1974 Reliant Scimitar X30XE : Scimega

[DWDarkWheels]

It does sound crazy doesn't it? "You're painting your car with a roller? Are you MAD?"

Long time no hear, Marsie. Yeah, I'm going the get-plenty-on route, but you need to keep checking over the next few hours for runs and sags. It'll look lovely an hour after you've done the job, but check it later. Otherwise you might find it sagging from some wet nook or cranny. It seems you can put this on with no primer, though I did primer to make sure all my repairs were correct first. With an even base, I think 2 coats would do it.
I'm not knocking anyone who wants to do 3 or 4 lighter coats though.

[marsie]

Done NATO paint on landrovers in the past with a roller with good results but never a gloss finish. Have got some structural stuff to sort first like chopping the steel beam out of the front end of the body that is damaged and the accident damage near the rear light but the can start on the paintwork. Need to try and get hold of window rubbers for the front and side windows as mine are knackered!
Think have decided to go with either blue or possibly highland purple? But then again i do like yours in white?? Dammit

[DWDarkWheels]

If you've rollered before, you're way ahead of me, buddy. With a 10:1 mix of Combi-colour to white spirit, this stuff floooooooows once you've got it on. If you get the coverage without runs/sags, you're onto a winner.

Colour choice depends on what's available, or maybe it's my local stockists:
"Do you stock Combi-colour?"
"What colour do you need?"
"White."
"Yes."

When I got there, they had 4 tins of Pure White (I cleared the shelf), 2 tins of blue, 2 tins of red.

[marsie]

Have got to do a google to find out who stocks it local to me. Suppose i could buy the remaining 4 tins your local stockist had and make my own purple

[DWDarkWheels]

Blimey : I've not updated in a while.

Engine bay has had a second coat of Combi-colour, which has let me start fitting out the engine bay.



Next thing to go in is the loom. Now then : I'm not going to phaff about with a 40 year old loom with bullet fuses and many optional extra scotch-loks.
I'm starting with the Omega loom and stripping out those unnecessary systems. This is a back to basics car.

Armed with Haynes manual, the loom is on a major weight loss program. I've spent days at this, and more days need to be spent. I'll be able to weigh what I've pulled out of the loom.

[drwood]

Looking Great. Rollering does indeed work. I did it myself on my MG link

However it will take almost 12 months before you can do a final fine wet sand and polish as I found out. After about 2 months you can lightly wet sand and compound, however it will be a year before you can get a real shine to it. For the money saving it is definitely worth it.

[stevietuck]

Holy s**t mate good luck with that lot!! rather you than me

[beetleragtop]

Excellent work so far, just read the whole thread! I'll keep popping back to see progress

Cheers James

[DWDarkWheels]

It seems to be working so far DrWood. I'm lucky (:/) this is a long-term build as the paint's getting a good chance to dry.

I must admit Stevie, I thought I'd bitten off more than I could chew when I started, but I've got into it now, and am seeing progress. I just hope I don't remove one wrong wire !!!

Thanks for taking the time to read all the way through, James.

[stevietuck]

I've been told if you can understand wiring diagrams its not that bad but I don't believe it lol!!

[sonus]

Looking good

[DWDarkWheels]

There are a few ways to approach it.
The car manual will tell you what systems are supplied off which fuse. If one fuse supplies only electric windows, you know you can strip out everything downstream of it.
Or start from the electric window motors, and work back.
The only thing you need to be careful about is where you meet a join in the circuit. You need to cut out only the bit you've traced, and not disable something else.
Of course the wiring diagram helps let you work this all out. It's a good second opinion before you make that cut

[slot]

Nice work mate
This is the part I'm dreading when I eventually come to fit my BOA !
Saying that I've been told I only need 18 wires in total, that what you have siting there, looks like bypass surgery ! :x
Keep up the good stuff
Dave

[DWDarkWheels]

Now there's a BIG pile of wire in the corner.



which consists of :
automatic transmission
secondary air injection
door puddles lights and rear door courtesy lights
headlamp washers
car level control
seat heating
airbags
power steering
headlamp levelling
electric mirrors
heated mirrors
seat and mirror memory
air conditioning
trailer bulb failure sensor
central locking
electric windows
electric sunroof
in car entertainment
mobile phone
seat adjustment
tailgate release
heated washer nozzles

Fitting the loom, I've started with the fusebox and will work out from there. These live under the dash on the right-hand side, which seems to be common enough with modern cars. This led me to start thinking about how I'm going to 'package' the dashboard. I've deviated from standard Scimitar a tad , so I've made work for myself to get a lot of stuff in.

What can this be?



"Can you tell what it is, yet?"



It's a steering-column-support-hoop-cum-Omega-fusebox-tray.

From below



From above



I'm really pleased with it. Supporting the column with some framework seemed a good idea, it means I can work behind the dash with the dashboard removed, and it lets me cut away some of the GRP dashboard carcass to get the Omega instrument binnacle in later on.
The wiring for the column stalks and instruments fall nicely into place. Now the loom needs to come across the middle of the car, so I need a plan for the heater so I know what room is left for the loom. The build-order is becoming topsy-turvy. I've pulled the Omega blower/heater unit apart to see if I can butcher it.

Some nice new stuff has arrived. I've fitted the pads. That's a nice'n'easy one to score off the list.

[AtomicRooster]

Been ages since i checked this so i ended up reading it the whole way through. Fantastic, I'm still as into the idea as i was when i first found the thread. Getting close now!

[qwerty]

Read this whole thread. For some reason I've never read it before!
Fantastic work. Love it all. Looks great on those wheels and the paint finish is great. I'll definitely be keeping up with the updates.

[stevietuck]

Looking good mate its coming along nicely.

[DWDarkWheels]

Thanks for the enthusiasm, chaps. I appreciate the nice comments.

So to an update.

Even with major chopping of the Omega heater box, it won't fit. The modified tunnel has taken too much room away from the heater.
Nothing stock will fit. So I found this nice thing from T7Design www.t7design.co.uk/



I know I need a small heater, but it is titchy!



As you can see, I've been able to route the Omega loom further through the car. I got a nice result routing that section through the channel in the wing. The grommets in the Omega loom fit the holes in the Scimitar This is just the start though, as there's another section to come into the engine bay.



The left door went on a few weeks ago, but the alignment at the front isn't quite right yet.



Rustoleum onto the right door and the bonnet underside. I've got the hang of this rollering lark I reckon, and it's damned satisfying.

[stevietuck]

Nice work bud I cant wait to see this finished

[maybachman]

Really cool darrylwebb, TBH i thought you were mad to roller the car...but it looks cool from the photos!!! kudos!