Taistorm

Time to update... Threw those shitty silverline brake pads in, got a new tyre on the shanked rim so now all the wheels match again and got the wheels balanced and had an alignment. Got bored yesterday and decided to paint the rocker cover in red VHT Wrinkle paint. Looks the goods. Also picked up these bad boys... Pacemaker 4-2-1 Extractors And i've also had a new resonator welded on as the inner pipe on the old one had snapped off completely and was rolling in the exhaust making a fucking annoying rattle in between 2-3k rpm. Chur!

Ok, I'm sure someone's posted up something similar before but here is the method I used to paint the rocker cover on the swift. First of all you will need.. -A can of paint (Enamel is all you need, I picked VHT Enamel Wrinkle paint because I like the texture). -A can of degreaser or brake cleaner (kerosene will also do the trick). -Paint stripper. -A paint brush that you won't want to use again. -Sand paper (I used a sheet of 240grit and 400grit. -A ratchet & socket set or some spanners. -Pliers. -Rags. Step one: Remove Rocker cover. OK remove all the h/t leads and oil cap then using the pliers, remove the hoses and clips attached to the rocker cover. After this is done remove all the bolts/nuts attaching the rocker cover to the head and remove the rocker cover. Keep everything you've removed somewhere safe so you don't loose em as of course they will be needed for re-assembly. Note: Make sure you cover the exposed head as you don't want shit getting into the engine. Glad wrap works a treat. Step two: Preparation. Using the degreaser and a rag, clean the shit out of the rocker cover. Once its mint give the cover a scuff down with some sand paper (I used the 240grit) then using the paint stripper, smother the cover completely and wait 5-10mins for the paint to blister. Once the paint begins to blister, run it under the tap/hose at a high pressure to remove the paint (a waterblaster works a treat). Repeat the process until almost all the paint is removed. I had to do this 3 times then it ended up like this.. Now using the 240grit paper I sanded out what was left of the paint, then using the 400grit I sanded thoroughly over the whole Rocker cover. Afterwards using a clean rag and degreaser clean the surface until all the dirt/grease has been removed to ensure a better painting surface. Everyone knows that prep is everything. Step three: Painting. Once satisfied with the cleanliness of the rocker cover begin painting (make sure you mask up anything that you don't want to be painted over). Keeping about 30cm distance away from the cover, spray your paint on in smooth strokes over the cover, making sure you get all the tight corners. Because I used the wrinkle paint I could smother the shit on thick because it dries up thickly giving off the wrinkle effect. Do about 3-5 coats waiting 10minutes or so between. After 3 thick coats this is how mine turned out.. Afterwards leave it to dry for 24-48 hours or cure in the oven following the directions on the can. Step four: Reassembly. Once the paint has cured over make sure you clean out the underside of the rocker cover thoroughly with degreaser and a clean rag to ensure nothing gets into the engine when reassembling. Once its ready follow step one in reverse. If your rocker cover gasket/seal is shanked it will pay to replace it with a new one so oil doesn't piss out the side. Hopefully you will end up with a choice as rocker cover looking like this! Chur! Tai.

Might actually rock up to one of these finally. Will have to come in the swift though..

+1

What?! Didn't realise this was the AE86 that's been up at Tony's. Thats crazy haha small world. The Zinc plating looks sooo shiny! Was starting to get quite cloudy but he replaced all the fluids/reconditioned the electrodes the other week. If your cars up there on Sunday i'll probably be there and have a nosey, need to do more work on my engine (it's sitting there in between those tubs and the pipe bender).

Do you live up on the coast? I swear I drove past this at about 7:45 at Silverdale.

Haha that's choice mate! Reminds me of my mates old VZR with that kit on.

More pics of the car stripped.. Salvaged a whole heap of shit, mainly interior exterior bits and some pieces from the engine bay. Gonna start piecing the front end of my 4 door next week some time hopefully.

Time for another update. Had a mint time down at Ohakune, had a good look through Horopito Motors and took plenty of pictures but there's already heaps up from the meet the other week so cbf uploading mine haha. Anyway unfortunately they had nothing for my Mirage, didn't even have a single mk1. Pretty disappointing.. Found a Minter parts car up in Kaipara Flats which is now in my possession and have stripped a shitload off it. Was a pretty sweet Mirage being a Jappa import rather than one outta Todd motors here in NZ it came with a whole bunch of choice features like Electric Fender Mirrors, centre console, 2 radios (1 in centre console with an equalizer = BAUSE), different antenna, black interior with a sports steering wheel, rear speakers. Being the model that it is it has the MCA Jet engine which from what Phil told me is the standard 4g12b engine with the MCA Jet head which has extra air valves however these were more prone to head cracking so peeps plugged up the extra valves. Also came out stock with an air-con system which has its own separate radiator. Crazy shit! If I hadn't already spent so much time and money on my blue 4 door I would of been better off restoring this JDM one. Here's some pics of the green beast being stripped down today for parts ... At this stage the camera batteries died so sorry for the poor quality phone pics. Trippy how the jappa models have the chassis plate rivted here instead of at the top of the engine bay by the front of the motor. Will get some more pic's up tomorrow. Chur.

Could be wrong but I'm sure ive seen this sitting on a trailer infront of the bullet freight depot in Rosedale. Pretty awesome trueno man!

Think I paid $50 or $60 for em cant remember so if you match that it'll be sweet. Just wait a few days first cause i'm getting a mirage set but I havent seen them yet and if theyre shit box i'll put the mazda ones on instead. Pretty sure there all good's though. I'm in Whangaparoa but my Cousins live on Church st and i'll probably be heading there later this week so I may be able to drop em off if youre in/close to devo.

Did you have the wheels balanced before putting them on? Same thing happened on my Gf's car when we put a new set of wheels on, at higher speeds the drivetrain was shuddering like crazy and the steering wheel was rocking real bad. Just needed to get the wheels balanced and the problem was ressolved.

Fuck knows man haha just had a quick nosey as I drove past. That's awesome, just sorted rust all over my mirage which dented the bank account. Would look mint if you slammed it on some old mesh rims/ssr's/work equips and put some fender mirror's on it. If you are interested in fender mirrors I have some sweet as early 80's Mazda 323 ones that I probably wont be needing any more with electronic mirror control. Let me know if you're keen, theyre black squarish styled ones.

Saw you driving this earlier at the Church st. - Vauxhall intersection. Looks fuckin sweet man.

I'm glad someone on OS brought this. Envy you so much!

Finally got it back from the panel beater. Fuckin stoaked about the outcome! Bonnet straightened out.. Rear end straightened.. No more rust in the doors! All panels filled with tectyl, ant-rust stz.. And the engine bay & bonnet repainted.. The rage became a new playground for this little buggar Heading down to Ohakune this weekend as its my birthday tomorrow so the mrs is treating me for a holiday as the mounts open. Going to check out Smash Palace and try find a good front bumper, grille and filler panel. Chur, Tai.

All good mate, if you do want a product from him just PM me exactly what your after and i'll get in touch with him and try get you a better price.

^^ I may be able to get you them for 10-20% cheaper if you decide on these. Al's my old form teacher and he use to give me discounts.

Sweet as, thought that may of been a problem. I was planning on replacing them with some thin plastic like this..

^^Cheers Jase, figured I shouldn't bother with the steels as this will be a little motorkhana/trackday car one day and the lighter the better. Something like these would be mint if I could get them in a 13"s or 14"s. Small update.. Gave the car an oil & filter change and have stripped out the interior panels in the boot area and rear side panels to free up a little weight. I wont be removing the rear seats yet as its still the daily right now and the seats are needed! ahah. Also ripped out the shitty Daewoo stereo as it barely worked. The passenger door lock knob/lever (on the inside) is now fixed and I can lock the door from the inside of the car instead of needing the key and locking externally. Pictures for your viewing pleasure.. The rust...only surface rust which is CHOICE! (I'm use to a shitload of bad rust as all of my cars have been pre 85) Pretty keen to weigh these up. And the money shot because I'm cool like that Chur!

It's definitely is the quickest car I've owned which is embarrassingly sad haha, definitely packs some grunt for a 1300 though. Oscar: Cheers bro, will give em a call about it. Johnnyfive: Yea you don't see many twin cams around. There's a a bit of a cult following for these isn't there? Fuck that's so ridiculous and the owners an abosolute tosser! feel sorry for that little swift. Beaver: It won't cost alot to do any of those to tidy it up (minus the repaint which i'm not 100% sure about yet). Also won't be investing much in this until I've finished my Mirage as that's my number one priority right now however will be throwing some new wheels, blacked out guard flares and some lowering springs to drop a little. Will make it track spec later.

Oh yup I see, thanks for clarifying. Never had a car newer than 1989 so was quite unsure of what it was as I havnt come across one before.

Ahh that makes sense, cheers Phil. It connects up to the cat and directs the emissions back into the intake ay?

Here she is. The worst of the exterior defects. Gonna black the wipers, vents and wing. Pretty keen to print out new stickers to replace the faded originals. Need to get rid of these poor tints and big bore ow. 1300 powerplant! Can anyone tell me wtf the big black box is in the second pic? Looks to be like a booster or some shit for the handbrake? Didnt jack it up and have a look to see where it connects to, will another time. Hory speakers and worst of the rust which is nothing! Check out the hory tissue used as a spacer for this headunit (daewoo headunit lols) Pretty keen on tinting the fog/spotlights yellow. What do you guys think and whats the process of doing it? Is there a special dye that I can use to apply a yellow tinge to them? Oh and what the efff! Went to BNT and a cam cover gasket set cost $94 exclu. gst. Would anyone be able to sort me with a cheaper deal? The engines a G13b DOHC. Tai.