[Car_Restoration] Dimma Restoration

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

I got the bonnet of ebay when it arrived it was badly damaged in transit so I got money back so was free just need to take to a bodyshop to see if it can be repaired if not will be on look out for another or will use my auto bonnet.

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

Still not alot to report sadly as I have not had any spare time to work on car all that has been done is the car is now turned over on the spit so I make a start of the floor removal and then replace with new and fit new sills.

I suddenly found myself having a niggling feeling of doubt that the car was not a genuine factory dimma but I received a email back from simon at st performance and Belgium have confirmed it is and I can have a new plaque so happy days.

[johniban 59 1 Cars]

thats good news! well cool that you got confirmation!

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

Finally I have managed to get on with some work on the car, The car is now on its spit which is making it so easy to carry out the work on the underside. I have started to clean up one chassis rail this needs to have some of the dents pulled out but no big issue and you can see from the strenghting plates are badly damaged lucky my replacements are in better condition.

 

 

I then made a start on cleaning up the rear under the seats all not looking to bad at the moment found small amount of rust under the rear seat will pop over scrapyard and cut piece out i need to carry out the repair also found a hole in the support arm for the rear suspension this has been cut out and plate fitted and welded up just need to carry out repairs to other side when I turn car over other way.

 

 

I have also cleaned a fair bit into the boot floor just dont have any pictures yet but aim is to finish cleaning underside carry out repairs to under seat section and boot floor and what ever else i find then remove front floor and fit new so plenty to keep me busy this year if im ever at home.

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

Another small update

 

I have been carring on with cleaning up the underside allmost finished the rear of the car and am getting near to turning car over the other way so I can get to the parts I cannot reach, So far no more major rust found and what has been found has been cleaned up just got to treat still have a couple of patches on the boot floor to weld and one under rear seat but nothing to major once this is done I can focus on the new floor and get the underside in primer and sealed up then can apply the stonechip then just leaves the rear arches to do then fingers crossed that will be all the welding finished, Stripping underseal I wouldnt wish on anyone its a killer of a job.

 

 

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

Worst part of boot is around the spare wheel support but its just a matter of cutting out and using a part from my spare boot floor I also decieded to treat any small rust I found then I have just coated in etch primer for moment to stop any surface rust but its looking better allready.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[speno 239 2 Cars]

Is one not going for the whole new floor section

Mine is the same as yours ( I even copied your jig too )

is amazing who high you need to get the car , for it to roll over completely

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

Still going for floor but just front section I know what you mean about the height to get on stand I was using breeze blocks and axle stands to get height.

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

I also got time to cut out the spare wheel support part and weld in new panel and started to dress welds up but could only do so much with grinder will finish off with my belt sander for a flush finish.

 

[Supersport2 12 1 Cars]

Awesome resto. I'll be following some of your instruction on mine!! Lol!! Good luck!

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

Progress will slow done yet again as im working offshore til August so yet again no time im starting to think once I have welding done to send car up to st performance to have the kit repaired and refitted and whole car resprayed then I can get on with engine and gearbox rebuild.

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

Well as I have only been home from work a week and now got to go away for another 2 have not got as much as I would like done but still manged to weld up couple of patches in boot floor and one underseat and cleaned welds up and im happy how it cam out. When I get back will turn car over other way and repair last patch in bootfloor then I can make a start on removing main floor and sills then can get underside in etchprimer then seam seal and stonechip.

 

 

[johniban 59 1 Cars]

boot floor looks great i wish my welding and fabricating skills were as good

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

Thanks I feel more comfortable with welding now so think that helps also help that my dad made some wooden blocks that mirrored the shape of the boot floor so I used these to knock out really large dents in floor. I should be picking up a refurbished rear beam when I get back from work and and now sorting parts to be powdercoated and will order coilovers soon then once underside in stonechip I can fit running gear back on so car can be sent off to bodyshop so kit can be refitted and painted inside and out then they can remove running gear and paint underside.

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

Progress on this has almost ground to a halt due to being busy at work then been taken ill and signed off work so not be able to do much to the car as I would have liked so I have used the time to do some smaller jobs like sorting parts for powdercoating and plating and vapour blasting so have boxes everywhere now. I have also use the time to get the tyres removed from the split rims so these can be sent to dimma for refurb and yet this showed up a major problem with one of the front wheels as its had a new outer rim in its time and looks to have had the wrong one fitted.

 

 

front wheels

 

 

Bottom front wheel is one with wrong outer rim fitted you can see the difference

 

 

I have also used the time for some retail therapy and ordered some new coilovers,wishbones,wheel bearings,track rod ends,tie rods,anti roll bar links,steering gators,anti roll bar bushes,suspension top bearings,rear bump stops I also got a refurbed rear beam, First load of parts turned up yesterday was like a early Christmas.

 

 

I'm going in for a operation at the end of month then I'm hoping to be able to get the shell finished so it can be sent away for kit to be fitted and paint

 

 

 

Edited October 10, 2014 by Juttie205

[Anthony 1,003]

Do Dimma still supply the outer rims so you can get that one sorted, or are you going to have to try and source a 2nd hand replacement wheel?

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

Dimma still supply thank god

[johniban 59 1 Cars]

Good to see you are still cracking on with it! may i ask where you got the refurbed beam from? it looks a top job!

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

beam was from jord294 on this forum

[farmer 328 1 Cars]

Is Jord got a company or is he just an individual still?

 

Looks good for a garage job !

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

just individual stuff i think

[johniban 59 1 Cars]

Does he post?

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

he can for a price but i collected as it was expensive to post sadly im not sure if hes doing many more but you could contact him.

Edited October 11, 2014 by Juttie205

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

The wheels have gone off to dimma for their refurb and I have almost sorted all parts for blasting and powdercoating and plating so hoping to drop them off next week then hoping to have back after my operation so when I recover I can press on with the car. I have manged to do a small amount of work with continuing to strip the underseal from rear arch then will clean up engine bay ready for primer then will rotate car on stand and repair last hole in bootfloor then its main floor and sills to do then running gear can go back on and then off to bodyshop.

[Juttie205 123 2 Cars]

I have managed to clean up one wheel arch and get in primer as you can see the outer arch and bumper support bracket still need replacing but this will be getting done by bodyshop when they refit kit next up is to rotate car other way so I can do other rear arch then will remove sills and then floor and fit new floor and sills then it will not be far off going to bodyshop hopefully in the new year.