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Index > @ the Pickup Bed (General Topics) > Thread: hibernation questions
Thread: hibernation questions
Mazdarx605


Redlining
Posts: 314
posted October 06, 2003 03:32 AM

hibernation questions

Hey guys,

Just yesterday I put the REPU in a storgae unit for a long winters nap,and have a few questions.I am required by the town fire department to keep the fuel tank full,so I filled it up and used som fuel stabilizer.Is that a good idea?Should I change the oil now and again in the spring?The engine is a brand new rebuild the P/O had done.I have only put on a few hundred miles on it.Would it be a good idea to jack it up and get the tires off the ground?Any thing else I should do to protect it from a long cold nap?Also I removed the grill before i pulled it in thinking i can work on it during the winter.It need paint.What is the best way to clean it up to re-apply some paint to it?Also is there any way to re chrome the headlight trim?It seems to be some sort of chrome coating on plastic.

Chris
74 lawn green
83 RX-7 LE
92 Dodge Ram "Dodge makes em' Cummins shakes em'"
00 Protege ES "hers"

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wankel_dreams


Redlining
Posts: 293
posted October 06, 2003 04:27 PM

quote:
...I am required by the town fire department to keep the fuel tank full


Thats a weird regulation that i've never heard of before.

"OK, now if this vehicle is going to catch fire or blow up, we want a REALLY BIG explosion"

I know that if you do raise it up off the floor, you want to keep the suspension compressed to its normal position, don't let it hang fully extended all winter.

____________
74 wankel panther
77 REPU
79 rx7
89 Vert

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Klaus43


Rotorhead
Posts: 1259
posted October 06, 2003 06:10 PM
Edited By: klaus42 on 6 Oct 2003 18:13

Yes.

Full tanks don't present the fire hazard/explosion risk near empty ones do... think vapor...! Changing the oil always a good idea. Fuel preservative good too. You might want to drain/refill the coolant, using a good 'stiff' mix ratio. Take that battery out, and keep it charged. Go fire 'er up every 3 or 4 weeks, run around 'til fully warmed up, then re-store. If not, you may wanna drain the float bowl too. Varnish never sleeps!
Best way to paint grille: carefully, with the proper color. Yes, that's chrome over plastic, and I'm told it can be re-chromed.

       
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Mazdarx605


Redlining
Posts: 314
posted October 06, 2003 08:56 PM

Thanks for the info guys.Hey Klaus what is the correct color?And where can I get it?If I don't go factory with it which is what i want i was thinking a pewter color for the grill aside from the chrome maybe.Just a thought.But then again I like factory stuff.I need to figure out where to get the headlight pieces re-chromed as well as the front bumper which is straight as an arrow but had been painted body color at some point in time.

Chris

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Klaus43


Rotorhead
Posts: 1259
posted October 07, 2003 12:05 PM

That color's called 'Argent'...

...and I don't know who sells what quality/type of paint in that color... perhaps Craig knows if it's available thru Mazda? Perhaps the Eastwood catalogue... ? My limited understanding of chrome is that surface prep/polish/finish prior to plating is of the utmost importance. Plating over plastic would seem a speciality within the trade... but the modern auto industry sure went that direction!
BTW, I liked that pic of your REPU so much, it's currently my screen saver... :)

       
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Mazdarx605


Redlining
Posts: 314
posted October 07, 2003 01:19 PM

Thanks again Klaus.I think I will wait to hear from others or maybe hit up my brother-in-law for some dupont catalogs.I think i will also do a little research on chrome over plastic.

I am honored you would chose a picture of my truck to grace your computer wallpaper.I wish i lived out west like most of the others on the forum,so I could meet you all,and have the ability to work on the truck year round.These New England winters are too long.Ahh maybe I will move to the Seattle area like I have ever since I visited there years ago.

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rotormunky


Redlining
Orlando, Florida
Posts: 424
posted October 07, 2003 10:33 PM

quote:
I need to figure out where to get the headlight pieces re-chromed


Plastic isn't actually "chromed" (electroplated) so many chromers will tell you its impossible. The process that's used is called vacuum metallizing. Its actually a super-thin layer of particulated aluminum which is then covered with a layer of urethane (it'll run right off otherwise). In fact if you hit that plastic piece with laquer thinner it ought to take it right down to the plastic.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=vacuum+metallizing+service

Try to find someone in your area that does it. The masking process is easy but different (water soluable 'paint' that you put on the parts that you don't want chromed) and its always nice to look the guy in the eye so you know he understands just what you want when you explain it. Costs vary but its your only real option with plastic and when done right it can last you another 25 years.




quote:
as well as the front bumper which is straight as an arrow but had been painted body color at some point in time.




You might try using a mild chemical stripper first to see what you've got underneath. First reason is that you might be surprised that you've got a good chrome bumper under there just screaming to see daylight again. Second, prepwork will really kill you with teh chromer. They hate to strip and stuff and charge a premium for it. Since its easy enough to do, you might as well save a few sheckles. If its decent chrome (70's japanese vehicles make that a good question) it'll even stand up to mild mechanical tripping without scratching, but try a chemical approach first.

Obviously it doesn't work with large items like a bumber but for small bits you should try one of the decent home electroplating kits someday. WIth a little practise you can get fantastic results. Besides I've seen small bits get lost at the chromer before. The Eastwood catalogue ought to have some decent options for not much money, their stuff is usually pretty good.

Hope that helps a bit. Good luck with it.


____________
-Martin
Orlando, Florida

http://www.themonkeyhouse.org/REPU

'77 REPU (Some assembly required :)
'91 Cabrio (Battered and bruised, but she's still my baby.)

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Klaus43


Rotorhead
Posts: 1259
posted October 08, 2003 08:14 AM

Wow, Martin, you're on it!

I had no idea... sounds suspiciously close to the dichroic coating process: single-molecule thick at-a-time layers of metals deposited via an 'ion gun' in a rotating vacuum kiln on the surface of glass... adhesion being but one issue... I need to learn much, much more! Perhaps 'chrome' is only one of many possible options, for the $$$ wealthy custom-inspired...

       
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