What Have You Done to Your Cougar Today?

Soak the aerosols in hot water for 10 mins before using them (y)


I did warm the cans for about 15 mins before spraying. However, I was spraying in a very cold/damp garage where the lenses had been sat, so the plastic was very cold to the touch. Would this have an impact? Also used plastikote spray, rather than normal paint spray, as have run out of the spray cans I had made up a few years back.
 
Yeah lenses need to be warm too, and while curing, not used plastikote so no idea

Aha, ok, they were left in a very cold/damp garage. I may rub them back and start again....uggh!!! If I put them on as they are now, I will never be happy with them, so might as well start again.

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Started on front brakes,drive shafts and suspension(y)

That is looking sweet. Nice job.
 
Aha, ok, they were left in a very cold/damp garage. I may rub them back and start again....uggh!!! If I put them on as they are now, I will never be happy with them, so might as well start again..

Do that. Don't try to apply another coat to paint with orange peel on it.

In my experience, orange peel is caused by one of two things:

1) Cold paint or a cold work-piece.
2) Contamination of the work-piece, usually from wax, polish, or rain-repelling cleaners.

You don't need to sand back to the plastic though - just get a level surface that is fully scruffed.
 
Washed and waxed.
Also cleaned off the goo left from some old tyre weights when I had a tyre replaced last year.

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It's bad enough that my exhaust is held on with wire because the rubbers have all split. I did buy some poly ones but only could get one of them fitted, as the others are the wrong shape and size. The rubbers supplied by MIJ were crap, and I have had two lots of exhaust rubbers from them, both lots split within months of being on the car. I keep looking for some poly ones but difficult to find the right shape and size to fit. This is just one more job that needs doing, the list is endless lol.

Better off using the chunky ones from an exhaust centre Tim, poly ones are poo

tonys right about exhaust polys, they really dont last for some reason...i think its the heat that does it...had them on the scorpio and they all cracked around the mounting holes.
best stick to rubber me thinks.

The trouble is with MIJ, they used some wierd three holed rubbers that appear to be completely non-standard.
They welded two posts to each hanging point on the exhaust, hence the three hole rubbers.
I think when they split before, the only place Tim could find replacements was from MIJ again and surprise surprise, they split in no time.
It may be a good investment, just to get them re-welded with single posts so that they can be hung on normal rubbers again.
But the welding would need to be stainless I guess.
 
Replaced Wishbones and front ARB bushes on Gems Cougar today with the help of Matt (Backseateducation) also managed to get HID kit fitted and changed sidelights to LED, a successful day, Matt has come on a long way since joining the Forum and now has the confidence to crack on with the job in hand, I really enjoyed today and thank Matt for his help (y)
 
No problem mate was great to see you all.
Yes I actually did some proper spannering which made me feel a lot more useful.
Thanks for having me - stuff like this is what keeps me away from the edge. Catering was top notch too ;)
 
Yeh, but that has been the issue, the rubber one's literally only last a couple of months before the split and come away from the mounting, which is why at the moment I have them wired to stop them from dropping to the floor. May go to an exhaust centre in Plymouth and see what they advise.

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Has no-one noticed that the chrome has gone from around the window frames. I've bought some new stuff but am doing something a little different, also hoping to get the alloys refurbed too.

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Yeh, it's a pain when you have done a load of work, only to then have to re-do it again. I've sprayed my rear lense masks, but not overly happy with finish, as too much orange peel. Tried to wet sand back, but just removes all the paint and takes it back to the plastic again, so must be doing something wrong. I've sprayed them before without issue, but this time a bit different. Wonder if it's been too cold for the paint? Will have to ask the spraying master - uncle Al aka Pid.

ahh yes it was u who had the chrome trims....i thought so but wasnt sure if it was mike's car that had them so kept quiet..she looks nice and dark now(y)

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odd that the mounts keep cracking...do the posts get hot..mabe this is the cause.

my blueflame has been on its original mounts for 4 years now with no problems..something has to be causing too much stress to them.
 
The MIJ mounts are too rigid and the rubber hangers are too stiff. We all know what happens with rigidity :geek: . Go with the retro hangers and old fashioned springy rubber Tim. (y)

Retro hangers? What are they? My retro is a bit of garden wire lol!!!!
 
oohh im gonna be attempting this..any recommendations.


firstline.co.uk i got the parts from and very nice they are too, in fact on inspection we found them to be better than what we took off.

dont forget to put a little drop of thread lock on before fitting and make sure your breather goes back proper for the bellows