wouh! i totally missed this.



there's nothing to add, fingers crossed for you and your beauty Howie

Thanks again for all the comments and support.

Unfortunately she will not be ready in time for JAE this year

I would rather have it done to the best possible finish, that I will be happy with.

She will be "sexified" and ready for events in 2015, which will mark my 40th birthday and 15 years with my F.

That's a real shame mate

Really gutted she wont be at JAE mate but like you say....better to get it done once and properly than time after time badly How much has he had to cut out so far mate?

Really cant wait to see the results! Think If I was having a full respray id be so tempted to go orange like the touring F with black stripes :P

Jut read through this whole post. Really respect you for taking so much time on your car. You've got a brilliant eye for detail.
Looking forward to seeing the new paint.
Oh and well done for the megs win, looked like a mirror.

Many thanks for your comments, really missing having the F here, but can't wait until she is ready.

I did pop over to visit last week, the rear arches have had the new metal welded in,
the bonnet was stripped and prepped, and Stuart has sorted the sideways wobble in my rear exhaust silencer.
Couldn't see much more as she was in the oven, next step will be moving forwards checking the sills, cutting out where needed.
Will have to pop in before my trip up to JAE on Friday.

Have been cleaning the leather seats and plastic trim siting in my garage, now I have finished the floor tiles.

See you in a couple of days Howie

I know how you feel with your F away chap, felt the same when Meanie was being repaired, glad you have found a really good paint shop, Meanie is due to go back in again to get the reappearing rust in the arches sorted

Hope she's ready for the weekend chap

Many thanks Andy
she won't be ready for this weekend, probably the end of September.

I will be hiding my Freelander in the JAE public car park this weekend.

Howie, your car is simply beautiful. As many have said already, a real inspiration. Hope she's back up and running soon

Thanks for the comments.

Went to visit her this afternoon,
Stuart has not been able to start on the sills yet, but has been busy everywhere else





new rear arch and lip:



Looking a bit naked





and an "arty" front pic:



Still a way to go, very pleased with the prep work so far

Great work there Howie

Good to see you over the weekend

looks like the guy is doing a great, and thorough job .
personally i wouldnt really worry about the slow process, i would be over the moon with it, at least you know he has been over every inch of the car and leaving nothing to chance.
i have a feeling the finished job will be flawless, and you will get her back just as you deserve after all the years of dedication and hard work you have put into her

Thanks Daz, was great to see you too, and your new place

Cheers Paul, really appreciate your comments,
Stuart is doing a very thorough job of preparation.

Did get my wheels back on Friday
here are a few taster pics, still have to give them a clean and wax:













The pics really don't do justice to the depth of finish and shine that has been achieved.

They did add that the Yoko's were a real pain to fit, with very solid sidewalls.

Will update work on the car and sills soon.

Looking great Howie!

wow, i was going to mention the quality and depth of the finish there.....
bodes very well indeed for the rest of the bodywork

They look bloody fantastic Howie

I do like those valves as well. Makes a big difference

Look lovely howie

Can I suggest you look at a wheel sealer instead of wax. I have just used carbon collective platinum wheels.

WOW looking very promising Howie. Nice to see how much he has taken off before starting the paint job. No masking over door handles etc

Many thanks guys, very pleased with the colour match to my old set.



Cheers Ayrton, I did consider a sealant, after some advice and a chat with Daz.

I feel that as a Meguair's stockist and using my F to show what can be achieved using their products, it is better and more honest for me to keep with Meguiar's.
Have always been pleased with the results when using wax on the wheels.

Meguiar's do a brake dust barrier, that will help to prevent ingress into the paint surface

Not much between a sealant and a wax...apart from a sealant is synthetic. Anything that bonds to the painted surface and forms a barrier to protect will do the job

Thats not paint work......Thats art!!!! awesome

Many thanks again.

Have been to visit the F today:



Time for the update on the sills.......................................



Yes both sills have suffered from the rust monkeys, and are F'd

Under the flutes:




and further along:





All the rust bubbles that were cleaned back are the same, not really suitable for "patching", the metal is too thin and corroded.

We have been talking with my local Mazda dealer about replacement sills, and there is only 1 left in stock (anywhere!)...............................in Japan.

This will hopefully be here at the beginning of October, then they will have the second sill fabricated locally.

Will also be having a new windscreen fitted, because my original one cracked, around a pair of old stone chips, when it was removed.

Really can't wait to have the F finished and back together, in a better than new condition.

If you're already at it, check the rear struts and everything between them for rust as well....

My flutes also get filled with dirt, probably thats the cause of the "rust monkeys"...

The wheels look stunning

Looking good Howie

Totally shocked there's only one sill left, there goes my plan, my sills are toast where the flutes were as well :s

My new sill arrived today
picked up my long, thin parcel from the very helpful guys at Magna Mazda in Salisbury.
No pic, was too keen to drop it over to Stuart, to get them started on fabricating the drivers side sill.

Did want to add my special thanks to Phillip and Peter at Magna, who have worked very hard to source the items I need to put the F back together again.


The sill was sent by air from Japan in 2 weeks, rather than by shipping container......................................would have been possibly January

Do have a pic of other new parts collected ready for re-assembly:



Including door weather seals, fixings for the flutes and mudguards.

Thats great news Howie

Serious work going on here!!!

I know how it feels to see your car in a state of mid-repair and covered in primer!!

Cheers Ringo,
good luck with the work on your F too.