Sunbaked '76 Cali 280z

Robotsan

Robotsan

Club Member
Well, I have successfully found a worse job than the floors. Laying on my back, sanding the roof is really, really shit.

I was just aiming to give it a light sand to remove the stuck on fibres from the old headliner, but then noticed there was surface rust hiding amongst it. So I'm having to grind back the entire roof! Top tip: in case you were considering it - don't upholster cars with shagpile carpet, because it evidently traps moisture.

I guess I'll have to apply rust converter, then prime and paint the bloody roof now as well?!

My seat:

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Halfway done:

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Bit of pitting visible:

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Robotsan

Robotsan

Club Member
uk66fastback said:
You’re doing a thorough job, for sure. Great work! Get the rough bits done while the weather’s decent, you won’t want to be out there in February …

Unless you have a heated garage of course.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I just know I won't be able to enjoy the car if I feel like I've left any rust in that interior. Wasn't expecting it on the roof though!

Oh and does this count?!

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Robotsan

Robotsan

Club Member
Btw, can anyone tell me, once I've added some Hydrate 80 rust converter to the roof, should I really epoxy primer and paint it with hammerite too, like I did the floors? It'll obviously be covered by the sound insulation and headlining. So not sure if I can just leave it as primer?
 
Robotsan

Robotsan

Club Member
And also got some vinyl samples from a company called I Want Fabric who are in Salford. Really pleased with the quality and price - better value (and website!) than Martrim.

Settled on this perforated 3mm foam backed stuff for the headlining and the diamond pattern for the trans tunnel and riser, etc. The latter is only £9 a metre, compared to £24 for the same thing from Martrim.

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jonbills

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
Robotsan said:
And also got some vinyl samples from a company called I Want Fabric who are in Salford. Really pleased with the quality and price - better value (and website!) than Martrim.

Settled on this perforated 3mm foam backed stuff for the headlining and the diamond pattern for the trans tunnel and riser, etc. The latter is only £9 a metre, compared to £24 for the same thing from Martrim.

View attachment 54056
Click to expand...
Who are the company in Salford? I might pay them a visit next week.
 
Robotsan

Robotsan

Club Member
Managed to find an hour after work to get the roof coated with the hex mat stuff. Heated it with a hairdryer this time to make sure it wouldn't fall off the roof!

Should be able to get the closed cell foam up there at the weekend and maybe even make the headlining if I order it soon.

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Robotsan

Robotsan

Club Member
Got all the closed cell foam up over the weekend. Tricky stuff to use .. sticks instantly and does not come off without tearing. Managed it without any disasters though. I've cut the headlining out but chickened out of installing it today as I'm hungover and have learned not to tackle such things in this state.

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Robotsan

Robotsan

Club Member
Bit more work elsewhere on the interior while I avoid doing the headliner for a bit longer..

Removed most of the old glue on the riser, sanded down and applied a bit of rust converter where there were specs of surface rust. Then decided to fill these bits in the riser to use up some spare bits of the hex mat. Probably won't have much of an effect!

PXL_20221027_171307150.jpg

Then covered it all in closed cell foam anyway..

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Robotsan

Robotsan

Club Member
Finally took the plunge and installed the headliner today. Girlfriend needed quite a bit of persuading to help, but she did, and it was essential.

We stuck it up in the middle and then worked from the middle out. Was all going well until I got to the front left corner of my side, where I found I couldn't get it to lie flat. Girlfriend suggested that it just needed gluing and it would be ok.

However, as I know best, I decided that there was too much material and some needed trimming off. Turns out one of us was correct, and not the one I would prefer. It was pretty dark in that corner and I didn't think to shine a torch in there to check.. so I ended up cutting off too much, leaving a little gap 😭

So I've had to cut a little filler bit to stick in the gap 😂

Elsewhere, I think I applied too much glue and it's come through the foam backing a bit, making a weird undulation, and there's also a slight ripple towards the back. As with all things like this, I got better towards the end, so the right hand side is better than the left.

It's just going to be one of those things that's better than what I started with, and will do for now.. but maybe I'll pay a professional to re-do properly in the future.

From a distance and without direct light, it looks ok really!:

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With direct light you can see a few little undulations though. But how often are you going to shine a direct light on your roof? Not many.

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Annoying dent from too much glue or something:

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And here's my handwork patching in a little additional patch to cover the gap in the corner. At least I got the perforation pattern lined up! 😂

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Bollocks. Ah well, it was really ****ing hard and I had a go! The rest of the interior should be easier from here, right?..
 
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