Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

Lost in the 60s · President

RE: Back In CAC

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Good to see your back at it Kevin. I think painting the trunk on a rotisserie must be a lot easier then on a running car. That cover for the top is a p...

Take Care, Hoping your medical issues are going in a positive direction. Have a great Memorial cay Chief.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

jim larson wrote:
That cover for the top is a p...
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jim, I cleaned the top with convertible top cleaner, treated it with a preservative then wrapped it inside and out with three layers of painters plastic. Still not sure on a car color so this very nice top may be replaced with a black top.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

dashboard wrote:
jim larson wrote:
That cover for the top is a p...
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jim, I cleaned the top with convertible top cleaner, treated it with a preservative then wrapped it inside and out with three layers of painters plastic. Still not sure on a car color so this very nice top may be replaced with a black top.

I guess I was just a little unclear. I was talking about that piece of vinyl that goes between the top and trunk that'd keeps to top out of the trunk, unless yours is somewhat different. How did you keep it up out of the way when you were painting the inside of the trunk or did you remove that piece? There appear to be some screws holding mine on. I was thinking about removing it when I finish the paint with the zolatone this fall.

Lost in the 60s · President

Jim, that is the well liner.

I can't find any clear instructions on install, but appears it may be stapled with stainless staples...

dashboard · 2K+ Club

jim larson wrote:
dashboard wrote:
jim larson wrote:
That cover for the top is a p...
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jim, I cleaned the top with convertible top cleaner, treated it with a preservative then wrapped it inside and out with three layers of painters plastic. Still not sure on a car color so this very nice top may be replaced with a black top.
I guess I was just a little unclear. I was talking about that piece of vinyl that goes between the top and trunk that'd keeps to top out of the trunk, unless yours is somewhat different. How did you keep it up out of the way when you were painting the inside of the trunk or did you remove that piece? There appear to be some screws holding mine on. I was thinking about removing it when I finish the paint with the zolatone this fall.

Jim, if I recall I used wood slats and gaffers tape to hold it up.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

After hours and hours of block sanding followed by day of cleaning the shop then building a dust filter for for the shop door it was time to spray the primer sealer. I applied two coats of 2K epoxy primer sealer. For the first time spraying an epoxy I’m pleased with the results, it leveled out very nicely. The 7.5 ft long flat rear quarters are razor straight. Of course they are or I wouldn’t have posted the picture. Hood and trunk lid to go then paint. The big reward....the body work is done, may be some light gazing but the dust of block sanding is over

I took Karl and Dereks words of wisdom to heart. “Attention to detail not perfect” and Don’t let perfect get in the way of done.”

Even Barbie Buick is seeing some progress.

Paints on order.

Derek69SS · Founding Member

Nice work!

jim larson · 2K+ Club

looking great, what’s the final color going to be? Want a job painting marina blue?

SShink · 3K+ Club

dashboard wrote:
Even Barbie Buick is seeing some progress.

I found her! Very sneaky. Good to see she's still hanging out in the shop with you.

I also like the punch list taped to the garage door. Great tip as we get older and forget what we did/didn't finish!

I'm sure this is going to turn out great Kevin and does look laser straight. I've been told 95% is the sanding/body work and 5% is the paint going on, so you're very near to that.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

Thanks guys. Jim my short career as an automotive body and paint cosmetologist will end as soon as the buffing pad stops turning and last piece of chrome is installed.
I now have a spare 65 Skylark fender, I’m taking it through every step in the process from blasting, filler, block sanding, paint to cut and buff. It’s my training aid, once satisfied I can achieve a satisfactory final finish. All my auto body tools will be available on Craigs list.

Lost in the 60s · President

dashboard wrote:
Thanks guys. Jim my short career as an automotive body and paint cosmetologist will end as soon as the buffing pad stops turning and last piece of chrome is installed.
I now have a spare 65 Skylark fender, I’m taking it through every step in the process from blasting, filler, block sanding, paint to cut and buff. It’s my training aid, once satisfied I can achieve a satisfactory final finish. All my auto body tools will be available on Craigs list.

Your car is super nice and you can tell everyone you built it yourself..

I fully understand your reluctance to go thru this again, but consider the alternative of paying MANY thousands of dollars for a mediocre paint job you are not happy with.

If you were still in MN, I'd be interested in all your paint equipment, as I am DONE with taking my Chevelle to people who either screw it up, rush thru it and ignore the details, or sit on it for 3 months and never touch it, such as the person who has it in their possession now. I'll be going to retrieve it soon and finish it myself.

I wish I could interest Tim H in helping me with it, as I KNOW it would be first rate and get done in a timely manner.

John D · 2K+ Club

Wow!!

more ambition than brains · 1K+ Club

Happy for you Kevin, great to see the progress.
So is this the last one you are going to build?

Karl

dashboard · 2K+ Club

more ambition than brains wrote:
Happy for you Kevin, great to see the progress.
So is this the last one you are going to build?

Karl

Should be. But never say never, I'm not looking, but if the right project fell in my lap...need to finish this one first. Problem is, there are always competing projects and demands.

BLyke · 1K+ Club

"Should be. But never say never, I'm not looking, but if the right project fell in my lap.."

You just never know what might show up down the road.

more ambition than brains · 1K+ Club

We should ban the words, Never and Always from use in any form.

Karl

BLyke · 1K+ Club

more ambition than brains wrote:
We should ban the words, Never and Always from use in any form.

Karl

Yep

dashboard · 2K+ Club

more ambition than brains wrote:
We should ban the words, Never and Always from use in any form.

Karl

Great suggestion, good words to ban.

There where three engineers discussing a complex project, after much discussion they agreed it was impossible and could not be done.

A young man came along and completed the project. No one told him it couldn’t be done.

I’m now three days into hood and trunk lid prep. Just when I thought I was home free.. The underside of the hood and trunk lid are taking many more man hours that the tops. And of course its all hand or finger sanding, darn battery tenders.

I’m going to install a hood tach, not original to this year Buick but I want one. I thought it would be a simple install, drill a couple holes for mounting bolts and one for the feed wire. But......nope I need to remove a good size area for the tach body that lives below the hood level. More on that later.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

The tach install was more than I thought it would be, but its in. Paint on the inside of the hood is still wet when this pix was taken.

-- Edited by dashboard on Monday 15th of June 2020 01:22:28 PM

more ambition than brains · 1K+ Club

Impressive

Karl

Lost in the 60s · President

Getting closer every day.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

Using a buddy’s paint booth on an as available basis and receiving some excellent coaching and the use of a very sweet spray gun I’ve sprayed the my first paint; on my 70 birthday no less.
I started out in the moon suit then quickly got comfortable. One coat of black primer, two coats of black base then four coats of clear Dupont (now different name) paint.
Followed by sanding with 1500, 3000, 5000 then cut with Wizards Mistic Cut, recommended to avoid swirl marks in black paint and polished with 3M Perfect-it #3 polish.
I couldn’t be more pleased and somewhat amazed with the finial result. I should be back on the project next week doing the fenders and hood. When done they’ll put in storage until the final drivetrain is decided and complete. Then the body and trunk will be done and mated together.
The top and interior are on order, both black. Four to six weeks for the top and 12 to 14 weeks for the interior. So it looks like I may have winter project.

more ambition than brains · 1K+ Club

Happy Birthday!!

Have been waiting on your progress reports!

Looking good!!!!

Karl;

Lost in the 60s · President

Wow, nice work !!
Wish I had a buddy with a paint booth.

Derek69SS · Founding Member

Very nice work, looks great!

Larry Lucast · Active Member

Great work!

BLyke · 1K+ Club

nice work!

BLyke · 1K+ Club

nice work!

SShink · 3K+ Club

VERY nice Kevin! I'm not surprised though. You picked the hardest color that shows everything, and it's great.

The satisfaction and pride has to be through the roof. If you're happy...that speaks volumes.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

Moving along, two more pieces painted, I’ll start sanding and buffing tomorrow.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Hope it works out to see it in person on our trip to or from Louisville this winter. Looking great.

more ambition than brains · 1K+ Club

Having fun yet?

Looks great!!

Karl

dashboard · 2K+ Club

Yep! The progress is so slow I can stretch the fun out over a longer period of time, like a 20 inning baseball game. It's rewarding to see paint on parts as a sign of progress, but it is so slow.
Good news, the top has arrived and will be installed after the body is painted and buffed.
I keep getting sidetracked with other domestic projects like residing a garage and landscaping.

Lost in the 60s · President

Won't take much cutting to get that smooth as glass. Looks good already.
I hear ya on getting sidetracked and multi tasking. Way too many irons in the fire, but I want the majority of the new place changes done in the first 2 years, so I can work on cars too...

dashboard · 2K+ Club

Lost in the 60s wrote:
I hear ya on getting sidetracked and multi tasking. Way too many irons in the fire, but I want the majority of the new place changes done in the first 2 years, so I can work on cars too...

I am trying to get several outdoor projects completed before winter sets in, but I do want to get paint on the car so it's ready for assembly this winter. However, as you know once the paints on it needs to be cut and buffed fairly quickly and that is very time consuming.

So there ya go, I'm running out of time to complete my fall projects because I'm trying to get my winter project ready.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

One more small bite. Should get the hood and trunk top done tomorrow. The underside of the hood and trunk just take so much time.

I built racks to transport the hood in my pickup. A six foot long 12 inch tall sawhorse, the trunk lid will fit underneath the hood for the ride home

-- Edited by dashboard on Sunday 4th of October 2020 08:41:57 PM

-- Edited by dashboard on Sunday 4th of October 2020 08:43:58 PM

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Wish you were open for business here in MN. Looking great. Boy that quite a set-up for transporting a hood. I only had to take mine 4 block to the body shop. Good idea if any distance is involved.

SShink · 3K+ Club

The underside pics look better than the exterior paint on any car I've owned.

And of course I'm not surprised you figured out a way to include a woodworking project as well.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

Jim, the sawhorses will be used later in the shop, they came in very handy to transport the hood over the 30 mile drive. They also provide a nice storage options for the pickup bed, more on that later.
You’re on your own buddy I’m painting my first and last car.
I’m pleased with how the hood and trunk came out, I’ll start the sanding and buff tomorrow. Then the body, which because it’s a vert amounts to just the rear quarters and the paint is done.

Stan, I recall some pretty nice rides you’ve had, several in fact.

-- Edited by dashboard on Monday 5th of October 2020 09:46:40 PM

Lost in the 60s · President

I saw a display for the Bedrug, when I had the topper installed and HAD to have one. I REALLY like this liner. My truck had the spray in bedliner and I don't like them, so this not only covered all that, but is nice for hauling delicate parts too.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Also easy on the knees. I also have one except the no carpet on the topper rails, etc.

more ambition than brains · 1K+ Club

Not trying to hijack subject, however many of you have a much higher standard of "BED MAINTAINENCE"
My pictures show our 2016 3/4 ton shop P/U AKA "PLOWZER" 44,000 miles.

The "bedrug" consistes of cardboard, foam pad, oil soaked cargo carpet from a Suburban. Spray bedliner and some lumber for good measure.

Also note swing out tool box a little more scuffed (wrecked) than MItchs'

Keep up the great work Kevin,
Karl

dashboard · 2K+ Club

Finally after five years the body is painted, little cut and buff and assembly will began.

Lost in the 60s · President

Truly awesome to have it THAT nice in Black......

more ambition than brains · 1K+ Club

BEAUTIS!!!

Karl

Larry Lucast · Active Member

Straight and shiny! Are you sure you don't have years of experience?

SShink · 3K+ Club

I think it's time to have a flashback of this project to really appreciate how far Kevin has come on this one.

These pics are from that warm sunny May 4th, Sunday in 2014 at the Buick show at the St Paul fairgrounds when I spotted her and sent the details to you. The rest is becoming a beautiful history for this car!

dashboard · 2K+ Club

SShink wrote:
I think it's time to have a flashback of this project to really appreciate how far Kevin has come on this one.
These pics are from that warm sunny May 4th, Sunday in 2014 at the Buick show at the St Paul fairgrounds when I spotted her and sent the details to you. The rest is becoming a beautiful history for this car!
____________________________________________________________________________>>

You did start this with those pictures Stan. I just went back and looked at my first post regarding this project, here's a copy and paste from that post of 6 Feb 2016. It contests of freshening up the drive train, rebuilding the long abandoned AC system, detailing the engine compartment, dash and carpet. I blew right through that plan and I'm still a long way from completion.

Hopefully the top will be installed in the next couple weeks, first I'll start buffing chrome and prepare it for install, some chrome pieces may need to be rechromed, been a while since I last looked at them.

I may be competing for the longest time in CAC award.

Lost in the 60s · President

"I may be competing for the longest time in CAC award." NOT EVEN CLOSE. I believe that award belongs to Karl... I think it's been like 20 years on the Blue Elky.

I've had my '66 SS since 2010 and it's still not done... Lord knows I tried hard a couple years ago, but the paint gods struck that effort down.

Once you start assembling it, you'll gain steam and look forward to driving it...with or without the top..