1980 Project, Worth it?
#41
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As far as the brakes go, I do not know if they are sleeved, I don't think so. But to my surprise, none were leaking. There were signs the passenger side rear was leaking at one time as the parking brake shoes had fluid on them, but the caliper was new(ish) and was dry.
#42
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#43
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Updates
So, I have replaced the rocker channels and floor pans. Still need to do a bit more sandblasting of everything before I seam sealer and paint everything. Just got a new nose bar which I need to install, and still need to pick up a new core support, then all of the rust will be taken care of and it will be off to paint and body hopefully 1Q 2017.
#45
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Need some advice
So, off to paint and body turned out to be a short trip... I am painting the car myself. As of now, I have everything in primer, and am blocking everything down before shooting sealer, base and clear.
What I have a question about is door gaps. Obviously, none of these cars had great gaps from the factory, and mine were no different. I am not looking for PERFECT here, but I'd like to have at least a somewhat uniform and flat fit. So my questions are as follows:
- Can I set my door gaps on the body dolly without having them drastically change when I put the body on the frame?
- If I need to build up (add material) to the door to close a wide gap, am I better off building it on the door, or the front fender?
- What is the best product to use for building up material on the edge of the door? Fiberglass matt and resin, or something else? If it is resin, what is the best way to do it?
Also, attached are some recent pictures. You can see the door gap on the top edge of the passenger side door...
What I have a question about is door gaps. Obviously, none of these cars had great gaps from the factory, and mine were no different. I am not looking for PERFECT here, but I'd like to have at least a somewhat uniform and flat fit. So my questions are as follows:
- Can I set my door gaps on the body dolly without having them drastically change when I put the body on the frame?
- If I need to build up (add material) to the door to close a wide gap, am I better off building it on the door, or the front fender?
- What is the best product to use for building up material on the edge of the door? Fiberglass matt and resin, or something else? If it is resin, what is the best way to do it?
Also, attached are some recent pictures. You can see the door gap on the top edge of the passenger side door...
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Metalhead140 (07-17-2017),
qwank (04-27-2019)
#47
Pro
I am doing this myself right now.
I am using Evercoat Vette Panel adhesive / filler. Will not shrink over time like others do and easy to use.
I would add material to fender...not door.
Since you replaced the rockers...I would think doing the gaps with the body ON the frame would be best.
This is all just my opinion....its looking good so far!
I am using Evercoat Vette Panel adhesive / filler. Will not shrink over time like others do and easy to use.
I would add material to fender...not door.
Since you replaced the rockers...I would think doing the gaps with the body ON the frame would be best.
This is all just my opinion....its looking good so far!
#48
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I am doing this myself right now.
I am using Evercoat Vette Panel adhesive / filler. Will not shrink over time like others do and easy to use.
I would add material to fender...not door.
Since you replaced the rockers...I would think doing the gaps with the body ON the frame would be best.
This is all just my opinion....its looking good so far!
I am using Evercoat Vette Panel adhesive / filler. Will not shrink over time like others do and easy to use.
I would add material to fender...not door.
Since you replaced the rockers...I would think doing the gaps with the body ON the frame would be best.
This is all just my opinion....its looking good so far!
Thanks for the info.
#49
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Updates
Well. Scope Creep....
Paint and body is almost completely done. Need to shoot the 2-tone on the hood, and it will be finished. Color is Watkins Glen Gray Metallic.
Wound up picking up a Gen 4 Aluminum 5.3 out of a junkyard. Planned to drop it in as is, but pulled a head and found cylinders full of broken glass. Off to the machine shop. Wound up punching it out to 3.898" (stock LS1/LS6 bore). Already had LS6 heads on it, but milled them to 62cc, good valve job, balanced everything, and got forged Mahle pistons and Forged H-Beams. Just finished assembly.
Had LT1 T56 lying around from another project. Bought LS1 style midplate, input shaft, and bellhousing, and converted the trans over for the LS.
Purchased all of my suspension and steering bits. Got radiator, fuel system sorted. Need exhaust, cooling fans, controller (probably going Holley HP EFI), drive shaft, brake calipers, and wheels and tires before moving to interior.
Hope to finish up paint in the next month or so, then will break down paint booth and start putting the chassis together. Plan to make it a roller before dropping the motor and trans in there, then I will drop body on to make sure everything is going to fit before making trans cross member modifications.
Going to be a busy (and expensive) summer.
Sure is easy to get carried away in these cars...
Paint and body is almost completely done. Need to shoot the 2-tone on the hood, and it will be finished. Color is Watkins Glen Gray Metallic.
Wound up picking up a Gen 4 Aluminum 5.3 out of a junkyard. Planned to drop it in as is, but pulled a head and found cylinders full of broken glass. Off to the machine shop. Wound up punching it out to 3.898" (stock LS1/LS6 bore). Already had LS6 heads on it, but milled them to 62cc, good valve job, balanced everything, and got forged Mahle pistons and Forged H-Beams. Just finished assembly.
Had LT1 T56 lying around from another project. Bought LS1 style midplate, input shaft, and bellhousing, and converted the trans over for the LS.
Purchased all of my suspension and steering bits. Got radiator, fuel system sorted. Need exhaust, cooling fans, controller (probably going Holley HP EFI), drive shaft, brake calipers, and wheels and tires before moving to interior.
Hope to finish up paint in the next month or so, then will break down paint booth and start putting the chassis together. Plan to make it a roller before dropping the motor and trans in there, then I will drop body on to make sure everything is going to fit before making trans cross member modifications.
Going to be a busy (and expensive) summer.
Sure is easy to get carried away in these cars...
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qwank (04-27-2019)
#52
Instructor
Your 80 is a cream puff compared to what I started with. Im close to twenty deep in this big block car. Everything is new mechanical and interior. Only thing I kept was the wiring and I wish I had changed that now.
Attachment 48191495
Attachment 48191495
#53
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Well, more progress has been made.
Pictures attached...
- Painted the 2 tone on the hood
- Rebuilt rear-end with 3.73s, new posi clutches, new bearings, new cross shaft
- Rebuilt trailing arms
- I slip-fit the inner wheel bearings for future ease of assembly/disassembly
- Put high-grade and longer wheel studs in the stub axles
- Sprayed Lizard skin on bottom of body
- Begun assembly on the frame/suspension
- Found issue in that stock control arm bushings do not fit VB&P Fabricated control arms (I have another thread dedicated to this - I will be making my own bushings out of Delrin)
Pictures attached...
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qwank (04-27-2019)
#55
Burning Brakes
Wow, hood looks great! Your paint booth looks identical to the one I built to paint our 79 a few years ago (right down to the fluorescent lights location and blower location) - but I put the plastic on the inside. Are you blowing air in, or sucking it out?
#56
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The next car I paint, I will actually use plywood walls, and paint them in a gloss white paint that should be easier to clean, and also reflect more light. I figure the plywood won't flap around like the plastic did when I open the door and shake little bits of debris off to fly around the booth.
How did your '79 turn out?
#57
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Flat white actually reflects more light than gloss white but will not clean up very well if it gets dirty. The two colours on the hood look great together.
Last edited by Priya; 02-20-2019 at 05:37 PM.
#58
Burning Brakes
I was blowing air in through a filter. I had a lot of issues with dust nibs, especially in the clear coat. I will wet sand and buff the car after assembly and should be able to get through everything - I put 3 heavy coats of clear on for that reason.
The next car I paint, I will actually use plywood walls, and paint them in a gloss white paint that should be easier to clean, and also reflect more light. I figure the plywood won't flap around like the plastic did when I open the door and shake little bits of debris off to fly around the booth.
How did your '79 turn out?
The next car I paint, I will actually use plywood walls, and paint them in a gloss white paint that should be easier to clean, and also reflect more light. I figure the plywood won't flap around like the plastic did when I open the door and shake little bits of debris off to fly around the booth.
How did your '79 turn out?
#59
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Well the fun stuff is happening now. Chassis is almost complete. I have installed all of the suspension, steering, and brakes, though I need to figure out my steering stop solution. Shimmed all of my rotors to ~0.001" or less runout. Dropped in the engine (with help), transmission, and shortened driveshaft. Tranny and rear end are full of fluid. I bought some headers that seem to fit perfectly and were a very good price. The gas tank is in with a Walbro 255 in the tank, and fuel lines ran with return style regulator. I plugged up the Holley HP EFI and test fired the engine. Has good oil pressure and sounds good, so I don't have to worry about pulling it out after the body is back on it.
Next steps are to paint the firewall black, and install heater box/blower motor before dropping body on the frame. Might start looking like something before too long...
Next steps are to paint the firewall black, and install heater box/blower motor before dropping body on the frame. Might start looking like something before too long...
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qwank (04-27-2019)
#60
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St. Jude Donor '05
Nice job, I take it not your first rodeo?