I've spent most of the day stripping paint from my engine compartment. It is proving to be quite a PITA, as nothing is consistent. Some spots have a single layer of paint only, others have the old paint underneath or stone-guardstuff on top.

Whats really annoying is when things get real thick and stupid. Half of the engine compartment has a skim of filler on there to smooth it out, and nearly every panel join has more filler in there to smooth it all out to lookm like one big sheet....or something.
Further to the filler (over the factory paint and primer), are random layers of either bitumen/stone guard or some sort of silicon, or an elastic glue substance.
All of that has been painted over in another colour, and painted over again on half of the compartment with yet more stone guard.

Rust is also found near the master cylinders, from leaky brake fluids, under the paint of course.

The average thickness of the 'products' is around 1-2mm, with some bits in the corners or at panel joins as much as 6-7mm thick!

It's all quite stupid I think, I mean, with all the so called attempt to make this look good, it all looks terrible anyway, not to mention the bastard job I have of trying to get it all off.


Anyway, enough of that rant,

What have you people found on your cars that some clever dick thought was a good idea at some time, with the result just a mess, or heartache?

This isnt a mini story but it is related.

I had to help a bloke out at trade school with his car that developed a horrible noise on a Corona. The cam wasnt getting any oil after he did a headgasket on it.

I went to start it up and no oil light came on so I went to inspect the oil pressure switch and thought I would put a gauge on it to see the pressure it was developing. I couldnt find the oil pressure switch and after a few minutes realised that what was the oil pressure switch hole had been welded over.

He stripped out the hole so filled it with a weld and proceeded to block the oil gallery.

Some people shouldnt touch cars.

Matt

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At least he can weld.

seam sealer, used on all new cars to stop water getting in the gaps, also a tell tale sign if a car has been crashed

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-jamie-
1963morris 850
1965 solid side van
1994 rover racecar

My rear seams done by my previous panelbeater

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Respect mine and I'll respect yours.

^^^ Lethal. Criminal.

One of the POs of my Mk II welded the inner panel to the front subframe, a two inch seam on the front of the left hand side. Not too hard to rectify, but (as in all these cases) why?