MIJ's new $300 S70

[bmdubya1198]

Looking good so far! Can't wait to see how the paint turns out!

[MadeInJapan]

Thanks for the positive words everyone!
I'm hoping that the humidity settles down and goes below 50% today. If it does, this guy is getting painted!!
I got these tablets from a detailing guy that you put in a cup of water and leave in your car overnight to take smells out of the car.
Sure enough, I woke up this morning to go check and there is no more smoking smell in the car!!

Now, the only thing left (which I noticed when driving the car yesterday) is the A/C...gets warm after about 15 mins. Checked the pressure and it's fine.
I know what it is- the compressor clutch...so I now have several bread bag clips and will need to review how to use these to shim the clutch.
After this, I think the car is ready to go!!

[MadeInJapan]

I just tested the gap and it's right at 0.03, and not much I can close the gap, even with a screwdriver. So, for laughs and giggles, I tested the psi in the system...with it running I'm right at 24...so I add a can, and I'm only up to 26...hmmm... It's not hot here right now...a comfy 68 degrees outside. I think I'll go buy another can of R-134A and see if this takes care of it. I'm thinking the AC compressor does not need to be shimmed- I'm just low on gas. Of course, who knows if this A/C will hold pressure but for it to have held 24 in it, I'm thinking it does. Things do concern me though that adding a can only lifted the PSI's by 2 PSI...Thinking out loud here. I'm gonna go to the Big Lots here and buy more gas and some small zip ties too just in case.

[MadeInJapan]

A/C problem appears to be solved!! The pressure was just too low...added another can and it seems to be holding steady at almost 28psi now...it hasn't been that hot so I think that's good.

Other issue is it's rained, and rained and rained...I await a day that the humidity is below 50% so I can finally paint the roof!!

[MadeInJapan]

So, I prepped and attempted to paint the roof just over a week ago. I had painted the bumpers where they were peeling too so I was concerned that I might not have enough paint to do the job. Sure enough, I didn't. So, I reordered paint immediately and it came while I was away from town. Again, there's been rain so I can't do much else until humidity subsides. In the meantime, the family and I are off to the beach for a week. Will wet sand and finish up the roof when I get back from the beach. Just thought I would add a picture of the roof so far:

I'll have an entire can of paint to devote to the roof and then I think I'm finished with this car!!

[scot850]

I tackled the front bumper but ran out of the 2 part clear coat and the supplier was out of stock. Not entirely happy with the finish but maybe when I get back from vacation some wet sanding and buffing/polishing may improve the finish a bit.

Looking good on your project and good luck with the next can finishing it off!

Neil.

[MadeInJapan]

Thanks Neil.

[MadeInJapan]

So, I've been in and out of town all summer and a de-masting of my sailboat and having to work on getting that repaired (sheathing the mast by welding airplane aluminum around the break) has kept me from this project, but then I got a call asking if I was still interested in selling this S70. I prepped and painted (finally) the roof of the car over the last several days. I kept waiting for a day where humidity was under 50% and it finally came on Monday. So, I got the roof finished. It's an okay job- tried to clean and then wax the roof afterwards but not really happy with the results. The wax didn't seem to all come off and left a oxidized look. With elbow grease that comes off too but hard work with buffing. Any suggestions here? should I "degrease" and use some different wax? I went with the traditional Turtle wax in a coaster looking container. Also, after the young lady came over to look at the car, we went for a test drive...all was good until the AC quit working after about 10 mins on the road. I came home and shimmed the clutch plate with bread clips and super glued them in place. I think this solved the problem (finger's crossed). So, I'm uploading a couple of pictures of when I painted the roof- first one is the prep and second is the outcome, for what it's worth.

Prepping to Paint.JPG (174.23 KiB) Viewed 1316 times

Painted.JPG (190.53 KiB) Viewed 1316 times

[scot850]

Maybe you waxed it before it was fully dry. I am no paint expert, but unless you dry it in an oven, I'd leave it for a couple of weeks before trying to wax a new paint job.

As to sorting it, I'm not sure what to suggest as any normal cleaner/chemical may make it worse. Need someone with paint knowledge who may know the answer. bmdubya1198 if I recall did some paintwork on his car. Maybe he will chip in?

Only other suggestion would be to try a buffing mop to see if you can buff it off rather than elbow grease?

Neil.

[bmdubya1198]

I left my paint for a week or two before waxing it. Within a couple days I sanded and compounded/polished it, then I went over it again about a week and a half later and waxed it.
To degrease it, the only thing I can think of that MIGHT be gentle enough for fresh paint is dish soap. You would have to be careful with what you use on it, obviously.