Tonio

Photos from today's visit to the body shop....

Tonio

more....

LT1M21Vette

I hope they plan to fix the door gaps.

Tonio

Thanks. What do the factory door gaps look like? Would love to see some photo examples.....I don't want this car over-restored, my goal is to achieve an 'as-delivered" factory look.

Here is what the door gaps look like on my '72 LT-1. It's a convertible, so maybe these were larger than the coupe gaps to allow some flex?

Stev-o

Subscribed to see fresh paint. The cost of quality automotive paint is now outrageous.

Alan 71

Hi C2,
"Would love to see some photo examples."

Remember... the door gaps were cut individually for each car... so there was some variation from car to car.

3 left side.






Valance




Halo

DUB

For what this is worth:

The fourth photo in POST # 62.

It is either 'bondo' that they have not fully sanded correct...or there is a visual problem in the body gap right behind the door handle at the rear edge of the door itself. Look at it...there is something small sticking out off the edge about right in the middle of it.

I myself...knowing it is not my car...would be more concerned about the gaps being very close to perfect. Whether the panels are flush in every area is something entirely different.

No one can say that if you get the gaps right and the panels flush that GM did not make it that way due to there are no flaws...simply because each car is different... and who can honestly say that with 100% certainty. NO ONE CAN. Because I have seen some original mid-years and early C3's that were amazingly awesome when it came to panel fit and finish.

There is a limit to how wide GM wanted the gaps...and what is also visually appealing to people. If the edges of panels get sanded on enough...they can widen (obviously) and when painted...do not look as good as your green Corvette you posted a photo of.

DUB

Tonio

Thanks guys. Great input!

Alan, your photos are of tremendous help, as usual! Thank you again.

Alan 71

Hi C2,
It's TOUGH for some people to paint it like cars typically were!!!
Regards,
Alan







The hood was in place when the body was painted. It was pretty much impossible to get any exterior paint in the front of it.
When the black-out was done some black paint was blown in that direction but very little. So there was often some bare fiberglass.

Tonio

Great stuff, Alan! Agreed, the final quality of the paintwork on my car will indeed be worlds better than the original factory product, but but just something that I'll have to learn to accept. :-)

Tonio

Progress from today's shop visit....primer, block sanding, more primer, more sanding.......

Alan 71

Hi C2,
It looks like it's coming along!
Have you, or are you planning to, test fit the front bumper and and the front grills?
Now's the time to make sure you'll be satisfied with their fit after the paint.
Regards,
Alan

Tonio

Hi Alan, the shop guys will be, yes. They fit really well prior to disassembly, but they will test it all again before deeming the body ready for paint.

VERYSOON

Chapter2
Was curious as to whether your painter is going to paint with wheels being supported or hanging in the air. I've painted a few cars, but never a corvette, and was wondering if this is an issue. I might take a stab at painting my 69 someday.
Thanks
VS

Tonio

He'll be painting it with the car elevated on the jack, wheels removed in order to mask off the suspension and wheel wells, and to get his gun into the wells to get good coverage.

GUSTO14

Anthony, the car is coming along very nicely. I would say the body looked exceptional (stripped) when they started, but the work they've done thus far looks terrific as well. At this rate you should end up with an extraordinarily nice paint job.

Thanks for posting all of the detailed pictures as well.

Good luck... GUSTO

20mercury

So help me out here. I am doing body work and paint on a 72 LT-1 too, but not as smart as Chapter2, this is a DIY job

So I would guess the front here is press molded as darker gray and if you look closely you can see the fiberglass fibers in the surface, like Alan's Rockwell inner fender sticker photo.

And,

The SEM is lighter grey, marble like color, can not see surface fibers like the doors here in this photo and maybe the rear clip???? If I understand correctly and to echo Alan, 72 was a transition year for press molded to SEM??

Correct?

DUB

YES ...all is correct except for your typo....it is SMC not SEM.

So two different types of body material in the car....in regards to fiberglass...so-to-speak.

DUB

20mercury

Thanks for the feedback!!!

(Dang, sorry, do not know where SEM came from, bad typing or brain hicup, )

Tonio

Thanks, Gusto! The paint is scheduled to be applied next week. Hope to have more photos shortly thereafter.