Voodoo Vix's Black Magic Project

Voodoo Vix

26-03-2020, 03:53 AM #81

Wierd, pics didn't come out, oh well here it is again lol

Its been a while since I've been able to update this, but, over the last few weeks I have been accumulating some new goodies for the Zed including

30mm Apex Springs and Eibach adjustable camber arms from Cougar Store

Clear front reflectors from Redline Styling (Steve350z) (350z-uk.com)

Engine bay bolts from Ianphampton (350z-uk.com)

Motorised number plate bracket from Tarmac Sportz (350z-uk.com)

Volks GT-C from Jetpilot (350z-uk.com)

Rays wheel nuts from Coord Sport/Part Box (locking wheel nuts on their way over from Japan)

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On Saturday I took her down to see Sly at Kaizer Motor Company to have the springs and camber arms fitted together with a pair of Falken FK453's on the front and a couple of hours later I was able to bring her home Big Grin

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She may settle a bit more yet but i'm over the moon with all the work done so far and quite a bit more to go. As soon as I know whether my rear arches need rolling/cutting (cheap tyre on its way to check clearance) then she will be booked into Xquisite Automotive for a full respray, de-badge, remove the number plate plinth and the motorised one to be fitted with the clear reflectors. Wheels are also having a full refurb (and colour change) and have a few more bits and pieces to sort out in the engine bay, but she's coming along nicely so far. Hopefully I can get the engine bolts changed over this weekend and get rid of the horrible green ones at last!

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purplewitch

26-03-2020, 04:05 AM #82

Awesome Vix.. she's gorgeous

[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"]That symbol on the side of my door.. Definition by FirebirdPhil 'Translated it means -
"try to overtake - go on give it a go I dare you......." [/COLOR]
I'm not an Outlaw; I'm a Poutlaw! Purple Supras are the bestest! I love purple .. a lot lot lot Smile

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Sparkystav

26-03-2020, 05:36 AM #83

very nice!

Read my thread here: The Evolution of my Turbo Lexus from NA-Supercharged-Twin Turbo-Massive Single
Please leave your comments.

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Voodoo Vix

21-03-2021, 09:17 AM #84

I'm a complete novice when it comes to polishing/painting but get massive satisfaction from doing things myself rather than just paying someone else to do it (not that there's anything wrong with that and I have had some help below).

I've learned a lot from doing this and although it was hard work I don't regret a minute of it and hope it will be of some use to other's on here, even if it's just for upkeep purposes than from scratch.

So here's a list of stuff of what I used:

Various grades of steel wool
Toothbrush
Autosol
Coke
Vinegar
Numerous microfibre cloths
Paint stripper (I attempted to use Nitro Mors)
Scrap of carpet
Mains powered drill
Polishing Kit (here http://www.thepolishingshop.co.uk/acatal..._Kits.html, the New Combi-Light 37pc kit) - If you don't have a polishing kit you can use various grades of sandpaper but for the price, I really would recommend the kit!
Poorboys Wheel Sealant
Thread lock

This does not include the paint and materials which Mike used at work, this list was purely for my preparation, polishing and finishing.

Here are the wheels which I started off with:

19x8.5 and 19x10.5 Volks GT-C's which had previously been powder coated black. Apart from the odd stone chip and surface corrosion, they were in pretty good shape. Thankfully they had no tyres which meant they were lighter to move around (although not much!) but it did mean that I needed to be extra careful with the exposed rims.

Preparation

Stripping the powder coat off the wheels was never going to be an easy task but I had read that paint stripper would work, thankfully instead of wasting money Mike had some in his garage so I gave it a go with some Nitro Mors, a paintbrush, a scraper, some elbow grease and an awful lot of patience (of which generally I am quite short of).

Well it may work for paint, but not for powder coat, after an hour, this was as far as I got!

I therefore gave up on the paint stripper idea and decided to get them acid dipped (we did try sandblasting but it didn't work very well on the powdercoat). I contacted Wicked Wheels in Guildford and spoke to Kevin who was extremely helpful and arranged to take the wheels down to him (with rim screws removed) so that they could be dipped which was a much quicker process (and cheaper considering the amount of paint stripper I would have had to use).

The following week Mike went and collected them and was greeted with these

Now the powder coat is finally gone I can inspect the wheels to make sure that it hasn't caused any cracks/fracturing due to the temperatures they have to be baked at. Thankfully, they are all clear of any damage (other than pitting after all the surface corrosion was removed), so I was free to carry on with the next steps.

Polishing

Rim Screws

Before polishing the rims, I decided to clean up the rims screws, as I couldn't get replacements; Rays only supply them if they are the ones refurbishing the wheels. I had read somewhere that the phosphoric acid in coca cola and malt vinegar were good cleaners and helped with surface rust so I thought "what the hell, I've got nothing to lose" (other than £2 on a bottle of coke and 80p for vinegar lol). So I put the first 20 from this wheel

Into some coke for 24 hours (anymore and apparently it can pit the metal) and then sat down in the garage with various grades of steel wool, a wire brush, toothbrushes, Autosol and soft cloth and this was the result

Saying I was pleased is an understatement, but I still had 77 to go!

Unfortunately as you will see from the work on the wheels below I quickly ran out of time for getting the bolts done so took them to a plating company, to get the re-chromed. They are vastly improved, but not perfect, in time I will get them completely stripped back and redone. Here is the finished result

Wheels

I had every intention of doing this the "sandpaper route" but as I had a birthday coming up I asked Mike for a metal polishing kit (as I could then re-do the wheels as needed together with the plenum, throttle body, air intake and strut brace, which are already polished, as needed), which he thought was hilarious as he never thought he would buy something like that for anyone, particularly his girlfriend lol But, I am pleased (and relieved), to say he did get me one which consisted of:

[Pasted from the Polishing Shop web page]

Instructions
Rigger Gloves
FFP1 Dust Mask- Better quality dust mask.
Vienna Lime Powder- Cleaning
1 off Standard Taper for 4" Mops
1 off Long taper 2" and smaller mops
4 off felt cones 1/4"x1/2"(6mm x 12mm)
4 off felt cones 3/8"x1/2"(10mm x 12mm)
4 off felt cones 1/2"x1" (12mm x 25mm)
(felt can be used for abrasive and polishing work, ideal for very awkward areas)

For Polishing:
1 off 4"x1" G loose mop (100mm x 25mm)
1 off 2"x1" G loose mop (50mm x 25mm)
1 off 1 1/2"x1" G Loose mop (38mm x 25mm)
1 off 1"x1" G Loose Mop (25mm x 25mm)
1 off 4"x1" 2 section white mop close stitch (100mm x 25mm)
1 off 2"x1" white mop (50mm x 25mm)
1 off 1 1/2"x1" white mop (38mm x 25mm)
1 off 1"x1" white mop (25mm x 25mm)
1 off 4"x1" 2 section sisal mop (100mm x 25mm)
1 off 2"x1" sisal mop (50mm x 25mm)
1 off 11/2"x1" sisal mop (38mm x 25mm)
1"x1" sisal mop (25mm x 25mm)
600 Gram Bar P164 Menzerna Polishing Compound General finishing compound
600 Gram Bar 439T Menzerna Polishing Compound Medium cutting & colouring compound
600 Gram Bar 523LBZ Menzerna Polishing Compound Grey heavy cutting compound

For Abrasive Work:
1 off 4"x1" section colour mops (100mm x 25mm)
1 off 2"x1" Colour mop (50mm x 25mm)
1 off 1 1/2"x1" Colour mops (38mm x 25mm)
1 off 1"x1" Colour mop (25mm x 25mm)
1 off 450gram 300grit abrasive compound

Those of you who read the "shopping list" above will note the "scrap of carpet", this was purely to protect the wheels when they were laid down so they weren't scratched up on the floor when being worked on/moved around.

As the wheels had been acid dipped all the surface corrosion had been removed but this left really bad pitting. Unfortunately for us that meant that they took a LOT of sanding! Mike had taken them to work and used 80 grit on them to cut them back.

He also used 240, 300, 500 grits.

This was then sprayed with primer.

As the lips were to be polished, we went for a flat silver, which was then sprayed and lacquered.

Then it was my turn.

As I was starting of on a clean-ish surface (a surface with the equivalent of around 500 grit), I could jump to the first stage of polishing (rather than using the cutting compound), which is the white sisal mop and grey compound (which still has a little cut).

Next I used the white stitched mop with the green compound

Stay with me, we are nearly there!

For the final polish I used the loose cotton mop with the blue compound.

Up close the finish isn't perfect (and is still pitted) but in time I will take them to be machine polished where the pits can be taken back.

The wheels were then given a couple of coats of Poorboys Wheel Sealant and the rim screws were torqued to 25nm using threadlock.

I then took the wheels to see Sly who fitted the tyres and did the alignment (a great job as usual, thanks Sly!!)

Here is a sneaky peak, but as she is going to Xquisite Automotive tomorrow for some TLC, I will have their work in progress pics before the final reveal Big Grin

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Sparkystav

21-03-2021, 09:41 AM #85

Awesome post and shopping list! A must it appears for anyone who likes a nicely polished rim....

Read my thread here: The Evolution of my Turbo Lexus from NA-Supercharged-Twin Turbo-Massive Single
Please leave your comments.

OutlawJapClub Admin Team

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reganlives

21-03-2021, 10:42 AM #86

Wow! Great work!

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Moley

11-04-2021, 07:10 AM #87

That was one of the best post's I've read in ages.

Well done Vix. And the wheels look ace :-):-)

Lexus IS200 Mods--TTE Supercharger, Tein Superstreet Coilovers & EDFC, 6000K HID Lights, HKS Silent High Power Exhaust, DBA Front Discs, Kenwood DNX9240 Head Unit, 19" Rims, TRD Kit, FIGS Bonnet Struts, Greddy Pillar Pod & Defi Gauges, TTE Red ARBS . And Been To WIM twice

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Voodoo Vix

11-04-2021, 10:46 AM #88

Thanks guys, much appreciated, she's still in the bodyshop at the moment getting loads of TLC and is looking amazing, can't wait to have her back, will post pics as soon as she's home Big Grin

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