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Parts are looking mighty clean. In Florida, they will start to rust soon as you finish. So freaking humid here. I’ll go outside a day or two after not driving my car and the rotors have flash rusted.
I’ve seen car shows on tv where they have bare panels sitting there on a car and wondered how great that would be.
Parts are looking mighty clean. In Florida, they will start to rust soon as you finish. So freaking humid here. I’ll go outside a day or two after not driving my car and the rotors have flash rusted.
I’ve seen car shows on tv where they have bare panels sitting there on a car and wondered how great that would be.
Originally Posted by doorgunner
Same problem in Loo-z-anna...I keep a can of spray paint next to the sandblast cabinet.
Yeah, it's definitely not that bad here, unless it's spring. I noticed surface rust on the first few pieces where I touched them if they weren't treated, but the fast etch got rid of it and kept new rust from forming. Now I just handle them with gloves when I'm done or use a shop towel.
This is most of the currently treated parts:
That darker color is the coating the Fast Etch leaves behind. All of those are more than a month sitting on the self, and not a speck of rust.
This is one of the newly blasted brackets sitting in the middle, you can see it's a lot lighter in color.
You are doing amazing work and a lot of it. Keep it up and continue the excellent documentation process in this thread. Thanks for sharing all that with us.
@litevette I will say the one thing I haven't tested yet WRT the FastEtch is how much I have to do to something that's been treated with it before next steps (painting, powdercoating, etc).
@litevette I will say the one thing I haven't tested yet WRT the FastEtch is how much I have to do to something that's been treated with it before next steps (painting, powdercoating, etc).
10-4. To me at least, the fact that you don’t have to rush to get to the finish (priming then what coat you choose) is the benefit. The quickness of rust formation dictates that down here. Gotta do a few parts, then at minimum prime and maybe stick in the house (conditioned space). I’m gonna get some, blast a few parts, do the fast etch, then sit them in the garage and move on to other parts and keep an eye on them. If I have half the result you are getting I’d be a happy camper. Thanks!
10-4. To me at least, the fact that you don’t have to rush to get to the finish (priming then what coat you choose) is the benefit. The quickness of rust formation dictates that down here. Gotta do a few parts, then at minimum prime and maybe stick in the house (conditioned space). I’m gonna get some, blast a few parts, do the fast etch, then sit them in the garage and move on to other parts and keep an eye on them. If I have half the result you are getting I’d be a happy camper. Thanks!
Cool, NP, I hope it helps! Let us know if you see good results down there in your more extreme situation!
Ok, break time is over, continuing to remove fiberglass...
The good news:
I figured out how the rocker covers were attached to the floor and front pillar
The rockers aren't completely toast
The bad news:
The rockers aren't as good as I hoped
I think I need to take off the door latch pillar fiberglass to check out the rest of the birdcage
More good news:
I have "the opportunity" to blast the plate and see how purty I can make it before reinstallation.
Methinks it may end up being replaced.
I'm going to take off the other rocker cover next, but first I need to build up a bit more support from the dolly to reinforce the floor. Without the two rocker covers it'll just be hanging in the air and at least deform, if not snap.
After that I can remove the two latch pillar panels and finally get a first look at the entire birdcage front to back.
Good luck! I dunno man, I’m just seeing scale in the plate and rocker area. I do believe many (do you know Many?) would be happy at this point. Looking like luck is on your side. I could be wrong of course, but looking good from here. I’m like you in that as far as you’ve gone, pulling those striker panels would be in order. To get everything else in ship shape condition and just not know what’s under there would take the fire, zing, zip from all other accomplishments. It would just sit on my slightly ocd mind. BTW, I’m sure your well executed pictorial documentation of all of this is not only helping others, but it is also going to pay you back financially on that future day when you decide to let her go.
Good luck! I dunno man, I’m just seeing scale in the plate and rocker area. I do believe many (do you know Many?) would be happy at this point. Looking like luck is on your side. I could be wrong of course, but looking good from here. I’m like you in that as far as you’ve gone, pulling those striker panels would be in order. To get everything else in ship shape condition and just not know what’s under there would take the fire, zing, zip from all other accomplishments. It would just sit on my slightly ocd mind. BTW, I’m sure your well executed pictorial documentation of all of this is not only helping others, but it is also going to pay you back financially on that future day when you decide to let her go.
Glad to hear that. My initial reaction was "Ugh, all I see is rust", which turned into "Actually, there's a lot of paint still there". Then we went back to "I don't like it, I better hold judgement until I have some time with the wire brush" before settling on "Huh, the paint multi tool isn't even denting it, that metal is still strong. Let's post the pics on the forum and see what The Experts think."
Tonight's plan is to add a couple more braces to hold up the floor, pull the driver's side rocker panel, then go back to get the striker panel off.
Originally Posted by OldCarBum
Nice work.
I’m so glad my birdcage and windshield structures were in great shape.
You know, to be honest, as annoyed as the rust is making me I'm actually digging the process. I'm learning a TON about the body panels and general assembly and still in a position where I think I can handle everything I've found. I'd much rather not have to go through it, but I'm starting to focus on the fact that the end result could be as good or better than she was on delivery day.
If things were in better shape I would definitely not have pulled every panel, blasted every piece of metal, and gotten into powdercoating. This is forcing my hand a bit, but the end results will be a much more detailed restoration.
If you weren’t aware of it there is a complete section for paint and body work here on the forum.
If you go into it and ask questions you will get some excellent advice because that is where all the body and paint guys hang out.
If you weren’t aware of it there is a complete section for paint and body work here on the forum.
If you go into it and ask questions you will get some excellent advice because that is where all the body and paint guys hang out.
Oh, cool, thanks. That makes sense, I wasn't tracking. I have the C3 subforum bookmarked, so I've never really spent a lot of time checking out the other sections.
Oh, cool, thanks. That makes sense, I wasn't tracking. I have the C3 subforum bookmarked, so I've never really spent a lot of time checking out the other sections.
There are many very knowledgeable people here, but many more there.
I just read something about paint costing $1200 / gal and came running back to the safety of the C3 subforum.
I’ve been watching a lot of paint & body vids as of late. Not just for the Vette, but due to a recent “flip” car I did, which helped to fund the purchase of the Vette. More than a few times I heard mention of how much the price of paint has gone up. Too bad we could not have had these projects prior to the covid bs!!!! Imagine everything we are buying for these things costing as much as 50% less sometimes. Sheez!
Last edited by litevette; Nov 7, 2024 at 03:23 PM.
I’ve been watching a lot of paint & body vids as of late. Not just for the Vette, but due to a recent “flip” car I did, which helped to fund the purchase of the Vette. More than a few times I heard mention of how much the price of paint has gone up. Too bad we could not have had these projects prior to the covid bs!!!! Imagine everything we are buying for these things costing as much as 50% less sometimes. Sheez!
Nice, any recommendations on videos to watch? I've never done body work, but after all of this disassembly I suspect I'll have a lot to learn to get it back together!
Speaking of disassembly: Today's handiwork...
Driver's side rocker cover removed. This side looks even better than the passenger.
Both sides removed, the floor being held up by some new 2x6 supports. Not that I thought I needed that much, but leftover from building the gantry.
Hopefully I can find a decent video or pictures for separating the latch pillar panels from the rear fender, so those can come out tomorrow. Peeking in the rear tubs, the birdcage doesn't look that bad by the #3 mounts.
would be happy at this point. Looking like luck is on your side. I could be wrong of course, but looking good from here. I’m like you in that as far as you’ve gone, pulling those striker panels would be in order. To get everything else in ship shape condition and just not know what’s under there would take the fire, zing, zip from all other accomplishments. It would just sit on my slightly ocd mind. BTW, I’m sure your well executed pictorial documentation of all of this is not only helping others, but it is also going to pay you back financially on that future day when you decide to let her go.
