My Tenth Anniv.

[roadking77]

Another little project out of the way. I re-installed the underdash duct work that I removed last winter to put in the new heater core. Went to put the glove box door on and didnt realize how crappy it looked. No way I was going to  put it in without clean up. Then I saw the hinge was broken on each end, the metal pan had some rust so I decided to go all in. I do not have a key for the lock so I replaced that as well, not that I ever going to lock anything in there, but at least it works properly.
I ordered a new cover from Ames. Also got a new a/c vent with decent chrome. First thing, rivets need drilled out with a 1/8" bit. Then the lock comes off. A tiny screw driver pushes the tumbler in several clicks at a time to pull that out. Then a $10 specialty tool to remove the base of the lock. Then the cover comes off the metal plate. Sand, prime and paint with Krylon semi gloss black, sem gray on the plastic. Pop rivet it all back together, install new lock and finish product.
20241005_170913 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241005_170926 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241005_172617 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241005_174332 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241005_174118 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241005_174128 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241008_082332 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241008_082335 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241008_084724 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241008_084825 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241008_084750 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

[roadking77]

I set the hood in place one last time before painting. I had it placed before but the nose was not on. I wanted to make sure things lined up ok with that as well before a finish coat. Since I will be spraying a foot away from the finished car I bought a disposable car cover from Griots for $10. Car fits fine and there is plenty of room around it. I hope it keeps overspray off
Got the bottom of the hood sanded, one cleaning and started to tape off getting ready to spray. Hoping to get some colour on by the end of the weekend.
20241007_153758 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241007_154402 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241008_085221 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241007_170203 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

[wheels78ta]

I'm going to be doing the same thing to my glove box door.  Thanks for the "how to".  Nice to know that Ames has the door cover.

[5th T/A]

Impressive job on the hood Kerry. Your car has come a long way since the beginning of this year.

[b_hill_86]

Nice on the glovebox door. It’s actually not difficult to rekey those locks either. In my case I had a lock that matched my doors and trunk but the chrome knob broke off. It eventually bothered me enough that I removed the old lock, bought a new and swapped over the pins to the new lock and installed that so now my key still fits. I appreciate the info on the cover. I have a spare glovebox door that could use a little TLC on the inside I may clean up.

[roadking77]

Hershey (major old car event and ginormous AACA car show in PA) was this past week. My son drove us up on Thursday to walk the swap meet area, I was on the road at 430 am on Friday to head back up (1.5 hr dr) for the car show which I was also a judge. Saturday my wife took me to the pumpkin patch (no double entendre, literally a pumpkin patch) so no car time. Its supposed to cool down this coming week and Sunday was nice so I figured no better time to get the hood painted. This was a big sacrifice as I am a huge football fan and its hard for anything to get my butt off the couch on Sunday's in the fall
I started early in the morning, at least for me on a Sunday. About 9 am. Got the underside painted, let it sit for a few then clear coat. I let that sit for a couple of hours (got some game time in ) then started the top side. First template in place to paint the dark grey. Then after that sat for awhile, maybe an hour put on the second template for the silver. I had to put several coats of that on for good coverage. Then when I thought it was good, there were some streaks I wasnt happy with so yet another coat. Silver seems to be a pain to paint and get it even. Let that sit for half hour, remove the template. There was a slight hard edge at the juncture between the two colours so I carefully cut it off with a razor, then some 400 gr sanding at that point only. Clean up again and clear coat. All came out ok, I will need to wet sand and buff. I am a bit rough shod painting and did not set up any kind of booth this time, I had one small bug get into the clear as it was dark when I got to that stage. It will buff out though. I finished everything up around 830 pm. It was a long day.
20241013_120846 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241013_164858 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241013_170305 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241013_180911 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241013_183225 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241013_194757 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241013_201535 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241013_201541 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

[roadking77]

Painting my shaker at the same time I ran into an adhesion problem after the second coat of paint went on. So I stopped with that. Not sure what the problem was. Maybe not clean, or a reaction with the prep sol seaping into a microscopic crack in the fibreglass? Anyway I sanded it down and will try to get it painted this evening.
20241013_184507 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

Also, the underside of the hood should be a semi black, but I gave it my spin on what Pontiac should have done with a special car. I think the silver looks more finished!

[ryeguy2006a]

Paint looks great Kerry! Congrats on getting some color back on the car. Bummer about the shaker, but you'll get it fixed!

[5th T/A]

OK, I'm impressed. I have limited painting skills and have not done any automotive paint work for 25 years. I can appreciate the challenges of this paint job, with two colors and all the masking, you definitely have lots of opportunities to make mistakes.  The hood looks great, I like how you painted the underneath body color.

 I can't wait to see it in person!

[N PRGRES]

Amazing work as always.  What impresses me most is how you paint all this without a fancy paint booth.  Makes me want to try painting my fender that needs replaced myself this year

[roadking77]

Its kinda rough shod how I go into things. I was going to set up some plastic as a quasi temp booth but figured what the heck and just wing it. Although my shop is primarily for working wood, its been awhile since I have had any wood projects going on. I have a couple that need to be done but purposely have not done them as I didnt want any more dust floating around than need be before I painted the hood. I opened the overhead door enough to get a big fan set up, blocked the rest of the opening with some cardboard and went at it. There is a little dust in the paint and it was getting dark by the time I finished and I ended up with 2 bugs. I dont think any of it is a big deal though as it will be wet sanded then buffed. I got the clear on pretty heavy.
Thanks for the words of encouragement

[roadking77]

20241016_163205 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241016_163159 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241016_163149 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241016_163143 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

Tried painting again last night but I ran into the same problem, different area after a couple of coats of grey. So this morning before I left for work I sanded the whole thing down 1 more time I was using some Spray Way all purpose cleaner as a prep solvent and I figure it was not completely dry in the spot where the paint boofed! So, getting home from work early enough this afternoon I figured I would try again. This time NO cleaner. Just a couple of good wipedowns with a clean cloth. Paint went on fine, did about 4 light coats waiting about 10 between. Then I let it sit for 15 min and started the clear. 2 good coats with a 15 minute wait period between coats. All in all it looks pretty decent. Again, a few specs of dust but that should all buff out. I think I am finally finished painting this car!!

[5th T/A]

Kerry, I am jealous of your paint job.

With the shaker done, hope you can enjoy a little football this weekend!

[N PRGRES]

Looks amazing!

[FormTA]

From a trained painter, you are doing and amazing job! Even my shaker is now showing hair line cracks, years later after paint. Hood looks amazing! Keep it up! Next summer you'll be driving it!

[roadking77]

Thanks Luke, I appreciate the kind words. Im not sure if I have said it before but I have had a lot of experience running a spray gun across cabinets and the occasional piece of furniture. So that much I have experience with. In regards to painting cars, its all self taught. I bought a dvd set years ago when I painted the 77, and I have a small mom n pop shop that sells paint and supplies that I get a lot of product from. The guys there have been a great help and will answer any questions I have as well as offering good advice.

[rkellerjr]

Wow, why aren't you my next door neighbor?!  Looking good bud.

[roadking77]

Ha! I keep saying that to Ryan

20241023_164130 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241023_170301 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

Started wet sanding yesterday. The shiny areas are the wet spots not dry yet.
So I made a couple of mistakes. First was I waited a week to start the 'cut and buff'. I went back to the paint shop for some more clear coat and the guys there told me that 24 hrs is a good enough wait time. They said the longer the clear sits the harder it gets thus, wet sanding is harder to do.
The reason I was getting more clear is that I boofed the wet sanding. I was too lazy! I started with 600, then 800 then 1200 then 2500. I then started buffing. This was all done in about an hours time!!! Problem was I never got the 600 gr scratches out. No amount of buffing is going to remove scratches that deep. So I scuffed the entire hood with 600 again (after cleaning well with grease and wax remover) then put an additional 3 coats of clear. The second go round had a little more dust than the first time as I was rushing it.
I waited the 24 hrs and started the wet sand with 2000 (as opposed to 600, which the shop said was way to coarse to start with) this time around. Took about 3 hrs to do the entire hood, still need a bit of touch up. Next up is 3000. I will do that tonight after work. I may stop at 4000 then start buffing.

[FormTA]

I usually start with 1000, 1500 then 2000, maybe once in s while go to 2500. Good quality compounds are designed to remove 1500 scratches.  I use wizard compounds as they are designed to remove 1500 and their grit is designed to break down and get progressively finer as you continue to buff. Even 3m perfect rubbing compound says it will remove 1200 grit scratches.  Just saying, you don't need to waist time and arm muscles wet sanding it that far. You do what you want, it's turning out great, just trying to save you some time.

[roadking77]

20241024_174819 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241024_174827 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
Wet sanding started at 2000. I spent about 3 1/2 hrs at that grit. I got all of the orange peel out and a couple of bad spots. Surface was completely smooth. I run a small bar of rubber as a squeegee which reveals anything ugly. Then 2500 and 3000. I spent maybe an hour and half on these 2. My local shop has a product called Presta. Colour coded with matching pads. I started with the 'cutting compound' which is labled black with a black wool pad. Next was a polish compound which used a blue foam pad. The above pictures are the result of that process. This was done with a rotary 8" buffer. The fellow at the shop told me to finish up with my 6" Griots buffer and a Griots fine polishing compound. That will be done with a yellow foam pad. I plan on hitting that this evening.

As the hood sits, I think its about as good as the rest of the car. Depending on how the Griots stuff works out I may go back and buff the rest of the car. I cannot do any kind of wax until the decals are complete.

For those of you that wonder why a paint job cost so much,
To date IF I were paying myself a modest sum of $50 hr. I estimate I have close to $4000 in the hood alone!!!

[76455sd]

Paint looks amazing. Great job. I’m tired just reading about all the sanding.

[5th T/A]

Kerry, it sure looks good!

It’s been a long time since I have done any automotive painting. I never had any formal training but learned a lot from a friend who owned a body shop. From him I learned there is a lot of preparation involved and no real shortcuts. Everyone I’ve talked to said today it’s very expensive to have it professionally done, both for labor and materials. I know you take a lot of pride in your workmanship and it shows.

[roadking77]

Thanks for the positive comments.
Yes, starting with the rusty piece of junk I have lost count of how many times I have sanded this hood I do know every square inch of it very well by now though

I can finally move on from the hood at this point, for the moment. I am working on the hinges now. They were pretty bad as well. A long bath in evaporust followed with my roloc. I might pick up a small blasting cabinet to finish them up. It will save me a ton of time. If I can get the hood installed I will be able to finish up the decals and pretty much call the outside of this thing finished (with the exception of the wheels).

[Meshuga T/A]

Nice 10th.  At Dayton I picked up a nice orig 10 th carpet at the swap. 

[ryeguy2006a]

Fantastic work Kerry! When are you going to make a thread about your Chevelle??

[roadking77]

Nice 10th.  At Dayton I picked up a nice orig 10 th carpet at the swap.

Someone sent me a pic of it laying on the ground! I have been looking for years now. Do you have the original carpet in your car you are replacing? If so I may be interested in that. Give me a PM.

[roadking77]

Ryan, since you broke the mould, I will def start a thread if the good folks here let me
I need to get the 79 finished first though

There have been many times when I have been in the waiting period that I have wanted to get started on it, but I only have 10 garage bays to do the work! I have no room to start the tear down, store parts and start something else.

[roadking77]

20241028_172139 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

One hinge cleaned. I soaked in evaporust, then hit with the roloc, then today I bought a new toy (blast cabinet) and got all of the nooks and crannies with media blasting. Took a little longer than I remember I think I need to get some new media just a tad coarser.

It looks like these were gold cad plated originally but I suspect they were factory painted before they were installed?

I was going to paint them with black phosphate like I did with the 77 which looks fine, but after a little more internal debate I may continue with my 'over restoration' and paint them body colour

[FormTA]

Those look great Kerry! I know you don't want to spend more money but you may want to look at buying a siphon media blaster kit (the ones they sell to siphon out of a 5 gallon bucket). I have found some of those are better quality blaster and more efficient than what comes with the cabinets. It may not totally be the media you have. My media is like baking soada consistency and works fine.

[Meshuga T/A]

Nice 10th.  At Dayton I picked up a nice orig 10 th carpet at the swap.

Someone sent me a pic of it laying on the ground! I have been looking for years now. Do you have the original carpet in your car you are replacing? If so I may be interested in that. Give me a PM.

I don’t have a 10th.   I sold it to a guy in Kentucky
I just found some floor mats in the box, may be 10th.  Same guy wants them.  I always grab 10 th when I see it. 

[N PRGRES]

Been catching up after being out for a couple of weeks for back surgery.  Hoods looks amazing!  You for sure have skills!

[roadking77]

Thanks, Hope you are doing well.
I thought the front end (nose piece) was pretty nice. It has been sitting on a cart covered up for the last several years after I painted it. Now that its in place I am not sure what I was thinking. My son made a comment which I regrettibly became a little beligerent with him. He asked if I was drunk when I painted it! First, I dont drink so I cant use that excuse but I wish I could. The clear coat is horrible looking closely. It was thin in some spots, namely in front of the lights, which resulted in an alligator texture. A couple of other spots are thin, and there is some significant cracking. I tried to ignore it but I know I will never be happy, so the next best thing is to sand it down and re spray. I am hoping it just needs the clear to be re-done and not painted. So that will keep me busy over the next few months.

Now I am trying to get the motor fired up, not having any luck. Trying a couple of things hoping for the best.

[N PRGRES]

I have faith in ya, you'll get it figured out!  Both paint and motor!

[roadking77]

VICTORY! I have been fighting ever so slightly this past week with trying to get the motor running again. I did have run for a couple of minutes months ago but I am not sure I even had the radiator hooked up. I know the exhaust wasnt in. I did not want to run it too long and I only put maybe a gallon of gas in. For fear there may be a leak someplace I did not want to deal with a lot of gas in the tank. I think the last time I tried starting it ran out of gas and has sat since.
So now that pretty much everything is done to a point that it should be able to run on its own power, I put 5 gal in the tank. Cranked for a couple of seconds and nothing. Put an ounce or two in the carb, it fired up but once that gas was gone that was it. Tried this a couple more times with the same results. I had more time this morning and motivation to crawl under the car. With some advice from my chief mechanic, I figured I would start with the fuel lines from front to back. I will add the first thing I did the other night was to pull the connection of the fuel line at the front of the carb and NO fuel was getting there.
Right away I could see the rubber fuel line to the pump was too short and kinked right at the connection. So I pulled it off, put a longer piece in and VIOLA! fuel is flowing and the motor started right up.
It sounds really good, has a bit of a loppy cam at idle. All of the gauges were working, it showed good oil pressure. Even the clock was ticking away. I am trying to get a video put on here at some point of it running.
My next plan of attack is to get it off the cribbing and see if it will run under its own power. I am hoping I got the clutch and transmission in properly.

[stros]

Congratulations Kerry!  Amazing work!

[roadking77]

I will ad to Lukes response about the blast cabinet I bought. I had a $20 siphon gun from TSC that I would use on stuff outside. I swapped it with the one in the HF cabinet and indeed it works much better.

In regards to the hood hinges, I thought they were stiff from the springs. But leaning them on the bench I cannot get them to budge. They were really not that bad looking when I started as far as the joints being seized. May just be the springs are that strong. I am going to have to rig them up to something to see if they do work. Otherwise I may be taking things apart a bit further to make sure they function properly. I dont see how I can take them apart and get back together either safely or with the factory look. If they are stiff it may be just a good dousing of PB. At one time I had about 5 or 6 pair of hood hinges. Typical they have sat around so long I have no idea where they are. I looked in the one place I thought they may be but not there.

[N PRGRES]

Congrats!!!!

[roadking77]

My turn signal stalk was jelly, so I figured the switch was broken. I have no idea why I did not replace it when I restored the column a couple of years ago New part has been on the shelf waiting on motivation. Now that I have it running and starting on a regular basis I figure no better time than now. Last night I took the thing apart and put the new switch in. Turns out it was the screw holding the actuator (I guess thats what I will call it) had a built in washer and was bottoming out on the plastic of the switch itself. It was not seating inside the metal and was simply 'jumping out of its track'. I took another screw and ground it down to fit between the plastic, with a good purchase on the metal only. Seems to have done the trick. I had the battery unhooked for a couple of days, hooked it back up and its beyond dead. I suppose its time to get a new one.

20241111_174530 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
Old switch. May not have been bad really, but it sure is nasty enough looking that I am glad I replaced it.
20241111_170105 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
Screw too wide to seat properly
20241111_173056 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr20241111_173038 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
Ground a little off the shoulder so it will fit tighter
20241111_173226 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
In place and working like it should
20241111_174538 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

I have been hooking and unhooking the battery on a regular basis for the last few months. I am very glad I bought this battery terminal wrench. The right tool for the job sure makes a positive difference.
20241112_170204 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

[roadking77]

I forgot to ad, I put pb on all of the joints at the hood hinges. I had my son put some muscle to them and they broke free. Working like a charm now. I need to get the pb off so I can paint them now. I was so glad they came around one less thing I need to worry about.

[ryeguy2006a]

Congrats on the first start up Kerry!! Huge step forward