I just sold a set of NOS mirrors still in the Ferrari boxes original down to the little clear decals on the glass. As rare as hens teeth which is why they sold for over 3 grand. Restoring the ones you have should not be terribly hard. You will have to paint them to get them even and the secret is as thin a layer of paint as you can. In North America we have a spray paint called Fusion made by Krylon. Is is special for plastic and works very well. You must use products for plastic or they fail quickly. With the correct prep you should be able to get the mirrors almost indistinguishable from new. If I were doing the job (with plenty of experience) I would budget at least 20 hours. This is not a scuff and paint. It is a LOT of work to get right.
I’m so glad you went for 100% full restoration and I love the detail you are putting in to this build. I hope the videos of this bring you some profit, above and beyond the joy/pain of the journey. It’s magnificent! Thank you for doing and covering it so well.
@@Ratarossa I don’t know or care if it was my input that got you to team up with and do that remote collaboration with Larry of AmmoNYC, but I’m also really glad that happened. Am I wrong the think that once you saw what was possible after that cleaning, it spurred you on to go full restoration? Regardless, I enjoy your content, so I hope your channel keeps growing.
All your black plastic bits just need a good cleaning and then a wipedown with Avalon King Ceramic coating. Restores the luster and shine to plastic as well as being a great multi-year paint protection.
I'm following this restoration since the very beginning, and it continuously blows my mind. The level of details is insane, down to every single nuts and bolts. This car will be a work of art.
For the price he paid for it, he has a lot of cash to play around with to get this car perfect. They fetch well over 250,000 and I think he paid way under 100k
@@Ratarossa weekly content & you will get there (I’m sure easier said than done) the BBi must have international viewers that carve regular updates .. can’t wait to see it finished.. surely it will be one of the best examples of a BBi .. keep up the good work 👍
For the mirror glass you could try finding same blue shade larger mirror from any car and have a glass shop cut it out for you, all you need is a paper stencil of the correct shape. For the steering rack parts, that rubber part at 7:30 looks like a regular shaft seal, it might even have the correct dimensions or manufacturer part number written on. A decent seal and o-ring shop should be able to help you out with that if you bring the old one with you.
Nice job. For the steering racks in the classic cars my grandad that was a mechanic used high quality CV joint grease the dark grey one anytime he repaired any of them. For the black trim the ceramic coating works wonders
For the mirror plastic; I’ve used Carpro cquartz dlux plastic and wheel coating on black plastic trim on the exterior of my car a few times and it’s incredible the results it achieves. Looks good as new, is hydrophobic and each coat will last over a year. Might be a quicker, cheaper fix for you if you wanted to test it on something less valuable first 😅
Liquid black Cherry Blossom shoe polish in the sponge applicator bottle worked well for me on plastic bumpers. It lasted a long time too and was easy to top up if required. The heat gun works but gives a patchy finish and doesn't last very long.
Your best bet with those mirrors is to mask off the badge and gently wet sand them down any holes or pits use some plastic filler then get your guys to give them a nice coat of fresh paint they'll look new , ps avoid sanding where there's writing & numbers to keep it original as possible, it'll be a slow but careful job sanding but will be worth it bro.
The patience and tenacity you have shown in this video, hats off to you sir! Good to see how you refurbish even the smallest bits. The lights look brilliant.
For the mirrors, sanding it is. You could start with 400-600 sandpaper, and then going to 1000, 2000 and some block buffers afterwards. It will come out a bit shiny, but it's gonna look pretty. It's almost the same process as sanding a model kit.
For the mirrors I like Upol #11 Trim flat black, this stuff doesnt spray like cheap paint you find off the shelf. It lays on thick with just one or two coats and looks oem
Really impressed with how the metal polish and steel wool worked on the chrome. The car is really coming together. So excited to see the finished product!
For black plastics I usually use a hot air paint stripper gun it brings the natural oils in black plastic back to the surface (but has to get to a semi molten state) but never done it on something so hard to replace. Always start with least damaging method first and work your way up, peanut oil or silicon oil works temporarily.
About the mirrors. Some 512 BBi´s had Vitaloni Californias. They look so much better and go with the lines of the body better. And can be found NOS. If you absolutely want to keep those Fiat Ritmo mirrors. (also much cheaper on e-bay with Ferrari stickers, they are the same..)Because that is what they are... First clean with some good solvent with a toothbrush and then use Owatrol Poletrol. I have in my 35 years of restoring and fixing cars never found a better product for restoring old plastic and getting it back to life. Love your just get stuck in it attitude and enjoy every video immensely. Keep at it!
Yet another brilliant video in this amazing series. The transformation of those lights is simply astounding! I can't begin to imagine from these short videos just how many hours of hard work, not to mention skill, goes into achieving the end results, but by god they're worth it. They are consistently spectacular. Regarding your comments about car concours, I really hope you enter the finished BBi into at least one. I'd be simply staggered if it didn't win.
Not a chance! He is going to have to make his own pin for that steering rack, and the car will be disqualified because the judges will find that non-original Ferrari part. 😀
@@douglasburnside …Concours judging doesn’t disassemble a car’s steering rack to ensure all original Ferrari parts - especially TINY key pins that are hidden inside. Judging is accomplished by verifying the visually exposed parts & pieces, and how accurately they are to the original factory build. They never disassemble a vital component to judge the internal mechanisms, pal…
You are doing an amazing job. I have seen so many companies restore cars by replacing parts. I have never seen anyone restore as many original parts as you have. On the mirrors you can try Back to Black. It's like a tire shine. It's made to restore black plastic.
nice work! dont heat up the mirrors. yes plastic restores its color with heat but the heat takes out the oils inside and it dries up and then cracks. use backtoblack or something like that. AmmoNYC has some good plastic restore stuff :) better to treat it 2-3x a year instead of heat/paint
Looks like they dropped some of the name but I started using "Autosol Solvol" as far back as 1978, to polish the chrome on my various motorbikes. Still got some of the older stuff in the garage and it's my goto for metal polishing. Epic but we are definitely well past the half way mark, my man!
I used autosol with a scouring pad on my plastic mirrors,it took a lot of polishing,finishing off with a cloth and then finished with meguiars ultimate black,came out mint! You basically have to remove the oxidised layer,could start with 800 grit wet & dry if it's really bad Loving the content, awesome eye for detail!
The mirrors/glass look like they are originally made by Vitaloni , there are various suppliers .. such as talbotco. It could be the same as their Baby Turbo model. You could check the exact match using a template for the size and shape if you only want to use the glass. I fitted Vitaloni mirrors to my Alfa GTV in 1985.
The way to renew plastic is through a heat gun. I have also seen plastic being dyed. My mate works on building sites and uses De Walt tools. He dyes all his De Walt tools bodies black. This helps him to keep an eye on his gear. Plus unlike just painting the bodies the dye soaks into the plastic.
This beauty is gonna be brand new when your done! Been watching from the start and still amazed at the details down to a little screw. Tru restoration. Cheers from across the pond! Btw I’ve been watching BAT auctions on these, you got one hell of an investment doing it yourself!
I have a Dino 308 of the same vintage and same rack; and I show in my workshop manual to use 90 W gear oil. Once you assemble the rack, with the gaters on the ends securely in place with hose clamps, you can fill the oil through the opening for the pinion gear. The cover plate should need shims to get the proper tension on the rack. I will email you the pages from the manual for my 308 and it will give you an idea how to set it up.
As for the steering rack pin.. just dril lit up to the next size tap and drill ans use a set screw with locktight ... will make it more serviceable too
Mate don't use the heat gun trick on those mirrors, it's a used car dealership scam. They look good for a week or so then they fade back MUCH worse than they were originally. Best thing I've found for plastics like that is GTechniq C4 Permanent Trim Restorer. It's a ceramic product that brings the finish back to new and lasts years even with daily driving. I used it on the bumpers of my Lotus Esprit five years ago and it hasn't needed to be touched ever again. I also used it on the matte plastic lower trim cladding of my '90s Mercedes -- which gets daily driven, exposed to the elements, and taken through automatic car washes -- and I only need to reapply every two years at the max. For a car like this which is going to be garaged and properly looked after, my guess is a single application would be permanent. It's a great product (I'm sure there are similar from other manufacturers) and definitely the way to go. If it were my car, that's what I'd try straight away. After that your only other option would be to repaint with plastic paint. Those can work really well also when properly applied but it's a more drastic modification and really should be applied by a professional. I'd try the ceramic first and see if you're happy with the result.
The dowel Pins from the collars on the rack ends can be replaced with mild steel dowel rod. The ball seats on the end do not look too badly worn but are a common part in many manual racks, so unless they’re broken they can be reused. The rack boots should be the same length use the ones that do not crush too soon and limit your turning circle. Molybdenum grease is the best to use on the rack shaft the rack bush on the other end. Check the passenger side rack bush for its clearance on the shaft. If it is too loose it will rattle over bumps. This was my job as an apprentice mechanic. I have overhauled hundreds of different rack and pinions including Ferrari.
For the mirrors you're probably gonna need to go with black trim paint. The heat gun/blow torch trick is cool for beaters, but it doesn't last. They look beyond using something like back to black to treat also (although you could try that first).
If you can find a dry ice cleaning company they can restore the mirrors to like new of the surface isn’t scratched up. If you look at dryce nation’s RUclips channel he is the guy in the US for this type of service.
This build has a bit of the same vibe as Mark Evans back in the day rebuilding an old E-type Jag on the discovery channel. Sleek professional stuff where it matters and some honest shed magic elbow grease to boot.
The mirror bodies are identical to early vitaloni Peugeot 205 ones, just a different base added. Not sure on glass colours but more options nonetheless.
You can use a standard roll pin. Just match outside diameter. Roll pins are slightly oversize and compress when inserted which keeps them in place. They can be trimmed to length.
For the mirrors...sand and polish with something like PlastiX might get them back, but the reality is that prepping and painting them an appropriate matte black is probably going to yield the best result.
Cam Gears/TRW made steering racks for a lot of common vehicles. Just a quick google and I found a very similar locking pin and plastic cup for the outer ball off a Ford Escort/Capri. I'm sure you will find the parts locally. The Escort and Capri seem to have one short boot and one long boot too.
Mirror plastic: If it’s gloss then sand away the uv damage first. Even out the whole surface to the same consistency. Sand it back to no less than 800 grit. Depending on the plastic I suspect it’s ABS or something similar. Use a paint stripper gun to brush over the surface with the intent to only flash soften the surface particles. Be ready with a lint free cloth and rub like mad. Repeat until you get control over the finish. Feed the finish with ceramic coating a few times at the end. If it’s a spark (Matt) finish then you have to play around with the heat gun after a rough sanding. Apply fast even strokes of heat across the whole body and don’t rub. You want to heat ‘collapse’ the plastic hairs evenly. It works depending on the plastic used. Hope you can sample test. Just remember when melting the surface the plastic has to be virgin clean! Somewhere on my channel I sand out a VFR800FI plastic windshield without heat. There are a few ways but you’ll do it I’m sure. Good luck 🤞
For the mirrors you should clean with isopropyl alcohol then use Solution Finish black trim restorer as a base coat, once the Solution Finish has cured properly apply The Last Coat (TLC) Ceratrim, great silicone free combo that is long lasting and above all original, no paint or excessive shine
For future reference that pin in the steering rack. the pin just needs to be drifted out ! Quite often in is a tapered pin and it comes out on the side that has the cross peened into it, so you have to knock it out from the other side with a drift punch and a hammer !
One thing I learned about cars, you can rebuild them from letting them sit (if not properly stored) or rebuild them from wear (driving them and enjoying the car). I choose the latter. (Note: I know Scott is not the one who let the car sit outside for years). Cheers!!
Yes I totally agree and every other one of my projects is exactly like that . This one is a little different and I'm actually enjoying all the fine little details making this one superb again .... hopefully I will do the car the justice it deserves.
I really like how you are back to doing this car & properly. What J would really like to see is what a professional restorer like Ian Tyrrell would say about this rebuild. He knows these inside and out. Perhaps something to do when it is finished.
Love the videos can’t wait to see it finished. As for the mirrors I have used a product called forever black with great success in the past. It is a pigment dye for anything plastic/vinyl have even dyed grey plastics to black with it. Wear gloves this stuff is permanent.
For the black plastic mirror parts, and any other exterior black plastics, I've only heard good things about Eastwood Plastic Bumper Restore & Resurfacer. It seems to properly restore the surface, rather that just put a temporary shiny coating on it. Frost sell it in the UK. Once the external plastics are restored I would also recommend providing them with a fresh UV protection coating. I use 303 Aerospace Protectant on both exterior and interior plastics. It dries to a flat, matt, finish.
I believe AMMO (who you have worked with before) may be a good resource to ask about this. IIRC they make a plastic restore compound but even if that isn't the ticket I am sure Larry may have some sage advice.
I cant really tell what the finish on those mirrors is, but it's worth trying Swarfega hand cleaner with a toothbrush before resorting to anything more abrasive or sanding and painting them. If they are black plastic there are several black plastic paints marketed as black plastic bumper paints as a last resort. Hope you are lucky with them!
I can't recommend ACF-50 anti-corrosion treatment enough for many of the plated metal parts. You can use it on any zinc and chrome plated parts and alloy, and it will help protect against oxidisation. Lasts 6-12 months at a time.
It looks like those of the Citroën CX (also fitted to Aston Martin, Lotus and other luxury cars) check if there is a match You could also make a scan of the mirror, correct the defects with the software and print it in 3D then glue the logo on. There is a repro one in Germany (160€) I don't know whether it can meet your expectations. Good luck for the future.
Standard practice is to pein the hole over after inserting a pin/dowl so that it can't come out, on the subject of bearings and seals a company we use where I work if Haley seals, they supply bearings and seals to industry. Hope this helps in the future
@ratarossa, 246, 308 & 512 and Pantera all share the same rack... the great news is the humble mk1 Mini is also the same... might help in your quest for spares👍
Rust oleum makes a plastic restorer spray that I have used on several projects restoring black abs style plastics. Sand the surfaces level and smooth. Apply spray. Be amazed. It literally makes things look brand new and stays that way. Not like a back to black treatment which fades.
All the time, energy, and detail you’ve put into this car is incredible! I have no doubt that this is going to turn out as one of the best examples of a BBI! Keep up the amazing work man👍
You are doing an amazing job on the BBi. Truly doing justice to this iconic vehicle. Bittersweet when you get it finished as the restoration process has been inspiring. How's the engine and gearbox going?
Great to see this beauty coming back to life, keep up the momentum - it’s the long dark winter nights that separates the committed from the dim witted. With regards to the lenses for those mirrors, would it not be possible to find the clear lenses and have coated in the correct shade of blue (like you would tint a window)? Just a thought. 🤔
My only clue on the mirrors might be to speak to vitolini in Italy who I believe also supplied Ferrari. Laser cut tinted glass is the other option of course....
Scott... I've worked for Halfords in my time and Summit are a company who cut glass to size for any car. It's a service they used to offer through Halfords. Just need a template. Go direct through Summit.
Scott, when it comes to bearings, if they have a number on them then you should be able to go to any decent bearing supplier give with it and they will be able to supply you with a new bearing for a fraction of the cost of sourcing them from the car manufacturer. The only exception to this that I am aware of is that is the number contains an "A" for Automotive, then this means you DO have to go to the manufacturer. I've had cause to do this numerous times, mostly when sourcing new diff bearings for a LSD and have always been successful. Typically a £30 bearing usually costs a fiver. Or nothing, if your supplier is used to dealing in bulk orders like mine is...
I had some genuine WRC mirrors I bought cheap for my old wide body GC8. The glass was broken (hence being cheap) but still all there. I took the glass out and took it to a local glazers and they cut me glass to size. Cost me less than a tenner.
Great video. With the mirrors, we have a similar problem with vintage motorcycle plastic fuel tanks. We use progressively finer sandpaper to restore them. It is a long a painstaking job. I'd be trying to find an old piece of similar plastic to try it on first though.
Unfortunately the mirrors have a slight texture to them and raised lettering that greatly complicates restoring then. Anything past a fine scuffing with an abrasive pad will permanently ruin their finish.
Persistent Satisfaction! Well done. Can't wait to see the final product although the journey is such a huge part of the experience. Can't buy that. Ferrari should sponsor this guy!
As another comment said, the steering rack securing pin should be a standard stainless steel pin sold at a good industrial supply store. You probably should see how far out of the housing the rack protrudes at then pick the short or long to fit.
Possibly a bit late for paint primer advice but unless dark colours always use a white primer. The red will look ‘happier’ 👌 Nice challenge. I’m enjoying this one thanks
Love the restoration its so satisfying restoring an original part and making it look as good as new! You see so many builds where people just buy a new one of everything. It's the little details that make a great restoration! Anyway I hate to go all health & safety on you but I would hate anyone to have an accident. Is it Owen well when he was using the bench grinder and polisher you should never wear a top with draw strings as they can easily be caught in the machinery. You can still wear a hoody we used to just take the drawstrings out so we could still wear them in winter.
Ceramic coat all those little chrome bits (headlights etc) to keep them nice and shiny, and any parts with surface rust…it isn’t going to hurt to have a bit of a barrier between the paint and the atmosphere. Those plastic lenses must be really fragile at this point from UV attack, i would be afraid to touch them much!
Simply Bearings should be able to help with the pin and a new seal for the rack. A steering rack specialist may be able to help with the cup or you could get a hold of some shims to go behind the cup and try different thickness shims until you get the right amount of drag on the steering rod. As that pin goes into the rack itself then you can't tighten down the inner rod end to take up any wear in the plastic cup.
For the black plastic on those mirrors, the best product I have ever used is called solution finish. Works very well on old black textured plastics. You can find it on amazon 👍
![[DRAGON BALL LEGENDS REVEALS ＆ STUFF] LEGENDS FESTIVAL 2024 Special Edition Part 2](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/af0phKxitX8/mqdefault.jpg)
Lovely watching a car come back to life...pure therapy in this frightening world that we are currently living in !
I just sold a set of NOS mirrors still in the Ferrari boxes original down to the little clear decals on the glass. As rare as hens teeth which is why they sold for over 3 grand. Restoring the ones you have should not be terribly hard. You will have to paint them to get them even and the secret is as thin a layer of paint as you can. In North America we have a spray paint called Fusion made by Krylon. Is is special for plastic and works very well. You must use products for plastic or they fail quickly. With the correct prep you should be able to get the mirrors almost indistinguishable from new. If I were doing the job (with plenty of experience) I would budget at least 20 hours. This is not a scuff and paint. It is a LOT of work to get right.
bene bene
I’m so glad you went for 100% full restoration and I love the detail you are putting in to this build. I hope the videos of this bring you some profit, above and beyond the joy/pain of the journey. It’s magnificent! Thank you for doing and covering it so well.
Thanks very much for the kind words
@@Ratarossa I don’t know or care if it was my input that got you to team up with and do that remote collaboration with Larry of AmmoNYC, but I’m also really glad that happened. Am I wrong the think that once you saw what was possible after that cleaning, it spurred you on to go full restoration? Regardless, I enjoy your content, so I hope your channel keeps growing.
All your black plastic bits just need a good cleaning and then a wipedown with Avalon King Ceramic coating. Restores the luster and shine to plastic as well as being a great multi-year paint protection.
I'm following this restoration since the very beginning, and it continuously blows my mind. The level of details is insane, down to every single nuts and bolts. This car will be a work of art.
Thanks buddy, and really appreciate the you following the build
For the price he paid for it, he has a lot of cash to play around with to get this car perfect. They fetch well over 250,000 and I think he paid way under 100k
I can't wait to see it back to its former glory...is gonna look stunning❤️
Me too!!
In 2027
"Former glory" may be a misnomer. I'm betting this is going to look far better than it ever did when brand new.
@@jamalwilkesbooth7190 can't rush these things bud
I really wanna see this channel grow and you get yourself a kick ass workshop mate 👌🏻
I would love that
@@Ratarossa weekly content & you will get there (I’m sure easier said than done) the BBi must have international viewers that carve regular updates .. can’t wait to see it finished.. surely it will be one of the best examples of a BBi .. keep up the good work 👍
The day he gets his first 4 post lift !
BUY MULLEN AUTOMOTIVE ( MULN ) BEFORE SPIKES !!!!!!
i,LLL DO THAT ;]
For the mirror glass you could try finding same blue shade larger mirror from any car and have a glass shop cut it out for you, all you need is a paper stencil of the correct shape.
For the steering rack parts, that rubber part at 7:30 looks like a regular shaft seal, it might even have the correct dimensions or manufacturer part number written on. A decent seal and o-ring shop should be able to help you out with that if you bring the old one with you.
Nice job. For the steering racks in the classic cars my grandad that was a mechanic used high quality CV joint grease the dark grey one anytime he repaired any of them.
For the black trim the ceramic coating works wonders
Have to say I was one who wanted you to keep it original, but hats off Scott...absolutely mega job.
For the mirror plastic; I’ve used Carpro cquartz dlux plastic and wheel coating on black plastic trim on the exterior of my car a few times and it’s incredible the results it achieves. Looks good as new, is hydrophobic and each coat will last over a year. Might be a quicker, cheaper fix for you if you wanted to test it on something less valuable first 😅
Liquid black Cherry Blossom shoe polish in the sponge applicator bottle worked well for me on plastic bumpers. It lasted a long time too and was easy to top up if required. The heat gun works but gives a patchy finish and doesn't last very long.
Your best bet with those mirrors is to mask off the badge and gently wet sand them down any holes or pits use some plastic filler then get your guys to give them a nice coat of fresh paint they'll look new , ps avoid sanding where there's writing & numbers to keep it original as possible, it'll be a slow but careful job sanding but will be worth it bro.
Yeah plastic filler and some paint. No way to get it back to original. Best to keep original, and use a plastic paint. Don't sand any more please
I disagree
@@pauledwards6446 what do you suggest?
@@pauledwards6446 There are special kinds of paint for this, the paint has evolved a lot you can even paint soft plastic.
The patience and tenacity you have shown in this video, hats off to you sir! Good to see how you refurbish even the smallest bits. The lights look brilliant.
For the mirrors, sanding it is. You could start with 400-600 sandpaper, and then going to 1000, 2000 and some block buffers afterwards. It will come out a bit shiny, but it's gonna look pretty. It's almost the same process as sanding a model kit.
For the steering rack, I would use molybdenum grease. The same as cv joint grease as its designed for metal to metal contact.
I was going to say the same, something like Red Line CV-2 Grease for the high pressure /shear on the helical gear and rack
For the mirrors I like Upol #11 Trim flat black, this stuff doesnt spray like cheap paint you find off the shelf. It lays on thick with just one or two coats and looks oem
Really impressed with how the metal polish and steel wool worked on the chrome. The car is really coming together. So excited to see the finished product!
For black plastics I usually use a hot air paint stripper gun it brings the natural oils in black plastic back to the surface (but has to get to a semi molten state) but never done it on something so hard to replace. Always start with least damaging method first and work your way up, peanut oil or silicon oil works temporarily.
About the mirrors. Some 512 BBi´s had Vitaloni Californias. They look so much better and go with the lines of the body better. And can be found NOS. If you absolutely want to keep those Fiat Ritmo mirrors. (also much cheaper on e-bay with Ferrari stickers, they are the same..)Because that is what they are... First clean with some good solvent with a toothbrush and then use Owatrol Poletrol. I have in my 35 years of restoring and fixing cars never found a better product for restoring old plastic and getting it back to life. Love your just get stuck in it attitude and enjoy every video immensely. Keep at it!
Yet another brilliant video in this amazing series. The transformation of those lights is simply astounding! I can't begin to imagine from these short videos just how many hours of hard work, not to mention skill, goes into achieving the end results, but by god they're worth it. They are consistently spectacular. Regarding your comments about car concours, I really hope you enter the finished BBi into at least one. I'd be simply staggered if it didn't win.
Not a chance! He is going to have to make his own pin for that steering rack, and the car will be disqualified because the judges will find that non-original Ferrari part. 😀
@@douglasburnside …Concours judging doesn’t disassemble a car’s steering rack to ensure all original Ferrari parts - especially TINY key pins that are hidden inside. Judging is accomplished by verifying the visually exposed parts & pieces, and how accurately they are to the original factory build. They never disassemble a vital component to judge the internal mechanisms, pal…
@@twoblacklabs904 those pins are just bright mild steel bar stock! that is all they were ever made of.
One of the ongoing joys of this channel is the gratuitous use of a Testarossa rear end as a work bench.
You are doing an amazing job. I have seen so many companies restore cars by replacing parts. I have never seen anyone restore as many original parts as you have. On the mirrors you can try Back to Black. It's like a tire shine. It's made to restore black plastic.
nice work!
dont heat up the mirrors. yes plastic restores its color with heat but the heat takes out the oils inside and it dries up and then cracks. use backtoblack or something like that.
AmmoNYC has some good plastic restore stuff :) better to treat it 2-3x a year instead of heat/paint
or maybe some good old fashioned boot polish and elbow grease? wont get rid of all the marks in the plastic but ill still look good when done
The side mirrors are probably made by Vitaloni. Try the Vitaloni Turbo style glass...they were big in the 80s!
Ahhh yes good point they are very similar indeed
Great video, literally every single nut and bolt in that car is getting love. Inspiring stuff.
When it's done this is going to be the best 512 in the world! First class restoration.
Looks like they dropped some of the name but I started using "Autosol Solvol" as far back as 1978, to polish the chrome on my various motorbikes. Still got some of the older stuff in the garage and it's my goto for metal polishing.
Epic but we are definitely well past the half way mark, my man!
I used autosol with a scouring pad on my plastic mirrors,it took a lot of polishing,finishing off with a cloth and then finished with meguiars ultimate black,came out mint!
You basically have to remove the oxidised layer,could start with 800 grit wet & dry if it's really bad
Loving the content, awesome eye for detail!
I love your attention to detail, it what makes this type of project even more special.
T.Y, always good to see an older, experienced mechanic/engineer using their skills to get the project on track again! 🙏🙏
Amazing fun watching this restoration; even relaxing watching you do all the hard work!
11:38 fantastic song
The mirrors/glass look like they are originally made by Vitaloni , there are various suppliers .. such as talbotco. It could be the same as their Baby Turbo model.
You could check the exact match using a template for the size and shape if you only want to use the glass.
I fitted Vitaloni mirrors to my Alfa GTV in 1985.
The way to renew plastic is through a heat gun. I have also seen plastic being dyed. My mate works on building sites and uses De Walt tools. He dyes all his De Walt tools bodies black. This helps him to keep an eye on his gear. Plus unlike just painting the bodies the dye soaks into the plastic.
This beauty is gonna be brand new when your done! Been watching from the start and still amazed at the details down to a little screw. Tru restoration. Cheers from across the pond! Btw I’ve been watching BAT auctions on these, you got one hell of an investment doing it yourself!
I have a Dino 308 of the same vintage and same rack; and I show in my workshop manual to use 90 W gear oil. Once you assemble the rack, with the gaters on the ends securely in place with hose clamps, you can fill the oil through the opening for the pinion gear. The cover plate should need shims to get the proper tension on the rack. I will email you the pages from the manual for my 308 and it will give you an idea how to set it up.
If you decide to paint the mirrors, I recommend using SEM 39143 trim paint, it’s made specifically for use on faded black plastic trim, metal also.
What an awsome job! You are really going the extra mile here. I'm sure it will pay off in the end. What a project. 😀
This is going to be the best BBi on the road by far, coming along great.
Thanks dude
Really should've used butyl rubber to seal those. Much easier to separate in future if needed.
FYI, that evapo-rust is reusable. Don't throw it out. You can use it a number of times.
Really .... thats great to know. Cheers for the tip
As for the steering rack pin.. just dril lit up to the next size tap and drill ans use a set screw with locktight ... will make it more serviceable too
Mate don't use the heat gun trick on those mirrors, it's a used car dealership scam. They look good for a week or so then they fade back MUCH worse than they were originally. Best thing I've found for plastics like that is GTechniq C4 Permanent Trim Restorer. It's a ceramic product that brings the finish back to new and lasts years even with daily driving. I used it on the bumpers of my Lotus Esprit five years ago and it hasn't needed to be touched ever again. I also used it on the matte plastic lower trim cladding of my '90s Mercedes -- which gets daily driven, exposed to the elements, and taken through automatic car washes -- and I only need to reapply every two years at the max.
For a car like this which is going to be garaged and properly looked after, my guess is a single application would be permanent.
It's a great product (I'm sure there are similar from other manufacturers) and definitely the way to go. If it were my car, that's what I'd try straight away.
After that your only other option would be to repaint with plastic paint. Those can work really well also when properly applied but it's a more drastic modification and really should be applied by a professional. I'd try the ceramic first and see if you're happy with the result.
The dowel
Pins from the collars on the rack ends can be replaced with mild steel dowel rod. The ball seats on the end do not look too badly worn but are a common part in many manual racks, so unless they’re broken they can be reused. The rack boots should be the same length use the ones that do not crush too soon and limit your turning circle. Molybdenum grease is the best to use on the rack shaft the rack bush on the other end. Check the passenger side rack bush for its clearance on the shaft. If it is too loose it will rattle over bumps. This was my job as an apprentice mechanic. I have overhauled hundreds of different rack and pinions including Ferrari.
For the mirrors you're probably gonna need to go with black trim paint. The heat gun/blow torch trick is cool for beaters, but it doesn't last. They look beyond using something like back to black to treat also (although you could try that first).
thanks dude
If you can find a dry ice cleaning company they can restore the mirrors to like new of the surface isn’t scratched up. If you look at dryce nation’s RUclips channel he is the guy in the US for this type of service.
@@funwithnumbers1he’s literally already had someone on his videos dry icing 😂
ruclips.net/video/_wkvNWAzNVo/видео.html&feature=shares
This build has a bit of the same vibe as Mark Evans back in the day rebuilding an old E-type Jag on the discovery channel. Sleek professional stuff where it matters and some honest shed magic elbow grease to boot.
The mirror bodies are identical to early vitaloni Peugeot 205 ones, just a different base added. Not sure on glass colours but more options nonetheless.
You can use a standard roll pin. Just match outside diameter. Roll pins are slightly oversize and compress when inserted which keeps them in place. They can be trimmed to length.
Awesome buddy, thats exactly the information I needed. Thanks so much
Really admire what you are doing here.
For the mirrors...sand and polish with something like PlastiX might get them back, but the reality is that prepping and painting them an appropriate matte black is probably going to yield the best result.
You are back with the BBi !!! - this is so inspiring and great to look at. I do learn from every episode I look at. Pls keep it up, you are great!
Loving watching the progress and details of it all. But desperate to see the final car. Conflicted!!
Cam Gears/TRW made steering racks for a lot of common vehicles. Just a quick google and I found a very similar locking pin and plastic cup for the outer ball off a Ford Escort/Capri.
I'm sure you will find the parts locally.
The Escort and Capri seem to have one short boot and one long boot too.
Mirror plastic: If it’s gloss then sand away the uv damage first. Even out the whole surface to the same consistency. Sand it back to no less than 800 grit. Depending on the plastic I suspect it’s ABS or something similar. Use a paint stripper gun to brush over the surface with the intent to only flash soften the surface particles. Be ready with a lint free cloth and rub like mad. Repeat until you get control over the finish. Feed the finish with ceramic coating a few times at the end. If it’s a spark (Matt) finish then you have to play around with the heat gun after a rough sanding. Apply fast even strokes of heat across the whole body and don’t rub. You want to heat ‘collapse’ the plastic hairs evenly. It works depending on the plastic used. Hope you can sample test. Just remember when melting the surface the plastic has to be virgin clean! Somewhere on my channel I sand out a VFR800FI plastic windshield without heat. There are a few ways but you’ll do it I’m sure. Good luck 🤞
For the mirrors you should clean with isopropyl alcohol then use Solution Finish black trim restorer as a base coat, once the Solution Finish has cured properly apply The Last Coat (TLC) Ceratrim, great silicone free combo that is long lasting and above all original, no paint or excessive shine
For future reference that pin in the steering rack. the pin just needs to be drifted out ! Quite often in is a tapered pin and it comes out on the side that has the cross peened into it, so you have to knock it out from the other side with a drift punch and a hammer !
One thing I learned about cars, you can rebuild them from letting them sit (if not properly stored) or rebuild them from wear (driving them and enjoying the car). I choose the latter. (Note: I know Scott is not the one who let the car sit outside for years). Cheers!!
Yes I totally agree and every other one of my projects is exactly like that . This one is a little different and I'm actually enjoying all the fine little details making this one superb again .... hopefully I will do the car the justice it deserves.
Nailed that!
@@Ratarossa if you sell it when its finished, hopefully the new owner will love and appreciate it as much as you have
No detail too small, nothing left to chance! The BBi will be soo gorgeous when it's done, can't wait to see and hear it! Awesome job as always! 🤩🤩🤩
I really like how you are back to doing this car & properly. What J would really like to see is what a professional restorer like Ian Tyrrell would say about this rebuild. He knows these inside and out. Perhaps something to do when it is finished.
Love the videos can’t wait to see it finished. As for the mirrors I have used a product called forever black with great success in the past. It is a pigment dye for anything plastic/vinyl have even dyed grey plastics to black with it. Wear gloves this stuff is permanent.
It's always the smallest parts that cause the biggest headache.. loving this rebuild though. Fantastic car
For the black plastic mirror parts, and any other exterior black plastics, I've only heard good things about Eastwood Plastic Bumper Restore & Resurfacer. It seems to properly restore the surface, rather that just put a temporary shiny coating on it. Frost sell it in the UK. Once the external plastics are restored I would also recommend providing them with a fresh UV protection coating. I use 303 Aerospace Protectant on both exterior and interior plastics. It dries to a flat, matt, finish.
Great stuff as always! Love the nitty gritty details!
Much appreciated!
I believe AMMO (who you have worked with before) may be a good resource to ask about this. IIRC they make a plastic restore compound but even if that isn't the ticket I am sure Larry may have some sage advice.
I cant really tell what the finish on those mirrors is, but it's worth trying Swarfega hand cleaner with a toothbrush before resorting to anything more abrasive or sanding and painting them. If they are black plastic there are several black plastic paints marketed as black plastic bumper paints as a last resort. Hope you are lucky with them!
I can't recommend ACF-50 anti-corrosion treatment enough for many of the plated metal parts. You can use it on any zinc and chrome plated parts and alloy, and it will help protect against oxidisation. Lasts 6-12 months at a time.
It looks like those of the Citroën CX (also fitted to Aston Martin, Lotus and other luxury cars) check if there is a match
You could also make a scan of the mirror, correct the defects with the software and print it in 3D then glue the logo on.
There is a repro one in Germany (160€) I don't know whether it can meet your expectations.
Good luck for the future.
Take it to a specialist it will need shiming up to make the worm gear mesh with the rack properly like a diff
Great progress Scott! Just thousands of little projects that need to be done. Keep going.
Standard practice is to pein the hole over after inserting a pin/dowl so that it can't come out, on the subject of bearings and seals a company we use where I work if Haley seals, they supply bearings and seals to industry. Hope this helps in the future
Loving the detail of this build.
depending on the plastic, vapour smoothing with acetone might work.
@ratarossa, 246, 308 & 512 and Pantera all share the same rack... the great news is the humble mk1 Mini is also the same... might help in your quest for spares👍
Rust oleum makes a plastic restorer spray that I have used on several projects restoring black abs style plastics. Sand the surfaces level and smooth. Apply spray. Be amazed. It literally makes things look brand new and stays that way. Not like a back to black treatment which fades.
Oh yeah, when I see those restored lights, I can’t wait the final product.
All the time, energy, and detail you’ve put into this car is incredible! I have no doubt that this is going to turn out as one of the best examples of a BBI! Keep up the amazing work man👍
You are doing an amazing job on the BBi. Truly doing justice to this iconic vehicle. Bittersweet when you get it finished as the restoration process has been inspiring. How's the engine and gearbox going?
Great to see this beauty coming back to life, keep up the momentum - it’s the long dark winter nights that separates the committed from the dim witted.
With regards to the lenses for those mirrors, would it not be possible to find the clear lenses and have coated in the correct shade of blue (like you would tint a window)? Just a thought. 🤔
My only clue on the mirrors might be to speak to vitolini in Italy who I believe also supplied Ferrari. Laser cut tinted glass is the other option of course....
Polytrol from Luton works very well on plastics. A £7 sample tin (delivered) generally does a whole car, possibly twice. Lasts a year outdoors.
Scott... I've worked for Halfords in my time and Summit are a company who cut glass to size for any car. It's a service they used to offer through Halfords. Just need a template. Go direct through Summit.
Scott, when it comes to bearings, if they have a number on them then you should be able to go to any decent bearing supplier give with it and they will be able to supply you with a new bearing for a fraction of the cost of sourcing them from the car manufacturer.
The only exception to this that I am aware of is that is the number contains an "A" for Automotive, then this means you DO have to go to the manufacturer.
I've had cause to do this numerous times, mostly when sourcing new diff bearings for a LSD and have always been successful. Typically a £30 bearing usually costs a fiver. Or nothing, if your supplier is used to dealing in bulk orders like mine is...
I had some genuine WRC mirrors I bought cheap for my old wide body GC8. The glass was broken (hence being cheap) but still all there. I took the glass out and took it to a local glazers and they cut me glass to size. Cost me less than a tenner.
Great video. With the mirrors, we have a similar problem with vintage motorcycle plastic fuel tanks. We use progressively finer sandpaper to restore them. It is a long a painstaking job. I'd be trying to find an old piece of similar plastic to try it on first though.
Unfortunately the mirrors have a slight texture to them and raised lettering that greatly complicates restoring then. Anything past a fine scuffing with an abrasive pad will permanently ruin their finish.
Persistent Satisfaction! Well done. Can't wait to see the final product although the journey is such a huge part of the experience. Can't buy that. Ferrari should sponsor this guy!
As another comment said, the steering rack securing pin should be a standard stainless steel pin sold at a good industrial supply store. You probably should see how far out of the housing the rack protrudes at then pick the short or long to fit.
Possibly a bit late for paint primer advice but unless dark colours always use a white primer. The red will look ‘happier’ 👌 Nice challenge. I’m enjoying this one thanks
Thanks, I used a zinc primer to protect the metal and couldn’t find it in a light colour. Tbh I didn’t look to hard, just at the local motoring shop
Love the restoration its so satisfying restoring an original part and making it look as good as new! You see so many builds where people just buy a new one of everything. It's the little details that make a great restoration! Anyway I hate to go all health & safety on you but I would hate anyone to have an accident. Is it Owen well when he was using the bench grinder and polisher you should never wear a top with draw strings as they can easily be caught in the machinery. You can still wear a hoody we used to just take the drawstrings out so we could still wear them in winter.
Great job as always love your attention to detail. Can't wait till the day comes for a f40 build
Great vid and series always happy when a new one pops up. Just a shame youtube is ruining it with 7 ad breaks
Maybe try dry ice cleaning on the mirrors. Obsessed Garage channel has a good series on it
Ceramic coat all those little chrome bits (headlights etc) to keep them nice and shiny, and any parts with surface rust…it isn’t going to hurt to have a bit of a barrier between the paint and the atmosphere. Those plastic lenses must be really fragile at this point from UV attack, i would be afraid to touch them much!
If you’re not going to paint the mirror caps then I suggest Polytrol. It restores black plastics really well and lasts
Simply Bearings should be able to help with the pin and a new seal for the rack. A steering rack specialist may be able to help with the cup or you could get a hold of some shims to go behind the cup and try different thickness shims until you get the right amount of drag on the steering rod. As that pin goes into the rack itself then you can't tighten down the inner rod end to take up any wear in the plastic cup.
Salvage Rebuilds Rob was at a place about a month ago that specialises in mirrors might be worth having a look
This is going to be even nicer than it left the factory
Not difficult 😂😂😂
For the black plastic on those mirrors, the best product I have ever used is called solution finish. Works very well on old black textured plastics. You can find it on amazon 👍
Coming along nicely,top job,I’m glad you like the evaporust, you can reuse it up til it turns totally black
8:25 might have been a previous repair with the only available (308) part being installed to get the vehicle back on the road.