Final paint shop visit

[67HEAVEN]

kowing that you had everything apart and then put it together yourself should make you more confident, you did tighten those lugnuts now didn't you?

Hi Craig,

Another bonus with having Z28Canuck around so much is that he acts like my conscience. It's harder to miss things with four eyes looking. :eek

And then there's Fuelie.

And then there's all my neighbours.

And then there's all those hours, in bed, tossing and turning.

 

[JohnZ]

Confidence in your own work (and double-checking everything with a checklist) is a great thing. I drove one of the Cobras I built 1900 miles from Michigan to Talladega and back (plus about 100 miles of track time while I was there) the day after I finished it, with six miles on the odometer (trip to the alignment shop and back); drove the Grand Sport 500 miles round-trip from home to Norwalk, Ohio for the "Run-N-Gun" event (including six passes down the strip) the morning after I finished it, with only alignment shop miles on it. As a 7700-hour pilot, I learned many years ago that checklists are a "good thing"

 

[Tom Bryant]

The Vette Brakes Performance Plus suspension kit handled beautifully. And, after the front and rear alignment on Monday, the car steers and tracks like an arrow. Braking? So far, it feels great, but no panic stops yet.

Did you bed in your pads according to the manufacturer's instructions? Most pads require a few firm stops to bed in the pads prior to regular driving.

 

[67HEAVEN]

Did you bed in your pads according to the manufacturer's instructions? Most pads require a few firm stops to bed in the pads prior to regular driving.

Tom,

The trip to the paint shop on Thursday was the first serious driving so far. The first 25 miles were slow-getting-to-know-you short drives to shake out anything loose.

I'll perform the procedure as soon as the car is out of the shop around midweek.

I'm trusting that 40 miles is not too long to wait.

 

[67HEAVEN]

It looks like the headlight bucket fit issues are pretty much worked out. The lesson here is, when painting a Corvette in pieces, be sure to re-mount and double-check the headlight bucket fit "before" popping them off again for final paint.

After some careful measurements (thanks for the help Fuelie), we're ready to bond the L-88 induction fiberglass on the underside of the hood. We removed the hood today too.

Pretty much everything is back off the car..... :crazy ..... except the doors and windows.

I'm looking at paint and clearcoat starting on Tuesday or Wednesday and home late Thursday or Friday.

Shop owner Ron has his heart into this job and is going more than the extra mile to get everything just right. He tells me he's never had the reaction over a car that he's getting from this project. He really is a great guy who gives me the run of the shop and his complete toolbox while I'm there. In fact, our relationship has developed beyond shop owner/client to friendship.

 

[tigernut]

In fact, our relationship has developed beyond shop owner/client to friendship.

That's one of the great thing about this hobby, the way it tends to build good friendships.

 

[67HEAVEN]

Update from today.....sorry dial-uppers.

I spent some time in the shop today. Here's what the induction fiberglass looks like...

Top.

Bottom.

As it would look on the engine without the hood in place. What purpose does it serve? It makes me happy! Also, it mates up to the front hole in the stinger hood and provides a source of cool outside air (not Ram Air).

After bonding to the underside of the hood. Battery used for one hour to ensure good bond.

3M DuraMix Two-Part Adhesive.

 

[67HEAVEN]

And here's the proof that I was an idiot. To review what happened, the body shell was painted on a wooden dolly. All bolt on pieces were painted separately.....doors, hood, headlight buckets, lower rear valance, wiper grills, etc.

In spite of cutting off all fenders to install the wide body fenders, I didn't re-mount the headlight buckets for proof-positive that the belt line worked with the new front fenders. Not too smart. :gap

Above is the correction on the driver's side fender.

On the passenger side, a crow's foot appeared that is being fixed now that other paintwork is under way. Crow's feet aren't just on human faces. ad

Almost a year after mounting the new fenders, a small bubble began to make itself know at an "aftermarket" bonding position. Now's the time to fix it.

Remember the crack from mounting the driver's rear bumper? :gap

 

[IH2LOSE]

It reminds me of a repair done on my caddy years ago.My daughter knocked a new dash pad over into the driver side door and dented it.(this was a car that had never even been washed yet) any ways I dropped it off at the body shop and stopped in during the day just in time to see them hit the paint with a grinder.It just was the worst site I could have seen,I use rags to close the hood or the trunk so not to leave a hand print and here is a guy grinding off the paint on the car.

Sorry for your misfortunes.But I am sure it will look perfect when there done.

 

[67HEAVEN]

Sorry for your misfortunes.But I am sure it will look perfect when there done.

Larry,

I'm totally upbeat about it all. It's part of the fun. I've know for months that we'd end up here once the car was driveable. Many of you may have noticed that the buckets, grills, rear valance, etc. were darker than the car.

So, for a brief time the car is back in the shop and everything's gonna end up purdy. :gap

Then, one last drive home and I'll spend the winter installing the power window motors, vent and side glass, door panels, front carpets, etc.

Come spring.......................................let's boogie.

 

[Mac]

... then you'll park it on a trailer and drag it from show to show NOT!

-Mac

 

[67HEAVEN]

... then you'll park it on a trailer and drag it from show to show NOT!

-Mac

What's a trailer? :L

 

[bossvette]

Come spring.......................................let's boogie.

pick a spot, I'm game

Maybe here

 

[67HEAVEN]

I spent a couple of hours at the shop this afternoon removing the last pieces before final prep. Even the headlight buckets are back off the car. :crazy

However, by Thursday, we hope to be ready for colour. With some luck, maybe home on Saturday.

 

[67HEAVEN]

I'm gonna have to pull Kurt* away from the body soon. He's going around and around the car with a magnifying glass looking for problems. :eek

I pulled the Hooker side tubes today because their jack won't fit under them....this car is just too low down.

Why do they need to get a jack under there? Once the car moves back into the booth, they plan to get it up on four stands, remove all four wheels and then completely wrap the bottom of the car in plastic, starting at just inside each fender lip. I mean completely sealed! Ron** wants no overspray sneaking in anywhere. They've already hermetically wrapped the interior. Next will be the underhood.

Like I said above, I'm gonna have to pull Kurt away soon. These guys are amazing! There's no way I'm getting the car back until early next week.

Now it looks like colour spray starts late Monday.

(* bodyman)
(** painter)

 

[Z28Canuck]

I'm gonna have to pull Kurt* away from the body soon. He's going around and around the car with a magnifying glass looking for problems. :eek

I pulled the Hooker side tubes today because their jack won't fit under them....this car is just too low down.

Why do they need to get a jack under there? Once the car moves back into the booth, they plan to get it up on four stands, remove all four wheels and then completely wrap the bottom of the car in plastic, starting at just inside each fender lip. I mean completely sealed! Ron** wants no overspray sneaking in anywhere. They've already hermetically wrapped the interior. Next will be the underhood.

Like I said above, I'm gonna have to pull Kurt away soon. These guys are amazing! There's no way I'm getting the car back until early next week.

Now it looks like colour spray starts late Monday.

(* bodyman)
(** painter)

Perfection!! That's what these guys do best! Really, deep down inside, after four years, would you want it any other way Bob? Finish it the way you planned: A driver, but the best, meanest, menacing damn driver around!
Number 1, nothing less at this point! Give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done.
Cheers
Doug

 

[67HEAVEN]

This morning was wet-sand day, part 1. Monday morning will be wet-sand day, part 2 (double check).

Late Monday will be in-the-booth day. Tuesday will be final buff out.

Wednesday will be re-install buckets, hood, lights, emblems, mirrors, etc.

It never happens as quickly as we hope, but it'll be home soon.

 

[Tom Bryant]

Hey! I thought you said you were done racing. You even took Cliff along. Looks good with the numbers on.

 

[67HEAVEN]

Hey! I thought you said you were done racing. You even took Cliff along. Looks good with the numbers on.

Except in the old days, I ran with number.... SEVEN

Stop tempting me with great photos like this. :cry

I will not race....I will not race....I will not race.

 

[67HEAVEN]

Still wet with fog in the air........one hour ago.
:gap