A4000T Restoration!

fitzsteve · 15 December 2011, 15:51

Hi All!

Another project to share with you :-)

I picked up an A4000T recently, as you can see it was looking a little tired so I wanted to bring her back to her former glory!

The good news is it was very clean inside so it's only externally I needed to restore.

I found a local coachworkers to paint the chassis for me so the first job was to strip everything out of the case.

With everything out the case went off to get painted and in just one week was all done and I picked up the bits today. The painter had matched the original colour and finish so apart from the missing silver strips it is true to the original.

And with some leftover paint I also got a tatty A4000D lid done too!

fitzsteve · 15 December 2011, 15:52

Next up the rebuild, working on my antistatic mat of course, don't want to damage the little fella after all that! Here's one empty case...

Fit the front switches and re-route the LED wires:

Next job, mount PSU:

And carefully in goes the Motherboard...

Then the cross bar/extra HDD bracket. I guess this also gives some rigidity to the case:

Next up, CPU, SCSI and sound boards - even cracked open a brand new SCSI cable, fresh out of the packet.

A couple of Zorro cards, for now a PicassoIV and DKB3128 fully populated!

But alas it wouldn't boot with either of my A3640's both Rev3.1 so not sure of the issue there, just blinking LED - of course Jumpers set to EXT.

So in goes another spare CPU I had kicking around, WarpEngine 4040...

Yay, we're booting this time

Case and door back on (carefully) and keeping this baby safe.

seuden · 15 December 2011, 16:02

I've never hated you more than now Steve!

fitzsteve · 15 December 2011, 17:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by seuden

I've never hated you more than now Steve!

I'll take that as a compliment

prowler · 15 December 2011, 22:29

There's another awesome project shaping up here if I'm not mistaken.

khph_re · 15 December 2011, 22:33

Ace job Steve, i'm glad I sent her to a good home!

fitzsteve · 15 December 2011, 22:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by prowler

There's another awesome project shaping up here if I'm not mistaken.

Thanks mate, indeed I will be plumbing in a CyberStormPPC, CyberVisionPPC, Deneb USB & X-Surf NIC

My Cyberstorm just needs a little repair before I do that!

Quote:

Originally Posted by khph_re

Ace job Steve, i'm glad I sent her to a good home!

Thanks for the kind words, and thanks for the A4000T

Hope your A1200 project is coming along well?

Steve.

Paul_s · 15 December 2011, 22:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by seuden

I've never hated you more than now Steve!

Don't worry he ain't cool until he has a 'Commodore' A4000T

Nice work Steve, looking rather good!

khph_re · 15 December 2011, 23:02

Fine thanks Steve, just finished transferring the CF to the A1200 from UAE. Now fiddling about with monspec to get the best screen mode.

Had a bit of a heart attack when I spotted the oscillator for the FPU had gone walk about from my 030, but luckily it syncs to the processor without it!

fitzsteve · 15 December 2011, 23:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul_s

Don't worry he ain't cool until he has a 'Commodore' A4000T

Nice work Steve, looking rather good!

he he, thanks mate - maybe one day

Quote:

Originally Posted by khph_re

Fine thanks Steve, just finished transferring the CF to the A1200 from UAE. Now fiddling about with monspec to get the best screen mode.

Had a bit of a heart attack when I spotted the oscillator for the FPU had gone walk about from my 030, but luckily it syncs to the processor without it!

Thats the problem with my CSPPC, Crystal has came loose - need to solder it back on but I'm too scared to risk my aweful soldering on a £700 card

It works if you press down on it lol, but will get one of the pro's to fix it soon.

Anyway, good luck with the project

musojon74 · 16 December 2011, 01:21

Man I want an a4000t. Cool project anyway Steve :-)

marcfrick2112 · 16 December 2011, 19:38

What an INCREDIBLE Job, and Great pics!!
Man, I wish I had a true Amiga guru to strip down my monster A4000T, and get it booting again...

fitzsteve · 16 December 2011, 20:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by musojon74

Man I want an a4000t. Cool project anyway Steve :-)

Many thanks for the kind words

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcfrick2112

What an INCREDIBLE Job, and Great pics!!
Man, I wish I had a true Amiga guru to strip down my monster A4000T, and get it booting again...

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the pics

There is a chap in the UK (Hikey) who does a cracking job repairing the boards or there is Amigakit.

It's quite easy to strip down, just reverse my build procedure and take notes of there the cables all go, I took photo's to remind myself

Only issue is cost of postage sending the board back and forth.

Steve.

Peter · 16 December 2011, 20:40

That coach works has done a fantastic job on the paintwork - where was the place?
The only place I know that does coach works is at the top of Westerham Hill - is that the place you went...? Most of the big box Amigas you see these days are in need of some case work :-(

Excellent job throughout Steve - looks brilliant mate!

fitzsteve · 16 December 2011, 21:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter

That coach works has done a fantastic job on the paintwork - where was the place?
The only place I know that does coach works is at the top of Westerham Hill - is that the place you went...? Most of the big box Amigas you see these days are in need of some case work :-(

Excellent job throughout Steve - looks brilliant mate!

Hi Peter,

Cheers, yeah great results

The place is in West Kingsdown (near Brands Hatch) Cheppell Coachworks (Gary Chappell)

I was introduced by a friend a few years back when I had to get the Door on the MG sprayed and he done a great job on that so I kept his card

Steve.

Peter · 16 December 2011, 23:53

Cheers, great contact to have.

roy bates · 17 December 2011, 09:39

looking good steve,another amiga back to its former glory good job!!!

fitzsteve · 17 December 2011, 12:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by roy bates

looking good steve,another amiga back to its former glory good job!!!

Thanks mate, I'm really pleased with the results

15 December 2011, 15:51	#1
fitzsteve Professional slacker! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kent, UK Age: 44 Posts: 6,683	A4000T Restoration! Hi All! Another project to share with you :-) I picked up an A4000T recently, as you can see it was looking a little tired so I wanted to bring her back to her former glory! The good news is it was very clean inside so it's only externally I needed to restore. I found a local coachworkers to paint the chassis for me so the first job was to strip everything out of the case. With everything out the case went off to get painted and in just one week was all done and I picked up the bits today. The painter had matched the original colour and finish so apart from the missing silver strips it is true to the original. And with some leftover paint I also got a tatty A4000D lid done too! Last edited by fitzsteve; 15 December 2011 at 22:43.

15 December 2011, 15:52	#2
fitzsteve Professional slacker! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kent, UK Age: 44 Posts: 6,683	Next up the rebuild, working on my antistatic mat of course, don't want to damage the little fella after all that! Here's one empty case... Fit the front switches and re-route the LED wires: Next job, mount PSU: And carefully in goes the Motherboard... Then the cross bar/extra HDD bracket. I guess this also gives some rigidity to the case: Next up, CPU, SCSI and sound boards - even cracked open a brand new SCSI cable, fresh out of the packet. A couple of Zorro cards, for now a PicassoIV and DKB3128 fully populated! But alas it wouldn't boot with either of my A3640's both Rev3.1 so not sure of the issue there, just blinking LED - of course Jumpers set to EXT. So in goes another spare CPU I had kicking around, WarpEngine 4040... Yay, we're booting this time Case and door back on (carefully) and keeping this baby safe. Last edited by fitzsteve; 15 December 2011 at 16:04.

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15 December 2011, 16:02	#3
seuden uber cool demi god Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent/England Posts: 2,073	I've never hated you more than now Steve!

15 December 2011, 22:29	#5
prowler Global Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sidcup, England Posts: 10,300	There's another awesome project shaping up here if I'm not mistaken.

15 December 2011, 22:33	#6
khph_re Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Northampton/UK Posts: 524	Ace job Steve, i'm glad I sent her to a good home!

15 December 2011, 23:02	#9
khph_re Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Northampton/UK Posts: 524	Fine thanks Steve, just finished transferring the CF to the A1200 from UAE. Now fiddling about with monspec to get the best screen mode. Had a bit of a heart attack when I spotted the oscillator for the FPU had gone walk about from my 030, but luckily it syncs to the processor without it!

16 December 2011, 01:21	#11
musojon74 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World Age: 50 Posts: 476	Man I want an a4000t. Cool project anyway Steve :-)

16 December 2011, 19:38	#12
marcfrick2112 Amiga Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA Age: 53 Posts: 179	What an INCREDIBLE Job, and Great pics!! Man, I wish I had a true Amiga guru to strip down my monster A4000T, and get it booting again...

16 December 2011, 20:40	#14
Peter Still an Amiga user Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kent Age: 55 Posts: 2,715	That coach works has done a fantastic job on the paintwork - where was the place? The only place I know that does coach works is at the top of Westerham Hill - is that the place you went...? Most of the big box Amigas you see these days are in need of some case work :-( Excellent job throughout Steve - looks brilliant mate!

16 December 2011, 23:53	#16
Peter Still an Amiga user Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kent Age: 55 Posts: 2,715	Cheers, great contact to have.

17 December 2011, 09:39	#17
roy bates Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: birmingham Age: 55 Posts: 2,827	looking good steve,another amiga back to its former glory good job!!!

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