Just took my heater apart and trying to figure out how much I can restore without spending a ton of time sourcing parts that are NLA. Please excuse my lack of correct terms.
I’d like to sand blast and powder coat as much as possible but one of the sides has the original smiths made in UK sticker and riveted motor and I’m concerned I won’t be able to find the correct rivets & sticker. Considering doing just this side as a satin spray can finish.. thoughts?
Regarding the foam on the back of the selector plate - I have found some 6”x6”x1/2” foam that I think could work to replace but since this piece isn’t visible should I just spray can it? I noticed there’s a few other strips of foam, will I be able to get away with a foam that is close in size or do I need to be exact. See my photo for current state and my front face plate I’ve already powder coated in crinkle black.
Restoring Mk1 Heater Advice Needed
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SF_Mini
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Restoring Mk1 Heater Advice Needed
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Peter Laidler
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Re: Restoring Mk1 Heater Advice Needed
Here is my opinion.
As for the foam, just go to your local camping shop and get a cheapo close density silicon based foam roll mat and cut it to the shapes and sizes you need. You'll have lots left over to use however you want. And the good part is that it'll last forever, won't absorb water or moisture and nobody will ever see that it ain't original in any case
The sticker. Warm-up the underside of the sticker and peel it off. Stick it back on after you've painted the side piece, with some thin double back clear tape. Better still, if absolute originality isn't your scene, just get a new repro sticker
The motor. Just drill out the rivets. Keep the odds and sods. Use new rivets and the associated odds and sods. Big-Head rivets are readily available
Why get it powder coated? Just bead blast the bits and have them painted normally.
The refurbishment of the heaters features quite often on the forum id you care to have a browse
As for the foam, just go to your local camping shop and get a cheapo close density silicon based foam roll mat and cut it to the shapes and sizes you need. You'll have lots left over to use however you want. And the good part is that it'll last forever, won't absorb water or moisture and nobody will ever see that it ain't original in any case
The sticker. Warm-up the underside of the sticker and peel it off. Stick it back on after you've painted the side piece, with some thin double back clear tape. Better still, if absolute originality isn't your scene, just get a new repro sticker
The motor. Just drill out the rivets. Keep the odds and sods. Use new rivets and the associated odds and sods. Big-Head rivets are readily available
Why get it powder coated? Just bead blast the bits and have them painted normally.
The refurbishment of the heaters features quite often on the forum id you care to have a browse
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rolesyboy
- 1275 Cooper S
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Re: Restoring Mk1 Heater Advice Needed
Hi, agree with Peter re the above suggestions.
When it comes to the front plates I would contact Nippycars. They reproduce perfect replica heater fronts with the correct lettering and best of all you don’t have to Danny around blasting, priming and painting the things because it’s done for you
Hope that helps. Cheers. Mark
When it comes to the front plates I would contact Nippycars. They reproduce perfect replica heater fronts with the correct lettering and best of all you don’t have to Danny around blasting, priming and painting the things because it’s done for you
Hope that helps. Cheers. Mark
Rolesyboy