Well the extra coats didn't happen as I found loads of moisture blisters, a consequence of water in the air lines caused, I think, by recent cold temps followed by me turning the oil fired heater up high, end result, condensation in the air lines. So plan B.
After purging the air system and fitting an extra water trap to the spray gun I laid down 2 good thick coats to the bulkhead area. Very orange peely but I'm not bothered as:
A. Hopefully the amount of shiny stuff will draw the eye.
B: I would rather have some thick paint coverage in the bulkhead area to help resisting stone chips etc.
So now I can concentrate on getting the engine bay finished and then just mask it off at the seal area to paint the car when the mood takes me. Hopefully this will also accelerate getting an MOT! Oh and its a major moral booster fitting stuff up!
Brake master cylinders and brake fluid reservoirs fitted
Note that I am now changing the description of the paint finish in the engine bay from orange peel to "stonechip" after seeing this pic!
5mm Ali cross member fitted for the bottom of the radiator, note that to fit the Civic racing rad I had to ermmmmm clearance the returns of the chassis rail.
The clearancing can be seen clearer here, it involved a couple of slits to the flange and then some gentle persuasion with a specialist clearancing tool (Hammer)
Someone who shall remain nameless (Dave) doesn't know the difference between touch dry and lean on it with your bare hands dry as can be seen by the paw print here! Luckily its under the battery so meh...
Didn't want the hassle of removing nuts and bolts to change the battery so have fitted the bolts from underneath with stainless washers and plain nuts and some super Loctite.
Obviously this now means that the battery holder will sit too high so just space the battery up using some rubber sheet.
6 stainless nylocks later and the battery is permanently fitted but can be removed in about 2 minutes without having to gain access to the underneath of the scuttle.
Also painted the radiator cross member and started fitting the first of 2 fake milspec bulkhead connectors for the front wiring.
More tomorrow
TTFN
Mac