Winter restoration of the baby

Mr.Cambio

Member
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7,096
In winter, i rarely drive her out, so it's the best period to take some care. My jobes are the following:

1.Refurbishment of the front grille
2.Polish and wax
3.(maybe) Refurbishment of the alloys
4.Take care of the interior, including painting the small cracks on the seats
5.Clean the engine
6.New brake lines

The lines will be made by a profesional, the alloys, too, and the rest is my work.

Began today with removing of the grille: There is no rost on the screws, so i unscrewed them easily. Put some tape all around the frame, to avoid hurting the painting. It came out a bit strange, cause i hadn't noticed, that, apart from the screws, there are also four clips on the down side. Thankfully, they're not plastic, meaning that they do not get broken.
What i didn't like was, that above the Trident, there was water to see, that was stayed after washing, resulting small, coin-size rost.View attachment 9613View attachment 9614View attachment 9615View attachment 9616
 

Parisien

Moderator
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34,927
Nikos....coulda swore I/we mentioned the clips etc....;).....;)...good you got it out etc


P
 

Mr.Cambio

Member
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7,096
Let me inform you, that i don't like techincal reading, i'm a very practical beeing, as i love spending time on the job and find the solution on my own!This means, i read very fast the proces of removing, and the rest was there for me to discover!I'm very careful, therefore i rarely do mistakes. Restoration has begun yessssss!
 

Mr.Cambio

Member
Messages
7,096
Just a small update:

1)front frame/grille chromium is away, and ready for respray. Had a talk with the man who does the respray, and he suggested not to make new nickel, as it was in good contition.
2)Wheels are off, sent to refurbish (cannot do it myself)
3)Prepare for polish

Your comments are much appreciated!
 
Last edited:

ENZ525

Member
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6,748
Thanks for the pics Nikos,
have you masked up ready for some paint correction?
 

ENZ525

Member
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6,748
Excellent Nikos, are you doing it yourself, or just preparing the car for a professional?
 

Mr.Cambio

Member
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7,096
Have made waxing several times on the Saab. No, i'm doing on my own, only the alloy refurbishment and the grill will be done by professionals.
 

Easyplan66

New Member
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3,358
I wish my garage was big enough to work on my car, can just about walk around it so have to do any work in good weather.....
 

Mr.Cambio

Member
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7,096
I wish that too, Andrew.I share the garage with others, so i do not have the space i need. I hope someday i have a house with a big garage for my babies, where it will be easier to work, get bigger equipment etc!
 

Mr.Cambio

Member
Messages
7,096
End of polishing. After 3 hours of work, what i can say is that i'm VERY pleased by the result. Should the sun come out to make some pics!!Great!!!!!
 

Mr.Cambio

Member
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7,096
Polishing with a machine. Waxing will be done tomorrow by hand. On the machine you can choose with a button how fast it will work, so that you have full control of the machine, and not damage the surface.
 

ENZ525

Member
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6,748
Have made waxing several times on the Saab. No, i'm doing on my own, only the alloy refurbishment and the grill will be done by professionals.

Excellent Nikos so you have experience on another car...I would be quite nervous of using a machine polisher as I have not used one before.
 

Mr.Cambio

Member
Messages
7,096
Enzo, i thought that you are using such things (if i count the good job you have done on the 550). As a house engineer, but also as a guy who likes doing works that have to do with power tools, machines etc, i am used to handle with grinders, so it was easier to hold and getting started with a polishing machine. Not the same process, but both power tools are similar in operation.

I'm getting the alloys back on Monday.I hope i'll make it to clean the inside of the wheels, like wishbones, disc/brakes, calipers etc!
 

lozcb

Member
Messages
12,586
Excellent Nikos so you have experience on another car...I would be quite nervous of using a machine polisher as I have not used one before.


Dont be shy Enz , £70 -£100 will get you a good one and applying/ buffing pads, i would start on the lads mini , just as an insurance policy so to speak , you never know he might drop you a few quid pocket money ...........thats if your lucky ........................he might even speak polish to you and want it done every sunday morning


regards loz