Skip to main content
Topic: Painting the '84 (Read 3280 times) previous topic - next topic

Painting the '84

Well I gave this car to my little sister a while back but nothing has really happened to it in a long while.  The power windows are working and I've got the CFI running better than it did.  But it's mainly been sitting.

Time to do something with it.  We had a family friend come fix the huge dent in the quarter panel.  That worked out nicely because a cousin needed a high school project to document for his English class.  It's far from perfect, but it was a real mess to begin with.  The rest of the body wasn't too bad considering it's a 25yr old car that has spent most of its time outside.  My dad is a PRIMO car painter (he just painted a '63 Ghia 6.3 that sold for $275k) but he's not a bodyman.  He's the one doing most of the work you see here.  There wasn't any rust that I was aware of, so we just jumped right into it...

Oh yea - keep your comments about my sister and her friends to yourselves. ;)

Dad laid out some flames just for fun and maybe it will get stripes.  We still aren't sure what the paint is going to be.  She just said "white with something PINK" :o  I am not crazy with that color combination, I'm giving the big-brother vote for all-white.



Here it is all cleaned up and ready to get started.  Anyone that has painted a car with MILES under the belt will tell you that there is a huge difference between washing a car and CLEANING one.  About six hours difference, in fact.



Took off the rear bumper cover and what do you know - a little bit of rot from an unprotected previous body fix.  This isn't bad though.  We're just going to scuff it down and POR-15 it.



A little minor fender alignment by yours truly..



The DAD grinding out some parking lot dings..



And here are the girls getting started removing the front bumper.  My sister is the one on the right.  Ain't she cute.



Starting to look like a bodyshop refugee.



We kept her busy.  Hey, it's her car!



Oh yeah.. you know good stuff is happening now.



Did I mention painting a whole car is a pain in the ass? :D  They start getting BIG while you're sanding.  We're just going to do the fenders and doors for this first day.



Sand, dammit!



My dad said this was going to be a simple scuff and squirt, just to get it looking nice enough for a parking lot.  I should have known better.  It's not going to win any awards but it will be pretty nice.



They're too dumb to realize it's work. ;) :D



Taped up and ready for primer.



The master at work.  This is lacquer primer which is dirt cheap, I highly recommend using this stuff.  At $45/gal it sure beats paying $200/gal for "good" primer.



Unfortunately we've got to leave it outside for now but there is no rain in the forecast and we'll pick it back up next week...

.
1984 Thunderbird V8


Painting the '84

Reply #1
Looking good for a start. Bodywork does suck, but it's better than having to weld quarters on first. LOL.
I'll be waiting for the rest of the project as it progresses.

I kinda like the flames for some reason too.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
Join us on Facebook

Painting the '84

Reply #2
Well, it really needs a new quarter on the driver's side.  We figure it's okay for now, and if she bends it, we'll fix it right next time.  Same for the hood. 

The flames were sort of my suggestion.  That was a 2-min tape job, the real ones will be bitchin.  If they happen.

Anyone have a source for the rear bumper?  The front was easy to find, but the rear is near impossible.
.
1984 Thunderbird V8


Painting the '84

Reply #3
I like the stance a lot.  What components did you use to make it sit that way?  Any problems with rubbing?

Painting the '84

Reply #4
It has unmodified Eibach Sportlines for a '99+ Mustang GT convertible.  I think it rides pretty nice; firm and smooth.  Sometimes if you hit a big dip the front will rub.  That's the price you pay for bringing them down.

Spindles are '94-95 Mustang with 12" rotors and PBR calipers from a '00 GT.  I need to replace the rear axles with a pair of LONG side axles from a Bronco II, the narrow ones (the ones you use for a Mustang) are too narrow for this car.
.
1984 Thunderbird V8


Painting the '84

Reply #5
1984 model - check.
Major brake upgrade - check.
Incredible stance - check.
Chicks that like a 25-year-old car - check.
Chicks that like to WORK on it - check.

Blue interior, or light grey?
Hanging in the balance on this one...

So far, I've gotta tell you...you have a lot of bonus points from me. :bowdown:

Great work so far, keep us posted!

Painting the '84

Reply #6
Quote from: 46Tbird;236969
It has unmodified Eibach Sportlines for a '99+ Mustang GT convertible.  I think it rides pretty nice; firm and smooth.  Sometimes if you hit a big dip the front will rub.  That's the price you pay for bringing them down.

Spindles are '94-95 Mustang with 12" rotors and PBR calipers from a '00 GT.  I need to replace the rear axles with a pair of LONG side axles from a Bronco II, the narrow ones (the ones you use for a Mustang) are too narrow for this car.


I'm doing the Cobra brake conversion now.  I used the Eibach Pro-Kit springs for T-Birds and they didn't lower the car at all.
I ended up cutting a coil out of the fronts but it's still not low enough.  Now I'm going to try Mustang coilovers with Chuck's shock brackets and see how that works out.  If I can't get the stance right with these, I'm going to an air ride set up next.

Stance is everything and you definitely got it right.

Painting the '84

Reply #7
What happened to the Bullitts? I love the stance of the car, always have an Vary Niice on the sister/ friends. I mean for working on the car of course.
1986 Cougar LS

Painting the '84

Reply #8
Quote from: EricCoolCats;236971
Blue interior, or light grey?
Hanging in the balance on this one...
Actually it's dark grey.  I looked for a picture, but I guess I don't have one of the interior.
Quote from: cougar86_89
What happened to the Bullitts?
They're doing duty on my Ranger daily.  It needed tires so I put these on it.

Thanks fellas.

.
1984 Thunderbird V8


Painting the '84

Reply #9
That car is sweet!!
I wish I could find a four eye birdy with a title to swap my mark into. Would be a nice set up in a bird.... 5 lug, all disc, 5.0ho FI...
I wish I coulda got it back when you were gonna sell it to bad your wayyyy in texas and im wayyyy up here...
RIP 1988 and 1990 Lincoln Mark VII LSC
I welcomed the dark side and currently am driving a 2000 Dodge Durango SLT plus, with a 5.9, Code named project "Night Runner"
Shes black on black, fully loaded, with headers, 180 tstat, e fan, straight exhaust into a cherry bomb vortex ler, full tune up, ported intake and T/B, MSD coil, and round aircleaner.
Mods to come: Fully rebuilt and heavily modded 46RE, and a richmond rachet locker.
my $300 beater ;)
R.I.P Kayleigh Raposa 12/18/90 - 2/24/07

Painting the '84

Reply #10
Quote from: 46Tbird;236964
Oh yea - keep your comments about my sister and her friends to yourselves. ;)

Epic fail. :flame: DAMMIT!
1987 20th Anniversary Cougar, 302 "5.0" GT-40 heads (F3ZE '93 Cobra) and TMoss Ported H.O. intake, H.O. camshaft
2.5" Duals, no cats, Flowmaster 40s, Richmond 3.73s w/ Trac-Lok, maxed out Baumann shift kit, 3000 RPM Dirty Dog non-lock TC
Aside from the Mustang crinkle headers, still looks like it's only 150 HP...
1988 Black XR7 Trick Flow top end, Tremec 3550
1988 Black XR7 Procharger P600B intercooled, Edelbrock Performer non-RPM heads, GT40 intake AOD, 13 PSI @5000 RPM. 93 octane

Painting the '84

Reply #11
Quote from: ZondaC12;237036
Epic fail. :flame: DAMMIT!


i think im the youngest one here and the only one that could make comments
but I didnt lol
RIP 1988 and 1990 Lincoln Mark VII LSC
I welcomed the dark side and currently am driving a 2000 Dodge Durango SLT plus, with a 5.9, Code named project "Night Runner"
Shes black on black, fully loaded, with headers, 180 tstat, e fan, straight exhaust into a cherry bomb vortex ler, full tune up, ported intake and T/B, MSD coil, and round aircleaner.
Mods to come: Fully rebuilt and heavily modded 46RE, and a richmond rachet locker.
my $300 beater ;)
R.I.P Kayleigh Raposa 12/18/90 - 2/24/07

Painting the '84

Reply #12
Oh just incase you want to start another new project and get rid of that Mopar, Ill take it for you.

Wait if thats your sister than how old are you? With all due respect I thought you were one of the old guys around here.
1986 Cougar LS

Painting the '84

Reply #13
I'm probably one of the old guys here at 31.  My sister is 17.  So I've gotten to watch her grow all the way up.  I'm proud of her... and protective. ;)

You can continue to call me "sir". :D

Which Mopar are you talking about?



.
1984 Thunderbird V8


Painting the '84

Reply #14
I was thinking 45+. My Sis just started High school and I just left so Im really really protect. Oh ill take both of them.
1986 Cougar LS