I am at the stage in the restoration where I am waiting on people. Burlen have the carb bodies for re-bushing and the engine work isn't finished yet (Michael at Roe is my neighbour so I'm not putting too much pressure on him!). I need to get the rear axle off to complete the powder coating batch, I'll do that when it's not raining and I'm waiting for my final Rimmers order to arrive so I've started to do some small enjoyable jobs.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am really funny about having the correct period numberplates on a car especially when I am aiming for concourse standard and to show the car. I am lucky in that NWL is sporting her correct original Unipart plates and not the more modern plastic variety. Unfortunately after 33 years they are looking a little tatty.
A small dent...
To prove to the MOT tester that they are legal and original (although I have never had a problem here!)
But with some new reflective numberplate vinyl, a good clean and replacement starlock fasteners they should come up like new.
I carefully remove the letters by cutting the old fastners off
The old vinyl is removed with a heat gun and scraper
The old adhesive can be stubborn to remove, for some reason this time cellulose thinners didn't work, the only thing that got it off was a soaking in old dot 5.1 brake fluid from my mountain bike and a good scrub with wire wool.
A bit of panel beating straightened out the damage.
Once the old adhesive was removed the backing plate scrubbed up really well with a scouring pad and some very hot water, I then used some Autosol to polish up the rim before another wash and degrease before heating up the plate a bit with the heat gun to help the new vinyl adhere properly and cutting the holes out with a sharp scalpel. The letters were given a good wash in fairy liquid and very hot water and now look like new.
This is as far as I got, I'm not happy with the supposedly reflective vinyl backing, it's not reflective and it's too white. The old vinyl had a hint of silver and I'm a stickler for originality so I have ordered some more from a different supplier. It's the same stuff that is used on the euro style steel pressed plates so I'm pretty confident that it should match up nicely. I'll wait for this to arrive before I start the rear.