62 Corvette rebuild

[pamike]

Wow. Impressive. I wish I had the attention to detail that you, and many on this board have.
Awesome job, and to have the dedication to do the job a second time is even more impressive.

 

[don long]

Wow. Impressive. I wish I had the attention to detail that you, and many on this board have.
Awesome job, and to have the dedication to do the job a second time is even more impressive.

Thank you Mike

 

[1/2 Cup]

Don that is outstanding.

 

[TimeWarpF100]

I'm getting too old for this type of work. I'm soo tired tonight but I'm just as happy.

Here are the results of my hard work and I had help.

IMG_4504 by don long, on Flickr

IMG_4508 by don long, on Flickr

IMG_4510 by don long, on Flickr

IMG_4511 by don long, on Flickr

IMG_4512 by don long, on Flickr

I won't have any time the rest of this week to mess with the car so next week it's game-on

Absolutely Stunning Don! I put a decent ding in the back of cab on my truck but do not have it in me to tear it down and re-do.

I sure wish I could find someone to help me. 4 of my own vehicles to paint right now but each day it seems to get harder to do on my own. Energy just not there. R

 

[zmotorsports]

Thanks for the information on the Port-A-Cool Don.

As for the Vette, it turned out just as amazing as I expected it to.

 

[rmalkow2]

Once again, super job Don. That red is spectacular and is going to look soooooo good when out in the sunshine.

Bob

 

[Robert Haas]

I spend more time looking at the back ground in your pictures Don.

From the shopping cart bases on your portable paint stands to taking the time to clear mask the booth before painting. I learn more from gawking at your work then you can imagine.

I sure hope you can stay engaged with the Vette to get some drive time in it this summer. Folks like us don't have a lot of summers left and that car and the work you have done deserve to enjoy the living heck out of it.

Thank you for taking the considerable time posting your progress.

 

[drivesitfar]

Don: looks AWESOME and a well deserved rest before you put the 2000 grit paper to it and really make it POP.

I have no idea what all it takes to mix the paint and keep everything that smooth especially with all the hot weather you've been having, but it looks like you (and maybe your helper) do so WELL DONE!!

 

[Toolfool]

Glad to see the 'vette on the way back to perfect.

 

[don long]

Don that is outstanding.

Thanks Steve
It's getting more exciting with each day

Absolutely Stunning Don! I put a decent ding in the back of cab on my truck but do not have it in me to tear it down and re-do.

I sure wish I could find someone to help me. 4 of my own vehicles to paint right now but each day it seems to get harder to do on my own. Energy just not there. R

Timewarp

I can relate. I get tired much quicker today than I did a year ago and 5 years ago seems like forever ago. I must give thanks for the guys that come over and want to play on my projects. It keeps me motivated.

Thanks for the information on the Port-A-Cool Don.

As for the Vette, it turned out just as amazing as I expected it to.

You are welcome Mike

I had my fingers crossed for sure and Drives sent good vibes every day.
Thanks for the confidence in me.

Once again, super job Don. That red is spectacular and is going to look soooooo good when out in the sunshine.

Bob

Oh Bob
You have no idea how fast my heart was beating after I took some tape out in the sun to look at the paint that was sprayed on it.
I added one more coat of pearl to the car this time

I spend more time looking at the back ground in your pictures Don.

From the shopping cart bases on your portable paint stands to taking the time to clear mask the booth before painting. I learn more from gawking at your work then you can imagine.

I sure hope you can stay engaged with the Vette to get some drive time in it this summer. Folks like us don't have a lot of summers left and that car and the work you have done deserve to enjoy the living heck out of it.

Thank you for taking the considerable time posting your progress.

Robert

I'm happy to help in any way I can.
Those parts holders are professional tools from the trade and I'm so happy to have them.
I plan on having the Vette on the road soon

Don: looks AWESOME and a well deserved rest before you put the 2000 grit paper to it and really make it POP.

I have no idea what all it takes to mix the paint and keep everything that smooth especially with all the hot weather you've been having, but it looks like you (and maybe your helper) do so WELL DONE!!

Drives
I will admit that I've been involved with paint work more than a few times but I'm always learning from others and the vette is no different.
Thank you for all those good vibes you sent along this past week I think it helped.

Glad to see the 'vette on the way back to perfect.

Thanks Toolfool

You have no idea how upset and driven I was after tearing the car up after painting it the last time. It feels good to see it coming together again.

 

[don long]

The Corvette came out of the booth today so I took advantage of a very sunny day

IMG_4538 by don long, on Flickr

IMG_4540 by don long, on Flickr

IMG_4541 by don long, on Flickr

I tried to capture the metalic pearl that shows up in certain light

IMG_4539 by don long, on Flickr

 

[drivesitfar]

Don: it's already looking better than it did before the ACCIDENT and you still have to do you MAGIC to it. good to see it with the tape off and ready for it's next phase.

GOOD LUCK AS ALWAYS!!

 

[zmotorsports]

Paint job and car look amazing Don. Great job. [emoji106]


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[HOTFR8]

That metalic pearl does look nice.

 

[don long]

Thanks guys
I'm glad you like it. It sure was hard not playing with it today.
better to let it sit for a few days while I go chasing a large coffee grinder and stand

 

[rmalkow2]

WOW!

 

[Thirdyfivepickup]

man that looks great in the sun!

 

[Bob Heine]

Don, that Little Red Corvette is looking fantastic. Might be time to update your avatar with a two-car shot!

 

[don long]

WOW!

man that looks great in the sun!

Don, that Little Red Corvette is looking fantastic. Might be time to update your avatar with a two-car shot!

Thanks Guys

Bob That would be a good Idea If the 37 Zephyr ran.
I never fixed it after the last crash.

 

[larry_g]

Thanks Guys

Bob That would be a good Idea If the 37 Zephyr ran.
I never fixed it after the last crash.

I've missed that episode, what happened to the Zephyr?

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Farmall450]

Wow that looks good. Congrats Don!

 

[don long]

So the car is painted and the hard work got started again today.
THE COLORSAND AND BUFF PART

This is the dirty part of the job. It paints my shop floor with white dots everywhere the water drips off the car.
But man does it make a big difference when done

I started out this morning wet sanding with 1500 grit paper and a hand block
I got the rear and both quarter panels smooth ( I sand the car til the orange peel is gone.

Then I grabbed the 2500 grit paper and sanded the areas again to remove any light sand scratches left by the 1500 paper

I couldn't wait I had to rub out the left quarter to see what I was going to have.

I LOVE IT

You can see my reflection in the paint. I only buffed above the body line
IMG_4745 by don long, on Flickr

And if you look closely you can see the pearl and flakes

IMG_4744 by don long, on Flickr

 

[royce]

Good on you Don

Royce

 

[drivesitfar]

Don: i know it's not easy and pretty warm too so congrats on your start on finishing up your Vette's new paint job. WOW and WOW!!!

i'm with Larry G on not knowing you WRECKED your Zephyr cause it looked pretty sweet last Thanksgiving. did you take it out for a spin when removing it from fire damage or did one of your friends and then have an accident?

hopefully those fires are far from you and your friends and the PARTY GARAGE.

I hope you are doing the sanding in the early mornings when it might be under 100 degrees, but it's really looking good.

take care and best of luck with the rest.

also just curious how you are applying the water for your wet sanding. do tell?

 

[rmalkow2]

It's looking great. That pearl really comes through.

 

[don long]

Wow that looks good. Congrats Don!

Good on you Don

Royce

It's looking great. That pearl really comes through.

Thanks guys
I'm really stoked on how it's turning out

 

[1/2 Cup]

Don that is sweet.

 

[don long]

I've missed that episode, what happened to the Zephyr?

lg
no neat sig line

Don: i know it's not easy and pretty warm too so congrats on your start on finishing up your Vette's new paint job. WOW and WOW!!!

i'm with Larry G on not knowing you WRECKED your Zephyr cause it looked pretty sweet last Thanksgiving. did you take it out for a spin when removing it from fire damage or did one of your friends and then have an accident?


also just curious how you are applying the water for your wet sanding. do tell?

Ok guys
Let me refresh your memories
Back in January of 2016 I put the zephyr in the Grand National Car show
and by the time I got it back home it looked like this

You can read all about it on page 130 post 2597 of the party garage thread

I haven't touched the car since
Here is the link

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=153099&page=130

 

[HOTFR8]

Ok guys
Let me refresh your memories
Back in January of 2016 I put the zephyr in the Grand National Car show
and by the time I got it back home it looked like this

You can read all about it on page 130 post 2597 of the party garage thread

I haven't touched the car since
Here is the link

This may help.

Thanks guys for all the support.
We didn't win any trophies but had a great time. We spent a lot of time visiting with Rick Dore and the discovery crew (most of them were there) I had several friends with cars in the show so we were among friends the entire 4 days of the event.We did meet up with Gary (1949 Caddyman) he spotted me walking through the crowd and called out my name!

The overall show was a disaster for the Zephyr
1. We over heated driving in line and as we got up to the building the car started boiling over so I had to back it out and let it burp all over the front of the car.
2. we finally pulled the car in and cleaned it up. One of the guys with me wanted to spin the front tires so he grabbed the bottle jack and jacked up the front end (on the radiator) and we pocked a hole in the radiator so we were sopping up water/coolant for quite a while
3. I grabbed the keys for the car as we were leaving thursday evening.
when we returned to take the car out of the show building I realized that I had left the keys home so I couldn't drive the car onto the trailer
4. the trailer had a flat tire so I had to change that before loading the car up
5. the ramps for the trailer were too far apart. When we pushed the car down a slight hill to load it on the trailer no one was watching the right side and the car missed the right ramp and it struck the trailer at a fair speed and damaged the grille and right front fender.

The car is in the garage now and I can't make myself go look at it.

Will be nice to see all that fixed.

 

[zmotorsports]

The car looks great Don.

I know what you mean about cutting and buffing. For me it was bitter sweet because it was so much work and made such a mess of my shop floor but when that second step of buffing when the color really began to pop, it made it all worth it.

Looking forward to seeing it all assembled again Don. Love the car.

 

[drivesitfar]

Don: I know it doesn't make you feel better, but when I saw your Zephyr in person last year I didn't notice the damage to the grill and maybe others won't either until you find time to sort it out.

those fires look close so hoping they don't get closer. best of luck with that and prayers sent.

have fun (well I know it's not fun, but the results will have you smiling) spiffing up the Vette.

good luck!!

 

[akdiesel]

Don

I love this car, but it is your work and vision that make it come to life.
Thanks for making it possible.

 

[dchance]

Don,
It looks great.

Dwight

 

[BassProCamaro97]

Very nice Don. I'm Looking forward to its completion!

 

[larry_g]

Thank you Don for getting us stragglers up to date. I try to follow your thread but sometimes it gets away from me..

lg
no neat sig line

 

[don long]

Will be nice to see all that fixed.

Surprisingly I turned the claim into the insurance and we are waiting to find a good grille at a price above $3,500. and then it will need to be painted

The car looks great Don.

I know what you mean about cutting and buffing. For me it was bitter sweet because it was so much work and made such a mess of my shop floor but when that second step of buffing when the color really began to pop, it made it all worth it.

Looking forward to seeing it all assembled again Don. Love the car.

Thanks Mike

I'm having a hard time working on the car cause I want to buff each panel as I get it sanded. I'm determined to sand it and let it sit sanded for a few days to help cure the chance of die back.
We share the excitement of seeing the car back together believe me!!!

Don: I know it doesn't make you feel better, but when I saw your Zephyr in person last year I didn't notice the damage to the grill and maybe others won't either until you find time to sort it out.

those fires look close so hoping they don't get closer. best of luck with that and prayers sent.

have fun (well I know it's not fun, but the results will have you smiling) spiffing up the Vette.

good luck!!

Thanks Drives

There is a reason you didn't see the damage on the Zephyr!!
I keep the car show info board in front of the car

IMG_4116 by don long, on Flickr

Don

I love this car, but it is your work and vision that make it come to life.
Thanks for making it possible.

That's very nice of you to say that AK
Thank you

Don,
It looks great.

Dwight

Thank you Dwight

It's one project that will be nice to have completed

Very nice Don. I'm Looking forward to its completion!

BassProCamaro

It's been a long time coming, but I am seeing the light at the end of this tunnel (22 years)

Thank you Don for getting us stragglers up to date. I try to follow your thread but sometimes it gets away from me..

lg
no neat sig line

Happy to do it Larry
I can relate on threads getting away from me lol

I hope you are doing the sanding in the early mornings when it might be under 100 degrees, but it's really looking good.
take care and best of luck with the rest.

also just curious how you are applying the water for your wet sanding. do tell?

Drives

I waited to answer your question because I wanted to take this pic for reference

IMG_4755 by don long, on Flickr

I use the spray bottle to do a couple of things
1. apply soapy water to the panel for sanding
2. wash off my sand paper after sanding a small spot 2' square at the most
3. rinse off the panel after sanding

I use the rubber pad on the left to fold the sand paper around so I can keep my sand paper flat and not have finger lines sanded in the panel.

I use the other rubber pad to squeegee the water off the panel after sanding and rinsing.

The light is used to shine on the sanded panel to show up any unsanded areas or places that need a little more attention

And the coke can is my reward after finishing a panel

 

[drivesitfar]

Don: thanks for showing your tools of your trade on the sanding with 1500 and 2000 grit sandpaper and letting me (us) know what else you use.

REST UP TOMORROW cause you deserved and continue to pace yourself through to the finish line on the VETTE.

cheers

 

[Toothaker]

...snip...

There is a reason you didn't see the damage on the Zephyr!!
I keep the car show info board in front of the car

IMG_4116 by don long, on Flickr

...snip...

Clever!

 

[don long]

It's been 2 weeks since the Vette has been painted so today was hit it hard day.

Both Quarters are buffed and the deck lid and rear body panel is also finished

Paul dropped by today and asked if he could do anything so I had him polishing Chrome and help me install the bumpers, tail lights and The decklid before he went back home.

Todays progress

The bumpers going on without scratching the paint

2018-08-13 10.51.33 by don long, on Flickr

The deck lid buffed and installed.
You can see the taillights reflecting in the polished bumpers

2018-08-13 15.53.55 by don long, on Flickr

It got too hot this afternoon so Here's where we called it a day

2018-08-13 15.45.33 by don long, on Flickr

 

[TimeWarpF100]

It's been 2 weeks since the Vette has been painted so today was hit it hard day.

Both Quarters are buffed and the deck lid and rear body panel is also finished

Paul dropped by today and asked if he could do anything so I had him polishing Chrome and help me install the bumpers, tail lights and The decklid before he went back home.

Todays progress

The bumpers going on without scratching the paint

2018-08-13 10.51.33 by don long, on Flickr

The deck lid buffed and installed.
You can see the taillights reflecting in the polished bumpers

2018-08-13 15.53.55 by don long, on Flickr

It got too hot this afternoon so Here's where we called it a day

2018-08-13 15.45.33 by don long, on Flickr

Looking great Don!
It’s going to look killer when done!

I am kicking around idea to drag or drive my ‘66
To GNRS 2019. Think it’s worth the trip?