A lot has happened since that shift rod went in. The trans is clean (reeely clean) and back in place, CVs repacked and connected.
Here's what I started with:
And what I ended with:
All tucked away
Fuel tank came out and I spent a weekend making the inside and the outside shipshape, and developing a new contempt for 'Safe Hydrochloric Acid' and an awed respect for the full potency stuff. The new tank sealer has eight days of cure on it, but is still waiting for a certain vendor to get off their dead duff and ship me the sender they owe me.
In the meantime, I opted for some rust remediation. The fuel tank tray was ground on and then hit with self etching primer, and then a topcoat of silver enamel. (I have far too many cans of paint to be used up. This was in a place that needed a top coat but won't see daylight again for another long time. So I used a color that I have no other use for as a top coat.) I also added some noise killer to the front of the fuel area where it can kill much of the rattle.
This is when I stepped up my game with Corroseal. Portions of the engine compartment side of the left rear wheel well needed something to get the light rust stopped. I sanded, and then painted with Corroseal (an industrial formulation of tannic acid and a polymer.) Remaining surface rust turned black, polymer seals out O2 and makes a great base for a service topcoat. I'm very pleased with it.
Still no fuel sender, so I moved on to the rear side windows, which had some corrosion damage where water had been wicking down into the seal from the vent windows for decades. I stripped the whole affair, going to solid glass until I can score a slider for the rear. In the mean time, clean up all of the damage to the surface. Got it well clean, then hit the rusted surfaces with a low speed dremel with a brass brush end, getting as much of the red oxide out as possible. Then sealed it with Corroseal. After I provide the same treatment for the inside of both sliding door covers, they'll be ready to go back into service.
Sanded the life out of the partly rusty firewall, then hit it with the same self etching primer. Looks great now, and ready for another run.
I have purchased early exhaust components, the HX anyway. Now I have to chase down the rest of the early tin to get the engine ready. The engine has been waiting patiently for me to finish up its nest before I move on to proper cleaning and re-torquing. Very much wish the last part would arrive!
no, doesn't mean the car comes out monochrome (although I did do that once for a friend who campaigned an older 3 series BMW at the track...made sense that time). I try to remove as much trim as absolutely possible. It gives you the cleanest, most professional look. Pretty much everything except windows and seals get removed...and to do a really good job, these s/be removed too.
(/hyperbole)
