65 GTO

[mlcraven]

Wow...rust doesn't doesn't stand a chance when you're on the job! Great work and so nice to see a classic coming back from the dead.

[DanStokes]

Todd, you ARE a magic man! Great work, as usual. The yellow car looks pretty good - I'd like to find one as nice. I love the early LeMans/Tempest/GTOs.

Dan

[Thumpin455]

Thanks again guys. I appreciate the kind thoughts. Dont know about magic, and its a constant battle against the rust. Maybe the pics make it look better than it actually is, the thing is still rough, but getting there.

I been thinking about driving down there, throwing a few parts on that LeMans and driving it home like Frieburger and Chad did with the Buick. Wheel cylinders, water pump, electric fuel pump and a bunch of filters, some tires since the 14s are probably rather scary now, and just road trip it home. Having an issue getting a trailer and truck, since her dad isnt in any hurry to have one drivable. I am though.

Been working on welding and bumping metal the last few days. Today I got out the filler and started in on that chore. Only a couple spots left to weld and I want to get all the low stuff done before I take it off the jackstands. Its pretty much where I want it to be before primer, so if I can finish the welding tomorrow afternoon, then it can get primer before I come in for the night.

Drivers side door needed a bunch of work, its almost 1/8" thick in some places, more than I like but better than it was by about an inch. It looks like a lot of filler in these pics, but really it is just a wide area so I can get it all flat and level, not much of this car was before.





Passenger side quarter was completely covered in filler (1/4-1/2" thick) when I got the car, going to have a lot less on it this time.




The roof came out nice, but its hard to see in this pic.

[DanStokes]

Tain't much filler. If you look at cars on Overhaulin', etc, - those suckers are completely covered in a thin coat of mud. I realize that they sand most of it off but they smear it on there for a reason.

Dan

[Thumpin455]

Yeah I been thinkin about using more over a larger area, but I like to use it sparingly and get the metal as smooth as possible. I hope I can get this thing in primer tonight, I have LOTS of work ahead of me if I want to do that. and I am hungry...

[milner351]

Everybody's got to eat Todd! Ya can get by on sheer determination for a while - but the body needs protein and h20 to get the job done.
Hope you're getting a break from the heat we've had lately down here - probably not as bad in da UP ey?

[Thumpin455]

Today was warm, sweated a bit finishing the welding. Nothing big though, didnt even make 80 but it was sticky.

Well it isnt in bare steel anymore. I kept finding small pitted rust areas that might come back with just primer over them, and some flash rust that didnt want to come off with the DA, so rather than shoot it with epoxy this time, it got Eastwoods rust encapsulator. Usually RE reacts poorly with POR15 so I didnt cover all those areas, just a few. It seems to lift where there wasnt any rust, just bare metal, and that is fine with me. As long as it gets the rust taken care of I am happy with it. Tomorrow I will go over the whole car and see if there are any spots that need sanded down more. After that is taken care of it will get two thick coats of epoxy, then I dont have to worry so much about it flash rusting and I can tackle another project for a bit.

The last shot of it before it gets covered up.



This can of RE is red, so I will know if I have sanded through the primer while I am blocking this thing.

[TheSilverBuick]

Looking good.

[DanStokes]

Todd, you blow me AWAY! Where do you get that energy? I want some of what you're taking.

One of my old tricks is to prime different layers in different colors - maybe a couple of coats of red and a couple of gray. Same idea as a guide coat, but you're going to need several layers of primer anyway so why not just make it your guide? Looks like great minds think alike.

Dan

[Thumpin455]

Two days of work and two to three days not in the shop doesnt need much energy. When I dont hurt I like to get as much done as possible. I can give you a list of my meds, but they dont do much other than lower blood pressure, prevent acid reflux, and limit the inflammation in my knees so I can walk without wanting to kill someone. I just have lots of time on my hands, and I have found ways to work around the limitations, the problem is there is no way I could do it for a living. I am way too slow and need too much time doing nothing.

If you had nothing else to do all day but play video games, post on forums like this one, and play around with an old car, you would get lots done too.

The POR and RE seemed not to have a huge problem, only one spot needs sanded a bit where the POR lifted from the metal. Probably just wasnt enough rust for it to stick. So after that spot is smoothed out, the body is getting epoxy primer, along with the fenders and other pieces that are sitting around the shop. The A pillar covers, hood, fenders, cowl vent cover, and radiator support all need primer on them too, so I have to move things around, make room, and set it up to shoot those parts. As long as nothing else comes up, it will be gray tonight.

[Scott Liggett]

You'll be doing burnouts in this car in no time.

[Thumpin455]

Its going to be running before it gets an interior or even glass, so with any luck it will have paint on it in a couple weeks. Its gray epoxy primer right now. No pics because its off gassing and I dont want to go back out, pretty sore. Shooting paint takes it out of me, too much standing in one spot and I cant sit while I do it.

[Thumpin455]

YAY PRIMER! Its not bare metal anymore! I feel like I just won a seat in the Senate. Went out just now and took some pics since I could breathe without a respirator now.



Fenders are done too!







Even shot the dash!

[DanStokes]

Looks great! Sounds like you have found a way to balance your work and relaxing pretty well - good all over you.

Dan

[milner351]

You are the man!