65 Valiant Convertible

[Steves65]

Starting a thread for my build....I started in October 2012 and have done a lot since getting it, so I will post some pictures to show you what I started with and get you all caught up to where I am now...

Here we go!

 

[Steves65]

This car was handed down from my father in-law and has been a part of my wife's life since she was a kid...it sat in their garage and did not move from the early 80's until I got it in 2012...

 

[Steves65]

When she came home

 

[Steves65]

The original /6 was rebuilt by Jasper engines, I rebuilt the front end, drove it for a summer and then started tearing it apart...everything is being taken down to bare metal, then epoxy primer, urethane primer, then paint. I am also spraying a lot of rust preventative in all those area's where I can't get in with a paint gun or grinder

 

[Steves65]

currently, I have been working on the rear quarters and prepping remaining areas for primer and bodywork

 

[65Val]

Looking good , Steve...I've been following it on the "other" forum.

 

[Steves65]

Thanks

 

[Steves65]

Bodywork has temporarily stopped while I work on the seat frames...I have some issues with broken springs I am trying to figure out...PM'ed some of the good guys on FABO to see if they can help out with replacement springs as the welds have been breaking on me so for now I have been trying to reinforce with some steel rod

Bench

View attachment Bench.jpg

attempt to fix

View attachment Fix.jpg

Back rest
View attachment Backrest.jpg

 

[Steves65]

Nothing too exciting, but I have continued my work on the seat frames and track...getting closer to finishing the seats because they are going off for upholstery at the end of the month...I am having someone do all of the upholstery and carpeting for me...I am just stripping everything down, repairing anything that's broken and doing all the rust removal and repainting...

example below...these will get cleaned up soon!

 

[ValiantOne]

Neat build. I look forward to seeing this one come together!

 

[Steves65]

Some updates....the rear quarters are coming along, not sure if this overkill, but I have also been stripping the undercoating from inside the fender wells, otherwise still have one section left to patch in the trunk floor, then we should be able to go over everything with primer and start the final sanding process

 

[Steves65]

Took 2 big steps today. ....brought my interior over to the uphoholsterer and finished all the welding and grinding today. ..tomorrow I start buying supplies to make an in garage paint booth

 

[Steves65]

Taped off the body and sprayed epoxy primer today....next step will be urethane primer and sanding!

 

[Steves65]

Made some good progress over the weekend, we built a paint booth in the garage, made from conduit wrapped in plastic sheeting with a fan on one end to blow the paint fumes out. We also got the rest of the car in urethane primer and did some fiberglass work in the trunk. We patched all the big stuff with new steel, but went back and covered a few pinholes and smoothed out the welds with glass.

 

[Steves65]

made some more progress this weekend, block sanded my vert, hit all the low spots with spot putty, sanded those, wiped everything down, and primed again...now repeat!

 

[Steves65]

pretty much done with bodywork, I have been priming and sanding with 320 to find all the low/high spots, next I will prime once more and then sand with 600 to get it nice and smooth and then paint.

I also finished cleaning up my seat tracks and am also rebuilding my door hinges and going to attempt to repair my steering wheel myself. I will post before and after pics of the wheel once it's complete

 

[Steves65]

Bought a kit for $50 from Eastwood and am going to attempt to restore myself...wish me luck!

 

[66Dvert]

Bought a kit for $50 from Eastwood and am going to attempt to restore myself...wish me luck!

Good luck (there ya got wished) but you don't really need it.
it's not hard to do, just time consuming to get it "just" right. heck your seems to look GREAT with just a couple of cracks. V and then undercut the cracks a bit the out as deep as you can to insure a good bond and help make sure the epoxy doesn't "want" to come out.

mine went from
this
View attachment DSCF3016.jpg

to this
View attachment DSCF3011.jpg

now I do admit I have a few more hours into it than I'd like, but it did turn out nice and hasn't cracked back out even in the 100+ degree days while it's been sitting in the sun.

 

[Steves65]

Thanks for the great info and advise 66Dvert!

 

[SSVDP]

Wow! What a great resto! Very impressive!
Thanks for keeping us informed.

 

[Steves65]

In case your wondering. ...I've been focused on the body work. ....sanding, sanding, and just when I think I'm ready for paint, more sanding! Taking it up to a 600 grit before I start shooting color

 

[Steves65]

It's amazing how things can spiral out of control so fast, which has pretty much happened throughout my build, it was originally just supposed to be a light sand and quick paint and has turned into almost a total resto!

Well....I wasn't planning on repainting the engine bay, but when I was adjusting the radiator today I found myself pulling out all the wiring and accessories so that I could do just that...oh well...guess I will freshen the engine bay up too!

 

[Steves65]

made some more progress...finished sanding the engine bay, taped everything off and sprayed with epoxy primer

 

[Steves65]

I wet sanded the engine bay this weekend and sprayed the entire body with single stage color! Next I am going to polish all the jams and then start putting the panels back on. Once the panels are on I will wet sand the whole car and get ready for clear

 

[Steves65]

Just adding some pictures...still making progress, but it is slow while I am cleaning up and painting the small parts and pieces!