The weather finally broke and we are getting some nice, cool temps.
Tonight, it was a cool 75 degrees and I got some paint shot on the underbody and in the engine compartment. The floor pans are coated on both sides with Lizzard Skin insulation and then painted with single stage urethane to protect it. The wheelwells will be shot with black bed liner to quiet the road noise and to avoid rock "stars" in the fenders. I fought with myself whether to paint the underhood with body color or whether to black it out, but after having the body back on the frame this last weekend, it was clear that the engine would stand out much better with the red underhood.

With luck, I should be able to get the color on the rest of the body this weekend, and should be able to get it color-sanded and buffed in the next week or two. All the removable panels are already done and ready to bolt back on. I should have the body on the chassis for the last time before Thanksgiving, unless I get real jammed at work.

http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrow...der_id=1764736


Regards, John McGraw

 

Looking real nice-like the jig as well-good luck-Jim

 

looking good

 

Very interesting....I noticed you sprayed between the headlights and part of the top of the fenders. What is that purpose ? Also anymore info on the lizard insulation...you can paint it and paint will stick to it ?

 

No real reason for shooting the nose except that I had some material left in the gun and needed to use it up. I will wet sand the body again tomorrow night with 600 to blend in the overspray and then I will be ready to shoot the main body after masking off the engine compartment.

The Lizzard Skin is a material that the street rod set swear by, but I am still skeptical. It is a water-based ceramic insulation that sprays on with a special gun. It is only shot to a thickness of 0.040, and is supposed to be better than coolmat or any of the other insulating mats.
I actually sprayed a 0.040 layer on both the inside and outside of floor pan. You can paint it with pretty much any paint with no compatablitiy issues. By using it on the underside, I got a nice uniform texture on the underside of the car as well, so I did not have to spend as much time slicking up the underside of the floor pans. I have used tintable bed liner on floor pans before for the same purpose, but it does not offer the insulating value. No sense putting one of these tube chassis under a body and not prettying up the underside of the body. Everybody has to look under these cars, and the painted underbody just dresses it up a little.

Regards, John McGraw

 

Quote "No sense putting one of these tube chassis under a body and not prettying up the underside of the body. Everybody has to look under these cars, and the painted underbody just dresses it up a little." Quote

Also, I really enjoy seeing someone go to this much work on a resto, everything removed, this is doing it correct in my book! It is called "DETAILS" to the first degree, it doesn't get any better! That is what makes one machine stand out from another, a lot of others and something to be proud of. Keep up the great work.
Craig

 

When you're done, come on over to my house, and help with mine.

 

Like CMACS said - its in the details and those tube frame/chassis are a work of art.

 

John, the car should be awesome when you get done: terrific attention to detail!

I wondered too about the trunion/jig for mounting and rotating the body. Do you have a drawing you could share with the forum?

A friend of mine has a similar rig for a Porsche Speedster he is restoring, and it sure makes his life easier. I have done one "body-off" and made a 2x4 skid, that emulated the frame. I could not move it around very easily (should have used casters), and of course, the big issue, I was still on my back when working on the underside..

Harry

 

John,

What flavor red is that? Porsche Guards red?

 

John,
and you thought I was going to finish mine before you Your haul'n butt dude! I would be happy to send you a plane ticket so that you could come out to VA and help me out Your car looks fantastic, no doubt it will certainly be a top notch ride Also, thanks for sharing the pics and tips on your build!
R/Jeff

 

Looks great, John. Wish I had 10% of your talent. Chuck

 

John, hope to see your car when it's done and on the road. It looks beautiful.

 

Looking good!

 

Schweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet..!!

Love the look of a midyear being reborne

 

Harry,

Drop me a PM with your Email address and I will send you some pics and drawings on it. I made the drawings after the fact, and have modified it once, but the drawings and pics should give everything you need. I built it over one weekend, and it was some of the best time I ever spent! I have restored several cars on it, and it makes life so much easier. I am getting to old to lay on my back with crap raining down in my face! I really did not have any drawings when I started. I just had it in my head, and started cutting and welding. I only have about $300 in it, but that was before the big spike in steel prices a couple of years ago. You should still be able to build one for $500 or so, if you are handy with a welder.
I used to post my Email address, but with web crawlers harvesting Email address for spammers, I just don't post my addy on public boards anymore.

Regards, John McGraw

 

John,

Same color as my 59, Viper red. I just have not found a red that I like better!


Regards, John McGraw

 

Tim,

Drive over to my side of town sometime and visit. If the weather is nice, we will take the 59 out and terrorize the locals for a while!


Regards, John McGraw

 

John was nice enough to send me the drawings of his rotisserie (sp?). I am going to go get the casters at Harbor Freight this weekend, and will probably get the steel next week

 

John,
I would like to get a set of your plans as well. I built a substitue frame for my '66 so it can be easily moved around (have rear axle from a Golf mounted under it), and think that I can probably modify it to make into a rotisserie. Can you send a copy of your drawings to the_lynchs@comcast.net? (man, there are a lot of 'Johns' on the forum)
Thanks,
John