Watching paint dry

 So, Tony the auto electrician came. A day early as it happens, I was just cutting the grass and he happened to be near bye so he thought its worth a visit. Stayed about an hour and got loads sorted. Firstly the ignition relay was no good, he fitted a spare he had and bingo a spark, of sorts. He thought it was weak so found the HT lead was not connected correctly at each end ( my doing, years ago). Advised me to get a new one. 

He didn't like the fuse box spade connectors, ditto. Or the fuse box.

Since he had just called in to recconoitre the job he had make remarkable progress in just 45 minutes or so.

As he was leaving I commented that the sidelights we on permantently. Another 45 mins and lots of head scratching he found the green wire was feeding the fusebox and somehow making the bottom two fuse holders connected.  Yes, deffo need a new fusebox.

I can't say at this point that this was my fault. The car has always had a parasitic drain, never started from the battery, only jump leads. But now its cured. This took another 40 mins at least. 

He even called back the following day to present me with a new HT lead and fitted it. Also to give advise on next steps, to call him when all new bits are fitted before starting the engine, what a guy !

So now it has ignition, dash lights, working indicators, hazards, and high/ low beams and good spark.

That soiree a day early made the wheel refurb a day late and time is getting very tight. I need the wheels with the correct colour on before I depart for my holibobs so it can cure a while.

Firstly though was the small matter of my retirement and wifeys birthday. It all went well so this week I set to sanding the wheels with 400 grit to get the silver/white/ protective coating smooth.

I also wire brushed the edges and inner part of the wheels as I had the tyres removed some days earlier.

Cor blimey, what a faff. They were in a right state. One was very rusty indeed.

I'm obsessed with getting the edges near the tyre and very outer rim looking good and smooth.

I used a good smooth file and the scary steel wire wheel in scary bosch grinder.

Two coats of primer and job done for today. I was lucky the weather held out with no rain, as the forcast was for rain all day. That would have set me back and scuppered everything.

Just managed to get all five wheels in primer and wet sanded one with 1500 grit before the staedy rain set in.

Just about done. Needs another quick smooth over tomorrow x4, then on to the final silver .

More after holibobs hopefully with a set of new boots and looking good.