Iain's 2013 S2 Exterior restoration - full repainting.

[Mikes2esprit1979]

Fabtastic photo good chap and a great looking S2 you have

[iainskea]

Thanks guys, she's come up pretty nice.

[Tocus]

Very Nice picture!!!!!!! so nice that i use the picture for my facebook page,

Thank you, (only my S2 is grey LOL.. hahah)

[iainskea]

Thanks Tocus, what an honour for my car!

[vintaylor]

Hi Iain,

 

Would you be able to tell me what this boot board is used for ?  And if its the same one as mine (mine looks slightly different and I don't have a matching carpet for it)

 

Could this be used to cover the rear boot spring mechanism area?  If so, it looks like one side is missing on mine :/

 

 

[iainskea]

Hi Vin, that board (circled) lays at the rear of the boot with the cutout for the battery. I covered it separately with carpet. Having seen a couple of other boot pics since, mine is not as per original would say. One pic has no board and just carpet there loosely, looks right.

[mayevora]

Late catching up on this one - Great job Iain. Looks stunning.

[iainskea]

Thanks Mate, well worth the effort - I learned so so much in the process

My son took this pic, nice!

This pic has been immortalised in the rotating pics banner on Steve Taylor's Lotus Marques website - well chuffed!

http://lotusmarques.com (you have to refresh a few times to see my car pic ha ha)

[vintaylor]

Hi Iain,

 

I didn't find a matching carpet for this anyways.  I'll probably have the boot board re-done and then when it comes to putting back together, I'll try and figure out where this boot board should fit and if I am missing anything

[iainskea]

Ok, I have to finish this project and get the car registered! It should be driven around for people to stare at, not hidden in my workshop

Came real close before Xmas but it got so damn hot it became really unenjoyable - came close to selling it. Now it is cooling down and I am sneaking looks at the car under its cover. I don't know about anyone else, but this last 5% is taking 95% of the effort.

Come on, I can do this!!

Iain

[vintaylor]

why not upload a list of the target objectives and start ticking them off with photo evidence on this thread ?

 

We're all routing for you to get this esprit up and running         

[iainskea]

... Just visualise this with plates!

[vintaylor]

you are soo close!! I'm still way off having the car in that condition..

 

What's left to do on the car?

[iainskea]

A top idea Vin!

1. Speedo cable short - replacement/fix

2. Door interiors tidied up and fitted

3. Exhaust flange sealed

4. Inspection

5. Plates!

Progress pics to follow.

Thanks Vin.

[vintaylor]

Speedo cable can be sourced from Sj

 

SPEEDO CABLE Series 2

 

A079N6030F EACH 35.60

SPEEDO CABLE
Very late S2 only with one piece cable.

 

A079N6034F EACH 48.88

 

Are door interiors referring to the door cards?

Here's the short speedo cable

 

SPEEDO CABLE, SHORT

 

B079N6020F EACH 29.99

[iainskea]

It's the short cable that plugs into the gearbox, and SJs has been out of them for over 4 months - back order, back order is all I get. Going to try and have it repaired locally.

The door interiors is just seeing if I can dye the material a little darker back from faded green to brown. Then pop them back on.

[johnpwalsh]

Door card's, a friend of mine used a spray on shoe polish to get a better colour and they look first class.

[vintaylor]

what about something like this ?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25ml-JAR-DYLON-FABRIC-CLOTHES-PERMANENT-PAINT-SOFT-DYE-/390330585818?pt=UK_Crafts_DrawingSupplies_EH&var=660031651485&hash=item5ae18412da

[peteyg]

If you're talking about the alcantara the use shoe dye but make sure it's for SUEDE, then you keep the softness of the material. Someone I know used leather shoe dye and it's all gone hard.

 

Here mine redyed:

 

[iainskea]

Ok, workshop tidied up and ready to go!

Officially, my project was an 'exterior paint job', but I'll see it through to Registered on the road

Door covers before-shot. Some issues are the speakers fitted, faded covering and some torn/missing material. Some screw holes around the speakers too.

I am keen to give it a 'recovery' and if it looks rubbish, I'll buy some material. I'll give the dye a go - I recall years ago doing this to one of the doors (which explains why one is slightly less faded). Thoughts very welcome

[iainskea]

Thanks for the leads, I ordered the 500mm of dye ($32), taped up the leather and dabbed away with hopefully an even coverage.

Gloves essential and ventilation as it was spirit's-based.

It took about 4 hours to dry and I went over it with a dry cloth to brush the material. The slight wear points have been almost concealed, so it's looking like a hopeful easy tidy up.

Pics:

Now for the rest of the dash.

[t70]

Lookin great!

[iainskea]

Ok, completely disastrous result in the car - it looks like there was a fire and everything is smokey black, sigh sigh sigh

I actually miss the line green.

Now for plan B, whatever that is.

.... Days like these

[LOTUSMAN33]

Hi Iain

I am sure it is not that bad, you may have gone slightly too dark but in your climate I am sure it will lighten. Have you tried a suede brush to agitate the material as suede often looks better when brushed?

Dave

[iainskea]

Thanks Dave, yeah the doors look great and I have a brush - I think it could be the contrast change, not sure. I'll give it some time to get used to and have another look. I'll post some pics next weekend, people can say 'eeek' if they see what I still see then ha ha.

Iain.