Arizona Swinger

[74DartSwinger360]

You should sand or media blast those manifolds and paint them with cast color paint. VHT sells it. It really helps with the looks.
SP998 Cast Iron http://www.vhtpaint.com/products/flameproof/

 

[bmaudlin]

You should sand or media blast those manifolds and paint them with cast color paint. VHT sells it. It really helps with the looks.
SP998 Cast Iron http://www.vhtpaint.com/products/flameproof/

That happens to be my intent precisely......I just had to see what they looked like on the engine, even in an unfinished condition! Ben.

 

[bmaudlin]

a couple of pictures of the media blasted and refinished exhaust manifolds. Also had to rebuild the heat riser, so it should have many years of good use! Ben.

 

[woodchip]

Those manifolds look real good. Glad you didn't make the same mistake as me: I had them sand blasted and used BBQ paint. I guess another sand blasting will be needed to fix the uglieness. I read an article which suggested not painting them at all and letting nature takeit's course like it did bck in the day. Pictures made the point legit because they looked factory by having some rust. I may go that route just for originality sake.

 

[bmaudlin]

I've always wondered about originality for originality's sake?! I know a lot of people want to leave every little detail original, to the point of leaving anything that came from the factory, including runs in the paint, over spray on manifolds, hoses, etc., and even areas that were atrociously welded and even missed. While fine for some, my personal preference, and it's entirely my own, is that these assembly line workers were putting together a car, and were somewhat rushed to get their job done on that car. I don't think they were probably concerned about some future restoration being done on some 1 of whatever! But I also think that if they were given the time, they would have been a little more careful about things like over spray and runs, etc. Just my personal observation, and I'll still enjoy looking at both something original, as well as something that is detailed to the nth degree!

 

[SpeedracerX]

I've always wondered about originality for originality's sake?! I know a lot of people want to leave every little detail original, to the point of leaving anything that came from the factory, including runs in the paint, over spray on manifolds, hoses, etc., and even areas that were atrociously welded and even missed. While fine for some, my personal preference, and it's entirely my own, is that these assembly line workers were putting together a car, and were somewhat rushed to get their job done on that car. I don't think they were probably concerned about some future restoration being done on some 1 of whatever! But I also think that if they were given the time, they would have been a little more careful about things like over spray and runs, etc. Just my personal observation, and I'll still enjoy looking at both something original, as well as something that is detailed to the nth degree!

X2... well said..

 

[woodchip]

I've always wondered about originality for originality's sake?! I know a lot of people want to leave every little detail original, to the point of leaving anything that came from the factory, including runs in the paint, over spray on manifolds, hoses, etc., and even areas that were atrociously welded and even missed. While fine for some, my personal preference, and it's entirely my own, is that these assembly line workers were putting together a car, and were somewhat rushed to get their job done on that car. I don't think they were probably concerned about some future restoration being done on some 1 of whatever! But I also think that if they were given the time, they would have been a little more careful about things like over spray and runs, etc. Just my personal observation, and I'll still enjoy looking at both something original, as well as something that is detailed to the nth degree!

Yup, I agree. As much as I like seeing a survivor or one restored to that degree, Those shortcuts, mistakes and rushed assembly line "as-built" products look better when done right. Lets face it...when we attend a show, most people are looking for mistakes and imperfections....it's nice when they have to really search! Keep up the great work, your ride looks great and I enjoy the pictures.

 

[bmaudlin]

the first of several batches of all kinds of things sent out for clear zinc coatings. Certainly makes things easier having all of these clean, like new parts to put back on the car! Final blocking of all of the body panel has been completed so hopefully some paint on the car soon! Ben.

 

[hemitheus]

that zinc coating looks great

 

[bmaudlin]

I must apologize to the purists!.......after stripping down the front suspension and removing the k-member, I just could not refinish that k-member without doing something about those factory welds!! Somebody must have had a bad Monday going on when they welded this part! And 'yes' I removed the washer welded to the front of the k-member! Actually, I did so before I knew that it had a reason to be there. Also a few pics of some parts ready to head to the paint booth.

Also a shot of the condition of the front rotors.....whoever owned this car certainly got every bit of wear they could out of those rotors!! Ben.

 

[bmaudlin]

Sent a 'boat-load' of stainless out to be polished....have decided since I have all of the trim that would have come on this car, I'm going to install it. Didn't originally have wheel opening and drip rail moldings, but am going to install them, since I deleted the body side moldings and am not going to install a tail stripe, and want all the shine I can get to offset those two colors of green.

Also disassembled the seats, cleaned the frames and tracks, and will send out to be blasted, then repainted glossy black before they go to the upholstery shop. Have done some upholstery work in the past, but I have a shop that is very good and very reasonable, and they should really look good when they come back.

When I start adding up the costs of doing this car, my mind seems to go back to the fact that this car cost less than 3k new! We'll have close to 300 hours in the body and paint work alone which would more than pay for this car new.....probably would have paid for several of them!

 

[bmaudlin]

........looks like we are going to spray some color today! Will cut in the bottom of the trunk, hood and inside of the doors with some F4 color. Will post some pictures when done!

Also some pictures of a lot of Dart parts; some refinished with zinc phosphate, others with cast iron gray and the balance with black.

We also cut in the back side of the front fenders and the inner quarter panels in the trunk with 'Body Schutz'. It dries to a very hard textured finish and will not scrape off like undercoating. Also hides a multitude of flaws!

By the way those small block valve covers underneath the front hubs in one picture are still for sale! Make me an offer?!? Ben.

 

[bmaudlin]

.......and a few more pics.

 

[bmaudlin]

FINALLY!!......we have some F4 color on some body parts! Next step, roll the body into the paint booth and spray the trunk, engine compartment and door jambs. Then install the loose parts on the body shell and roll it back into the paint booth for F4 and F8 outer body panel paint! Looks like we've moved past colors choices other than green. Ben.:cheers:

 

[HemiPar]

Color looks good. Cant wait for for the rest of outter panel pics.

 

[76orangewagon]

Very nice, always glad to see someone doing it right, all the time and little details will make it really stand out. :thumrigh::thumrigh::thumrigh:

 

[bmaudlin]

Thanks for the compliments guys!! While maybe not as flashy as the yellow I originally intended, or as eye-catching as some high impact color like 'plum crazy', that green color tends to agree with me the more I look at it. Kind of anxious to see what that darker color of green will look like on the top, contrasting with the lighter green on the main body!

When I started working on restorations some 40 odd years ago, I started out by doing some sanding, and a whole lot of masking......then I decided to start removing a few parts here and there. Eventually it has gotten to the point where everything comes completely apart and every nut and fastener needs to be refinished! While time consuming and the cause of many a headache, it's always nice to look at a finished(?), car and have the knowledge you tried to do things to the best of your capabilities. Don't know that I could ever go back to just masking and sanding! Ben.

 

[bmaudlin]

......a lot of suspension parts and the rear differential ready for assembly once th car is painted.

looks like the car is headed for the paint booth for jamb paint. Will have some pictures later. Ben

 

[bmaudlin]

jambs all done!!.....attach some body parts and back for the final finish!Ben.

 

[bmaudlin]

making this a working holiday! HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! to fellow A-body lovers!

Not too sure as to how the factory did their rally wheels, but we decided to paint the back and tire areas of the rims black, and the face with the argent silver.....gives it a little more detailed look IMO.

sent the emergency brake cables, fuel line and front to rear brake line out for some zinc coating. I guess we could have replaced them, but being in such good shape and only needing refinishing, didn't see the need for the extra expense! This car has already gone streaking by my 15k budget!

Also got some work done on the seat frames and the front k member, and have the rear leaf springs ready for reassembly. Ben.

 

[V-100]

Nice,nice,nice,nice,niiice!

 

[hemitheus]

I cant beleive how great it all looks. but that is what hours put into the car doing it right will get you.

 

[bmaudlin]

thanks for the compliments! It always seems in the middle of tearing one of these cars apart......sitting in the middle of dust, rust,crappy paint, grease and oil, I always wonder 'Why am I putting myself through this once again!'.

But once everything is cleaned, repaired, refinished and laying out in some semblance of order to be reassembled....that's when the satisfaction of all the hard labor and all the rushes to get away from the mess and into the shower and get cleaned up, pays off. Where we are at now is the beginning of the 'grinning' and 'oh, yes!' phase of the rebuild. Ben.

 

[bmaudlin]

a whole lot of fender bolts and clips that needed painting! Also a picture of that all important fender tag after paint. (Lucky to also have 3 build sheets that were found in the car!). And a shot of some of the seat frames after stripping and repainting before they head back to the upholsterer. Things seem to be progressing rather nicely, now that the body work and parts cleaning and prep have been mostly completed. Really enjoying this part of the restoration! Ben.

 

[SD_R/T]

Man.....absolutely no detail left looked over. Impressive!