Author Topic: car restoration WIP (Read 375 times)

SFRT - Frenchy · « **on:** July 20, 2004, 11:24:07 PM »

For the car lovers, day by day work on my Formula.

Getting to remove the paint is like digging out dynosaur bones and analysing the soil of a land. You can guess the history of the car.

Here we go, starting by the front. Used a razor blade to peel the paint of. Two layers of paint, cheap bondo/primer/ baked paint on the top of the original paint.

Hood is fiberglass, front is rubber.

SFRT - Frenchy · « **Reply #1 on:** July 20, 2004, 11:26:18 PM »

Removed lights/grills on the front. Sanded a fender to the metal. Sanded the front back to rubber.

SFRT - Frenchy · « **Reply #2 on:** July 20, 2004, 11:27:36 PM »

Ahhh ... the joy of the underage labor ... those tiny little fingers do miracle in those hard to reach places. removed all the moldings, all doors accessories. Scraped more paint... fingers hurt, GD razor blade.

SFRT - Frenchy · « **Reply #3 on:** July 20, 2004, 11:30:49 PM »

Sanded down to metal most of the car, fiberglass hood still untouched.

AKIron · « **Reply #4 on:** July 20, 2004, 11:31:56 PM »

Be interested in seeing the finished job Frenchy. Keep us updated?

SFRT - Frenchy · « **Reply #5 on:** July 20, 2004, 11:35:56 PM »

Agrr, bondo starts to show up ... covering rusted areas.

Those marks make me believe that the car originally came with a vinyl roof. Rust areas on the roof and on the upper rear fender.

The grand mother of the woman that sold me the car bought the car in 73. Her son was the last to drive it in high school. I bet the car was sitting in a garden, then the son did a Macco repair/paint and is the one that removed the vinyl.

Oh well, rust. Next is to cut those areas, and weld new metal sheets. More work!:D

Saurdaukar · « **Reply #6 on:** July 21, 2004, 01:21:52 AM »

Keep at it, Frenchy - keep us updated.

AKWeav · « **Reply #7 on:** July 21, 2004, 06:11:03 AM »

Razor blades? Frenchy, ever heard of "media blasting" a car?

gofaster · « **Reply #8 on:** July 21, 2004, 07:37:34 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by AKWeav
Razor blades? Frenchy, ever heard of "media blasting" a car?

I was thinking the same thing.

I had a '75, the first year they had the wrap-around rear window. Did you check the pan under the trunk and behind the rear wheels for rust? Also, how is the "radial tuned suspension" holding up? You might also want to pull the tires off of those original rims and make sure the wheels aren't rusting underneath from moisture trapped by the compressed air.

Looks like you're off to a good start!

My dream is to eventually find a restoration-worthy '77 Trans Am (or something that can be built up into a Trans Am). I wanna be the Bandit, man!

straffo · « **Reply #9 on:** July 21, 2004, 07:54:22 AM »

t'avais pas de lime à ongle ?

GtoRA2 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 21, 2004, 10:22:37 AM »

Frenchy
If you go with any kind of Chemical stripper, keep it FAR away from the front bumper. The endure bumpers can absorb it and then paint wont stick very well anymore. Looking good so far, keep the pics coming!

JBA · « **Reply #11 on:** July 21, 2004, 10:26:10 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by SFRT - Frenchy
Ahhh ... the joy of the underage labor ... those tiny little fingers do miracle in those hard to reach places. removed all the moldings, all doors accessories. Scraped more paint... fingers hurt, GD razor blade.

If you are useing a stright razor, then fold tape over the top many times to build up a nice cushin.

this works great.