So far I have removed the roof and roof sides. Then I stripped off the paint from the outside surfaces.
I did this by putting the parts on saw horses and using Jasco paint remover. At first I just tried using it like described on the can, but that was not cutting it. Land Rover paint really holds up well against Jasco! Then I went to my local ACE Hardware and bought a stripper thingy that has a handle and a replaceable green scrubb/stripper pad.
Neither of these are affected by tha Jasco. How I used them was to pour the Jasco on the paint and then scrubb it into the paint. The paint came off fairly quickly from the roof and sides. Maybe that was due to all the UV exposure over the years.
During the cleaning process I found that my roof leaked and I have sourced a 2 part sealer used in the auto body industry. I will use this around the rain gutter since I wire brushed all the sealant out of it. I will also use it on the seam that goes across the front of the sloping part of the roof. I removed the steel(rusting) pop rivets and will put in solid rivets. The roof sides are 2 88 sides bolted together and I will use the sealant on that joint also. It is available at automotive paint shops.
I have since removed both wings which were treated to the stripping process. Then I proceeded to pound out the dents as well as I could and straighten the hem(?) of the wheel arches. Then cleaned with just soap and water and primered with Duplicolor self etching primer. Both are now hanging on my back porch.
While all this was going on I obtained a primo bulkhead from Daniel on the Mendo-Recce elist. Thanks, Daniel!!
I stripped all the guages and linkages, wipers, windscreen, pipes and wires and Brian and I toted it down to Ian Kelly at Santa Cruz Metal Polishing so he could sandblast it prior to getting it galvanized. Removing the glue for the trim was the most difficult part requiring more Jasco and elbow grease! Now it sits next to the wings on my back porch. I have to weld up a hole put in by the PO(previous owner) and straighten the parcel tray prior to galvanizing.
The bonnet(hood) has been romoved and stripped of paint. The steel frame was removed this morning and taken down to Ian for blasting so it too can be galvanized. I am going to paint the bonnet flat black. I have a distaste for the reflection for the sun on the bonnet and I like the looks of the flat black bonnet on Ignotus(my 88).
The radiator, which was full of water not antifreeze, has been drained and removed and separated from the support panel. The support panel is removed and shows a big rust blister but is in otherwise great condition. I have aquired a better conditioned support panel that I have to strip and get blasted prior to the galvy process.
My seat base is out and in not the greatest of shape due to 2 cuts in the front panel above the tunnel and a side plate under the drivers seat needing replacement.
I have one already so it will be easy to just take out the pop rivets and properly (bolts) fix the replacement in. It will all have to go thru the Jasco stripping process....
Today I removed the galvanized strips on the load bed and removed the remaining lights and license plate. The bolts were so rusted on it that I had to grind them off. The rear door threshold was removed and all these bits will be cleaned with soap and water. The PO had a puddle of oil in the bed and it had gotten under the strips and kept leaking out. It needed a serious cleaning to be able to paint.
So the tub has to be unbolted at each end and the stays from the wheel arches to the frame removed then lifted off and paint stripped.
I am building a temporary paint booth in my front yard out of pvc and plastic sheet. I have pounded 6, 2 ft long 1/2in rods into the ground so we can make like a quonset hut type of structure to keep the redwood duff off while painting. Brian is going to do the painting as he is a retired auto painter who worked for several customizing shops.
I have decided on leaving the roof and roof sides the orginal Rover limestone color, the bonnet flat black and the rest of the body Catapiller yellow. I want to have the bulkhead and radiator panel painted even though they are galvanized.
It has been a long process with most of the heavy lifting yet to come. Once the tub is off I can pull the engine and tranny, put it up on jackstands and drop off the axles and springs, shocks. Remove any pipes and wiring, check fit the 2.5 DT motor as there may be an interference with the battery/air cleaner mount. I need to fix the rear cross member and check for rust issues elsewhere. Then it is time to take all the steel parts to Oakland to get galvanized.
Whew!!,,that's where I am now on the 109.
