mike coletta

Nobody ever believes me when I tell them that this is how I clean/repair the bottom of a car. Easy to do....no special tools required. I've done every car that I've built this way. If there was ever a candidate for one that would fall apart, this would be it. As you'll recall from an earlier posts, http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c1-a...-your-car.html
[URL="http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c1-and-c2-corvettes/3003126-here-we-go-again.html"]

mmmmm....I wonder where I'm going to store that big ol honkin rotisserie????

Mike Coletta

Kerrmudgeon

Good pics Mike, but what about the actual process? Like what are you using to get all that crud off the 'unhit' body.

I think most would be wary of having all the weight on the side like that, but obviously it can take it. How dis you find that out?

plaidside

Nice! Why make it more complicated and expensive than it has to be? Keep it simple.
Looks like you got you work cut out for you.
Joe

wmf62

Mike
i see you're working on Tom's car again....
Bill

mike coletta

Torches, lacquer thinner, putty knives, grinders, wire wheels, and elbow grease. I typically get the "tar" based products off with a putty knife, and a torch (I use acetylene, vs. bottle gas). I then spray lacquer thinner using a large tipped gun, like a lizzard skin applicator. It puts lots of thinner on the remaining tar. I scrub with a red scratch pad, and wipe with clean thinner.
Sand/grind for necessary repairs. If I were going to do the car in it's natural finish, I would clean every bit of "black" off of the car with the same process, and "dye" my repairs to the correct glass color, and then apply some clear lacquer to keep it looking nice (and unhit!!!!! ),

I did all of this yesterday, including repairing the spliced floor, rebuilding the mount points, installing the metal mount supports, and a million other cracks, breaks, etc. I'm coating the bottom of this car with lizzard skin (that's what the customer wants.......sigh ). The nose is done, and the firewall is reconstructed. Here is a link to all of the pictures. I started on this project 3 weeks ago. Scheduled completion is mid June. http://s630.photobucket.com/albums/u...cle/?start=all

Mike Coletta

toms silver 60

Bill, you obviously have my car confused with the cardboard reinforced wanna be red 62 that Mike worked on....owner shall remain anonymous..His buddies know who he is, he's the one who won't take his car out if it might drizzle anywhere in FL (of course, if my car was held together with cardboard, I'd be worried as well!)

I must admit I made a mistake, I figured Mike would wrap this project up in a month, he must be slacking off only working 16 hours a day!

mike coletta

Done!!!!

1snake

Back in the 70's the NCRS Restorer had an article that showed rolling C-1's up onto their sides to strip the underside. I've been doing that way ever since and never had a problem. C-1 bodies are the sturdiest of them all.

Jim

P.S. Nice job Mike.

wmf62

Mike
i see a cutout in the front of the spare tire tub, is this going to be resto-modded?
Bill

mike coletta

Yes. I received the chassis on Monday, and have already made the cuts in the front and rear. Corvette Correction chassis, LS3, 6 speed Magnum, etc. Triple black (my favorite!!). I'm also doing the widened fenders on the back so that he can run 10" wheels.

Mike

ChattanoogaJSB

OldKarz

Looks great!

cbernhardt

Mike:
What 10" wheels are you using, what backspacing?

Charles

mike coletta

Hey Charlie,
They are "intro" brand. I don't know the model. 17X8 up front, and 17X10 rear. Backspace is 6 1/4".
Mike

RoadKing96

Very Nice work Mike.

Please keep the pictures and information coming.

RK

Willie'sVette

u'r not being a Fink. r u?

C6Matt

looking at the pic's, I cant help wondering is the next step being upside-down in the car? i have heard a lot off people worry about it, but never seen it done..






















I keed I keed..

toms silver 60

Not at all, Frankie has a 61 and he even drives it in the rain!

Mike can get more stuff done in the shortest amount of time than one could ever imagine.....

mrg

Speaking of 'unhit' .. Haven't seen you know who, of late. .. Ban camp?

Willie'sVette

Damn....he was my first suspect!