E-tek Restorations: PROJECT THREAD

[e-tek]

The console looks awesome! Your a man of many talents. I need to get busy building a console for a truck. They do take alot of time to built. I am pretty impressed you built it without a pattern. I normally cheat a little bit and build out of cardboard or 1/4 luan plywood first then build. Looks like you made it all in one shot.

I wish! If you go back through the posts you'll see I started with heavy paper, then particle board, then MDF. About 15 hours total.

 

[winnipegtibook]

Yikes, I knew the toolbox was in "bad" shape, but well, sorry for sending such a dog! Exciting stuff.

 

[e-tek]

Yikes, I knew the toolbox was in "bad" shape, but well, sorry for sending such a dog! Exciting stuff.

Not to worry - we'll get 'em dressed up to look good in your shop....might just cost you an arm and 2 legs!

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

Oh-oh, E-Teks gonna be able to make a 'boat payment' on this one!

 

[e-tek]

Oh-oh, E-Teks gonna be able to make a 'boat payment' on this one!

Fer sure....on a very small boat.....

 

[VWPORSCHEGT3]

I have that same Snap on upper box with the lower box too. Im very interested on this resto cause i plan to do mine in the near future also. Mine was my grandfathers that he used professionally through his career

 

[e-tek]

I have that same Snap on upper box with the lower box too. Im very interested on this resto cause i plan to do mine in the near future also. Mine was my grandfathers that he used professionally through his career

Well, stay tuned then!
Earlier I mentioned I was chosen to be a part of the Dupli-color Paint Crew, so I'll be getting the materials for this project through them and posting the restoration to their site. It'll be a famous box!

 

[winnipegtibook]

Whoah! I am not worthy of such attention! I sure hope Santa e- tek doesn't look at the big book of who has been good or bad! Speechless. I will have to redeem myself, somehow.

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

Oh-oh, why do I think this box is going to be done-up in PLAID? LOL

Time to rev-up the Segways and produce that 'cloud of color'!

 

[e-tek]

Got a few more things done on the 40 Ford, including cleaning up a 3rd brake light opening initially cut by the owner -

Getting there....just need to make a tool so I can roll the edge ever so slightly...

Pulled the plugs in order to lube the cylinders and turn the engine by hand. They where nasty!

Also decided to get the "new" '81 TransAm over to my shop.... Although we had the perfect situation, free storage for the winter 2 houses over. But y'know how it is, when you get a new toy..... Plus, I told Mrs E that I bought it for her for Christmas - so she wants to play with it too....

So I called the PO and told him we'd move it over here on Friday - meaning I had to move my engines and metal-forming equipment (again) to make room for it in the shop.

The lone engine by the door is a flathead (for my own rod) that's going to the machine shop tomorrow:

Tomorrow I start a 2 week Christmas break!!! On the agenda is:

- Winnipegtibook's Snap On box restoration,

- Finishing up the metalwork on the 240Z (meaning it'll be in block primer stage - YUK!)

- Play with the new toy:

....and get the 40Ford Rod ready for paint!

2 weeks in the shop....thank you Lord!

 

[winnipegtibook]

My poor toolbox, consuming your Xmas holidays. Sorry for that

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

"2 weeks in the shop....thank you Lord!"


Hooray for E-Tek! Hooray for us here at GJ, E-Teks 'time off' means that we get the real present of more progress pics and posts. Thanks E-Tek!

 

[mikeceli]

Wow! Nice project and work!

Now, how about some photos of your Beautiful Wife, you "Over-Chicked" Son of Gun!

 

[e-tek]

Spoke to the folks at Dupli-color and they are going to be supplying me with product for some of my projects. Sounds like they have a LAQUER (yes laquer!) based paint that is very forgiving - and much safer - for guys that want to do their own painting in a home-garage scenario. You can check it out here: http://www.duplicolor.com/products/psFinishSystem/

As well, I bought some awesome flathead parts today to help keep me busy through the break and though the winter.
Check out this sweetheart piece from Edelbrock:

With the smooth aluminum heads and stock generator and fan set-up, my rod's mill will look very much like this one:

I also bought rebuild kits for my Holley 94's so I'll have those, as well as the Holley 4 bbl for the 390, to fill in time between all the work I want to get done on the 40Ford and Datsun 240Z.

As I mentioned earlier, I'm taking delivery of the TransAm tomorrow. I'm going to clean it all up and put a big mutha bow on it and "give" it to the Mrs on Saturday. Who knows - it may just be enough to coax her out of model-retirement again....I can hope!

 

[emeraldcoupe]

nice! gotta love flatheads. there's just something about them that make them awesome.

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

"As I mentioned earlier, I'm taking delivery of the TransAm tomorrow. I'm going to clean it all up and put a big mutha bow on it and "give" it to the Mrs on Saturday. Who knows - it may just be enough to coax her out of model-retirement again....I can hope! "

E-Tek, give it your best shot, even if you have to 'spit-shine' that TransAm! Who knows, if you do a really nice detail job, you might find her wearing that big mutha bow and not much else! You lucky so-and-so you - every morning you wake up next to that lovely lady should feel like Christmas!

And if she does happen to wear that bow, and you just happen to have the camera at hand..... well, you know, think of us poor slobs here at GJ; you know - spread some of that 'Christmas Cheer' and all that. lol

At the least, we'd all appreciate seeing Mrs. E-Tek in her 'new' ride as she is about to lay a patch down the street!



P.S. - Wouldn't a new avatar featuring her and her car be appropriate? heh-heh!

 

[HOTFR8]

Who knows - it may just be enough to coax her out of model-retirement again....I can hope!

Do not tease us.

 

[hobie1dog]

Thanks for the link to the Duli-color paint. That's exactly what I've been looking for....an old time lacquer based paint that can take multiple coats, dries in 10 minutes, can be sanded if necessary, then clear coated whenever you want. All in quart cans bought at the local auto parts store....cool stuff.

 

[bugdust]

Nice work. I read the first 30 pages (end of the '56 Chevy, start of the Cougar) and the had to go do stuff. I'll read the rest soon. Anyway, take a look at masterseries. It's similar to por-15 at 2/3 the cost. I have used it with awesome results. I sandblasted before using it and then brushed it on with foam brushes. I have no connection with masterseries, just a satisfied customer.

http://www.masterseriesct.com/

 

[JC23]

Too bad you don't know anybody that can fab you up a rack to stack them motors.

You can thank me later...

 

[Kevin54]

Spoke to the folks at Dupli-color and they are going to be supplying me with product for some of my projects. Sounds like they have a LAQUER (yes laquer!) based paint that is very forgiving - and much safer - for guys that want to do their own painting in a home-garage scenario. You can check it out here: http://www.duplicolor.com/products/psFinishSystem/

As well, I bought some awesome flathead parts today to help keep me busy through the break and though the winter.
Check out this sweetheart piece from Edelbrock:

With the smooth aluminum heads and stock generator and fan set-up, my rod's mill will look very much like this one:

I also bought rebuild kits for my Holley 94's so I'll have those, as well as the Holley 4 bbl for the 390, to fill in time between all the work I want to get done on the 40Ford and Datsun 240Z.

As I mentioned earlier, I'm taking delivery of the TransAm tomorrow. I'm going to clean it all up and put a big mutha bow on it and "give" it to the Mrs on Saturday. Who knows - it may just be enough to coax her out of model-retirement again....I can hope!

I wonder how thick that lacquer paint is. Remember when the in thing was custom paint, and they used to use lacquer to paint cobwebs? Cobwebs aren't something you can do with BC/CC

 

[e-tek]

Too bad you don't know anybody that can fab you up a rack to stack them motors.

You can thank me later...

Hmmmmm...pretty good idea!! Even 2 high would be a big improvement!

 

[e-tek]

Got the TA in the shop today - spent 4 hours giving it a good cleanup (it was filthy):

Original Bill of Sale and Extended Warranty, bought in Saskatoon, December 1981....must have taken a while to go from GM to the Coachworks shop for the top chop and back to the dealer.

Then I surprised Mrs E-tek with it! She loved it....

After thanking me in her very special way I put it to bed -

Later, I got a little sanding done on Brian's Snap On box

As I was sanding, I found that the bottom panel had been repaired at some point in it's life. I ground the welds reasonably smooth - without thinning out the metal too much -

Tomorrow I'll sand the rest, straighten everything, then prime it.

 

[Kevin54]

This isn't the same cat that's in you signature. I like this one way better than the other. The one in your sig looks to be a darker blue with the Phoenix on the hood. Mama E-Teks is a lot cleaner looking as far as looks go. I like it!!!!!

 

[VWPORSCHEGT3]

that dupli color paint has a tendency to orange peel. but thats in my limited experience in dealing with it....

 

[e-tek]

that dupli color paint has a tendency to orange peel. but thats in my limited experience in dealing with it....

That would have been in how you applied the clear - which (I would think) could have been wet-sanded and buffed.

My understanding is that the Dupli-Color base is LAQUER-based, which is EXTREMELY forgiving: ie no re-coat window (you don't have to get it all done within the same day). So I'll be very interested to try it out!

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

E-Tek, looks like Christmas came early for the Mrs.; and also for you! lol
Nice bow, by the way; did you make it yourself?
So, when do we get to see the 'new' avatar?

Here's a question concerning the Dupli-Color being LACQUER-based. I seem to recall that lacquer-based finishes are 'tender/brittle' and don't resist chipping very well. If this is true, then would the SO box be a good candidate for Dupli-Color?

 

[e-tek]

E-Tek, looks like Christmas came early for the Mrs.; and also for you! lol
Nice bow, by the way; did you make it yourself?
So, when do we get to see the 'new' avatar?

Here's a question concerning the Dupli-Color being LACQUER-based. I seem to recall that lacquer-based finishes are 'tender/brittle' and don't resist chipping very well. If this is true, then would the SO box be a good candidate for Dupli-Color?

No I didn't make the bow - one of our GREAT neighbors made it for me.

That used to be the case with Lacquer - when used as a top coat - but here they are using it as the base, with a clear coat over top. Not 100% what kind of clear it is yet tho....

 

[e-tek]

This isn't the same cat that's in you signature. I like this one way better than the other. The one in your sig looks to be a darker blue with the Phoenix on the hood. Mama E-Teks is a lot cleaner looking as far as looks go. I like it!!!!!

Good eye Kev - that was my placeholder- as I thought I wouldn't have the real one home until spring - then I broke down and decided to bring it home, as the owners SIL was working on his own car beside it and likely not being too careful I'm sure....but I'm already regretting it - I had lots of room in the shop without it and free storage where it was....D'Oh!

 

[MP&C]

.......I'm already regretting it - I had lots of room in the shop without it and free storage where it was....D'Oh!

If you need a place to keep that Merc pickup for awhile......

 

[e-tek]

Did some metal work, then stripped the Snap On box today and put some EW Rust Encapsulator on the worse parts:

Had to put a few welds in the front panel at the hinge -

....and at the corner of the lid. The metal is so thin I had to use the 1-A setting!

I brushed on EW's Rust Converter on the rusty parts. The bottom was really rusty and was repaired (maybe replaced?) at some point long ago.....if only this box could speak!

Here it is, ready for Self-etch, then primer tomorrow -

 

[HOTFR8]

Then I surprised Mrs E-tek with it! She loved it....
After thanking me in her very special way I put it to bed -

Makes me think of color schemes 50 shades of grey ... Well you have had some fun with that new toy.

 

[MP&C]

Ed, if you can get the front flange of the lid in your shrinker, it should straighten out the bow in the lid ..

 

[winnipegtibook]

E-Tek, My Xmas has come early. I showed the blog to the misses (for the first time) and she was amazed. Speechless, that's all I can say. I must have done something right in a past life!

 

[e-tek]

Ed, if you can get the front flange of the lid in your shrinker, it should straighten out the bow in the lid ..

Thanks Rob - Though I'm not sure I could get it in there....maybe.

E-Tek, My Xmas has come early. I showed the blog to the misses (for the first time) and she was amazed. Speechless, that's all I can say. I must have done something right in a past life!

I've always enjoyed a challenge - this one happens to be your Snap On box!

 

[Kevin54]

E-Tek.....in mounting that light, have you ever seen some of the guys with the S10's and such that flush mount the lights? I could probably find you an article or find one of the guys that have done it to explain exactly how its done, but basically the ligh is mounted flush with the outside of the body, a very thin coat of bondo covers the light and all, then everything is sanded down exposing the lens again. Then it's painted and cleared, when wet sanded and buffed it polishes the lens up. It makes for a way better looking finish than if the lens is below the surface of the metal.

 

[e-tek]

E-Tek.....in mounting that light, have you ever seen some of the guys with the S10's and such that flush mount the lights? I could probably find you an article or find one of the guys that have done it to explain exactly how its done, but basically the ligh is mounted flush with the outside of the body, a very thin coat of bondo covers the light and all, then everything is sanded down exposing the lens again. Then it's painted and cleared, when wet sanded and buffed it polishes the lens up. It makes for a way better looking finish than if the lens is below the surface of the metal.

I'll have to look into that Kevin. I know what you mean - I don't love that it's lower either, but it has a rubber seal that prevents it from coming through the hole. I wonder if some lights have more lens to protrude through the opening.

 

[DynoDave]

Personally, I prefer this as shown. It's serviceable if needed. The pieces that are smoothed in have some visual appeal, but plastic, metal, and bondo do not expand and contract at the same rate. You can often see these at cruise nights with the clear coat cracking around the perimeter of the blended edge. To me, it's like trying to bondo a fiberglass hoodscoop onto a metal hood...a recipe for cracking IMO. I guess I'd err on the side of durability/serviceability rather than ultimate smooth appearance. But to each his own.

 

[Kevin54]

E-Tek....here's one site I found explaining a little about it. http://www.minitruckinweb.com/tech/body/0505mt_custom_led_tail_lights_chevy_blazer/viewall.html same thing only wrote up a little different. http://www.customclassic.com/support/lightsupport/flushysupport/flushyinstructions.htm And one more http://www.motortopia.com/worldofro...-flush-mount-led-taillights-in-your-rod-1888/

 

[e-tek]

Took Roberts advice and set the SnapOn on the lift to git it in the shrinker/stretcher. Put a couple of each into it and got the lid much straighter!

Thanks Robert!

Then I put another couple of welds into it and got it etched and primed -

The top was very rusty as well. I put a lot of primer on it and hope to be able to sand most of it out - otherwise I'll have to put a little high-build on it...

But now it's off to the in-laws for Xmas. I'll be back (as usual!) on Boxing Day (don't ask what that is...) to spend 5 blissful days alone in the shop - and other than sanding and painting this box - I'll be getting a lot done on the 40Ford Rod!

Merry Christmas to all!