Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: Smkn600ctd on November 16, 2011, 06:25:31 PM
Post by: Smkn600ctd on November 16, 2011, 06:25:31 PM
Fresh from the paint booth.......still need to address the chrome strip around the car.
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: Shadow on November 16, 2011, 06:39:57 PM
Post by: Shadow on November 16, 2011, 06:39:57 PM
NICE! i've never seen a dark blue 4 eyed bird before.. i like it!
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: T-BirdX3 on November 16, 2011, 06:41:44 PM
Post by: T-BirdX3 on November 16, 2011, 06:41:44 PM
Sweet!!!
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: vinnietbird on November 16, 2011, 06:58:05 PM
Post by: vinnietbird on November 16, 2011, 06:58:05 PM
Beautiful. Reminds me of my last Bird. Who did the paint?
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: Dansbirds on November 16, 2011, 07:02:31 PM
Post by: Dansbirds on November 16, 2011, 07:02:31 PM
Looks good, my 83 Heritage is dark blue like that. What is your issue with the chrome strip? peeling/cracking? Its fine on my 83 but junk on my 86 XR7 and would be interested to hear your plan.
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: Dan B. on November 16, 2011, 08:03:18 PM
Post by: Dan B. on November 16, 2011, 08:03:18 PM
Very nice!! I'm a big fan of blue!!
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: jrad235 on November 16, 2011, 08:07:02 PM
Post by: jrad235 on November 16, 2011, 08:07:02 PM
SOLD! I'll even come and get it! That is a beautiful car. :)
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: Shadow on November 16, 2011, 08:17:38 PM
Post by: Shadow on November 16, 2011, 08:17:38 PM
Quote from: jrad235;373159
SOLD! I'll even come and get it! That is a beautiful car. :)
i got confused! lmao
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: fourplaymotorsports on November 16, 2011, 09:57:25 PM
Post by: fourplaymotorsports on November 16, 2011, 09:57:25 PM
Awesome color
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: Chooglin on November 16, 2011, 10:12:22 PM
Post by: Chooglin on November 16, 2011, 10:12:22 PM
Very nice looking car............nicely done !!!!
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: The Shredder on November 16, 2011, 10:19:19 PM
Post by: The Shredder on November 16, 2011, 10:19:19 PM
Oooo... Ahhhhh... Beautiful! Is it the 7F twighlight blue metallic from the later birds? I plan to paint mine about the same color. It really does look good on the earlier birds also!
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: ThunderCat_1985 on November 16, 2011, 10:37:52 PM
Post by: ThunderCat_1985 on November 16, 2011, 10:37:52 PM
That looks fantastic! My 1978 Thunderbird was almost the exact same color. Bluebirds are cool.
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: Chrome on November 16, 2011, 11:06:54 PM
Post by: Chrome on November 16, 2011, 11:06:54 PM
I hope the chrome strip is all you mess with. It's perfect.
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: Smkn600ctd on November 16, 2011, 11:28:22 PM
Post by: Smkn600ctd on November 16, 2011, 11:28:22 PM
Thanks for all the compliments!
Any idea on how to "brighten" up the chrome strip?
I was told that you can "cut" the old strip out and install a new one? The thought of cutting scares me. Looks like its all one piece.
Any idea on how to "brighten" up the chrome strip?
I was told that you can "cut" the old strip out and install a new one? The thought of cutting scares me. Looks like its all one piece.
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: Shadow on November 16, 2011, 11:37:31 PM
Post by: Shadow on November 16, 2011, 11:37:31 PM
if i'm not mistaken, the chrome strip is glued to the black impact strip
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: EFFalcon on November 16, 2011, 11:57:22 PM
Post by: EFFalcon on November 16, 2011, 11:57:22 PM
that looks real nice.
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: flylear45 on November 16, 2011, 11:59:44 PM
Post by: flylear45 on November 16, 2011, 11:59:44 PM
Gorgeous! I like that color on it as well.
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: Smkn600ctd on November 17, 2011, 02:37:37 AM
Post by: Smkn600ctd on November 17, 2011, 02:37:37 AM
Here's what it looked like when I got the car 2 years ago. (you can see the LX 4.6 upclose and the SC and the Oldsmobile in the background).
I really like the way it came out....
I really like the way it came out....
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: Dansbirds on November 17, 2011, 06:30:29 AM
Post by: Dansbirds on November 17, 2011, 06:30:29 AM
Quote from: Smkn600ctd;373198
Thanks for all the compliments!
Any idea on how to "brighten" up the chrome strip?
I was told that you can "cut" the old strip out and install a new one? The thought of cutting scares me. Looks like its all one piece.
On my 86 the chrome strip was not alot more than chrome foil under a plastic cover. The plastic on mine was cracked, yellow, and just missing in other spots so the foil tape was in just as horrid shape. I spent alot of time removing the plastic and peeling the remaining chrome tape off, all black looked light years better than the other mess. I have seen replacement chrome strip mldg available but have never seen anything that could replace the way it was originally made. Keep us posted with your solution as I am very interested in a quality fix
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: flylear45 on November 17, 2011, 07:31:41 AM
Post by: flylear45 on November 17, 2011, 07:31:41 AM
Quote from: The Shredder;373189
Oooo... Ahhhhh... Beautiful! Is it the 7F twighlight blue metallic from the later birds? I plan to paint mine about the same color. It really does look good on the earlier birds also!
That'd look good on yours, Shredder. I like the chrome door handles and quarter trim on this one, but the TC would probably need black handles to look right.
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: Smkn600ctd on November 17, 2011, 10:56:14 AM
Post by: Smkn600ctd on November 17, 2011, 10:56:14 AM
Quote from: Dansbirds;373218
On my 86 the chrome strip was not alot more than chrome foil under a plastic cover. The plastic on mine was cracked, yellow, and just missing in other spots so the foil tape was in just as horrid shape. I spent alot of time removing the plastic and peeling the remaining chrome tape off, all black looked light years better than the other mess. I have seen replacement chrome strip mldg available but have never seen anything that could replace the way it was originally made. Keep us posted with your solution as I am very interested in a quality fix
That's what happened to mine. I took all the plastic and foil off, but some of it is grey while on the rear and front bumper, it's a rust colored brown. Gonna do some checking around tomorrow on a fix.
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: sho_shane on November 17, 2011, 11:10:48 AM
Post by: sho_shane on November 17, 2011, 11:10:48 AM
Thats a great looking car and it looks like really good work. :)
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: Chuck W on November 17, 2011, 11:29:52 AM
Post by: Chuck W on November 17, 2011, 11:29:52 AM
Looks great. Now you are required to post more pics. ;)
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: EricCoolCats on November 17, 2011, 11:56:46 AM
Post by: EricCoolCats on November 17, 2011, 11:56:46 AM
Very impressive. Nicely done.
The chrome strips are separate and replaceable on the bumpers, but not so on the side moldings.
You can cut off the clear covering and sand down the remaining chrome-ish area, then use 3M chrome striping tape. But it won't last longer than a year or two, and there is no feasible way to cover it to protect it from UV fade and environmental damage.
If you want the factory look, the only solution right now is finding NOS or good, used molding. I've been looking for many years and so far have only found 7 of the 10 pieces in NOS for my '84.
Might just be easier to paint it...
The chrome strips are separate and replaceable on the bumpers, but not so on the side moldings.
You can cut off the clear covering and sand down the remaining chrome-ish area, then use 3M chrome striping tape. But it won't last longer than a year or two, and there is no feasible way to cover it to protect it from UV fade and environmental damage.
If you want the factory look, the only solution right now is finding NOS or good, used molding. I've been looking for many years and so far have only found 7 of the 10 pieces in NOS for my '84.
Might just be easier to paint it...
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: tirefryr on November 17, 2011, 09:16:03 PM
Post by: tirefryr on November 17, 2011, 09:16:03 PM
Car looks GREAT!
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: nbzimmer on November 17, 2011, 09:19:30 PM
Post by: nbzimmer on November 17, 2011, 09:19:30 PM
My chrome strips didn't look too bad, but after my car sat in the garage for 3 years they turned brown and rusty-looking under the plastic. Must have been more moisture in that garage than I realized. I've been wondering about a fix too, but it sounds like there is no silver bullet.
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: 50tbrd88 on November 18, 2011, 11:57:47 AM
Post by: 50tbrd88 on November 18, 2011, 11:57:47 AM
OP, the blue looks fantastic. I agree with Chuck, we need MORE PICS!!
There was someone on here who covered their chrome strip with black electric tape. I know, major redneck fix but it might look nicer/blend in better than the faded out chrome. Short term fix, but who knows:crazy:.
Mine are also in bad shape and really bring down the rest of the car! I have a pretty nice paint job, nice moldings, then there is this py strip of oxidized looking, faded out, chrome. lol.
There was someone on here who covered their chrome strip with black electric tape. I know, major redneck fix but it might look nicer/blend in better than the faded out chrome. Short term fix, but who knows:crazy:.
Mine are also in bad shape and really bring down the rest of the car! I have a pretty nice paint job, nice moldings, then there is this py strip of oxidized looking, faded out, chrome. lol.
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: Shadow on November 18, 2011, 12:16:58 PM
Post by: Shadow on November 18, 2011, 12:16:58 PM
if black is an option, auto body suppliers sell rubber molding similar in shape to the OEM chrome strip.. you could have it painted to match the car, the painter would just have to use a good adhesion promoter and (drawing a huge blank here for some reason) the other necessary chemicals.. could even paint it silver to give it that almost factory appearance, too
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: tirefryr on November 18, 2011, 04:04:32 PM
Post by: tirefryr on November 18, 2011, 04:04:32 PM
Quote from: Shadow;373328
if black is an option, auto body suppliers sell rubber molding similar in shape to the OEM chrome strip.. you could have it painted to match the car, the painter would just have to use a good adhesion promoter and (drawing a huge blank here for some reason) the other necessary chemicals.. could even paint it silver to give it that almost factory appearance, too
Flex additive.
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: flylear45 on November 18, 2011, 06:33:11 PM
Post by: flylear45 on November 18, 2011, 06:33:11 PM
Quote from: tirefryr;373347
Flex additive.
No offense meant but I wouldn't bother. These won't be flexing much.
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: tirefryr on November 18, 2011, 07:39:42 PM
Post by: tirefryr on November 18, 2011, 07:39:42 PM
They'll flex just as much as a bumper and you also have to factor in thermal expansion and contraction.
Title: Fresh from the paint booth.
Post by: Shadow on November 18, 2011, 10:30:27 PM
Post by: Shadow on November 18, 2011, 10:30:27 PM
no, BUT you'll be flexing them when you put them on AND they will shrink/stretch as the seasons/weather change