Archives: January 2006

Strut Tower Brace Redux

Saturday, 28 January 2006 | Comments (0) | Categories: Paint, Suspension

Cusco OS Type Strut Tower Brace (Refinished)

So I had these Cusco OS Type Strut Tower braces for the front and rear of the Silvia which just weren't going to match the rest of the car. With Blue painted end plates and polished allow bars, they're Cusco's standard fare. So, I figured I would refinish them to a more OEM look, which is where I'm going with the car - factory special. So to start out with I've sandblasted the end plates (along with a Cusco Brake Stopper - yet to be completed) and sanded back the bars nice and smooth. The plan was for the end plates in Satin Black and the cross bars to be in black wrinkle paint. Hanging all this from a rafter in my carport using old wire clothes hangers, I went about spraying them. The wrinkle paint is pretty special stuff...it goes on smooth, and after 20 minutes to 2 hours, it starts to wrinkle evenly. The more coats you put on, the more intense the wrinkles. In all I applied 4 coats to get the finish you see below. Check out the pics for the stages and end product.

Step-by-step, sorta:
- Original End Plates
- Sandblasted End Plates
- Painted End Plates
- Original Strut Bars
- Original Strut Bars (Detail)
- Sanded Strut Bars
- Completed Front and Rear Strut Tower Bars
- Completed Front Strut Tower Bars
- Completed Rear Strut Tower Bars
- Detail of Wrinkle Finish

In other news, the trayback went to pick up the car on Friday to bring back to the workshop only to final that Assure was closed (being between Australia Day and the weekend). So we should have it back early next week.

Cheers
Brendan

Roll with it…

Monday, 23 January 2006 | Comments (0) | Categories: General

Well, the good news is my car is ready for pickup from the paint shop, the not so good news is there's no room in the C-Red workshop currently for the car to fit. Oh well, at least it's ready which a step in the right direction. Have also started prepping and painting my Cusco strut bars and will update on that soonish.

Cheers
Brendan

Gauges in the hood

Wednesday, 11 January 2006 | Comments (0) | Categories: Interior

Defi-Link Single Meter Visor

Sorry about the naff title, but I'm running out of ideas. Anyway, quick update here, this one on the Defi-Link Single Meter Visor (a.k.a. gauge hood). I've decided to mount my three centre gauges on the dash board and didn't want reflections on the windscreen while driving at night to thus the reason of the hoods. I have three of the hoods for the oil pressure, oil temperature and water temperature gauges. The boost gauge will sit in a single gauge pod on the A-pillar, hopefull nice and low and relatively out of harms way. Would like to thank the great service from Aston at J-Shop for getting these in for me.

Wow:
- Defi-Link Single Meter Visor from front
- Defi-Link Single Meter Visor side profile
- Defi-Link Single Meter Visor in box

At this point I still haven't heard anything on where the paint is at, but can only hope it comes back to the workshop by end of this week.

Cheers
Brendan

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