We sold the daily driver, an Audi TT, after 8 years of good service a few weeks back and I have spent the last few weekends looking for a replacement.  Test driving nearly new cars is an interesting past time.  So it was quite nice to get back in the garage this weekend.  I repaired the bonnet and rubbed down inside and out and double checked that the boot was good to go before looking at the rear wings.  When I painted the rear wings a few months back I ran out of primer so decided to paint one properly with 3 full coats and just gave the other a single coat on the basis that I would give it another two coats when I had some more paint and before I painted the insides blue.  So I got both the wings and realised I didn't know which one had just the single coat of paint as it was impossible to tell by looking at them alone.  I decided to flat back areas that covered repairs to see if one went through easier than the other but neither went through to the metal.  Essentially, it would seem that one coat of this primer is enough.

I primed both the bonnet and the boot inside and out before spraying those and the two rear wings on the inside in Healey Blue.

Now I have to fit the lot back to the car body before checking the windscreen fits and installing the cockpit edge trim before I am ready to get the car painted.  Oh, I guess I need to adjust the brakes as well.  Anyway, it is feeling closer.

Painted the doors with primer today.  I also painted the inside and the hinges blue.  It was easier that the front end but still took a fair bit of time.

I need to re-prime one of the back wings and paint both on the inside.  I have a few dents to work on with the bonnet before I can paint that and I also need to double check that the previous work on the dents is complete before I prime the boot.  I will paint the inside of both in colour as well even though they will be painted on the top / outside whilst off the car as I don't think the spray booth will have enough space to do both sides at the same time as the main car.

Once that lot is done I have to refit the front and rear shrouds before adding the wings and doors.  Then I need to fit the windscreen to check that it all lines up properly and fit the aluminium cockpit trims.  I also need to buy and fit the tow bracket and check that the brakes are properly adjusted.  I am hoping to get this all done before Christmas so that I can paint it then.  That would be very grand.

I think I have a lot to do.

I finished the wings and the front shroud this weekend and then painted them with primer and blue BU2 paint on the inside of the wings.  I have spent a lot of time and effort on this phase so it is nice to have it over.

Now I need to prime the boot, doors and bonnet and then paint the inside sections in blue .  I don't think this will take anywhere as much effort as has been expended over the past few weeks so that is ok.  I am hoping to paint the car in the Christmas holidays which may feel like ages away but it is only 7 weeks so I have lots to contend with.  This includes getting the brakes to work so that I can get the car towed to the paint shop.

Lot to do but so close to the biggest of all steps.

Still working on the wings, albeit slightly slowly.

I did get the bonnet out of storage to double check that it fits with the radiator installed and it does, just.

With the bonnet resting on the shroud there is just a few mm of clearance.  I imagine that the bonnet will sit slightly higher once bolted to the hinges and on the rubbers so I am not too worried about it.  I might lower the rad if the chance comes though.

Last weekend I went to Beaulieu for the annual auto jumble which was a good day out.  I collected an order of parts from AH4H which should allow me to get the car ready for paint.  The order included all the bits I need for the windscreen pillars which will enable me to fit the screen to the car before I paint it to check that it fits.  I most definitely don't want to be making serious modifications once painted to get the screen in.  I now have the full sections of the cockpit trim as well and the door stops.

So, I need to finish the filler work on the front wings, front shroud, bonnet and offside door then prime the whole car.  I also need to fit the windscreen, door check straps and cockpit trims.  Not much then.  I have 4 weekends before I want to paint the car so I think I need to up my game a little.

This weekend I finished prepping the rear wings, shroud and boot lid and put them in primer.  However, I didn't have enough primer so I will have to rub them down again and redo them when I have more paint, damn.  Oh well.  I did selectively paint the shroud with most of the available paint so I think that can be fitted to the car for the final time.

I can't imagine how good it will be to have it painted.

Oh, I should report that last week I went into work to discover that the students did fantastically in their final exams.  I'm a lucky man to work with great teachers and wonderful young people.

The summer has been much better than I could have hoped for.  Florida treated us well.  We hired a car and I am still somewhat disappointed that  we were given a VW, how can that happen?  I was so hoping for a big Yank Tank.  Oh well.  It was surprisingly nice to live with and we rattled off the best part of 2000 miles in mild luxury.  I was rather taken by the sensors that tells you when a car is about to pass you on the inside or outside care of a flashing symbol in the door mirror, very cool.  I also liked the reversing camera although I am not convinced it would be good enough to rely on without turning and looking.  It's not enough to make me want to upgrade the 11 year old TT daily driver.  Well, I say daily driver but I hardly use it, what with the motorbike and the push bike.

I was incredibly pleased to get 4 days in the garage this weekend.  It has been lovely being back at home and the garage has been a big part of that.  I finished the rear end and decided to work around the car in a clockwise direction rather than prime the panels at this stage.  The passenger door (LH) is now done and the front wing is well on the way.  It is hard work though as I need to rub down a lot of filler, my arms are getting bigger as I type.   I am feeling a little bad as the amount of filler I need tells me that I should be a better panel beater, but I am what I am so I pile on the filler and rub like hell.

My birthday did serve me well, I have a real mental problem with paying for postage and the Austin Healey parts suppliers charge it by the bucket loads.  I say this because my lovely lady decided to order the parts I wanted on my birthday so that I selected the parts I really needed. I noticed that the main supplier is exhibiting at Beaulieu next month and offering free collecting from the show.  I asked for that and booked a ticket, result, I get to see a great show and save money at the same time.


The rear end finished, yippee

Mid way through loading the front N/S wing with filler, it looks much better now but I didn't take a picture.






































I spent the morning procrastinating, this included cutting back the garden trees and washing the motorbike.  I didn't just wash it, I cleaned the chain.   I know, but it is 33 degrees in London this weekend and that is very hot for a Brit.  What could I do?