It's starting to warm up here finally, so it's time to start my Bird on the road to paint. Due to being extremely busy at the shop this time of year, they (my bosses) have kicked my Bird out into the street. So, I'll be doing the Body Work and Jamb painting at home inside my Portable Garage. If your wondering why I don't have a real garage at my house, I live in an old historic neighborhood, and you cannot build or modify anything here without tearing through miles of legal red tape. Which I'm still in the process of doing here, so that I can build my 24x24x12 attached garage. Until then I have a Bird to paint and get out there for show season, so my 14x22x12 portable garage will do the job of protecting the car while it's apart, and protecting it from the weather, while I do body work. I still will be laying down the BC/CC in the paint booth at work though.
Here she is, as she sits currently. Patiently awaiting to be taken apart. This car has never been in even a minor accident, and it has a very straight and dent/rust-free body, so I don't have much bodywork/rust repair to do here. So, this shouldn't take long. Thank god for that, because I already miss cruising in my baby, and want to get back out on the road asap. I'm not a fan of red cars whatsoever, and have been wanting to change this cars color ever since I first brought it home.
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_01_zpse74fcc88.jpg)
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_02_zps7682d7d2.jpg)
I had an epiphany awhile back, that I paint near everything Gloss Black, and that I need to start expanding my car collections color palette. So, after much tumultuous thought, here is the color is ended up going with. Midnight/Fathom Green Metallic, which is an old muscle car color from the 60's. Yes, I know it is of 69-71 GM origin, but I could care less about that, I just love the color.
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_03_zpsf592445b.jpg)
Work starts this weekend. If my timeline plays out perfectly, she should be done, ready for cruising, and the show circuit by May 1.
Thanks for looking at my thread, and Stay Tuned!
Interesting color. Can't say as I'd like it or not, but I probably wouldn't hate on it. Can't wait to see it!
By the way, if you do body and paint for a living...I may send you some pics of my junk sometime, and get a really rough quote on what it would take.
Paint don't look to bad and I like the red but can't wait to see how it turns out
Here is a truck on the Eastwood Restoration forums, that someone painted with Fathom Green Metallic, and then clearcoated. Like always with metallics, the clearcoat darkens the color to where it should be, without the clear this color wouldn't be dark enough for me.
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/truck1_zps6ac04caa.jpg)
Thanks. Send it on over, my PM box is always open. I'll give you the most realistic quote that I can from looking at pics.
Thanks. The car has been Repainted/Cut/Buffed by the PO, which is why it still looks so shiny on the sides, the clear is almost fully gone on the top of the car though, is flaking fast everywhere else, and has turned fully white on the roof. Looks horrible, like the car has psoriasis or something, lol.
It actually looks like a cool color
Thanks, I thought so. Jaded Green Metallic was slightly darker, but it had a little to much sparkle in it for my taste, looked kind of gay.
Progress begins soon, very excited to get started, and finally change my cars color from this red.
I love Fathom Green!! My dad had a '69 Chevelle in Fathom Green back in the day and I've always thought it was a great color.
Started disassembly on Sunday. Got most of the interior pulled out, and all body parts pulled off the arse end of her. Hesitant to pull the rear window, since I have no clue where to find another seal, or even if there are more seals available. Also went ahead and installed the Mark VII Fuel Door, to make sure it fits the contours of the panel to my liking, which it didn't so hot at first, but after a little massaging from my magic metal working hands, it fits perfectly.
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_07_zps8f44ede9.jpg)
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_08_zps8bb2ad62.jpg)
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_09_zps090e4a1f.jpg)
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_10_zps006c1630.jpg)
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_11_zpsd3558d03.jpg)
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_12_zps83bc9394.jpg)
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_13_zps10f4de5f.jpg)
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_14_zpsad40a648.jpg)
The train is running full steam ahead on this project now. Will have more progress pics soon. Stay Tuned. :burnout:
Thanks. The more I look at it, the more I'm really starting to fall in love with the color myself. The old chevelle's really did look awesome painted in Fathom Green.
Nice work! Soon comes the big job though, sanding the whole thing down :)
Well, work has been taking more of my time than expected. This is always a busy time of year at work with so many people getting there rides ready for summer here, so this might not be finished until sometime in June... *sigh* Still all my spare time is going into this, so the train rolls on. On break time at work right now, and am covered in Plum-Crazy Purple paint over spray, so I thought I'd take a minute to update my thread. Enjoi the pics.
Disassembling the front end.
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_15_zps9ff12310.jpg)
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_16_zps3b7e463c.jpg)
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_17_zpsfcfda1c4.jpg)
The factory barely painted the engine bay, and you can see the areas where the stock paint is already worn away. shiznit like this is what pushed me to finally paint my car, not just the peeling clear. I can't work on or drive my cars in good conscience knowing that some areas are rusting away slowly, even if it is only surface. I HATE RUST!!!
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_18_zps5bf52833.jpg)
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_19_zps9649b59a.jpg)
In case anyone is wondering, most of the drivetrain, suspension, and electrical work has already been done on this car, and she will be ready to cruise once again, when I finally get done with the refinishing. Took me over a year to fix all the problems that this car had, but I finally got there. Stay Tuned. :burnout:
Thanks! Got a D/A here so it's not a big deal. Not looking forward to all the block sanding though, as always...:)
Progress is progress it will get done
My car needs paint sooner than later it has some rust coming through the paint ..... Super thin paint
Looks like a lot of progress to me...go get them...
Travis
Haven't had much spare time lately, but I've managed to make progress despite my schedule by working at night, and now have the entire engine bay/cowl painted. She was extremely greasy and contaminated in here originally, thanks to a PS Pump that must have been leaking fluid since the car was new. It took over 25hrs of prep time to get this bay ready for paint and it was a major pain in the ass, due to all the grease, and all the surface rust I found in areas hiding underneath the factory E-coat. I had to go down to bare metal in alot of areas, especially on both the shock towers, and then re-prime. It only took 30mins to fully paint, which is always the fun part :)
Not meant to be perfect, but just nice driver quality, and last in the long run. I will still be working on the car from here of course, and the paint will no doubt suffer some damage in here, and have to be touched up, but that's ok because she is not being built to be a show-queen, but a gnarly road beast. I'm going to paint the new K-Member and the inaccessible areas around the engine in here, after I pull the Engine/K-Member out the bottom on the lift, at my buddys shop later this year, during the engine swap.
The paint came out great, one run on the PS shock tower thanks to the py lighting in here, no big deal though as I can easily fix that later on. The wires/harnesses where not there during paint, that is the beginning of my wire tuck project there. Gonna set everything up so that it's still repair friendly, and the important bits will still be accessible without having to remove the fenders.
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_20_zps59345d54.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/TCLover82/media/TC_20_zps59345d54.jpg.html)
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_21_zpsfe720189.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/TCLover82/media/TC_21_zpsfe720189.jpg.html)
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_22_zpsef150c89.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/TCLover82/media/TC_22_zpsef150c89.jpg.html)
Thanks for stopping by and checking out my project. Next up is the Trunk and Door Jambs. It will be like a paid vacation after this!
Looking Good
looks real good i like the color
Thanks guys. That is an old muscle car color from the late 60's, and will look Dark Green, Dark Grey, or Black depending on lighting and viewing angle. Looks more Dark Grey in the pics because of the fluorescent lighting. Great paint as well, lays like a champ. Should have more progress pics soon, I'm starting on the door jambs tonight.
If Steve McQueen had a thunderbird it would be that color with torque thrusts. Looks good buddy
My name is Brandon, and I support this post. :)
That's an interesting color. Can't wait to see it all painted. :D
You and me both. I'm hoping to be done by August now. Kind of sucks, but there is not much free time to be had for me right now.
Got as far as stripping down both the doors, and then I get waylaid by the GF, then we got hit with a shiznitload more business at work this week. It's not looking good for progress on my projects right now. That's life sometimes though. :)
I think I've finally decided to not clearcoat the car though.
Not a great deal of progress the past few weeks, thanks to work, but I'm making some headway. Engine Bay is fully complete, wiring tuck is done, everything is back together, and after replacing my fuel pump which somehow died during the time while I was painting the engine bay, she's purring like a kitten again. Doors are fully stripped and pulled off, and ready to start prepping for paint. Also taking the time to replace all the old cracked rust-inducing Seam Sealer while I'm in there. It would be foolish to ignore, and just paint over it, and would ensure that the paint job and the doors themselves wouldn't last the long run. Only major rust area in the door jambs was on the bottom of the DS door, underneath the old Seam Sealer. Enjoi the pics!
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_23_zps84431f44.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/TCLover82/media/TC_23_zps84431f44.jpg.html)
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_24_zpsa662857d.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/TCLover82/media/TC_24_zpsa662857d.jpg.html)
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_25_zpsed247988.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/TCLover82/media/TC_25_zpsed247988.jpg.html)
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_26_zpsc4faede5.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/TCLover82/media/TC_26_zpsc4faede5.jpg.html)
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_27_zpsd345269b.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/TCLover82/media/TC_27_zpsd345269b.jpg.html)
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_28_zps13c5b8c6.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/TCLover82/media/TC_28_zps13c5b8c6.jpg.html)
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_29_zpsc51c2c11.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/TCLover82/media/TC_29_zpsc51c2c11.jpg.html)
Thanks for stopping by to check out my Bird Project. Will have pics of the doors/jambs painted next. Stay Tuned. :birdsmily:
Hell yeah! :ford: :roxor:
Are you using a single stage paint then?? Or are you adding a hardener to the base coat??
Nice looking home setup that you'll be painting in. :D
Just a couple of tips if i may!!!
Your doors are very good but need some work on the fold over. Either blast it or the rust will come through again. Also never use plastic on the car as it makes static conditions and will effect the paint application. Depending on the material it can and will cause FISH EYES!!! Also a clear in my view is something that is always necessary but not mandatory. That is your call. Clear makes the paint job. And finally that failed clear on the car has to go. If you are not versed with a DA it can cause other issues. Taking it down is something that has to be dun correctly or the car will have swirls. Remember a DA causes Heat. Be very careful with using a DA. Good luck!!
sweet it will be shot in no time
There is a masking plastic but yes, I wouldn't use the plastic sheeting for masking.
Yep, 2K SS Urethane. This is not a base coat, so there is no clear required.
Thanks, I still need to add a filtered intake fan to the setup, as right now my intake is passive, which causes the exhaust fan to pull unfiltered air from outside bringing dust with it. Once I get that setup correctly, I will be good to paint the entire car in here.
Like always when doing bodywork, it's there to protect the engine bay from all the sanding dust while I work, it gets removed during paint. I never have any static problems when I paint regardless, because I already know to ground the car beforehand. All it takes is a thick chain wrapped around the rear axle housing, and touching the ground. Boom, no more static attraction, no more dust nibs. An old timer here taught me that trick way back when. Works Every Time. :)
Yes that chain thing does work :D That comment was more for someone else's benefit. It is a great pain to clean an interior or engine bay from all the sanding dust, soooo darn time consuming. Now if I can only get the 1 other body/frame tech here to do that :(
I also just got the boss to get one of those anti-static hoses for the booth. Every little bit helps :) Good luck on the paint job!! :D
I just read your responses about the type of paint you're using. Cool.
Oh Yeah! :roxor:
Scored some Ford NOS Hella Fog Lamps at a local swap meet we went to this morning. These where made for the 93-94 Explorer Limited, but are the same as the stock TC Fog lamps in every way except for the electrical connector, which is easily changed. He only wanted $40 a piece! I didn't argue, as these are hard to find NOS.
The T-Bird Gods must be smiling down upon me. :)
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_30_zps7c206281.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/TCLover82/media/TC_30_zps7c206281.jpg.html)
very nice score
Got some free time on the comp at work right now, so I thought I'd throw out another update. Door Jambs are finally Painted.
10 hours of prep into these door jambs alone. Which is a good indicator of why this job has, and is gonna take so long to complete. It has to be done right or I will never be satisfied with it.
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_31_zps27b9e148.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/TCLover82/media/TC_31_zps27b9e148.jpg.html)
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_32_zps588382b6.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/TCLover82/media/TC_32_zps588382b6.jpg.html)
Working on the doors as we speak, will have pics of them painted next, as well as everything reassembled. Just bought a plethora of new parts to install as well. Had packages stacked 5ft high on my front porch when I got home from work yesterday. Things are looking good for the 'ol Bird right now :)
love the color. I feel your pain when i did mine it started as a scuff and shoot to a 9 month full time bare metal resto. would love to see yours next to mine someday.
Thanks. I told myself the same thing at first, should have known myself better than that, lol. Once I'm in there, I can't help myself but to go all out.
If your ever down south, I frequent a lot of local car shows around the Charlotte area in my rides. Huge old car culture here, and these are great shows. I've met some really cool people at some of those, with some seriously immaculate rides. I'll be at the Charlotte Auto Fair next April in my TC for sure, wish you and everyone from the site could ride down to the show, would be nice to get to sit next to some other Fox Birds, instead of the the standard fox mustangs, and MN12 Birds I usually have to sit next to. I'll still be out there regardless next year though representing for Fox Birds.
wow that car is going to look good
That was a color I had in mind when I chosed paint for my T-bird, I love the old man gray look on these cars.
Please tell me you're going to paint the grill in the same gray too! :D
Great score on the almost NOS TC floglights...
There is a guy in Michigan selling the rear 1/4 glass...NOS ford....the pair...$550 seemed kinda steep...
Travis
This is actually Fathom Green Metallic or Midnight Green Metallic, the color shifts between Dark Green/Grey depending on lighting. I really like the look as well. No grille on this car, this is the grilleless 88 model, it has a beak :), but yes everything will be painted in this same color. Going for a mostly stock sleeper vibe here. Hesitant to even put Cobra R's on it, but I just can't resist the pure shag of that particular rim, on my car.
Aaah, looks very gray! Sounds like an interesting color! And even better with a beak than a grille ;)
Oh yes Cobra R's! Do it! Or black chrome FR500's ;)
I vote for the Black Chrome FR500's :D That's what I want on my Bird, but the finance manager says I need Chrome. lol
I do like those rims!, but I've already made the selection awhile ago and bought them as well, gonna run these for a year or so before I switch it up. This is the Silver/Polished Lip version of the Cobra R's. I think they fit this car better than the chrome version. These are near perfect right now and are fully clearcoated to protect the polished lip from corrosion, the two smudges on the outer lip edges are my fingerprints. These where fairly cheap rims at only $120 a pop at latemodelresto as well!
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_33_zpsd1dcfb9f.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/TCLover82/media/TC_33_zpsd1dcfb9f.jpg.html)
No wheel has permanent status with me, it won't be long afterward before I'm ready to switch it up again...:D
those will look good with that color
Not much free time currently, things are pretty hectic here right now, and I just bought a new toy (bike), but I'm getting her done painfully slowly none the less. Gotta love hours on end of contour sanding! Did I mention that I hate sanding? Reason why I became a Painter, and not a Bondo monkey. Can't wait until I can actually get to the exterior of the car, it will be like a vacation after this!
I really miss driving the car at this point, but I'm not going to rush anything whatsoever, everything has to be done 100% right here. Inspection for this car was back in April, (and the car is not road legal at this point), so I had to turn the tag back in this week to avoid being charged the $250 fine. Gonna get a custom tag this time. Were allowed 7 characters here, so I was thinking of going with "1BADBRD" , even though I know it has already been used and taken in some other places, I should be the only one around here with that tag. Best name I can think of considering what I'm going for here, but I'm open to suggestions. Oh yeah, I'm definitely clear coating the car now, I want the additional Depth and "Wet Look" for this awesome color.
DS Door 100% Rust-Free and Painted. The slight red you can see in the paint is just a reflection, from the still shiny red clearcoated rear quarter across from it. Should last for another 25 years easily.
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_34_zpsaa98acef.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/TCLover82/media/TC_34_zpsaa98acef.jpg.html)
Oh I can't wait until this is finished! :D
LOL, that name seems familiar somehow............. just .... can't ..... place .. it :mullet:
Nice work :D
Thanks Guys! I'm having a hard time waiting myself. 1BadBird, you beat me to it, I still want that as my tag though, lol. I bet some MN-12 owner somewhere here already has it though. :punchballs:
More parts arrived today, the MC and Booster are raw (oil coated), so they will need to be painted before I can install them.
New Dorman PWM's
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_35_zpsa2c66912.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/TCLover82/media/TC_35_zpsa2c66912.jpg.html)
New 84-86 SVO MC
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_36_zps5f24b337.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/TCLover82/media/TC_36_zps5f24b337.jpg.html)
Rebuilt '88 Mustang Booster
(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/TCLover82/TC_37_zps65cae7b2.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/TCLover82/media/TC_37_zps65cae7b2.jpg.html)
Tracking down all the needed adapter parts to connect the SVO MC to the stock prop valve now. Have found and ordered all from Advance, except the adapter needed to connect the 3rd brake line to the rear of the prop valve, where the pressure sensor used to go (going for a clean install, so I'd rather not use a standard brake tee to connect the two front lines). Looks like it is gonna be a pita to adapt.
Once again use a trailer adapter. Simple clean better and wiser to do it than those ridiculous 3-2 adapters or whatever they call it!!!!!!!!!!
Trailer adapter once again for those interested in a clean install to a single pair of lines. One rear one front!!!
This photo is from my PLOW truck so it is a bit rusty. But i removed the ABS ans used a trailer adapter to simplify the line setup.
They do not make ISO trailer adapters as far as i know so this is another way of doing it
(http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx46/proguns/002-104_zpsbfa897d4-1_zps869690e2.jpg) (http://s740.photobucket.com/user/proguns/media/002-104_zpsbfa897d4-1_zps869690e2.jpg.html)
(http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx46/proguns/004-48_zps31c58be9-1_zps4115a21d.jpg) (http://s740.photobucket.com/user/proguns/media/004-48_zps31c58be9-1_zps4115a21d.jpg.html)
The SVO cylinder is the way to GO!!! Good luck !!!
It is not a pain to adapt any brake setup. What i do for what it is worth is use a trailor adapter shown above and do all your front cross overs at the frame on the drivers side. You have inverted 45* flare if memory serves me. And if not ISO is a snap to make lines for. Remember only one line goes to the rear and when i do it i rip all the stock py valves and adapters out. Install a WELLWOOD adjustable valve in the rear line and call it a DAY. Throw out the differential combination valve that came with the car and start out new. Installing all the factory stuff in my opinion is a waste of time effort and complicates the system. Make a bracket to mount the adjustable valve plumb it to the rear line. Then make a cross over for the right caliper at the drivers side near the left caliper hose and run one line to the master for the front system. DUN and all that is necessary is to adjust the front to rear bias with the valve. SIMPLE CLEAN and a no brainer!!
Here is one i set up for my car!!! One port for the rear one port for the front. SIMPLE and none of the factory valves to complicate the MOD!!
(http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx46/proguns/001-94.jpg) (http://s740.photobucket.com/user/proguns/media/001-94.jpg.html)
(http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx46/proguns/003-39.jpg) (http://s740.photobucket.com/user/proguns/media/003-39.jpg.html)
Here is a good photo of a TRAILER ADAPTER for those interisted
(http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx46/proguns/001-79.jpg) (http://s740.photobucket.com/user/proguns/media/001-79.jpg.html)
Something else to consider. When running a 2.3 front mount with a SPUN UPPER i use a different booster. The shallow booster is best used with a spun upper it provides more room for the MOD!!!
(http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx46/proguns/001-42.jpg) (http://s740.photobucket.com/user/proguns/media/001-42.jpg.html)
Renzo, please have some common decency, and don't pollute my build thread with your pics, like you do every other thread on this site. This all could have been done via PM directly to me, man to man, and then I may have actually listened to what you had to say. Do you see me coming into your threads, and doing what your trying to do here to me? You are the only person on any of the car forums that I visit, that does this type of thing, and some of them have a lot more going on in their shops than what you do. What does that say about you Mr.Renzo? To me it says Attention W at the very best, you don't even wanna know what it says at worst. I see now why no one stays at this site for long.
Anyway, I found the adapter that I needed to connect the third brake line to the rear of the prop valve. End of story.
GOT IT I POLLUTED YOUR THREAD. If i read it and noted it was you i would have refrained from helping. Sorry for trying to help you. It wont happen again!!