Spent the last couple of days doing some bits and pieces; painted the inside footwells with stone chip and red, then got all the muck out from the underside frame rails with water-based cleaner degreaser, bottle brush and hose. After some drying time I blew Dinitrol RC900 aerosol rust converter in with a wand. I'll let that go off, then I'll shoot the frame rails with Bilt Hamber Dynax S50 cavity wax.

I've washed the underside of the car as well, and when there is less condensation in the garage at night will give it a light coat of red so it is all the same colour, then put Dynac UC clear wax over that.

Then I'm on the finishing straight except for waxing the painted rear wheel arches, and treating the sills, interior and exterior with Electrox, red paint and UC clear wax under the covers on the outside, and RC900 and S50 cavity wax on the inside. But those sill covers (and those PITA rivets) need to come off first.

A process roughly similar to what I've been doing is well-described here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=817605&d=0&nmt=

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Cherry Rallye SOLD

Cheers.

Today I tidied up the underside of the bonnet and got touched in some peeling paint around the stamped holes, and on the edges. The front 1/3 of the bonnet underside really needs painting and will probably just get it done by the painter when I get the outside of the bonnet done in a month or so. I know most people wouldn't bother with this but I like a nice clean bonnet underside for some reason. Last year I ditched the nasty old bonnet liner thing.

I also drilled out the bottom row of rivets holding on the left sill side skirt. It is still attached by the top row in the door shut, but enough to see behind it. I'm pleased to say that it is all in good nick under there, with only some lifting paint and minor surface rust, especially at the front. I hope the other side is at least as good. Some dried mud came out behind the front wheels.

I haven't worked out what to do between the bottom of the wing and sill immediately behind the front wheels - it looks like a dirt trap between the 2 layers of metal. Might need to get the wings off too.

I'm going to clean the sills with Bilt Hamber Surfex HD to get rid of old dirt and salt, then sand back any rusty or peeling areas, which will be brush painted with Electrox zinc primer and overcoated with red enamel. The bottom seam will be similar, except it will get black stone chip over the Electrox on both sides.

When that has gone off the whole sill under the plastic liner will get 2 coats of Dynax UC clear wax. The inside of the sills is getting Dinitrol RC900 converter, then Dynax S50 cavity wax. I should be able to use the rivet holes to get it in there towards the rear (maybe need to slightly enlarge one of them), and there is a grommet in the inside sill under the footwell carpet at the front to get the lance in.

When I replace the skirts, I'm going to use stainless self tappers and washers instead of the factory rivets. That way I can remove them easily to flush out any mud once a year or so.

Photos to come in daylight.

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Cherry Rallye SOLD

Ah, brilliant idea Kev. I've not used these before, but I just had a look and riv-nuts would be ideal as they provide a thread for easy disassembly/reassembly in the future.

I've also had a go at another Phase 3 stereo head unit surround. This is converting it by cutting away plastic at the top and bottom to enable it to fit other head units. I did one a few pages back and it looked OK but I cut too much off. And this time I had the Dremel cutter which made short work of it. I've done a much better fitting job this time and it looks great with my Blaupunkt - far better than the nasty Autoleads version. This was my first attempt - similar but better fitting now:

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Cherry Rallye SOLD

Thanks Kev, I will definitely take you up on that.

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Cherry Rallye SOLD

Here is the underside of the bonnet, with peeling patches primed ready for paint:



The front of the LH sill under the sill cover. Only the most minor surface rust - but do I need to look under the wing?



The worst of the rest of the rust - the galvanising has done a great job only needing minor touch-ups. I hope the RH side is the same. EDIT: Most of it is, but there is a nasty scabby bit at the front of the RH sill caused by a dent and mud trapped next to the metal under the skirt. Needs fixing so that will be done shortly.

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Cherry Rallye SOLD

I got a leather interior from silky. The driver's seat needs a refurb, but there are no holes and it will come up well with a bit of work.

Today I finally got the sill covers off. Still need to get the rivets out, but the holes will be big enough to get the Dynax wand in before I put the nutserts in. It is all in good nick under there with very minor surface rust except for a bit on the driver's side where the sill has been dented in a bit (side skirt was un-damaged) which I will have to investigate and maybe a minor repair will be needed.

The 306 despite its lightweight construction is actually quite well made and does not seem to rust very much.

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Cherry Rallye SOLD

The drivers does need a bit of work, but the others just need a good deep clean. Will be interested to see how they look once you're done with them

Yeah half leather going in mine bit bored of the poverty spec cloth!

I put my sideskirts back on with rivets I remember why now too I broke the M4 riv-nut insertion tool,need to get a new one

Thanks for reminding me!

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Red GTB1756 powered Fabia VRS daily driver,LBSC Gti6 eater........

Mac1 ZR R1 kit car build in progress.

You would think so with it being the premier version in the range. I don't know which other models had it though.

Agree about getting tired of the poverty spec. I've been thinking about putting leather in it for a while.

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Cherry Rallye SOLD

Did a bit of work this afternoon cutting the side skirt rivet heads off in the sills. The great thing about the holes left over is their diameter is a good fit for the wax injection lances on the Bilt Hamber S50 wax I'm going to use, so I'll be able to get loads of cavity wax in the sills when the time cones. After wax injection I'll put the rivnuts in to screw the sill cover back on. Before any of that happens there is a bit of driver's side sill to repair.

The (slightly) warmer weather and consequent increase in temp out in the garage is most welcome. I'm sill considering buying a heater for it. My excuse is it will help paint go off better. Nothing to do with lying on cold concrete or anything.

I also dug out the rear and one side wall of the garage, as the soil was 1 - 2 bricks above the slab level. A recipe for wet, dank, mouldy, clammy dampness. To get rid of the dirt I dug up the turf in some of the low spots in the lawn and put the dirt in there re-laying the turf back on top. It all felt a bit Stalag Luft III style, though I didn't bother with the sausage bags in my trousers to sprinkle the dirt around. Lots of builders' debris though, bits of limestone, flint, wood and some blue screws I've kept just in case they come in handy.

Once the bricks dry out it might get a bit drier in there and all my cardboard boxes won't be so mushy and hopefully less condensation under the car. The other wall exterior is in the neighbour's section so need to decide whether I am going to ask him if I can dig up his back yard.

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Cherry Rallye SOLD

Covered in dust etc at the moment. Everything bar the (crazed - will be repainted) bonnet is really good and shiny, though the rear hatch has a bad blow-in and needs repainting. My new front bumper will be done at the same time.

Kev just for you here are a couple from 2011 - it has sat in a garage having lots of work on it since then:

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Cherry Rallye SOLD

Got plenty done tonight - finished painting the offside sill seam with black stone chip over Electrox, and wire brushed the nearside sill and painted 2 coats of Electrox on it, except for a bit that needs some rust removed with Deox gel.

Also shot some Dynax S50 wax into the chassis rails and transverse rail on bulkhead in engine compartment.

Going to shoot Dynax into the sills last, as I have to get the front bit of the OS sill cleaned up and welded.

Pics to come.

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Cherry Rallye SOLD