I’m back with an Esky this time

[Snowbound]

Finally got around to finishing the vinyl wrap on the rear hatch appliqué. I was walking around the back of her vehicle and the flaking chrome piece on there now got my attention and it lit a fire under my rear end to get that thing replaced. I’ll try to get it on this weekend and get a finished pic.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Finally got around to finishing the vinyl wrap on the rear hatch appliqué. I was walking around the back of her vehicle and the flaking chrome piece on there now got my attention and it lit a fire under my rear end to get that thing replaced. I’ll try to get it on this weekend and get a finished pic.
View attachment 345513

I really like that skull applique.

 

[Snowbound]

I guess I never shared what it looks like installed.
Ended up being a royal PITA. First of all, the rear cameras were different and so were the harnesses. The hole in the appliqué for the camera had to be cut square.

 

[Snowbound]

Every one of these tabs that hold the mounting bolts were busted. I quickly realized why when I removed the one on her liftgate. They spin in the plastic and I ended up just trying to break them so I could remove her original appliqué. The bolts ended up staying in the liftgate and I had to soak them with PB Blaster and then hold the outside of the bolt while removing the inside but. It sucked. But I got it with minimal damage to paint.

Here’s the dilemma that I had to deal with on the part that’s going on the liftgate.




Here is the T bolt that holds this plastic junk on to the liftgate.


Somehow it has to sit in this groove and stay in place so I can tighten it down and not spin.

 

[Snowbound]

The only way I was going to get these bolts to hold was to epoxy them into place. I filled the slots or what was left of them with epoxy and then slid the bolts into place. The foam was to prevent any water from getting into the holes in liftgate where the bolts pass thru. Maybe wasn’t necessary but I was just trying to be proactive.




While the epoxy was drying I had to sand down the paint around 90% of the holes and touch it up with paint and clear. Also had to clean the back from all the dust and debris that was accumulated behind there.


When I put it on I was very careful to tighten evenly on the bolts and not break the plastic anymore than it already was. I also sealed around the appliqué with black weatherstripping adhesive. Even with the trim seal on there it still wasn’t sitting completely flush. Maybe due to my foam pieces? But that stuff should have smashed enough to get it to pull in tight. Either way, once I put on the adhesive, it looks perfect. It was a pain to get the adhesive in the crack under the wiper arm but I got it. You can barely see the adhesive, just looks like that trim seal because I wiped away any extra. But overall, I’m happy with the way it turned out.

 

[Snowbound]

And while I’m on here I just wanted to show you some of the crap I gotta deal with. She sends me this saying she wants her nose pierced like she’s some sort of bull or something. I don’t tell her what to do or not to do because I wouldn’t let her tell me but I can’t stand the nose piercing thing. I told her to try one of those magnetic ones to see if she’s even gonna like it before she goes and does something stupid that I have to look at. It’s been over a month since she sent me this and she hasn’t got the piercing or even the magnet so I’m praying the phase has passed.

 

[Tonyrodz]

And while I’m on here I just wanted to show you some of the crap I gotta deal with. She sends me this saying she wants her nose pierced like she’s some sort of bull or something. I don’t tell her what to do or not to do because I wouldn’t let her tell me but I can’t stand the nose piercing thing. I told her to try one of those magnetic ones to see if she’s even gonna like it before she goes and does something stupid that I have to look at. It’s been over a month since she sent me this and she hasn’t got the piercing or even the magnet so I’m praying the phase has passed.
View attachment 354755

Hopefully it's just a phase!

 

[George B]

And while I’m on here I just wanted to show you some of the crap I gotta deal with. She sends me this saying she wants her nose pierced like she’s some sort of bull or something. I don’t tell her what to do or not to do because I wouldn’t let her tell me but I can’t stand the nose piercing thing. I told her to try one of those magnetic ones to see if she’s even gonna like it before she goes and does something stupid that I have to look at. It’s been over a month since she sent me this and she hasn’t got the piercing or even the magnet so I’m praying the phase has passed.
View attachment 354755

You can tell her you don’t like it without telling her she can’t do it.

 

[Fosscore]

The only way I was going to get these bolts to hold was to epoxy them into place. I filled the slots or what was left of them with epoxy and then slid the bolts into place. The foam was to prevent any water from getting into the holes in liftgate where the bolts pass thru. Maybe wasn’t necessary but I was just trying to be proactive.
View attachment 354746

View attachment 354747

While the epoxy was drying I had to sand down the paint around 90% of the holes and touch it up with paint and clear. Also had to clean the back from all the dust and debris that was accumulated behind there.
View attachment 354748

When I put it on I was very careful to tighten evenly on the bolts and not break the plastic anymore than it already was. I also sealed around the appliqué with black weatherstripping adhesive. Even with the trim seal on there it still wasn’t sitting completely flush. Maybe due to my foam pieces? But that stuff should have smashed enough to get it to pull in tight. Either way, once I put on the adhesive, it looks perfect. It was a pain to get the adhesive in the crack under the wiper arm but I got it. You can barely see the adhesive, just looks like that trim seal because I wiped away any extra. But overall, I’m happy with the way it turned out.
View attachment 354749

Nice work and battle to make it look good.

My dad told us 3 boys if we can home with a piercing that he would rip it out.

Nobody came home with a piercing.

Not the course of action in this instance, but I still remember to this day.

Or his other famous words. I brought you into this world, I’ll take you out.

I hope for you that the delay is the correct answer.

 

[Snowbound]

The party never ends. Next up in the to do list is pull the front diff and probably go thru it with new bearings and seals but I’m going in after the mounting brackets. There’s play in the bushings that need replacing so I got new Moog units and also doing the engine mounts while I’m there. Now is the time to replace front seal that has been leaking and I’m also gonna put some new struts on it too. I swear, it never ends.

I’m gonna order the struts and seal and start tearing it down right after Xmas.