BamaWildcat Posted November 27, 2009 Share Posted November 27, 2009 As some of you that follow my website know, I started fixing up my 1964 Wildcat in 2004. The biggest expense has been the body work, and I save up and usually make it down to a body shop once a year. Here is where I started:And here is where it was 2 years ago:I'd had the roof and rear door fixed at one body shop I ended the relationship with over lack of work after 9 months, and found a new body shop to fix the rear fender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted November 27, 2009 Author Share Posted November 27, 2009 Here is where the next chapter of the story begins: I had save up enough money to get the front "doghouse" of the car refinished. I started by stripping the parts off to get to the media blaster.Everyone off: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted November 27, 2009 Author Share Posted November 27, 2009 It took a long time for me to find a blaster. I had two good leads, but one was completely mobile and didn't have access to a shop. I would have to pay for travel time, and be responsible for clean up. The other lead did blasting but also ran a body shop, and wanted to do the bodywork as well as blast them. Since I have aligned with a shop, I needed the parts to be in bare metal. I hit a car show during the summer and found a person who did blasting about an hour away, so I loaded everything up and went to see him. Not as much swiss cheese as expected: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted November 27, 2009 Author Share Posted November 27, 2009 Below are the driver's side fender. All went as expected getting these refinished. The unique color is PPG primer. Undercoating sprayed: Here is the driver's side primed and with a black guide coat. It is ready to be hung back on the car until paint prep. Passenger side fender getting worked on: Here it is in primer. The guide coat and undercoating is all it lacks at this stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted November 27, 2009 Author Share Posted November 27, 2009 Sadly, my hood ended up warped beyond repair. If you look closely below toward the middle of the hood, you can see where it is wavy. I'm not really sure how this happened as I helped the media blaster load it into the car and it was fine then. The next day? All wavy. My original hood for the car was no good, which is why the hood below had come off a parts car. I found a hood about an hour away from a v8buick.com member for replacement. $100 later, I was back in business:Rust much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted November 27, 2009 Author Share Posted November 27, 2009 Hood getting worked on at the body shop: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted November 27, 2009 Author Share Posted November 27, 2009 Finished hood:We ended up going over budget a few hundred dollars, but isn't that another aspect of the hobby? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted November 27, 2009 Author Share Posted November 27, 2009 Cowl done:Does anyone know where I can get the screen for it? Hardware store screen seems much thinner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted November 27, 2009 Author Share Posted November 27, 2009 I decided that while I was at it, I might as well pull off the inner fenders and do a bunch of detailing. I started by dropping the bumper. Those bars that reinforce the bumper are a pain to get off. I had to get the lower support bar that ties both inner fender together off. I got all the fasteners pulled off on the passenger side, but the driver's side was so rusted getting the fasteners out while it was all put together on the car was impossible. See below how I got everything out of the way to take the driver's side inner fender out with the bar attached. I ended up having the cut the metal around the body mount on that side to get the rest of the nine yards off. Inner fenders gone: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted November 27, 2009 Author Share Posted November 27, 2009 Back when the fenders had come off, I had discovered I had some holes in each side of the cowl directly above each fresh air vent on the sides of the car. Here they are after sanding:My goal of working on the car is restoration. However, finances are are constant factor. I want to do everything right the first time, but when finances do not prevail I take the route of preservation. Here I have put rust converter on the affected areas:Next, where there were actual non-factory holes, I covered them in metal tape and then shot primer on top of them. Once again, my goal is to preserve the areas until I have finances later to fix them properly. When I paint the firewall, I will probably hit this area with the semi-gloss paint I have just for extra protection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted November 27, 2009 Author Share Posted November 27, 2009 I'll be using the original passenger inner fender, and the driver's side inner fender from my parts car. Here is a before picture of the happy couple:This is why I won't be using my original-to-the-car inner fender. See if you can spot what is wrong with the battery tray:(It doesn't exist!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted November 27, 2009 Share Posted November 27, 2009 It's great to see some new progress shots of your project! Keep at it...What media did the blaster use on the hood? If he used sand, then that's why the hood was warped.Where are you located? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted November 27, 2009 Share Posted November 27, 2009 It's great to see some new progress shots of your project! Keep at it...What media did the blaster use on the hood? If he used sand, then that's why the hood was warped.Where are you located?I do not think that the hood warped because sand was used as a blasting media. I believe it was the 90 degree angle that the guy used to hit the hood with (as seen in the posted photo). You should NEVER hit a panel perpendicular to the metal with a blaster. A 15 degree angle or less would prevent the force of the sand or other media from warping the parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted November 27, 2009 Author Share Posted November 27, 2009 I'm pretty sure he used sand. The guy has Camaros and Jeeps on his website, so he seemed to have plenty of automotive experience. I've also had people tell me it might have been me bringing the hood home "crooked" in the back of the truck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted November 28, 2009 Author Share Posted November 28, 2009 Inner fender sanded and rust converter put on problem areas:Next, I hit the inner fender with a whole $6 can of semi-gloss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted November 28, 2009 Author Share Posted November 28, 2009 I decided I didn't like the way the paint turned out, and I was seeing defects once the paint was on there. What to do? Sand it, fix it, prime it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted November 28, 2009 Author Share Posted November 28, 2009 (edited) Since I don't own a welder, what I did to hold make a perma-temp repair to the battery tray is below.I used some sheet steel I had, made a brake out of two pieces of wood, and 6 stainless screws later, we're good until I get to a welder. Some aluminum tape and primer, and it doesn't look half bad. I know this is still half baked, but the name of the game is preservation.I'll get it back in paint again once I sand and prime the bottom. Edited November 28, 2009 by BamaWildcat (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted November 28, 2009 Author Share Posted November 28, 2009 Can anyone with another full size 64 tell me if this is the correct hardware setup for the battery retaining hardware? This hardware was loose in the back of my parts car, so I don't know. I figured the front rod would actually fit into something. :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thriller Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 It's really neat to see the progress photos together over a short span of time. Thanks for posting and keep it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 Great thread. Hope you can find the resources to overide the preservation issues before you put it back together. Just so you don't have to take it apart again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted November 29, 2009 Author Share Posted November 29, 2009 Can anyone with another full size 64 tell me if this is the correct hardware setup for the battery retaining hardware? This hardware was loose in the back of my parts car, so I don't know. I figured the front rod would actually fit into something. :confused:I seemed to have answered my own question with a picture from one of the many eBay auctions I saved: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted December 1, 2009 Author Share Posted December 1, 2009 Bottom of inner fender sanded and primed: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted December 29, 2009 Author Share Posted December 29, 2009 In these four weeks it has been really cold in my neck of the woods, so there has not been much going on. I have managed to get the rest of my firewall painted, but it looks a little splotchy. I also got the underside of one of the inner fenders painted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 My 69 electra had the same issue on the cowl your's has. I might suggest checking the inner cowl piece for more repairs needed. This is right over the foot wells in the front and any damage here will drop water onto your carpets and feet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted January 4, 2010 Author Share Posted January 4, 2010 It has been too cold to paint, so I replaced the sway bar end links. A good little project for $16.This is one of those things that is a H-U-G-E pain to do with the fenders and inner fenders on, hence why I am doing it now. I did have some hesitations as the new kits had longer bolts and spacers, but everything fit together at the end. I'm assuming the previous non-OEM replacement was shorter than it should have been. Bolt comparison:Spacer comparison:Passenger side before:I had to get the jack to give me some help: Shiny new made-in-the-USA Moog!Driver's side before:After:The wide view:I think it was time to replace them:Progress is progress. It was about 29° F outside when I did these, and with my portable propane heater strapped to my gas grill tank, it was doable. I'm hoping someone buys me some brake lines for my Birthday. It is wrong to constantly drop hints of the URL of who sells them to the spouse and let her know they have our shipping address on file? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 Do you need the whole set of steel lines? Who are you looking at to purchase from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted January 4, 2010 Author Share Posted January 4, 2010 Do you need the whole set of steel lines? Who are you looking at to purchase from?I purchase my lines from Inline Tube. If they happen to arrive from Birthday Klaus, I would replace all of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 I ordered my steel lines from Right Stuff...they were considerably cheaper than Inline Tube. I saved $70 by using Right stuff.Search :: Right Stuff Detailing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted January 4, 2010 Author Share Posted January 4, 2010 Thanks for the tip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 Joe, if you manage to get the hint dropping to work, clue me in!! Enjoy your thread. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thriller Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 29 is almost shirt sleeve weather. I'd probably get more done outside if it were that balmy here ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Adam4t Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 It's amazing the difference from 1964 Wildcat to 1965. Looks like a great project. I want to slowly rebuild mine but problem is money so that and a few other projects get put on hold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted March 30, 2010 Author Share Posted March 30, 2010 4 months later from the meat of the project, we are finally getting weather back in the 60s. I took the opportunity to repaint portions of the firewall, and also paint the cowl. I'm pretty sure this area was body color, but since mine was rust, it got the semi-gloss treatment until the car gets final color in 10 years.Masking with the amateur's favorite, newspaper: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted March 30, 2010 Author Share Posted March 30, 2010 After: When I got the roof primed many years ago at the first shop I ever went to, I paid extra to have white paint cut in around the windshield so I wouldn't have to pull it. I found out painting the cowl at the bottom they painted over old windshield sealant. I hate paying extra for lazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted March 30, 2010 Author Share Posted March 30, 2010 New antenna lead in grommet. One of many purchases from Steele Rubber Products. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted March 30, 2010 Author Share Posted March 30, 2010 The wiper nozzles were one surprise of the evening. I took them to my steel wheel to clean them up, and found out they were brass.Does anyone know if these were left natural or painted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted March 30, 2010 Author Share Posted March 30, 2010 Last surprise for the evening: My wipers moved a little slow, so I figured I would take the "motor cover" off the wiper motor to spray some lube.Joe got a lesson in electric motors because it was the wiper motor case that I pulled off. A brush popped out I couldn't get back in and another brush showed a crack, which may have been why they were slow.I'll stick the parts car wiper motor on and save the factory for a rebuild when the time comes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted March 30, 2010 Author Share Posted March 30, 2010 And I did finally get that driver's side inner fender painted to my liking that I had been working on since November: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted April 3, 2010 Share Posted April 3, 2010 You've come a long way Joe. Just visited and enjoyed your site. Keep up the great work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaWildcat Posted April 18, 2010 Author Share Posted April 18, 2010 Getting somewhere. Nothing is nailed down, it is all test fit at the moment. Fixing it up sure makes the rest look bad.Waiting to go on: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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