Anatomy of a repair

For those who don't know, my coupe was written off by the insurers after a certain dozy bint mistook my stationary car for a space she could drive through, demolishing the rear boot floor and nearside rear wing, and pushing me into the landrover in front of me which did for the bonnet

I bought the car back for the princely sum of £178, finally got my excess back, and now the car is with Carl for some TLC. It seemed a good time to get the car completely resprayed with several new(ish) panels including a new passenger door, and replaced the faded fabric seats with leather.

In its glory days:
pic 1
pic 2
pic 3

Post dozy bint:
what a landrover rear bumper does at 10mph
beautiful crease in the rear quarter
visible damage to the boot
it used to have a working bumper

So now Carl's little elves have been busy:
new back panel
spot the crease now
stripped for fettling
a little filler
good as new, almost... has anyone seen my bonnet?

I haven't shown the driver's door with it's 26 separate dents, or the roof above the driver where the fiat monkeys bent it and I didn't see it till too late

More photos when the job's finished.

Neil

Woa ive impressed myself there:
Before
After

Forgot it was that bad, no wonder you were suprised i pulled it clean out

You're strong you Carl is it down to eating greens?

Nah, I programmed the car to say 'cash money' and he just glared at it till it pulled itself out

wouldnt it have been cheaper to just buy another one?

Aw come on Rich, have a heart. If I'd had my Coupé from day one, I'd want her fixed.

Richard is NO NONESENSE! If his chinchilla died, he'd simply get another one.

In fact he'd eat the old one as it provides a free meal.

I didn't know CarlT was a coupe doctor! I thought he was just a coupe undertaker! How much is a respray these days? Hope it turns out better than new!

**Tries really hard not to think of Rich beasting your Willy.**

Rich, it would have been cheaper, but then, I'd have been starting with a whole new set of problems. This one was ordered on the first day Fiat were selling them, and it's always been *mine*... I see no reason to change that just because some dozy bint is asleep at the wheel.

Stevo, I'm not publishing the price; yours is guaranteed to need different work from mine so better you negotiate with Carl directly.

Neil

I repair 4 times more cars than i break.

A better than new concours paintjob is 2.2k and there is a wait till August now. Starting from 1k for a good job.

Its all down to time, more time i get better the job comes out, rushed for time and the result is basically a rushed job, which i dont like to do unless im hassled.

Yes Barnacle shush shush on the price please, ill have a full mailbox by morning otherwise!

Very nice work there Mr Carl, no wonder your booked up for the next 5 months! Mr C

Top notch work yet again carl good on you

Well overdosed on lemsip im about to get primering:
1
2
3
4

The white stuff isnt filler, the pink is filler, and there isnt much really.

Couple of hours ill have some pics in primer, its going to be a late one!

Can i ask why half the roof is covered at all car??

Looks very very smooth indeed as it stands though

I havent repaired the otherside, you dont primer area's that arent repaired. People get confused what the job of primer is.

Barnacle hope you like Chrono Grey:

1
2
3
4
5

Now dent free

Its -2 outside and 55* in the oven, loverly!

Sounds just nice carl that an overnight cure that has to be done?? looks amazing again.. makes me want a chrono grey LE with red flecks lol

Might have to book my car in. I was thinking of geting it resprayed to get all the stone chips and parking dings out of it, I should have it back by the time you can do it carl. Where are you based?

so do you have to remove the laquer coat if there is one then paint over ?

And I have always wondered how a jig works, where do you attach it to ?

I preferred it black if you don't mind too much Carl?

Looking a lot smoother than it used to, though... I'm assuming that you can't get to the bonnet store yet?

Neil

Im Dudley, just outside Brum.

Yes you take off anything shiny, every metallic has a laquer to it. You dont have to worry too much where the primer goes as you sand 60% of it back off to keep it smooth.

Ill get a pic for you of a coupe on a jig, basically you lower the car onto a frame with a set of brackets, bolt the brackets to the flange of the sill and various other points and pull away!

Our jig i think is a 25tonne so it would snap a car to bits if wanted!

Yes got the bonnet today, but with the bonnet fitted it makes priming the wings and bumper a pain, so i do them off.

Ill leave it a week now let the primer sink, but the worst is out the way now.

Thats not to far, You will have to let me know when you could do it please, Thanks.

Nice work Carl You need to leave the primer for a week ? Think mine was only left for 3 days before painting .

New switch is now fitted ,thanks

Yeh it stops the paint dulling into it as it takes a while to sink into the filler. You end up with rings around the repairs otherwise. I know Neil is missing his child but he will have to wait now till its ready to paint!

Yellow is an easy colour though.

looks like a proper job anyway , well worth the wait

it's a good job I'm old and patient

Good things come to those who wait.


It be worth it.

Well all the sealant in the boot has cured nicely, had to go a bit Crazy Jo with the sealer, try to keep the rust away for as long as possible. So its not sealed how we and Fiat would like it to be, but its an enemy of rust now.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0002-7.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0003-13.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0006-7.jpg

Being one of the first, it never got quite so protected like the later shells, so as agreed were doing whats best for the car, not what looks pretty, especially underneath.

First of the paint went on too, and wow what a colour this was when new. Sooo pearly its loverly, really nice champagne pearl to it. I'd like to paint an ink black plus in this colour, given the chance i may just, its a stunner.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0008-11.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0010-8.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0012-6.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0013-4.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0014-3.jpg

Certainly nice in there now. Paint finish in the boot is as good as most people's bonnets


So its onto the final part now, paint the rest.

Its had nearly 3 weeks prep on the body, so its as good as it can be got now.

Looks lush in there. Just like you've smeared black oil all over the metal. A real 'wet' look.

Yeh shame to go put carpet over it now.

Looks real nice in the flesh, new camera time now.

Well done Neil and Carl. Another old bint did my X19 in 20 years ago same way - car was never right after. I wish Carl was around then!

It's getting there, Carl... still ok for the weekend?

Neil

He was, in nappies mind

Yep it will have to be, i could probably find another 3 weeks work on it elsewhere but we have to draw the line somewhere dont we.

Mind you, ive only got one more coupe left to do before i move, so if you wanted to leave it a couple more days, ill happly sort those floors free of charge???

Up to you, i'd like it gone, but the floors are irritating me a little, be nice to do a proper job of them really while its in.

Barnacle did you actually drive it into that rock in pic 2?

Not a problem for carlt evidently

S.

Yeah, you can't trust Austrian roads, one minute you're fine, next minute a damn great rock leaps out of the mountain and bites you...

Cheeky young whippersnapper, no repect, youth of today, mutter, where's me cocoa? mumble...

Neil

Think yourself lucky Barnacle, in Edinburgh the holes in the roads are everywhere and you can't see them looming up in front of you like in luxury touring conditions, eg Austria. Poor old front susp designed for the latter doesn't half get a hammering, always something worn or knocking on the cobbles.
I am on drinking chocolate btw so suspect your beverage terminology gives you away as possibly being senior even to me. [1952 was a verygood year]

1960 is viewed by all right-thinking connoisieurs as a particularly good year, I think you'll find Supernacular, I think...

Neil

Just so, mate, but as I can now pull rank as being more crustaceanly, I still think it was fitting that barnacles should be scraped off rocks even if they had been teleported up the Alps.
Off to torture the front susp now. Better invest in satnav.
S.

Ah well barnacles turn today.

masked and ready
and another


Few hours later, on went the slap and well it looks rather nice. Had to paint all the door jams and shuts, bonnet inside and out, boot jams out so took a while and isnt a nice job but at least there will be 100% no mask lines!

Front
n/s side
mirror finish bottom
bottom
door shuts
n/s/r
bonnet


Looks rather good. Nice colour.

Wow. That looks fantastic.

Yum!

Neil

Work looks awesome, once ive got some funds sorted im seriously putting my name on the waiting list for a re-spray

Want to see carlts wizzy yellow effect!

Sweeeeet !

Sweeeet !

Looking at these photos, I'm wondering if I'll take the trip with my own soon to be pink car.

Will be a long drive, but probably worth it

I'm think along those lines too, maybe for my car's 10th birthday

I was planning this for the car's tenth, but it took the dozy bint to force me to it

Neil

Deja Vu! I got a photo like that from CarlT. Looks great on screen. Wait till you see it in the flesh though Barnacle. You're in for a treat when you pick her up

Tuesday... must resist urge to go to Dudley before Tuesday...

Neil

Looking good!

But admit it Neil, you'll be scared to drive her.

Neil, it looks wonderful

That's the sort of job I want done

good work there Carl, I am impressed.

@ Neil, you'd be committing a crime if you DON'T have your alloys refurbed, it would just ruin the effect matey

so, get it sorted

luv the new paint look effect, good results off the gun carl, what paint do you use ? PPG ? Sikkens ?

And.......

Don't put the old number plates back on either

Can't put the old plate back; someone bent it

http://www.nailed-barnacle.co.uk/public/crash/coupe7.jpg

Taz, are you starting the 'refurb barnacle's wheels' fund then?

Neil

...of course mate....

i have a fist full of post it note "i-o-u's" at the ready

c'mon, you GOTTA sort them rimz

do it.......DO IT !

Looks great Neil, good work Carl.

That's edible

Another top job there

Neil, are you taking any precautions on the way home, to avoid stonechips? This is the only thing concerning me about having a top job done miles away.

yeah, he's bought a massive condom for the front of it...

Tsk, I could see that one coming.

You must have crystal balls

Neil

wow! That looks amazing, after my new turbo, suspension, belts I may just book some time with you carl!

carls sprays where other spayers cant reach(or cant be bothered!) proper job by the looks of it!

Carl do you ever have trouble with the laquer on the rear bumper right in the join to the body, mine seems to have started to peel back slightly as its a very thin crack, i put down to having the bumper on the car when resprayed but you leave it on as well(for colour match?) what did they do wrong?

Ah i leave mine in place but its not bolted to the car.

Completely loose with a good enough gap to get ample paint in.

Laquer peel is usually bad prep or a thick edge, ive not managed to do it yet.


Yeh its come out loverly, its on quite a tight budget and has had far more than it should have, if i could afford to do them this cheap im sure i'd have painted 50% of coupe's on the forum by the end of the year!

<humble> /me is properly grateful </humble>

Neil

you forgot the pie, take carl some nice pie and im sure it will help Neil

Using Octobase on that, its a troublesome colour apparently the chips are wrong for the mixing so you end up with charcoal grey with some companies believe it or not! Paint should be good for 5+ years, will no doubt need a little mop here and there in 6 months but it looks stunning.

Thanks for the comments, its looking superb, even for one of our cheapie paints it gives most a beating!


Dont worry on the wheels taz, ive got some nice rears off a 1999 model im throwing in, carnt see it leave with corroded fronts!

I want to know how Taz could see the corrosion through the plastic you've got covering those wheels in all the picture. The man must have X-ray vision

Neil

Just driven away.

I think he is pleased.

I bet he is, better than it left the factory

We eagerly await his next post

How careful must he be driving now

Bang! old dear straight into the back of him, first junction.

Shouldn't even joke should I

Well I don't think we will see a post from him today. If he does get home by midnight i bet he will be sleeping in the car.

Well im itching to see what he thinks of it.

Here's some pics he asked me to post:

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0034-2.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0033-1.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0030-4.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0028-6.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0026-4.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0024-5.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0023-7.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0022-6.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0039-2.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0037-2.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0020-5.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0017-4.jpg


http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0015-5.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0014-4.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0013-5.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0012-7.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0011-10.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0010-9.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0009-8.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0007-14.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0006-8.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0004-8.jpg


http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0002-8.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/fiatcoupes/DCP_0001-11.jpg

Wow, that has to be the mintest 11 year old coupe in the UK!!

That looks fantastic. Is that a new carpet in there?

Looks absolutely stunning Carl, a testimony to you sorting that one out. Leather finishes it off to a tee too

Neil, wish you many years of happiness with it mate.

This is one Coupé you will never see in a car park, that I'm pretty sure of

I like it.

http://www.vendingondemand.com/ProductImages/2inchcapsules/HappyBunnyl.jpg

It's just that I am now acutely aware of every creak, groan, moan, singing bearing, rattle, and thud...

Oh, and after a hundred miles - 2 bar at tickover

Neil

I personally think so. Done as much and more as we could on the budget, not worth ploughing more money into the paint job to spare a couple of blemishes, best spent elsewhere.

Looks rather nice, Neil got to see it in the horrible light of the oven which shows EVERY blemish, park a new car in these lights and you would want to return it!

so your a bit like god then carlt

we kill them ----- you re-incarnate them

No more like the devil, you lot kill them, usually by oil related means and i finish the job off.

Just repair a few so i dont look too evil.

Okay, seen it in daylight this morning

And drove it to work this morning and parked it on the usual space; all gleamy and glinty and shiny shiny shiny... except for where the not-nice man in the Audi decided to wash his windscreen at the lights and piddled all over my bonnet

Maybe some outside pics soon...

And thanks again, Carl.

Neil

Loverly, as long as your nice and happy with it.

They do look a different car out in normal light dont they.


Had a look at your minty mint floors yet?

It's such a nice rich black too. Looks very similar to the Black they used to use on the Uno T Mk1's. Hardly any other colours in it, just a hint of blue & brown.

The car looks

Only thing is I wouldn't want to drive it anywhere, or leave it parked up anywhere in that condition...

The car looks

Well done Carl

And good on ya Neil for keeping your coupe alive

I haven't lifted any carpets yet, Carl!

Actually - any idea when that gearbox is coming out, Carl? I'd like to get the clutch/gearbox and the cambelts done before May so I can do a nice long tour in it...

Circolo, a car's for driving. That's its raison d'etre, its function in life. This car has a hundred and twenty five thousand on it - all of them mine - and I expect to see another hundred on it.

Though I'll probably cut back on the off-road activities for a while; driving along the farm track gets too much mud on it.

Neil

Flippin Audi drivers

Looks alright.