All the door furniture and cards have been removed, the furflex has been taken off, seat belts removed and carpet taken up.

The plan is for the door cappings to remain off and the paint will be cleaned up and proudly displayed. The dash will be cleaned up and the exact finish will remain a secret..... for a while anyway. Ashtrays have been removed. Not sure they will go back on, as I don't smoke and they look like an afterthought to be honest. Haven't fully decided.

Next to do is order the new red furflex and the carpet. Then degrease the headlining, make a small repair and then paint it all. Do the dash and then refit the seatbelts. Recolour some vinyl here and there and fit the carpet. Hopefully, I will remake the doorcards as they are warped. The rear parcel shelf will need recovering with vinyl, and I may fit some speakers. It's not the original shelf, just a bit of ply or similar covered in red carpet.

One thing about the seatbelt centre mounting point. There is a hole in the tunnel, just behind the handbrake. However, there looks like something blocking it and enabling me to use a nut plate. Didn't have my torch, so I couldn't check. Grrrr.

Very happy with the progress made today

[Purplebargeken]

Headlining has now been degreased using lots of meths. What a pong! Smelled like the garage had been invaded by an army of Mamod steam engines.

Painting will commence on Weds. I will take some before and after pictures.

[Purplebargeken]

Nath popped down from Cov today and we did fair amount of work on Flipper. First off, there was the samll issue of flipper being a non-runner. This happened after I fitted the new coil and condensor. Nath fitted the new points but this made no difference. I bought a gallon of petrol and put that in the tank, just in case the guage was faulty. No difference. Nath checked the fuel pump and found the efficiency of the pump was pretty poor. Luckily (a bit of an understatement) I had a brand new fuel pump that looked similar. It fitted and pumped away happily with just a minor modification to the fuel line. Outcome? A happily running Flipper! Cheers to Nath and the mysterious fuel pump deity that looks after small old Triumphs every now and again.

The headlining was given two coats of B&Q's best vinyl silk emulsion and the results speak for themselves.

Before:









After:









I think it's a fair old improvement and it's cheaper and easier than replacing the headlining. What do you think?

Ken

[Howard81]

Wow that looks great! You missed a bit in the middle though

[Purplebargeken]

Cheers Howard Thought it didn't take me long!

It looks a treat now and really brightens up the cabin. It'll look even better with the new carpet and other bits

[JPB]

That's brilliant! I'd try that with mine, but the bathroom ceiling needs its share of the white emulsion before I start on the car, whose original roof cloth is, fortunately, as close to white as it could be.

What would you have done if there'd been any splits in that material, a quick skim with the old plaster perhaps?

[Purplebargeken]

Damn, you've rumbled my most secret restoration bodge, I will now have to sacrifice you to the Prince of Darkness (Joe Lucas).

Righto, claret coloured carpet now on order from Coverdale and an appropriate amount of red furryflex ordered from Woolies. This now means that I am on the home stretch with regards to Flipper. All that is left is minor tidying (I hope).

[DoloWIGHTY]

I used to work with someone who owned a Vauxhall Viva that the head-lining was so badly smoke damaged (Players No6 no doubt ), that she resorted to the household emulsion paint trick and it too came up like yours Ken - all lovely and white.

[Purplebargeken]

Front bumper which was bent and drilled for a badge bar has now been removed. The car will remain bumperless at the front.

The veneered dash is in a pretty poor state. It has been sanded back to something resembling level and has been sprayed in black wrinkle paint.I will report back when it has dried all wrinkly.

[NickMorgan]

Front bumper which was bent and drilled for a badge bar has nobeen removed. The car will remain bumperless at the front.

If it's no been removed how can the car be bumperless!!?!!

[Purplebargeken]

Sorry, had a scottish moment there, combined with a wireless keyboard with tired batteries. All sorted now

[ToledoZombie]

I like the roof lining ishall try that with mine. Whats the plans for the wheels?

[Purplebargeken]

The wheels will be plain'ish black alloys. I just need to save up for the late Fiesta or Ka wheel studs.

[1300dolly]

Front bumper which was bent and drilled for a badge bar .

I know nothing about the badge bar holes and the dent was nothing to do with me either

Good progress there K, keep up the good work.