Wash and detail of Wolfgang, filled a couple little rock chips also, in preparation of clear bra I'm gonna tackle tomorrow. Doing the plastidip clear, 6 coats and then the glossifier. Fingers crossed!
Repainted all of the trim on the interior with a gloss medium blue to give a little more custom feel. I especially like how the instrument binnacle and overhead console look. In addition to these I painted the trim rings on the doors and in the back seat. The old silver was utterly scuffed, stained and terrible looking when I got the car, so I knew I'd need to readdress it at some point. I finally got sick of it this week and spent a number of hours taping it all off to spray it out. The worst part was finding a way to get the tape to stick! The previous owner had used so much silicone or armor all or something on it that it was like the whole interior had been covered in olive oil. EVERYTHING slipped off! I had taken a while testing various colors on tape and sticking it to the trim and driving it around to see which color I liked. I started thinking I'd just redo the silver, but I realized quickly that my least favorite part of the experience of driving my Mini was how drab the interior seemed, especially on a blue car. I considered gloss black and the same exterior blue but realized that the black would be more of the boring "too cool for school" style I didn't want and the Lightning Blue exterior color didn't go well with the interior's Pacific blue very well, so I started looking for a color that would be harmonious with both blues. I finally found it! Next come the wheels...
Drove it to the international parking deck at the Hartsfield-Jackson yesterday AM and headed up to Halifax.
Pulled my car outside for a little bit to give the Verizon tech space to work in my garage while he installed out new FiOS GIGA-bit service. It is fast.... WOW is it fast. 980 MB up and down.
Sorry in advance for the poopy cell pics, I was using my better halfs garage and forgot to grab my camera on the way out. Masked, wiped down, ready to go. After 6 coats clear: After 5 coats glossifier Done I think I might end up redoing the lower bumper, but they say the edges will "lay down" after a day or two, so we'll see. All in all, a pretty straight forward project, and a LOT cheaper than $600 vinyl clear bra. All in, under $100, about 4 hours time, and if you're comfortable with spray cans it's super easy. The masking took the most effort. So long as it's laid on thick, peeling off over spray is a breeze.
In for pics!!! I need to source some touch up paint. "Torro" still has clear bra installed that is cracking. Few little spots where the rocks have chipped what it seems a very soft paint need to be touched up. Where is a good place to pick up some touch up paint?
Pics are up! I keep a pen of touch up in the glove box, I have had great luck with these:ExpressPaint 2WayPen Mini Cooper All Automotive Touch-up Paint They have all the colors, color code matched, and so far have been a breeze to use for smaller chips. Simply clean off the spot, dab on, dry and clear.
It's been a full 24 hours and the lines have certainly laid down now that things have fully cured. I will still consider redoing the lower bumper though, as a couple of spots really peeled away, and the drying/curing has made the spots a bit more noticeable to me. Now that I know what to do, it should be a lay up drill.
I washed the MINI today. I also used some Mother's Back to Black to make the black plastic bits look nice. Hey, we need rain, so I did what I could to make that happen. CD
Buy touch up paint at the dealership. If you have a clear bra installed that is cracking it is at the end of its life and needs to be removed. The chips and cracks will cause water to get behind it and ruin your paint. I have seen it happen several times. To remove it just use a heat gun or a strong hair dryer and start warming and lifting it at the edges and work slowly to remove it.
Went Motoring. We hit the Wisconsin trifecta, stopped at a cheese factory, brew pub, and custard place. Quadfecta would have been 4th stop to grill Brats. Fun was had by all.
Well, today I came to the realization that at my age (74), I can't detail Pepper the way she deserves. SO, I am having her detailed professionally next week. I just wish I lived closer to Philly so I could ask if Dave O would do it, but logistics will get in the way. Pepper is going to get washed, clayed, and sealed. I am planning on doing the final wax... Wish me luck.
Not today, but yesterday. Took the little roadster for a very nice morning drive on the back roads. When I got home I spent the rest of the day giving it the spa treatment. Today I'm going over it with some Prima Epic for gloss & protection.
When I had my Miatas, there was a really big Miata club here that was very active. We used to take over Sonic drive-ins once a month. I'm talking 30 cars, easily. Your drive-in photo reminds me of that. CD
Yesterday, I gave it a bath. Today, nothing. But I did start my major home improvement project for the summer... Was actually surprised to discover those old-@$$, single pane, wooden windows were actually double-hung. They were just painted shut with no way of freeing them. So, that's number one, 90% completed. Just need to reflash the outside, but that will wait till the other 18 windows are installed.
weekend, finally made time to get the MINI up on jacks to install Colin's coilovers and camber/caster plates, as it always turns out I have made more work for myself :mad2: One of my CV boots let go when I pulled the driver's side strut. I guess I will do all of them seeing as I am half way there. Just need to wait for the Big Brown truck to bring them.
We had a run yesterday, twisties and pizza. A great jaunt through Loudoun County, ending in Leesburg for pizza at Fireworks Pizza. Good weather as in not too sunny, and not cold nor rainy. Smaller group but that was fine by me.