Date: 07/02/05
Mikes Monaro - a member of this site that got in touch and wanted a full resto on his HT 186S GTS. Goes under the user name of GTS69. Mike has stripped the car for us and delivered it minus motor and box - which is out for reconditioning
Date: 07/02/05
A few cracks in the body work here and there revealed some nasty previous repairs - but this car is still amongst one of the better examples for its age. The mostly original paint threw us off.
Date: 07/02/05
As was a bit around the front - both these areas got a thorough sand blasting prior to repairs....
Date: 07/02/05
This is a clear example of what happens when you pick at a bit of flaky bog - rust in behind meant the whole repair had to be re- panel beaten and done properly. The resins from the bog hit the steel and cause it to lift- letting moisture in. A good reason to consider laying down an epoxy primer( PPG dp40) prior to bog work - not necessary but would have prevented this from happening. Also the acrylic paint is porous - thus letting in the moisture- don't use acrylics and you will avoid this scenario more easily.....
Date: 07/02/05
The inside of the door was showing some rust stains- so a half hour in the blast cabinet sort ed that out- revealing some very minor pinholes- I brazed these up and blasted those areas again to rid the acids from the brazing flux.
Date: 07/02/05
This close up shows the door corner after brazing and grinding - more braze was added to the remaining holes
Date: 07/02/05
What it looks like from the iside - this got another blasting to clean away the rust and brazing fluxes after this shot
Date: 07/02/05
The door corners had a hint of rust so were removed- these areas are blasted to make sure there is no repeat of rust here again - all areas are given a coat or two of wattyl black etch prior to welding in the new patch- as is the patch itself.
Date: 07/02/05
The new patch - I make these from scraps from other old Holdens- thus ensuring that the metal is the same - these bits are also blasted prior to making into a patch. Note traces of black etch around the edges. I like to cut these patches in this curved fashion as you see here to help minimise warparge - not always possible though - especially if some ones has had a go b4 me. Luckily this was not the case here.
Date: 07/02/05
Inside the door got a thorough blasting as well - eliminating as much rust as possible - this now has some de-oxidine acid on it to neutralise any remaining rust. The holes you see were zapped with the mig later from the outside. The inside of this door got a thorough priming with both wattyl black etch and two pack - plus two lots of rustproofing... we do what we can to prolong the life of our work.
Date: 07/02/05
The bottoms of both guards needed attention - the same rust elimination program applies here as well- everything blasted in and out and thoroughly treated . all rust welded up with new formed patches.
Date: 07/02/05
The inside lower of the same guard- the Henrob torch is perfect for these fiddly jobs - making repairs much quicker and easier - still time consuming though - these few patches took an hour.
Date: 07/02/05
The rest of the inside of the same guard- here you can see the smaller rust holes exposed by the blasting process were able to be filled with the oxy torch. Everything gets sand blasted b4 and after the welding process - then a good few coats of Wattyl black etch primer.
Date: 07/02/05
The whole guard was covered in bog and rust - so was bare mettaled and re panel beaten- this was not apparent when the car first came to us.
Date: 07/02/05
This gives some indication of just how bad it was- all was panel beaten b4 a thin skim of fibre glass followed by dolphin glaze final filler was used. The 'glass not only fills the minor pinholes between welds but adds a strong base for the final filler.
Date: 07/02/05
It wouldnt be a Monaro without this sort of rust - I had to re -do a bad rust repair that only lasted six months - the idiots had not only welded a patch bigger than the hole over the area but only a few spots of weld followed by bog meant the patch was doomed from the outset- Moisture tracked straight through the bog and caused new rust on the new patch. .....not to mention the complete lack of primers or at least some rust proofing on the inside! I would love to meet the panel beater that did this and show him the result of his poor handiwork - be wary of where you take your car and ask for photo proof and other evidince that it has been repaired properly.
Date: 07/02/05
This repair required far les body filler than what they had applied - as you can see - its fully welded and metal finished as good as possible. A light skim of 'glass over this repair will guarrantee it for life.
Date: 07/02/05
All primered up - the first priming stage - a lot of blocking ahead for Graham... thankfully my part is all but over - on the panel beating at least. Lots more rust proofing yet.
Date: 07/02/05
And the far side.... The engine bay also required some extra panel beating as well. All panels were trial fitted prior to handing over to Graham. All gaps set and after the customer has given the nod of approval - its all pulled apart again for painting.
Date: 20/02/05
The rear veiw. Glass could'nt be fitted as the new rubbers were too fat. Another brand of rubbers will have to be tried - but I suspect they are all made in the same place.
Date: 20/02/05
The engine bay will see the return of the 186S- and Opel four-speed. Best keeping a car like this an original numbers matching car - worth more in the long run.
Date: 20/02/05
The hinges, bonnet catch plate and a few bolts saw a trip to the Zinc platers- this helps give the OEM look we are always chasing.
