[CS1984]

Hi guys,

The restauration of my Supra is on hold for the moment as I wanted to do a quick fix on my crown to stop the rust and get it on the road this spring again.

As usual, when you start somewhere its not so easy to stop and do more and more


So, thats my crown. An 1985 model, 9 or so preowners, and since years I fix one thing after the other to get it into a better shape:

This year is rust and paint year. All the crucial stuff is done so its time to get it a bit more good looking. And also to learn a bit before I continue on the Supra.

 

[CS1984]

It all started with the window frames. One of them looked really bad and as they are all faded I wanted this to be fixed this year:

So I sanded it, put Corroless rust primer on and painted it black. That was supposed to be done fast on all four frames to look better this year and stop the rust for some time.

Although its far from perfect, its a huge difference to before.

While checking the other doors I found some fine cracks in the paint of the driver door with rust coming out.... I thought about getting it done by a workshop but after I checked all the panels around the car for the first time really in detail and found that it was already repainted so many times and some does look really bad if you look close enough, I decided to try it myself.

I have done that work on such a big part before, so I was a bis sceptical that it well look ok, but I said to myself if I don´t do It i won´t know it
So thats the rust, and there was a lot more:

For some reason about a quarter of the door was filled about 2mm high, with cracks and rust underneath on a few areas, so i ground down the area and kept paint on the area that was not worked on before, in the end it was just a minor dent rear of the door handle that has been covered:

I removed the rust and smoothed the edges and put on Corroless primer:

 

[CS1984]

Next step was filling the dent and smoothing everything. I did this over a few weekends step by step that everything could harden properly.

I put 4 or five fine layers on, smoothened it the next time, checked for imperfections and repeated.

On the last day before all the shops closed due to covid I went with the fuel lid to the local paintshop and asked for paint. Unfortunately they dont have paintcodes for such old cars but after telling the guy that it doesn´t have to be ultimately perfect, he searched by hand for the right colors.

Right after that the first came on:

One week later I taped the border and the fine line. I was really worried about that but it turned out to be much easier than I thougt.

And on with the second coat:

It turned out pretty good, except for all the small dents and waves that I did not get smoothed. Next time I know it better.

After applying the 1K Clearcoat it looks really well. No rinses, not many particles trapped in. And the colour fits quite well. At least a lot better than the front wing that also has been painted at some time. The surface is still quite rough, but after it turned out better than I expected, I will put another coat of 2K clear paint on.

 

[CS1984]

And the last update until now... I have a dent in the rear corner since I have got the car almost 8 years ago. Since I am taking care of the rust it also has to be done:

Removing the paint and lots of filler:

And for the first time ever doing some sheetmetal work that has to look somehow nice later:

Its not perfect, but a lot better than before. The rest will be filled up with bonding.


And using the Supra as a paint rack :

 

[sweatere]

Any update on your Supra?

 

[SupraFiend]

Very nice, I have a sweet spot for the old Crowns!

Thats pretty ambitious getting into that kind of bodywork and paint, it takes years of practice to be able to do a perfect job. Next time on a big flat panel like that, don't use the orbital sander, just block sand by hand. Looks like your supra project is pretty ambitious!

 

[CS1984]

Any update on your Supra?

Unfortunately not. I had so much to do with the Apartment, the Corolla and the Crown that I created a huge mess around it. But now as the Crown is finished I clean everything up and hopefully can get it ready soon for the dry ice blaster.

Very nice, I have a sweet spot for the old Crowns!

Thats pretty ambitious getting into that kind of bodywork and paint, it takes years of practice to be able to do a perfect job. Next time on a big flat panel like that, don't use the orbital sander, just block sand by hand. Looks like your supra project is pretty ambitious!

You are right, its really hard to get it done well. Therefore the Crown is a good piece to learn. It has a lot of bad paintjobs on almost all parts around, so I couldn´t make it much worse

I just used the Orbital sander to get the old filler and the rust off. But I used spraycan filler, that did not give me enough material to sand it well. Next time I will use a spray pistol. It´s all learning by doing, so I am quite happy.

After putting on a layer of 2K clear coat I got a nice shine. In daylight the light blue looks a lot more blueish than the rest, but thats good for now as there are at least 4 different shades on already.

By the way, it passed the yearly inspection without any faults last week which is quite impressing because the last inspection relevant repair was done in 2016

 

[gamble]

Not sure how i missed this thread, love those steel wheels you're running.

 

[CS1984]

Not sure how i missed this thread, love those steel wheels you're running.

Those are the stock wheels, usually with really nice steel hubcaps. But I lost one of them, I have a spare set but I am afraid to lose more of them. I will have to find a way to better fix them before I put them on again.
I would love to get the japanese Royal Saloon wheels...

 

[karrloh5]

The paint looks nice and smooth. What are your other plans for it?

 

[Zoe]

Servus!
I just discovered this thread. Nice to see a fellow European here and also very nice to see a Crown. I love them, I would love to have one of the Crown station wagons I ogled at the Pilcher museum many years ago.

 

[CS1984]

The paint looks nice and smooth. What are your other plans for it?

Unfortunately it did not stay like that. I now know why there was so much bonding in that area. The surrounding of the door handle is so weak and the metal bends so easy that the filler broke already, but I learned something and next time it will be better

I use it as a daily driver almost every second summer. Next year it will stay in the garage for an engine overhaul (and redo the door ) More work that slows the Supra restoration, but its so great to drive!

Servus!
I just discovered this thread. Nice to see a fellow European here and also very nice to see a Crown. I love them, I would love to have one of the Crown station wagons I ogled at the Pilcher museum many years ago.

Servus!
I think Europeans in here are almost as rare as the crowns

I have never been at the museum, but I heard it was moved to the big Toyota museum in Cologne... THE place to visit for cool cars I will have to go there once...