harrisonm
Well-Known Member
Next week we are going to take the body off the rotisserie and put it on the frame. So we have to get the cut and buff done this week. We use the 3M three-step polish compound method. This is after step one.
Started cut and buff on my friend’s Powerhawk
- Thread starter harrisonm
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Dan the man
Well-Known Member
It's a Studebaker, correct?
harrisonm
Well-Known Member
Yes. 1956 Studebaker Powerhawk.
70SwingerGuy
Well-Known Member
Nice, what grit did you finish with before starting to polish?
Pretty!!’
Dan the man
Well-Known Member
I could tell by the contour of the roof line and the shape of the quarter glass. The body lines are pretty much the same as the 1953 commander that my dad had, he also had a 1962 golden hawk and I wish that I had either one or both today. You have a real nice car there. I never heard of the Powerhawk before.
Power Hawk was a one year only model. Sedan body, 259 V8.
56 Sky Hawks and Golden Hawks were hardtops. Sky Hawk was 289, Golden Hawk was (for this one year only) a 352 inch Packard Clipper V8.
Below the Power Hawk was the Flight Hawk, also a sedan, with a 186 inch flathead six:
Sky Hawks, Power Hawks and Flight Hawks disappeared after 56. Golden Hawks 56-58. Silver Hawks 57-59. Just "Hawks" 60 and 61, GT Hawks 62-64.
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Dan the man
Well-Known Member
Nice. I'm not positive but I think that my dad's 1962 golden hawk had a 289. It looked just like the black one you showed
62 Hawk would have been a GT (Gran Turismo) Hawk, and would have had a 289 - 2 barrel, 4-barrel, or supercharged.
GT Hawks were basically the same body as the 56 Hawks, but note the different roof (copied from the late fifties - early sixties Thunderbirds).
harrisonm
Well-Known Member
We used 1200 then 1500 then 2000 then 2500 then finished up with 3000 (all by hand with soft sanding blocks). Then buffed with the 3M 3 step polishing process. Step 1 has a white label on the compound bottle, and you use the white 3M foam pad. Step 2 has a black label on the compound bottle, and you use the black 3M foam pad. Then the final super fine polish has a blue label on the compound bottle, and you use the blue 3M foam pad. The 3M 3 step process is a rather expensive way to go, but I tried it about 15 years ago and will never use anything else again. That is how much I liked it!
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Great work!
Those cars were way ahead of their time design wise for sure!
Those cars were way ahead of their time design wise for sure!
33IMP
Well-Known Member
Saw a blown 57 golden hawk at a car show Sunday. Nice car, would have been my second choice at the show
First was a gorgeous 38 Alfa, stock outside, LS inside.
For the power hawk.... wow! Great work!
First was a gorgeous 38 Alfa, stock outside, LS inside.
For the power hawk.... wow! Great work!
70SwingerGuy
Well-Known Member
Ive never used the 3M 3 step, but I think I will give it a try when I paint my Swinger, Ive heard good things about it.
Thanks for the info on it!
harrisonm
Well-Known Member
You can usually find a kit that will include all 3 foam pads and the polishes for a somewhat reasonable amount. Let me tell you two things. First, store the polishes inside. If they are exposed to heat or cold (like in the garage), they go from being a creamy consistency to a liquid. At that point, you throw them away. Also, the foam polishing pads are velcro backed. I would highly recommend buying a 3M backing pad. You do NOT want a pad to slip off while polishing.Ive never used the 3M 3 step, but I think I will give it a try when I paint my Swinger, Ive heard good things about it.
Thanks for the info on it!
70SwingerGuy
Well-Known Member
@harrisonm thanks again for the 3M info. Ive been using the Norton one polish/3 pad system for a long time and hope to get better results with the 3m.
Cheers pal
Cheers pal
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