new daily driver project vp calais

[hi_ryder]

todays efforts...

[hi_ryder]

got my handles back from the chromer... dont ask how much... lets just say it was more then the $120 i was email quoted....

[hi_ryder]

masked it up last night and wet it up this morning... heres some happy snaps

[Drawnnite]

that is looking absolutely awesome.

keep up the good work
and kepe us updated =P

[HSV5L]

Looks awsome cant wait for more pics.

[hi_ryder]

Looks awsome cant wait for more pics.

that is looking absolutely awesome.

keep up the good work
and kepe us updated =P

thanks for the good words. ill keep the pics coming.

i forgot to take a pic of the paint but i used mipa base and c75 clear with the ms25 hardner. i havent used mipa in a couple years. last time i used the c77+ clear and i liked it better, but the rep talked me out of it said its a bit fiddly to get right. i ended up using 3 coats of clear cause it was like piss. the c75 didnt have the body i really wanted. so i shut off the ovens burner and let to go to 21 degrees (outside temp) and sprayed to last coat with no reducer, turned up the air pressure and bombed it on like a HS clear. used my trusty iwata WB1 water base gun for the base and clear.

[HSV5L]

I bet you cant wait to un wrap and put it back all the parts back on

[hi_ryder]

i wish. ive still got the 2 bars, 6 molds, and wheel arch spats to paint. then its assemble time... after looking at this car for the last 3 years with dull acrylic and old touch up work peeling, it seems weird to look at it with fresh paint. i almost dont feel like its mine...

[hi_ryder]

glass is back in and door trims reassembled. cars a little dusty from sitting but i flow coated the bonnet today painted the moulds and blacked out the front and back bars.... that should finish it. ill finish putting it together this week and give it a wash...

[hi_ryder]

drove it home today. man its glowing.... just gotta put on the door moulds on now and get the rest of the chrome happening. can see the neighbours vz calais in the reflection now.

[GypsyNz]

F#ck Yes.....Thats looking awesome, shes coming together well.....

[hi_ryder]

thank you. its been a labour of love. ive still got some adjustments to do. the front bar is a little off still from the accident. ive gotta pull it at the driver side bar slider bracket. its still in a little. ive got to do the mechanicals now. thinking of pulling the engine out and doing the rear main seal and the sump gasket.

[PaRaDoX]

Wow it looks clean now

[stothers]

any updates mate?

[hi_ryder]

any updates mate?

not really. the christmas day storms have me working till 7pm every night and weekends. ive got my friends mazda millenia (2001) rubbed and ready for a respray. then i have to start a gen 4 supra bare metal respray... yikes... i gave the calais a hand wax and its in the driveway collecting rain. im hanging out to get it finished.....

oh also i bout this 10mm chrome moulding for the bumper bars. thought it was 3m double side tape backed, it wasnt. woke up the next day and the chrome strips were on the ground.... i have to find some thats at least 3.1 meters long, the length of the back bar.

[hi_ryder]

this is next on the list. replace driver side strut and lower control arm assembly, and full nolathane kit with tie rod and ball joint replacement as well....





oh also DIE NEW COMMODORE DIE!

[stothers]

hahahah that chrome stripping gave me a good laugh. but anyways, nice work mate.

so you obviously work in panel and paint business aye?
was gonna ask you what the panel and paint work set you back but no point if you get it cost price.

i really love the look of this, id love it as my daily

[hi_ryder]

the sill panel section i paid 100 for (from masri wreckers, pretty much for the labor to cut it), door and guard were from pick ur arse camblefield. i had my iraqi friend do the surgery (pro bono)... i used ppg D8046 primer (paid the shop $400 for welding and booth time and primer) i used mipa paints from northern auto paint suply (NAPS) c75 and ms25 clear kit, 3 litres of 2f020 cardinal red, 1.5 litres of solar silver, and 5 litres of reducer. the suspention stuff was on special from pick ur arse.

probably a waste of money, but i guess its the journey not the destination...

heres my running tab, i just open the txt file and add to it everytime i buy something...

vp calais wreck $200
strut mount nolathane $165
monroe gt gas struts $208.40
nolathane bush kit $312
grille $77.75
coil compressor $42
door guard $117
sill section $100
chrome wheel nuts $41
chrome handles $200
tie rod ends $32
ball joints $42
wh grange wheels $650
wreckers strut $40
paint $645
shop use $400
front and rear bar $40
total $3312.15

[hi_ryder]

heres part of the reason i havent been able to work on my car...

this is the iraqi's car... 2001 mazda millenia supercharged. apparently they only sold 25 of these in australia. this is one of 9 in victoria. the doors are the same as a 929 but that front guard had to be ordered from japan to the tune of $500.... cant believe this car was $75k new. i stayed back at work wed night till 8pm masking it up then came in this morning at 6am to smash it. im wrecked.... why do i get involved.....

[stothers]

thanks for that little writeup mate, makes it alot easier to see what im looking at..

got any more photos of the mazda? looks interesting

[hi_ryder]

yesterday and today...

started in on the suspension stuff. put in the monroe gt gas shocks, and the strut top bearings. pried out the castor rod k frame bushings. the lower control arms are getting the ball joints and bushings pressed in on monday. till then everything is just hanging there.... ill assemble the rest when the arms are done...

[Panama]

looking awesome mate, chrome door handles ftw

[hi_ryder]

thanks man. thought the handles would be a nice touch without being over the top... still trying to figure out how to re-do the factory chrome on the door moulds though... car is sitting in the garage hibernating right now...

[Calaber]

thanks man. thought the handles would be a nice touch without being over the top... still trying to figure out how to re-do the factory chrome on the door moulds though... car is sitting in the garage hibernating right now...

You could try using wide chrome pinstripe tape. That's what I used on my VR Berlina years ago when the "chrome" peeled away in a few spots. It can be hard to find chrome tape, particularly in a wide size but it's worth the search.

[hi_ryder]

i actually have some of that and tried it out but it didnt stick at all, curled up on the edges. it might not be sign writers grade stuff though... i was thinking about getting a dremel router bit tool and just milling out the section where the chrome would sit then use the 10mm stick on stuff that gets used on the bumper bars. the problem is the moulds are already painted so any mistakes mean they'le going back to the booth for a re-shoot... might have to get a sign writer involved...