Front trunk progress: Part 1

[kilodawg]

My project for the holiday season is to get the front trunk detailed and upgraded. I'm getting an early start.

I picked up one of the nice carpet sets on Ebay last year but I want to clean underneath now to make a nice new home for Rennline monoballs and their integrated 3-point strut brace.

I figured this really breaks down into 5 parts:
1. New Fuchs spare to replace the steel wheel
2. Restore the fiberboard at the rear of the compartment
3. Restore the gas tank finish
4. Clean up everything else
5. Add the monoballs and strut brace

I scored the 15X6 a couple of weeks ago. It needed major work to get it up to snuff with my others and then I had to find someone up to the challenge of moving the spare tire over. That part is now done. Still need to get a mounting bolt extension to add to the original hold down bolt though.





Today I also started on the fiber board going from this:





To something a bit better I hope. First I removed it and then used some wood filler to fill in a couple of holes drilled by a PO and a couple of areas where the top finish was removed.

Then I started the painting process. I got to here today. In this picture the paint was a bit wet so the finish is a bit more glossy and blotchy in places but it already looks a lot better.

[Wil Ferch]

Is there any way to get the side-by-side quick dump air valve installed on a Fuchs spare..as is done for the normal steel wheel ?

- Wil

[MattAlpha]

Nice job!

I just started my trunk clean up today. I've completely cleaned it out and primed the areas that needed it. My next step is to re-finish it.

Did you spray the trunk with Black Satin (excluding gas tank)?

Thanks,
Matt

[kilodawg]

Don't know actually. The guy changing the wheel today asked about it and honestly I didn't care much since I'll never wind up using it anyway (fingers crossed). Even though it will inflate I consider the spare as strictly a bling thing

[kilodawg]

Matt,

I'm not going to mess with the trunk paint itself. It's the factory finish which means body color with not the best of coverage and primer showing thru in spots. As long as it's clean and the other areas are addressed I'll call it a win.

[MattAlpha]

kilodawg
Thanks for the heads up.

Mine is clean now and the primer is drying. I'm going to start a thread and see what advice others have to offer.

-Matt

[kilodawg]

Well today I painted the tank..in the car.

It took a few hours of careful masking and minor part removal but the results were near perfect. I also decided to re-spray the fiber board a flat black. I felt it looked more original.

All I have left now is to remove the gunk by the strut towers and wait for Christmas and my new monoballs and strut brace

From this:



To this:

[kilodawg]

Forgot also made the extension to secure the Fuchs to the tank with the original bolt and bracket.