Primed for Paint

Checked in with SMS today to see how the car was getting on. It will hopefully be ready for collection in a couple of weeks as its already primed with all the prep work completed.

I knew SMS had a good name when I sent the car there but I have to state I'M IMPRESSED!!

The quality and attention to detail of the prep work is amazing. They have smoothed in the nose cones and the lower wings like they were part of the moulded body and the extra attention to getting the gapping right (even building up the main moulded bodywork to close gaps) is just what you need from your painter to ensure the final product is as good as it can be.

After seeing this I have high hopes for a few weeks time when I get to see the car again!

Time for some colour

I have decided its time to go for it and send it off for paint. The chosen colour is Jaguar Odyssey Red with no stripes (because the Mrs thinks it will make it look like a tube of toothpaste).

It should look something like below:

Once complete I'll add pictures but it'll take a few weeks as it will only arrive at the paint shop today.

Hopefully it will be early December when it arrives back, but as I have a holiday coming up it may be the new year before I can take delivery back. Rest assured, the moment its back I'll let everyone see what it looks like.

EDIT: the car received minor damage in transport! a slight crack on the lower valance and a hole ripped in the oil filter. The transport company (Grim Salvage) were great and had already paid SMS Autospray to correct the crack before they called me to ask which oil filter and oil they needed to send to replace the damage. SMS were happy it was minor and I wouldn't even know it had ever happened by the time they had finished with it.

It goes to show that problems can't always be prevented but the real measure of customer service is how its dealt with when they do arise. Despite the issues I will use this transport company to bring it back - albeit on a trailer rather than the transporter so its easier to get on an off!

Last few jobs before paint

This week was a mad rush to get the car ready before I strip it for paint. A couple of key jobs were on the list.

1) Door locks and wooden blocks.
I found that the locks and AK bolts don't quite fit together and the lock holes will require some drilling out to all movement when fitting. Also, when the lock wedges are put in place the door panel doesn't quite sit flush. I spoke to Jon at AK about this and he said because its usually wood above the wedge bolt he cuts the door panel short and then carpets over it.

Progress so far:

The important thing is so get a basic door gap correct (the paint shop will do the rest) and ensure that when you p38/p40 bond everything together that the door is as flush with the body as possible and not touched until completely dry.

2) Washer Jet test
This didn't go so well. I'm using the S&J jets which are really nice jets and I had put them where AK recommend. The result is that they fire water clean over the top of the screen and into the drivers footwell; not great for IVA or for keeping me dry whilst driving!

I filled the holes and moved them closer to the screen (right next to the bulkhead) and they still barely hit the screen so I'll need to find a way to point them down further or replace them when it comes back from paint.

3) Windscreen wipers
I also have a small issue with the windscreen wipers. Whenever I switch them on they work but wont switch off again!. Jon at AK pointed out that the two blades in the relay block which look like fuses are actually diodes and they need to be in the right way around (I had taken them out to fit the block). See the picture below - the diodes have a small notch in one side (hard to see but its at the bottom of the diode in the pic). I didn't find this out until yesterday when at AK so I'll have to check this when it comes back from paint.