S122A project commencing

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Badge number 12 (number 11 can be seen on the last picture in the previous post) I chose not to replace. As it turns out, it is really the same part as the rear panel "Super Deluxe" badge seen on RHD cars and available from Pac. For some reason, this one was placed on the radiator grille on Norwegian spec cars. To fasten it to the grille, it is first attached to a bracket. The bracket was in a sorry state, but with a bit of gentle straightening with a hammer, some sanding and a fresh layer of paint it is ready to go back on. Badge before and after (reflections don't give it full credit):

[Casey]

Looks Super ......... Deluxe 

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In Norwegian it translates as "Drinker Deluxe". Very appropriate ref to that thirsty 4-barrel Nikki.

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Final stages of grille-refurb, the "Fiat Dino stage", badges coming back on, old and new. You might think putting badges on a grille is pretty straightforward. Well, Pac's RE-emblem came without clamps, so I first had to refurbish my old rusty ones. Then the screws on the new badge were too thick for the original clamps, so they had to be drilled to 5mm. And so on and so forth. But here's the result:

[Cloud2232]

Amazing updates!! Your car is going to look gorgeous.

I have also pending to do a big order to Pac, similar as yours haha

[Eccentric shaft]

Amazing updates!! Your car is going to look gorgeous. I have also pending to do a big order to Pac, similar as yours haha

Thanks! So will yours! Meet at Rotarystock 2022? 

The badges from Pac are generally very good quality and good looking, but some things are simply difficult to make. The "coffin" badge, f.ex., is much heavier than the original and the looong fastening screws are only soldered on. They can easily break off if you need to adjust them a bit to fit the grille (and you probably will). Upside is you can solder the screw back on, downside is, you must make sure not to remove too much tin, or the screw will end up too short. And if it gets too hot, the badge might even start melting. Please don't ask how I came to know all this! 

Dropped by the paint shop to see the progress today. Windscreen frame is now rust-free and work on the rear panel, off side wing and door has started

[Cloud2232]

The Nikki is back from refurbishment. Water-blasted and fitted with new seals. Acceleration pump fixed. Neat!
Thanks to Torstein at Flatt Jern! 

Did you removed the secondary butterfly vacuum diaphragm actuator?

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Is this the one connected to cold climate/normal climate settings? Good question! When you give the job to an expert, you do lose the overview a bit. I don't have the car here to check atm and I'm not sure. My photos don't really show this part either. What is the benefit of disconnecting it? What I know for sure is that the oil metering pump has been deactivated, which means I have to rely on a few drops of two-stroke oil in the fuel.

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Still have a few bits left to recondition before I get the car back from the paint shop. And some things that looked ok, now look a bit tatty compared to the rest, so have ordered some new position lights/indicators and a set of original Koito headlamps. Apart from that it's pretty much a waiting game now:

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Briefing from paint shop today. Right hand side door gap adjusted and straigthened. Concerns about old filler on the roof above windscreen – this is the job that was done after the car rolled back in the old millennium. There were two repairs. After the first botch-up job, the car was fitted with a beige vinyl roof (ugh!). Luckily, this was removed in the second restoration in the 1990s, when lots of hard and expensive work was done to make the roof look as original. But after nearly 30 years or so the filler has begun letting moisture through in that exposed area. No other surprises thus far, fortunately. Progressing according to plan and back to waiting...

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What's in a Rx2 smile? I'm speaking about those neatly shaped indicator/position lights that give the Capella such a friendly face. Nice-looking, quality repro lamps are available, but what are the differences? More than you might think! I'll end up using the new glasses and screws with the old housings, clips and gaskets. Why? Well first the repro lamps, a nice fit as they are, do not come with proper chrome-plated reflectors. Second, neither do they come with the little, shiny metal clips that prevent light pollution between the white and amber lights. Third: the repro gaskets are thinner and lack the tiny drain channels (!) on the lower part of the original ones. The more I look at tiny details such as these, the more impressed I become with the thoroughness of vintage Mazda design. What wonderful little cars!

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Love the way the primer brings out the lines on that bodywork. Just waiting for it to dry properly now, so perhaps heading for the paint box by the end of this week...

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Did you removed the secondary butterfly vacuum diaphragm actuator?

Have checked and answer is affirmative. This was already done (on some previous owner's watch) before the carb went in for refurb. 

[Eccentric shaft]

The Return of Noriaki, Part II

[Eccentric shaft]

Getting there! Might have to change the title of this thread soon...