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Re: 1987 480 ES Project -- D-reg, 2nd oldest in UK
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 11:11 am
by Rachel
Looks amazing James!
Re: 1987 480 ES Project -- D-reg, 2nd oldest in UK
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 1:04 pm
by dragonflyjewels
I've never owned anything with perfect paint like a new car. It is going to be nerve wracking leaving it anywhere now.
You wait til you start driving it and worrying about stone chips ! I was a nervous wreck in Snazzy when I first got her back !!
Re: 1987 480 ES Project -- D-reg, 2nd oldest in UK
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 3:18 pm
by MisterH
Looks amazing! Will be interesting to see how the patina develops...
Re: 1987 480 ES Project -- D-reg, 2nd oldest in UK
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 7:53 pm
by Jay-Kay-Em
Looks really nice... fresh paint and new lenses... cloud 9!
Re: 1987 480 ES Project -- D-reg, 2nd oldest in UK
Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2020 8:37 pm
by Alan 480
MisterH wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2020 3:18 pm
Looks amazing! Will be interesting to see how the patina develops...
is that a posh name for 'turns pink' ?
seriously that does look very nice, you'll be feart to take it out on road unless dry ??
Re: 1987 480 ES Project -- D-reg, 2nd oldest in UK
Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2020 6:09 pm
by dcwalker
Put bluntly, James, that looks beautiful!!
I know I was a bit unsure when we spoke about the red bumpers, but I have to say, now, "good call!"
I very much look forward to seeing it in due course...
All the best
David
Re: 1987 480 ES Project -- D-reg, 2nd oldest in UK
Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2021 3:30 pm
by jamescarruthers
There is finally movement on my car again. I have a headlining once more and the windscreen will be going in very soon. The Celebration breaker has provided the boot release cables which got damaged when welding.
I gave the original material to get a rough colour match but it is now a bit lighter which isn't such a bad thing in my book.
Believe it or not the crashed Lake's 480, which has probably helped more cars than any other car, also donated its non-sunroof headlining to this car to enable the abomination that was the butchered original to be finally binned. It was cut far too large and than had material glued in the gap although this is all I had to work with on re-trim number 1! I also pulled the material from the Lake's car for a colour match: it is now slightly lighter possibly, but behind the plastic trim it looked a good few trims lighter originally compared to the exposed fabric and the years of dirt getting in.
Re: 1987 480 ES Project -- D-reg, 2nd oldest in UK
Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2021 4:13 pm
by MisterH
Oh James this is shaping up to be one of the best out there, another case of something 'not looking too bad' but when seeing the ongoing transformation what a difference it makes. Didn't realise the sunroof was that early...
Re: 1987 480 ES Project -- D-reg, 2nd oldest in UK
Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2021 6:09 pm
by jamescarruthers
MisterH wrote: ↑Wed Mar 31, 2021 4:13 pm
Oh James this is shaping up to be one of the best out there, another case of something 'not looking too bad' but when seeing the ongoing transformation what a difference it makes. Didn't realise the sunroof was that early...
Thank you.
You are right to question the sunroof. What you usually see on later cars is the professionally installed at the factory “moon roof” which is named so because it doesn’t retract, just tilts. I’m not sure when that became available but it was a few years after mine.
What this car has is the optional extra dealer fitted Volvo sunroof. This is basically a cheap sunroof that they got a gorilla to fit with very little care and attention. Keith’s launch car has a similar dealer fit one although it must be from a different manufacturer as his handle is different. Both “original” but just aftermarket shite with a Volvo markup really.
The old roof lining was cut wrong and a fudge applied to cover this up, along with no protection to the cut edges and a headliner that was full of rusty metal swarf! I actually wish it didn’t have a sunroof at all as I never use it.
I did debate fitting a Webasto full length but am scared of leaks. My old F-reg had a beautiful aftermarket glass that retracted and tilted but at the expense of head room. Again I debated this but couldn’t justify the rather astronomical cost of something I don’t really like. I also thought about trying a roof transplant from the Lake’s non-sunroof crashed car but I realised I was getting silly at this point!
So, I’ve stuck with the awful dealer one but at least it is trimmed in to the headlining properly 34 years later on the second attempt! Oh, and don’t think I’m a genius, this was done by a proper car trimmer.
The trimmer from the first re-trim did warn me not to attempt any repairs with spray glue and that really a contact adhesive is the only way to go. Knowing how unforgiving contact adhesive is, it is best left to professionals as you only get one shot!
Re: 1987 480 ES Project -- D-reg, 2nd oldest in UK
Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2021 6:13 pm
by Norm57
I had one of those “awful” dealer ones and yes it leaked like hell
Re: 1987 480 ES Project -- D-reg, 2nd oldest in UK
Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2021 6:18 pm
by jamescarruthers
Norm57 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 31, 2021 6:13 pm
I had one of those “awful” dealer ones and yes it leaked like hell
Although my car is garaged, it doesn’t leak thankfully and it’s been on enough missions up north for testing in the year or so it was on the road before restoration number two. Counting my blessings here but really it’s a pointless liability to have this sunroof. I can’t stand the noise when it’s open.
Re: 1987 480 ES Project -- D-reg, 2nd oldest in UK
Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2021 6:19 pm
by jifflemon
Probably too late now, but if you ever did want to "off with it's head", 312 has a nice none sunroof roof skin... In fact, its probably one of the only saveable panels!
Re: 1987 480 ES Project -- D-reg, 2nd oldest in UK
Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2021 6:21 pm
by jamescarruthers
I think I remember reading on here that it is just glued on, but I’m sure I saw spot welds and then thought “nah!”
Also, there’s is a strenghtning bar that moves from moonroof to non-moonroof cars and I think this would have been in the way.
It would be interesting to note the position between 312 without a moonroof and a moonroof equipped car to really see what the difference in strengthener is and how they did the change.
Re: 1987 480 ES Project -- D-reg, 2nd oldest in UK
Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2021 6:30 pm
by MisterH
jamescarruthers wrote: ↑Wed Mar 31, 2021 6:09 pm
MisterH wrote: ↑Wed Mar 31, 2021 4:13 pm
Oh James this is shaping up to be one of the best out there, another case of something 'not looking too bad' but when seeing the ongoing transformation what a difference it makes. Didn't realise the sunroof was that early...
Thank you.
You are right to question the sunroof. What you usually see on later cars is the professionally installed at the factory “moon roof” which is named so because it doesn’t retract, just tilts. I’m not sure when that became available but it was a few years after mine.
What this car has is the optional extra dealer fitted Volvo sunroof. This is basically a cheap sunroof that they got a gorilla to fit with very little care and attention. Keith’s launch car has a similar dealer fit one although it must be from a different manufacturer as it the handle is different. Both “original” but just aftermarket shite with a Volvo markup really.
The old roof lining was cut wrong and a fudge applied to cover this up, along with no protection to the cut edges and a headliner that was full of rusty metal swarf! I actually wish it didn’t have a sunroof at all as I never use it.
I did debate fitting a Webasto full length but am scared of leaks. My old F-reg had a beautiful aftermarket glass that retracted and tilted but at the expense of head room. Again I debated this but couldn’t justify the rather astronomical cost of something I don’t really like. I also thought about trying a roof transplant from the Lake’s non-sunroof crashed car but I realised I was getting silly at this point!
So, I’ve stuck with the awful dealer one but at least it is trimmed in to the headlining properly 34 years later on the second attempt! Oh, and don’t think I’m a genius, this was done by a proper car trimmer.
The trimmer from the first re-trim did warn me not to attempt any repairs with spray glue and that really a contact adhesive is the only way to go. Knowing how unforgiving contact adhesive is, it is best left to professionals as you only get one shot!
Yes I can see it may be a big letdown to have a shoddy roof installed. I must say with the Rover it has been nice having a sunroof, if only to amuse my friends most of whom forgot they existed as a thing. I am not sure what difference it would make to a 480, it is quite small in there, but it also gets very very hot as it is, so extra glass might not help, but then, ventilation is awful standard
Re: 1987 480 ES Project -- D-reg, 2nd oldest in UK
Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2021 6:41 pm
by jifflemon
jamescarruthers wrote: ↑Wed Mar 31, 2021 6:21 pm
I think I remember reading on here that it is just glued on, but I’m sure I saw spot welds and then thought “nah!”
Also, there’s is a strenghtning bar that moves from moonroof to non-moonroof cars and I think this would have been in the way.
It would be interesting to note the position between 312 without a moonroof and a moonroof equipped car to really see what the difference in strengthener is and how they did the change.
Well, I'll be renewing Henry's headlining soon, so I'll be able to get shots of both inner skins and the strengthening bar - I suspect its identical simply from the point of it's where the interior light screws into!
Re: 1987 480 ES Project -- D-reg, 2nd oldest in UK
Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 2:35 pm
by jifflemon
Moon Roof
Re: 1987 480 ES Project -- D-reg, 2nd oldest in UK
Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 2:47 pm
by jifflemon
Tin Top
Re: 1987 480 ES Project -- D-reg, 2nd oldest in UK
Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 3:05 pm
by jifflemon
You can see the same roof bar on both cars - On the sunroof car, the sliding tray sits underneath it.
Re: 1987 480 ES Project -- D-reg, 2nd oldest in UK
Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 4:01 pm
by dcwalker
James
That car if yours is shaping up to be the best there is - well done to you sir, and I very much look forward to seeing it for real!
My first 1988 480 had the optional sunroof, and it always leaked. As I recall water would seep under the back edge: tightening the screw type handle a touch more would stop that, but by then it was so tightly clamped down at the rear, water seeped in under the front edge instead!
The 440 has a factory fit slide and tilt; drove home yesterday with it wide open and that brought a smile to my face!
David
Re: 1987 480 ES Project -- D-reg, 2nd oldest in UK
Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 6:01 pm
by Jay-Kay-Em
From someone who has attempted to re-trim a headlining, yours looks amazing. Top job.