Preparation

After stripping the bodywork and tub from the car I set about filling every imperfection and sanding smooth. There were quite a few around the cowl near the mesh grill. The biggest problem was on the rear valance. The gel coat had crazed, just slightly out of view, but none the less it needed sorting out to stop further crazing. I drilled through the fibreglass at the end of every craze line to stop further crazing. I then used a needle file and gouged through the gel coat along every line. The whole pattern was then filled and sanded smooth.

Painting

At one stage I did conside painting the car myself but nerves and a concerned wife convinced me to get it professionally sprayed. A good decision with hindsight. I obtained two quotes, quite differently priced, and settled on a body repair centre in the middle of Birmingham. Both were recommendations so I was happy with each company.

The chosen colour was a Renault Colour, Xerus Grey, and the tub was primed, painted and polished to bring a good finish. THe repair centre used a 2-pack system and baked the tub to get a good finish.

I was obviously concerned about transporting the pieces back in a van but this proved not to be a problem. Plenty of bubble wrap meant all parts were intact on arrival home. I was very anxious to get started putting the car back together.

Whilst stripping the car I kept a detailed list of each and every part removed and in what sequence it was removed. Putting the car back together is just the reverse of this.

The steering column took a lot of fiddling to get right and working on the heater under the dashboard required the contortions of Houdini. But eventually it all went back together well.

The side panels and bonnet were never really flush prior to painting, mainly because of the rubber strips, but for some reason the front fitted better after painting. The rear is still a little proud but I am hoping that the pressure of the panels will help squash down the foam.

The fitting of the wings was pretty straightforward. Way back when I bought the vinyl for the dashboard surround and the side openings I also bought some piping for the wings where they join the body.

This was easier than I thought to fit. I worked from the back of the wings and slotted the piping in place. I marked through the mounting holes for the wings and punched the hole with a leather punch.

I slowly worked my way forward pushing the mounting bolts through the bodywork and vinyl until finished.

I had wondered about the ends, and how to finish them off but this was quite easy as the wings are held on with a screw at each end. I just folded the piping underneath as used the wing screws to hold it in place.

With the dashboard in place, the rear lights attached and the side tread strips back in place the car is beginning to look finished.

The carpets and seats arrived and were fitted very easily. I bought a chrome surround for the handbrake gaiter but I am having trouble shaping it around the transmission tunnel without damaging the chrome plating.

The seats were replaced and the boot refitted and it is now pretty much complete.

I took the car for a short test drive and found the brakes to be lacking yet again. I used an EZI-bleed pressure system twice on the clutch and the brakes, and whilst the clutch now seems ok, I am stll struggling to get the brakes firm enough.

I think I will have to go back to basics and get someone to pump the pedal the old fasioned way.

I need to give the car a good final coat of wax before plucking up the courage to take it out on the roads.