body and paint

[mestorod70]

Looks like im doing my own body and paint...cant afford the shop price.
New trunk lid... left quarter panel...tail panel..rear glass filler panel .
Im getting good at drilling spot welds.

[Ken Hayes]

Good luck.

[flash]

Youre a brave soul ,good luck.

[chevymaher]

You know how to sharpen the bit just for drilling spot welds?
Looks good. I just ended that saga on mine.

[Quadracer392]

I feel your pain! I'm almost done with the sheetmetal on mine. I found for me the best way to get the spot welds out was the spot weld bits from harbor freight and/or just using an air hammer with a really sharp chisel bit.

[mestorod70]

Removed most of the bad quarter panel
Underneath is just surface rust...should clean up ok and
get treated with rust killer and coat of epoxy prime
The package tray is a different story...looks like im gona replace it.
Ordered new from ss396/ground up.
The shiping calculator on the site said 37 bucks...should be interesting.
Im still bummed about all the rust damage..it was all because of a bad rear
glass install that i didnt notice was leaking.
And leaving the car sit out in the florida weather for 4 plus years didnt help.LOL.

[mestorod70]

been pluging away at the car.
got the quarter test fited and temp screwed on...it needs a little tweek to get
the trunk gap a little smaller but its close.
Right quarter lower patch is in progress...and some home made patches for the
upper quarter to glass track.
Trunk filler is test fited and screwed.
Im waiting on the package tray complete repair panel and outer wheel housings
a few pics.

[mestorod70]

few more pics

[flash]

Youre not wasting any time ,looking good .Im not that brave or talented .

[shadowgray396]

Look very good. Best way to take care of the rust is to sand blast it down to bare metals and then expoy prime it. Just killers don't work. Only kills the rust on top.

[mestorod70]

Decided to shave the drip rails.
Needs a bit more work yet but i sprayed some primer to get a better look.

[mestorod70]

My package tray repair panel showed up...yippe.
So time to cut out the old one and say goodbye to the rust and pinholes.
Came out real easy...A little clean up and test fit is in order.
Or just leave it out and have the only 70 that sleeps two with a matress in the back...lol.

[chevymaher]

Have the only 70 that sleeps two with a matress in the back...lol.

Dusters had that. Package tray was there but the rear seat folded down and made a nice bed area

[mestorod70]

Package tray repair panel was a real PITA to get in.
Took me two hours for the test fit...but looks like it will work.
Taking it out was another story...decided to remove the left part of the tray
and out in two parts.
Right quarter patch is cut and fitted.
Also got outer wheel housings delivered...just useing the rear part of them.
pics to follow.

[chevymaher]

Wow that looks just like mine did. I was beginning to think I was making a career out of fixing that area on mine.

[mestorod70]

Did a little blasting in the driveway useing black diamond from tractor supply
A little messy but clean up with the shop vac was easy.
Got rid of some surface rust and the rust on the hinges.
Also the rear panel down to primer...that saved some sanding.
Next up is some epoxy primer on the inside of the replacement metal.

[mestorod70]

Fixed both my outer wheel housings at the rear..new metal.
Replacement panels scuff sanded with 220 grit and epoxy primed
Also shot the trunk and inner quarters.
Im starting to like the devilbiss finish line gun i picked up.
Next is punching a billion holes for plug welding....lucky me.

[shadowgray396]

Looks great. I was glad I was able to start with a rust free car. Didn't have to do all the work you are doing.

[mestorod70]

Lots of welding done...things line up quite well
a bit more and some spot putty and seam sealer will make it look fine

[chevymaher]

Good Job. Looking like a car again.

[shadowgray396]

Coming together nicely

[mestorod70]

little more done today.
SMC metal filler on the roof to quarter gap after welding
ruffed in with 36 grit then some 80.
welded the filler panel to the quarter...(frowned upon by the purists)
And continued my quest for the shaved drip rail look.

[carpoor]

Looking good, better get a move on before it's too hot a humid to safely paint.

[mestorod70]

Looking good, better get a move on before it's too hot a humid to safely paint.

Paint this year was probably a pipe dream.
If i get the body in epoxy prime before may itl be a miracle.
I still need to do the doors...fenders...remove engine trans and frame.
and on and on.

[shadowgray396]

It took me a year longer then I thought it would to get mine done. Don't rush it, you will be glad you didn't.

[carpoor]

It took me a year longer then I thought it would to get mine done. Don't rush it, you will be glad you didn't.

Mine has become the proverbial "seven year itch." :( I hope it is everything I expect when finished. I'll be pushing it into the work shop in a few weeks to prep it for a complete repaint. I was going to fix a few spots, but started to realize it would just be better/easier if I redo the entire car. Lots of bumps and scrapes from being shuffled around over the past few years.

[shadowgray396]

It was 7 years before I got to drive mine again, so I know the feeling.

[mestorod70]

Still going at it.
Most of the major dents are gone.
The roof and right quarter are striped and in epoxy.
The custom drips got a 1/8 metal rod welded on the edge to give em a nice feel
The hood is in the parts showroom (my front living room) and the doors and fenders are off...Found a local media blast place that will take em down to bare metal.
The lower cowel is rust free on the outside but inside i dont know yet.
Anyway a few more pics

[chevymaher]

Awsome looking work. You Da man.

[mestorod70]

Dropped of 2 doors 2 fenders and the inner fenders at the blaster.
They use a dustless wet system and coat with oxpho when done
Its costing $300
Will post pics when i get em back.

[shadowgray396]

Hope its not soda blasting????

[mestorod70]

Got the parts back from the blaster.
They look good to me...and no they dont use soda.
Now its clean and epoxy prime.

[mestorod70]

OH joy to the world.
Look what i found....how lucky i am....lmao.
Its fun for mick with pain time again....Dick n jane aint here .
Hmn...parts are ordered....i will start cutting when new metal arrives
The wife saw that and asked....mick are you ok....i was a tad wtf omg.
Wife says....carry on....its only money...and at least you will fix it right.
Will post more when i sober up.

[Ms Grumpy]

I usually can read between the lines and figure things out. But boy you must have had a few. lol

[flash]

I think he said Rust Sux ,not really sure though.

[mestorod70]

Finaly got back to the chevelle.
The cowl panel would not fit in its welded together form.
So i seperated the two parts.....now its geting there.
The so called weld thru primer that the part came in was not under the welds
Perhaps thats what they do in taiwan....weld first ...weld primer after...lmao.
Anyway the drop downs are looking like they will work with a little body hammer work.
At this point at least every thing gets finished so rust wont come back in my
lifetime.
a few pics

[mestorod70]

Geting hard for me to get things done in the heat.
I instaled a canopy tent in the driveway to give a little shelter from sun
and hoping to turn it into a spray booth when the time comes.
Anyway i sandblasted the inner and outer firewall and lower piller area then shot
some epoxy.
Picked up a quart of semi gloss single stage to cover the primer with.
A few pics.

[shadowgray396]

Looking good.

[mestorod70]

The semi gloss is a bit more glossy than i wanted so the paint store put some more
flatening agent in it today.
Good news is what i sprayed cant easily be seen...all inner structure panels.
Now its time to mock it up again and grind where the welds will be and spot with
weld thru primer.

[mestorod70]

more progress today.
the lower part of the cowl is welded in and the upper welded on top of it.
Then i ran out of gas.
All parts have epoxy primer and single stage matrix paint on them
Where the plug welds are were taken to bare metal in each individual location
and hit with 3M weld thru primer.
3M brushable seam sealer is the next step before it gets the side pannels

[chevymaher]

Good job get er done.

[mestorod70]

Update pics....im geting closer.
Frame going to sandblast soon and under body geting cleaned and wire wheel
perhaps some blasting
Looking at some 2k products to use under the body
Frame will get epoxy and single stage urethane.

[chevymaher]

Looking really good congrats.

[Ms Grumpy]

Wow. great progress

[mestorod70]

a few more pics.
Decided to buy a rotissserie....and sell when im done.
The weather has been crap here in SW florida....rain rain rain.
So the frame still in the driveway....and no room to push the body out to blast under it.
Im removing most of the original undercoat with hand scraper in the garage.
Only slight surface rust and 40 plus years of road grime so far....fingers crossed

[carpoor]

Can't wait to put our rotisserie to use... currently have two cars to do, his 72' Chevelle and my 69' Malibu.

[mestorod70]

The frame went to sand blast...told em to keep it for a week or so.
Ive got 18 hrs of blast and scrape on the underbody.
Decided on epoxy prime then raptor bed coating.
A little more work and i should epoxy on friday and raptor saturday.

[carpoor]

That's a nice dry car. The floors look excellent.

[mestorod70]

That's a nice dry car. The floors look excellent.

Thanks carpoor.
I got this thing when i lived in cali...and finaly found the nice part of it.
The whole car was nice in cali but siting out in the florida rain took its toll.

[mestorod70]

And here is the underside in epoxy primer
Then in raptor bedliner.

[chevymaher]

I like the bedliner idea. And it is looking good coming right along.

[mestorod70]

Frame came back from sand blasters.
Gave it several coats of epoxy prime then boxed it with pre primed steel.
Then 3 cans of eastwood internal frame coat.
Then a few coats of eastwood 2k satin frame paint.
I modified the crossmember to work with the boxed frame.

[Quadracer392]

That thing has come a long way since the last time I saw it! You're doing an awesome job! I actually wish I would have boxed my frame in before I had it blasted. Keep up the good work!!

[mestorod70]

Just a couple more pics.....im geting something done.

[mestorod70]

The frame is back under the body....wow that was fun..lol
Now i have to sand and paint the core support to install it and the doors to get the
fenders lined up to patch em....talk about a hole in my bucket dear liza.
I still have some skim coat bodywork to do and need the car outside for that
so i guess im gona make it run again.
a few more pics

[mestorod70]

Decided to go with a stainless gas tank.
I took a little work to make it fit...it was an inch to wide.
A little tap on the edges with a small sledge hammer got it done.
Also a little bling to the motor with a billet serpentine kit.
Im still working on the wireing and fuel lines.

[carpoor]

Where did you get the tank from? I bought a stainless steel tank for my 69' Malibu from ground up. I am a long way away from installing it. Really hope that I do not run into similar issues.

[mestorod70]

Where did you get the tank from? I bought a stainless steel tank for my 69' Malibu from ground up. I am a long way away from installing it. Really hope that I do not run into similar issues.

Mine was from ground up.
But was an easy fix...the outer edges were not rolled up enough
so a little tap along the edge was all it needed..didnt hurt the tank.

[chevymaher]

Yea because I got one waiting to go in to.

[shadowgray396]

Wow. I have been failing to keep up with this post, Very nice. I do have to ask, did you paint the bolts holding your power steering unit to the frame? Lol. So much detail on everything else, they just stood out in the photo. Very nice job, you should be proud of your work.

[flash]

Looks very nice .

[mestorod70]

A few more pics....it runs again.
I wont install the ac or trans cooler until its body and paint are done.
Now i have to line up fenders with doors hood etc.

[chevymaher]

Looks real good Mestorod.

[mestorod70]

I played with the new hood hinges today.
getting all the gaps to line up the way i want.
and drilled the holes for the hood pins.
New hinges look nice but didnt come with the correct shocks.
Got it sorted and they are in the mail.
few more pics.

[carpoor]

Nice hinges, fessler billet?

[mestorod70]

Nice hinges, fessler billet?

Eddie motorsport. machine finish...550 at summit.

[Rattler]

Eddie motorsport. machine finish...550 at summit.

Awesome hinges. I wish they would drop the price on them. I just can't pay that kind of money for hinges.. :banana:

[mestorod70]

I HATE bodywork.!
Finaly i have door and fender gaps i can live with.
Ive come to the realization that nothing is quite perfect.
The tub was sprayed with a few coats of 2k hi build primer
left side and roof blocked out nice..right quarter not so nice.
working on the doors. while waiting for primer to dry completely.
a few pics.

[mestorod70]

Had to use screws for some of the window molding clips.
Decided to do a test fit before the point of no return...paint.!
Back came out nice....front has a small problem....yellow tape.
The rest of the body is geting quite nice...straight.
One more prime and block...then 500grit wet sand.

[chevymaher]

Good Job in the home stretch.

[Quadracer392]

It looks pretty good to me. Hopefully I won't be to far behind you once we get this shutdown finished up at work.

[shadowgray396]

They make a replacement stud that screws in. Also check you wheel moldings if you going to use them.

[mestorod70]

Got the body in 500 grit wet sanded.
found a few pin holes and a couple of boo boos
quick fix and a little more primer.
angio on tues is gona slow me up a tad.
Now to pick a paint color......russo corsa red.

[chevymaher]

Looking outstanding. Going to really look nice.

[mestorod70]

I picked this red for a color
And am still working on my tent booth

[chevymaher]

I wish i had that booth when I did mine. That is a good looking tool you got there. Nice red gonna look good.

[mestorod70]

Finally had a break from rain....2 nice days in a row
So got the car in the driveway tent booth thing and shot some paint.
it got 3 coats of base and 3 coats of clear.
There is color sand and buff in my future....lots of it...lol
anyway a few pics.

[mestorod70]

Thought i was doing good and wining the battle.
Then i did this on one of the places that the clear was a tad dry
with some 1500 wet sanding.
looks like im shooting some base again
then 800 wet the whole tub and a few more coats of clear
I could do a blend....but want it better than that.

[flash]

It's looking great .

[chevymaher]

I am with you there. I went through on the tail light extensions and another place. I fixed the tail lights both of them can't tell. The other if you look real long and hard from 3 inches with the light held just right you can kinda see it. I am over it. It look fine going by at 65. Once it is done a month or so you will forget all about it.

I tell myself once it gets its first rock chip. And it will it is unavoidable. That place is the least of its worries. I won't even mention the scratch I put in it and never fixed yet doing the lower trim LOL.

We all want perfect. But we are not. Guy I watched painted cars for guys. They were getting entered into Cavelcade of customs as a kid. And took first second and third in all catagories. Till they banned him to one entry he did per category. He would bitch moan and complain and show us 2 kids who faithfully watched and helped do anything he let us. Show us the things wrong with his work. And if that guy can't get it perfect to his liking. What chance do us mere Gelflings have.

Looks great. It be over soon.

[mestorod70]

Finaly back working on the car.
Its been to hot and humid to do much...but now its cooling down.
Ive been having problems with the primer surfacer so i switched brands
and its much better.
anyway a few pics.

[chevymaher]

Looking really good,

[Jcornstubble1]

I have a 69 SS and am trying to figure out what the part is that is in the engine compartment and stops water from entering the compartment coming from the wheel assembly. It looks like it is about a sq ft in size and may be made of either plastic or a fiberous material

[chevymaher]

Mine are rubber. Splash arm seals.

[Ken Hayes]

Jcorn, here ya go. At Ecklers Chevelles http://www.ecklerschevelle.com/chevelle-control-arm-dust-shields-for-cars-with-steel-inner-fender-1968-1972.html

[shadowgray396]

Be sure you get the correct one. Different ones for plastic or metal inner fender wells. The staples are hard to bend to install them. Some people use wire instead.

[mestorod70]

Im starting to see light at the end of the tunnel
Please dont let it be a train....lol
Fender extensions are on and look ok.
head lamps in with restored buckets and AMK hardware.

[chevymaher]

Looking good. Living vicariously through you now.

[shadowgray396]

Looking really good. Did you happen to check the chrome inserts around your head lights before you painted fender extensions. The after market ones will not fit originals ones if you used any after market ones.

[mestorod70]

Still have the 46 year old originals....a few pits
and broken lower tab on one but good for now.
In the future perhaps re chrome or nos if i win loto.

[mestorod70]

Ordered new bumpers...AMD from jegs...free shiping.
Blasted primed and painted all the brackets.
The front bumper looks better than the rusty one that was on before.
I used pipe insulation foam for my one man instal....no scratches.
and new turn signals to top it off.

[chevymaher]

Shaping up looking good.

[mestorod70]

I used a stencil kit from a resto company.
I dont think the kit was cut correctly but too late now.

[chevymaher]

Looks great to me. But I ain't even supposed to have them. And i am not a micrometer measurement numbers guy either.

[mestorod70]

Trunk painted with grey/white spatter...$120 a quart...ouch.
Door and quarter glass is back in....not quite adjusted yet.
and today a realy cool guy instaled my headliner for a great price.
Tomorow i will call glass company to put new front and install rear.
BTW anyone use pilkington brand glass.
Also licence plate..tags and insured...wife took for test drive.
ATB mick

[dconnor]

Wow! It looks really good. Great job on fixing/completing the body panels.

[Slick87gn]

Nice job. Looks good.