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Re: Time lapse of “Brittas Cooper” Restoration

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 6:24 am
by Dr.Mabo
HI Philipp,

I bought this bottle of concentrated vinegar (80% acid) at METRO for around 8 € and I mixed it with about 4 pieces water to 1 piece vinegar. Eventually I got the same results with white wine vinegar 6% acid which I bought at a local super market. My next trail will be with cheap "Brandwein Essig" with 4% acid which just costs 0,80 € per liter. The difference of acidity doesn't seems to be the key factor.

so long
the Doc

Re: Time lapse of “Brittas Cooper” Restoration

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 7:09 am
by smithyrc30
Hi Doc, how long do you leave it i the solution and does it help if you heat it up to begine with please?

Cheers

Re: Time lapse of “Brittas Cooper” Restoration

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 7:23 am
by Dr.Mabo
smithyrc30 wrote:Hi Doc, how long do you leave it i the solution and does it help if you heat it up to begine with please?

Cheers
The heavily corroded parts stayed in the mixture between 3 and 5 days or until one week. At least every second day I took them out and roughly cleaned off the rust with an old towl and a scraper.

Parts with only surface rust just needed 1 or 2 days.

The temperature conditiones where very poor. As I don't have any heating in my garage it was just about 1 to 4°C. Im sure higher temps would support the process.

so long
the Doc

Re: Time lapse of “Brittas Cooper” Restoration

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 7:36 am
by Dr.Mabo
Then it was time to refurbish the used Moto Lita leather steering wheel from the 70th.

I just did several wooden steering wheels before. So this was my first leather steering wheel.

1st I degreased the leather thoroughly. All the damages and imperfections came up.
CIMG6633.jpg
CIMG6632.jpg
2nd I tried to flatten damages in the leather surface with 800 sand paper, but immediately it was blocked. I changed to 400 sand paper with the same result. Then I cleaned the sand paper with water and continued to wet sandpaper the leather. This worked fine. I also did the aluminum spokes with the same sand paper.
CIMG6635-2.jpg
3rd I applied special leather paint with a sponge. After it has dried I applied another special coat for final protection.
4th I painted the spokes in satin black.
CIMG6636-2.jpg
CIMG6637.jpg

I’m really surprised how easy it is to refurbish a leather steering wheel, as long there are no cuts and the stitching is okay.

There is only one BUT… if you want to keep some patina, it’s all gone :( :(

so long
the Doc

Re: Time lapse of “Brittas Cooper” Restoration

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 9:47 am
by Dr.Mabo
For a MK2 Britax Cooper of course I want the matching horn push. Unfortunately the internal diameter of the tulip boss was too big to take the MK2 horn push. To solve this problem an adapter ring is the way to go.
A friend of mine and very dedicative MK1 enthusiast, who is known in this forum as m1cH1 memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=4165, machined this adapter ring for me. But just making a plain ring was too humble, so he designed the appropriate box including part number :D :D

Wow, that was something very personal and delighted me enormously.

It’s really hard to wait until I can install that steering wheel into the Britax Cooper.

so long
the Doc

Re: Time lapse of “Brittas Cooper” Restoration

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 8:35 pm
by phil82
@ dr: thanks for sharing the details. I will give it a try with "essig-essenz" from the super market.

btw: that's a serious projec - looking good. I like the steering wheel. Did he print the box himself?

Re: Time lapse of “Brittas Cooper” Restoration

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 6:28 am
by Dr.Mabo
Here are some impressions of the paint job.

so long
the Doc

Re: Time lapse of “Brittas Cooper” Restoration

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 7:30 pm
by rich@minispares.com
your 'roof rack on wheels' is a simple and cheap way of making a safe 'upside down shell mover'

im stealing that idea for sure!!! :lol:

Re: Time lapse of “Brittas Cooper” Restoration

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 11:38 pm
by ksione
Very nice job!! Congratulations

Re: Time lapse of “Brittas Cooper” Restoration

Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 6:39 pm
by Dr.Mabo
Eventually, the body got its Britax yellow. That pushes my motivation enormously.
IMG_4920.jpg
IMG_4926.jpg

The Britax design was the next critical task. It needs to be perfect in shape, size and position. It took me plenty of research to figure out all the correct details. That’s why I did the masking myself. It took me 3 hours … twice. The first time the painter gave me the wrong masking tape. The black paint went under the masking tape. :o :o

Re: Time lapse of “Brittas Cooper” Restoration

Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 6:43 pm
by mk1
Doc, Your car just gets better & better!

I can't wait to see it back on the road.

Re: Time lapse of “Brittas Cooper” Restoration

Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 6:45 pm
by Dr.Mabo
But after the second attempt I was satisfied :D :D :D

so long
the Doc

Re: Time lapse of “Brittas Cooper” Restoration

Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 6:48 pm
by Dr.Mabo
mk1 wrote:Doc, Your car just gets better & better!

I can't wait to see it back on the road.
Thanks Mark, yes its the same for me :lol: But still plenty of work to do.

so long
the Doc

Re: Time lapse of “Brittas Cooper” Restoration

Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 6:26 pm
by Dr.Mabo
For the black roof and the final layers of clear lacquer I had to wait another two month. Unfortunately the Britax Cooper didn’t had the highest priority in the paint shop :( :(
IMG_6129.jpg
At the end the whole paint job took exactly 7 month, as you may notice by my son’s outfit.
But now its back in my garage and all the remaining progress is in my hands.

so long
the Doc

Re: Time lapse of “Brittas Cooper” Restoration

Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 7:14 pm
by rich@minispares.com
that looks great basking in the sunshine

now comes the easy bit!!!!

Re: Time lapse of “Brittas Cooper” Restoration

Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 6:21 am
by Dr.Mabo
First parts assembled. Although it’s the easy bit now ;) it needs quite some time. But most important point is progress, even when the steps are little.

Several brackets, wiring loom, the first brake parts and the front subframe are installed.

so long
the Doc

Re: Time lapse of “Brittas Cooper” Restoration

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 9:59 am
by alexdenevers
Brilliant job ! But, why did you put a sunroof ?

Re: Time lapse of “Brittas Cooper” Restoration

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 10:20 am
by rich@minispares.com
alexdenevers wrote:Brilliant job ! But, why did you put a sunroof ?
Britax car with Britax accessories - simples!

Re: Time lapse of “Brittas Cooper” Restoration

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 10:55 am
by alexdenevers
Oh. I thought it was intended for racing, or sport use.

Re: Time lapse of “Brittas Cooper” Restoration

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 11:17 am
by almondgreen
It will be his wifes car....