Thread: Everybody that is currently building a car...

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Amazing!!! Actually got something accomplished today! Took the front sheetmetal and the engine and trans out of the Plymouth. Got to fit the fenders and the hood on the car one more time and make the necessary adjustments, then final fit the coilovers and the rest of the rear suspension and finish up the brake pedal and linkage to the booster and master cylinder. A few other little things to tweak and tune, then it'll be time to put the body on the rotissierie and get it ready for paint...

Came home and ate, had a little ambition left so I went out in the garage to fit and tack the other frame tie into the 'maro....

Some days, things do actually go right!!!!!!

Paint done some assembly required.

The coupe is lookin' good!!!! Should be done soon, huh???

Looks great Who me! Purple done right always stands out. It's a tough color to pick the right shade or tone? I really like the color you chose.

Shwew! Finally figured out how to get trim off the El Camino. They clipped and glued it in. Real bugger. Actually got it off without damaging a thing. Now we're trying to decide if we need a new windshield now before paint.

Nearly have the cowl hood finished. Went with a metal weld on 2 1/4 cowl verses buying one already done. They only stamp a 4" cowl for the 65's and thats just a bit too tall for my liking. Man I love that Dynatron Poly-Grip. Goes on smooth as butter and sands reeaaal easy. Should have the hood ready for high fill in the next couple days. I'll try to get some pics.

Now its time to go through the PPG site. Seems like I remember someone saying they have a clear coat now that goes over single stage. Anyone? What I'm hoping for is the ease of making a good wet coat....waiting a few days.....then ultra fining (wet sand).....and a couple coats of clear over top for a deep gloss. Similar to the HOK stuff.....only in PPG. I know in the past the single stage PPG wouldnt accept top coats without the clear yellowing or hazing. Anyone?

My son is now figuring out the harsh reality of having a classic car that needs a makeover. LOL's. He spend the weekend with his buds while I sanded away at the hood. Woke him up this morning at 6 and told him it was time for him to earn his car. Told him to strip the entire car. "What......the whole car dad?" LOL's. The car has a lot of deep checking so we have to strip the biggest part of the car. Man that paint is hard to get off. It melts to the disks and just smears. At this time I'm using a high speed metal grinder/grinding disc to to get close to the metal without getting metal hot. Then taking it down to the metal with a 4" fiber wheel for paint and rust remover. Seems to be the fastest way without getting the metal too hot. Tried the razor blade......broke two in a matter of minutes.

Hope everyone is enjoying their projects.

Dave G

Dave,
My oldest son was the same way with his 69 Chevy truck. I couldn't get him to do squat on it until it was almost done and he could start to visualize the finished product. My youngest son has been much better about helping on his car.

I've got a paint question; We're going to paint my son's 94 Firebird and I'm wondering how to address the plastic nosepiece. There's a lot of cracking in the paint on this part. How do I prep this to paint it so that doesn't come back? Is there any special way to sand these plastic pieces so as not to mess them up? Anything you have to add to the primer and paint for flexing?

Who me coupe is looking good , If I remember that is like a root beer color right .

Bobby from the pictures he posted it looks more like a Grape Neehi

Well it could be grape , Thought I seen some brown though May have been the beverage .

firing engine this weekend

Originally Posted by bluestang67

Who me coupe is looking good , If I remember that is like a root beer color right .

Chryl. Black Cherry.

Originally Posted by falconvan

Dave,
My oldest son was the same way with his 69 Chevy truck. I couldn't get him to do squat on it until it was almost done and he could start to visualize the finished product. My youngest son has been much better about helping on his car.

I've got a paint question; We're going to paint my son's 94 Firebird and I'm wondering how to address the plastic nosepiece. There's a lot of cracking in the paint on this part. How do I prep this to paint it so that doesn't come back? Is there any special way to sand these plastic pieces so as not to mess them up? Anything you have to add to the primer and paint for flexing?

I'm going to try something a little different.....going to finish the front clip.....polished and all new chrome (grill and bumper in bad shape). Then let his sit back and realize what it could look like..... Is that mean?

falconvan..... I've done quite a few urethan bumpers over the years. Here's what I do. I sand all of the old paint off using a 180 da (or coarser). I personally would stay away from the spray on paint remover stuff. Make a real mess. Sand all the way down to the urethan because you want to get those cracks out. When the entire nose is done....I usually use a good 2k primer with flex additive and block the entire thing down till its perfect. Seems like I used the flex in the clear too but I honestly cant remember. I usually ask John down at Modern parts. He's never steered my wrong. I wish I had used more flex additive on my RX8. I curbed it several months ago and man you should see the spider webs (cracks).

Dave G

Originally Posted by Stovebolter

I'm going to try something a little different.....going to finish the front clip.....polished and all new chrome (grill and bumper in bad shape). Then let his sit back and realize what it could look like..... Is that mean?

Dave G

I don't think it's mean....I think it's just another lesson in reality!!!!! Hot Rods don't finish themselves or remain shiny forever!!!!!

My middle son was ready as soon as he could hold a wrench today he is 28 and I do guide him in new territory . My oldest son at 32 will not touch a wrench he goes to the dealer or begs me LOL

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

I don't think it's mean....I think it's just another lesson in reality!!!!! Hot Rods don't finish themselves or remain shiny forever!!!!!

Thanks Dave. It puzzles me.....a boy his entire life has drilled me with questions to the point that his mother and I swore he had oil in his veins. But now when it comes right down to the nitty gritty.....he lacks ambition. I'll admitt....this week he has put a lot of time in the car.....but I've had to stay after him constantly. I imagine he has my A.D.D. He'll go from stripping paint for 5 minutes to swatting flys for 10 minutes....then stares off into space for another 5 before he gets a glare from me and a warning that I'm about to push his car outside out of my way and then he can battle the rust himself.

Today we cleaned up shop....man that sand and filler dust gets everywhere. What a mess.

Since last.....cut the rot out of the drivers side floor pan.....realizing that I had no seam sealer and ran out of weldable primer. He stripped the entire radiator/headlight/fender support....and he sprayed it with DP90. I told him that DP90 would suffice just fine for his car.....sprayed the bright radiator too.....cause it just didnt look right behind the grill in its natural color. Dustin got the other fender stripped and both inner fenders and cowl. Now if I could just get that hood right. Then we could proceed to block and wet sand. Its starting to get hot and humid. I told him we really need to get this done.