Things to do before painting

[Dean]

Hello

Well I finished off last night the last be of body work on my mk1 and it's going off to the body shop next week

They are doing all the prep and paint. I have done all the welding. Fitting body, door bonnet and boot shuts, test fitted most bits, subframes , tank. Etc

Question is. Is there anything anyone can think of is a good idea to do before it goes off for paint. This is the first time I getting a shell painted. And I don't want to do it again as I missed something.

Thanks for your help

Dean

[Pete]

Always make sure the doors fit with the seals on , I'm sure you've already done this but it's surprising how many doors suddenly won't fit when the seals are fitted afterwards !

[rolesyboy]

Drill your badge and grill fixing holes, fit vertical seams and clips, door strikers on a mk 1 go body colour. Trial fit your bumpers as they often have a different profile than the curve of the car ie you might want to trim a bit of the bumper fixing lip. They are some suggestions that might save you marking your new paint. Hope this helps and get some pictures posted when you are done. Good luck. Mark

[nick@dunsdale]

Remove anything that is bolted on as the bodyshop may choose to mask it.

Wiper spindles that come through the scuttle for instance look's crap if these have been left on and masked, as this is a flat surface painters generally put more on and there is always a build up, much better out

better if all the glass is out
fuel tank rubber ring that goes in the rear panel

As Pete suggested mocking up the doors with seals on the apertures is def worth doing, same can be said for the perimeter seal on the rear panel for the bootlid, as the bootlid often needs a tweak to get it fitting in the hole.

[mk1]

Make sure you have welded the engine steady bracket on as welding it on after the car has been painted can be messy!

I am not prepared to say what made me think of this one

M

[NicholasUpton]

Run a tap through all the captive nuts to ensure the threads are good, now is the time to fix. Also leave a bolt with a small washer on the bulkhead where the front harness grounds (easier to wire wheel it clean now and have a small clean area later.

[Dean]

well thanks for all your advice

most bits i have done.

i should of said, the shell is bare and been soda blasted, so there is nothing on it

i have spent hours fitting the door and getting the shuts and gaps perfect along with the boot and bonnet. and all been fitted with new seals
also test fitted the bumpers which was worth doing as some holes needed adjusting

but i will go back over and run a tap through all the holes , i know the speedo cover holes in the bulkhead need doing.
and i also put a bolt and washer for the ground, i did think i don't fancy cleaning it off after its been painted

mark, thats funny as i total seamed welded it all the way round, along with the handbrake mount so it will not rip off

here is what its like now

[rich@minispares.com]

some nice panel gaps there

[Dean]

thanks

i could say i have been a bit anal about them.

[hilbert]

that is a nice looking body
doors fit verry nice
and overal al the body looks verry good
do you get chroom trim on the doors that was my biggest problem the clips for the bottom outher rail dindend fit of my reskind door. the metal where the clips go over was to thich
also dril the holes for the upper trim if needed

hilbert

[Pete]

Panel gap porn.

[almondgreen]

looks very good

[Dean]

i really need to start a build diary,i been meaning to start it for a while but was going to wait till its been for paint

there still is some tinkering to do with those gaps, ha ha,

[Pete]

Don't make 'em to perfect, it won't look 'right' !

[Dean]

true, i was in the body shop the other day and there was another mk1 in there, the bloke was doing the front wings , the gap between the bonnet and the scuttle went from small gap each end to big in the middle .

he said " its ok its only a mini "

[skorstensfejeren]

Are the holes for the whiskers there..?

[Dean]

yes, the are done, along with the holes for the grill.

i think i have test fit most bits but i bet there be something i missed

[pad4]

Your bodyshop man said 'its ok its only a mini' , hope he dont have that attitude with your paint job

sheeshhh

pad

[anis]

Waouw, that's a beautiful work. congratulation.

[swifty]

That looks excellent . Love the gaps . Hope your paint goes as well