Smartin Posted July 20, 2016 Author Share Posted July 20, 2016 Thanks, Ted! You going to Allentown? The remainder of the rubber went in this afternoon, as well as the rest of the interior. Next on the list is to paint the headlight doors, grille trim, and quarter extensions so I can mount the bumpers. I have a guy lined up to do the vinyl top as soon as I can drive it over there. It will probably wait until I get the hood and trunk painted and installed, though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fortuna Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Damn that paint looks fantastic! I really want you to paint my Centurion. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted July 24, 2016 Author Share Posted July 24, 2016 Front bumper and headlight bezels installed! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithbrother Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 Love it, KEEP the black tires, and small hubcaps. Dale in Indy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted July 24, 2016 Author Share Posted July 24, 2016 Absolutely, Dale! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 Makes me wish that I still had mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted July 24, 2016 Author Share Posted July 24, 2016 Rear bumper and quarter extensions installed...and a fresh tank of 93! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAD36 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Utterly incredible - looks tremendous Adam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted July 26, 2016 Author Share Posted July 26, 2016 Thanks, Ken! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted August 1, 2016 Author Share Posted August 1, 2016 3.55 posi rear ready to bolt in! I will be doing this and the brakes at the same time. The booster is on its way this week. I have scheduled the vinyl top install for 2 weeks from now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted August 3, 2016 Author Share Posted August 3, 2016 Almost got the rear end hung tonight...screeched to a halt when I did this.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted August 7, 2016 Author Share Posted August 7, 2016 My intent was to get the brakes fixed this morning...yeah. After finding out yesterday that the "new" Delco booster was bad out of the box, I installed the ugly Auto Zone one I bought initially. I have power brakes now, but the pedal is still crap, and I can't lock the brakes up. I found out that I need a hold-off valve at the MC for the 70 model disc brake cars. Great, another $100 bill to inline tube...and 3 more days lost. Once I got that all figured out, the carburetor decided to start acting up. Something must have been stuck in the needle/seat, since it was loading up at idle. Choke was wide open. So I pulled the carb off and cleaned it out. Threw it back on, and we are back in business. Took it for a spin with the new 3.55 posi. WOW this thing is a different animal. It rips the tires off when it hits 2nd gear. And this is a bone stock 72 big block! After my joy ride, I thought it was necessary to keep the momentum going by continuing body work on the hood and trunk. I stripped the trunk lid and epoxied it. Then hosed the hood and trunk with high build primer. Once that was done, I started blocking the hood. Ohhhh buddy this thing is a mess. I thought I had it close when I had initially hit it with mud. It's close, but it needs a blanket coat of slick sand. I ran a guide coat on the initial block and it looks like the foothills of the Appalachians. I'll get it as close as I can, but I'm starting to lose hope with this hood. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted August 8, 2016 Author Share Posted August 8, 2016 I hosed some leftover black paint and clear from another project on the top today to seal the metal before the vinyl top goes on. The car is supposed to go to the top guy in a week, but I don't think the hood or trunk will be done yet. I am hoping I can take it to him and park it inside the shop. Or it will have to wait until I finish body work. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 I was wondering if you were going to paint under the vinyl top. Good move! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted August 8, 2016 Author Share Posted August 8, 2016 I was just going to epoxy prime it, but I found a pint of black base I used on a project about a year ago. Figured I would do the same color as the top A little preview of what is coming.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Good idea. The paint is water proof whereas the primer might not be. When the vinyl starts to thin out,(in about 30 years or so) at least the metal under the vinyl will be protected from rust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithbrother Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Two part primer IS water proof, at least all that I'm aware of. Now DON'T anyone think I'm talking PRIMER, and THINNER, I'm talking PRIMER and HARDENER. Not picking on ANYONE, just sayin, Looking SO GOOD. Dale in Indy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted August 8, 2016 Author Share Posted August 8, 2016 Dale, that is true....which was my original intention. But I found some black paint I knew I would never use again, so I used it instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 12 hours ago, Smartin said: The car is supposed to go to the top guy in a week, but I don't think the hood or trunk will be done yet. I did not notice, but I'm sure you pulled the back window out and then reset it. As for taking it without the trunk lid, I think that's a good idea. They can stand in there to install the top instead of leaning over your doors & quarters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted August 8, 2016 Author Share Posted August 8, 2016 It had been done before I bought the car. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted August 9, 2016 Author Share Posted August 9, 2016 Hopefully this is the last round of filler for the hood. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithbrother Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Yep, put a quart on, sand 3/4 quart off. Going to be SO NICE, Dale in Indy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted August 14, 2016 Author Share Posted August 14, 2016 I dropped the car off to a buddy to have him slap the vinyl top on...hopefully will be done in a week. That will buy me some time to finish the trunk lid and hood. I hosed some paint on the underside of the lid today. Tomorrow I should be able to get the top side and hood painted. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted August 14, 2016 Author Share Posted August 14, 2016 Well, I'm as done as I'm going to get on the hood massaging. I shot it and the trunk lid this morning...will wait until later this week to sand and buff. It should take out a few more of the little ripples. Overall, it turned out ok for what it was when I got it. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted August 14, 2016 Share Posted August 14, 2016 they don't even look like they need buffing! You really have this body work paint stuff down pat! Sweet!!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted August 14, 2016 Author Share Posted August 14, 2016 Practice makes (almost) perfect, right? I took the photos when it was still pretty tacky. Tomorrow, it will have some more haze to it. I'll let it shrink for the rest of this week then hopefully knock it down by the end of the weekend. No hurry, since I don't have the car to install them. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted August 22, 2016 Author Share Posted August 22, 2016 Trunk lid installed...going to finish buffing as soon as I can get the hood buffed, also. Vinyl top was installed this morning, and some of the stainless went on. The other pieces will have to be repaired, and will go on later this week. I started installing the correct brake booster and MC, but ran into an issue with one of the lines, and my flare tool sucks. So I will be buying a new one tomorrow to finish the job. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 WOW! The speed at which you've done this is mind boggling! Can you tell the rest of us how you invent extra time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted August 22, 2016 Author Share Posted August 22, 2016 I had a pretty firm goal date for this car, and it helped drive me into working on the car at a much more frequent rate than normal. I should be able to meet the goal of September 4th 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebastienbuick Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 buick very beautiful, I love this model ! and good work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted August 22, 2016 Author Share Posted August 22, 2016 Thank you! I am following your restoration thread as well. Fantastic metal work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebastienbuick Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 Hello thank you very much ! as I said, I'm only 22 and I still have to learn technical .but it is with time you learn the thing, so if you were trick or technique I'm interested;). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted August 24, 2016 Author Share Posted August 24, 2016 After fixing (I think) the brakes, I needed to make some room in the garage. Atena helped me put the hood on tonight, and with only minor adjustments, it laid right down. I was a bit nervous about the adjustment, since this hood was untested for fitment. I still need to cut and buff it, but at least I can open both doors to the car now. I also need to get it in for an alignment. I am going to try making a cruise night on Saturday if all goes well. The scoops still need to be painted, and are just laying in place in the photos. Please excuse the massive amounts of dust 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithbrother Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 It doesn't look like your PIECE painting brought about some color differences? Looking good, I would have been scared to death mounting the hood, so easy to scratch/scuff something. YOU did good with a GOOD helper, Dale in Indy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted August 24, 2016 Author Share Posted August 24, 2016 My hope is that the colors do match. That has been my fear the whole time. Once I get it in the sun I will find out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithbrother Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 You are a smartin, hehe guy, so YOU know that JUST because the paint came from the same pot/mix DOESN'T mean PERFECT match. I'm guessing you will be ok, but out in the sunshine will tell the story, Dale in Indy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted August 24, 2016 Author Share Posted August 24, 2016 Yeah. I did my best to emulate the process I used on the rest of the car. Air pressure, # coats of base and clear. It also makes a difference on what direction it was painted, and at what angle the panels were at, in relation to how they will be mounted. I think I see a slight difference in some lights....I won't be repainting regardless. "It is what it is." 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithbrother Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 Yep, lots of paint things to consider when piece painting. Look at the new Cameros, the rear quarter panel right behind the doors seems to be OFF COLOR, but it ISN'T. The bulge out behind the door creates an illusion, some have even complained to dealers, early on dealers have even gone to the expense to repaint, and show the customer that it ISN'T a color difference, it's the angle that you see. Like a wall in your house, the same paint at a corner can look like a different shade, but isn't. Dale in Indy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted August 25, 2016 Author Share Posted August 25, 2016 Can't wait to get this in the sun! 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebastienbuick Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 beautiful and very beautiful color ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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