Here We Go Again !!! Diablo 502 For This Dec !

[Red Devil 500]

Well got at the seater today and it had 3 good splits in the tubing at the seat back area looks like water expanded in the tube over the years.I banged them in with a body hammer grind away all the old paint and welded these areas.The front of the seater had been repaired with two gussets and bronze so this had to be cut away and remove the bronze and weld these spot as well.

[Red Devil 500]

Few more pics of the front of the seater frame.

[Red Devil 500]

Well I decided to tackle the broken plastic dash and nose cone.Armed with advice from Bruce off I went.I will admit I had little hope of saving the dash.It was BAD.I started with the heat gun to bring it back to it original shape as close as I could with out any force as it would break even more. I cooled each heating session as I only did little bits at a time.I used a body dolly to shape and cool the plastic.When i had this step done i used clear packing tape on one side then mixed a batch of 5 min epoxy then filled each crack.After letting it sit over night I then sanded it with a small Rol Lock fibre disc.Then hand sanded.I have used a 3M vinyl paint.It looks better in life then the photo.But I am ok with how it turned out.

[Red Devil 500]

Well here is a pic of the 502 Dash with paint dry and decals on it.I am now working on the nose cone.

[Go Go Diablo]

That is an incredible transformation Sean. You really have a knack for fixing up things.

Bruce

[Red Devil 500]

Well onto the nose cone I have found that it just did not fit the way I would like it too so I have worked the nose cone with heat and my body dolly's to get that prefect fit.Then finish it up with the epoxy as it has not enjoyed being stretched after 40 some years.I have also (begrudgingly)started to lube up,free up, straighten those _ _ _ bogies.It may be my imagination but i swear that they appear to grow in numbers every time I look at the pile of them.I will clean all the tire now as well.Anyone have any ideas on making these tires look nice?I was going to wash them then hit them with black shoe polish???

[Red Devil 500]

Dirty old tires!

[Barrie2777]

After cleaning them, I think I sprayed them with an Armorall product which is made for car tires. Just spray it on and let it dry.

[Go Go Diablo]

I let the tires sit in some dishwashing soap/water for a night and then scrub with a brush. All my bogies next to the sprockets get new tires and new bumpers as those are the most important bogies under the chassis to help get the tracks on and off the sprockets cleanly.

Interesting comment on the nose cone not fitting well. Seems they are all that way. It does not help that hoods are different too it seems. Before making the last batch of new nose cones, I brought two hoods over to the thermoplastic manufacturer and they modified the mold to match the hoods. The new ones made with the modified mold fit better, but still not great repeatedly on all hoods. Baby steps I guess.

[Red Devil 500]

Bruce I did notice that some bogies had washers under the bumpers??I at first thought it was just a fluke but then noticed that it was on the front bogies was this because of wear or was this done at the factory??

Sean