'72 Project Deplorable

[67ChevyRedneck]

Dude, what the hell? Do you have a whole team of people helping that you're not showing??? In the same amount of time you've stripped, primed, block sanded, and sprayed color on some of the truck, I've managed to cut a bed apart and tack it back together.

Great work and cool color choice. I guess you'll be done in a few weeks?

[TXBoudy]

Lol, no it's just me and a part timer who does the mud and spray duties. I wish I had like Foose and his crew on retainer though, that would be nice because I've been at it 8 hours a day for some long nights.

I managed to get the motor/tranny separated and the tranny delivered to the shop today for a shift kit. It's fresh but shifts like a marshmallow. They are also going to upgrade my converter to add stall to it. Tomorrow the engine is going to the shop for a bigger cam and some new main seals that are leaking.

If I'm productive, I'll manage to get a load of parts to the powder coater since I'm still waiting on parts from Brothers. I was hoping to start reassembly this weekend but I'm pretty sure that would be pushing my luck.

Boudy

[ChuckLee]

what color is that? i can't tell if it's gunmetal or what.

[TXBoudy]

It's Granite Crystal Metallic, PAU.

Boudy

[ChuckLee]

Looks real good I like it! I may steal that color. So, are you a novice, intermediate , or pro painter? That said, how does that paint lay down? Is it a hard color to paint for a beginner? Looks like it has a high metallic content in it.

[TXBoudy]

Thank you. Feel free to steal the color all day long, I stole it from Dodge after all. lol... The bottom color is Billet Silver also swiped from the Dodge line-up. They are both heavy in metallic and pearl. My other choice was Chevy's Nightfall Grey Metallic but they didn't have a Silver I wanted to go with the grey. I wanted a darker silver and Chevy's was to light and bright for what I was after. I'm an intermediate painter myself with a handful of race cars under my belt over the years. For this reason I hired a painter for the job. He laid the mud and blocked for primer, I did the welding and wet sanded the primer, and he shot the color. I would have certainly had waves in the body, runs in the paint, and burns the clear so I chose to stick with my skill set. I talked to my lawn guy and he knew a guy who was looking for some side work so it worked out.

My thoughts for you: Metallics are not known to be the most newby friendly and at $300 per gallon with over 2 pints of pearl in it, I'd say the chances of disappointment are relatively high. There's alot of painters on craigslist who are desperate for some side work.

Boudy

[Jason Banks]

Man this project looks great.

Will you ask your paint guy if he would come all the way to east Plano to help me?

I don't need any mud work and I have no problem with wet sanding. But, I'm a little scared to lay down the color.

[TXBoudy]

Thanks Jason. He lives in Arlington so I'll find out if he's interested. PM me with details of what you need done and I'll have the conversation with him. If he's interested I'll put you in touch with him.

Boudy

[jessemthompson]

Great looking project. You are moving right along!

[TXBoudy]

Thanks Jesse. I really really want to drive it this summer...

Boudy

[hewittca]

I usually don't like smoothed firewalls, but I really like yours! You're making some great progress.

[TXBoudy]

Thanks, I like it too.

It's been a couple weeks and paint work has been on hold waiting on parts for reassembly. So as parts trickled in I tried to get work done in other areas. Let's see where to start... The tranny which shifted like marsh mellows now has a shift kit in it, the headers have been wrapped, prepped old window gear to accept the new one piece window kits when they arrive, did some fantasy role play with center console mock up, did an ungodly amount of sandblasting and cleaning, managed to score an oven for powder coating, built a powder coating booth, and finally got many of my parts powder coated. Here's the picture trail.

Boudy

[TXBoudy]

Here I prepped all the window hardware awaiting the new Brothers one piece kit. Then dismantled the hinges to get them coated as they wait for new bushings and pins. Ran out of productive stuff to do so I did a little role playing on center consoles. (feedback desired) Friday I scored an oven and yesterday I built myself a powder coating booth. The booth was a must as my Friday night test run made an awful mess. I highly recommend any makeshift booth with a filter.

Boudy

[TXBoudy]

After a late nighter yesterday, I managed to get most of my small parts coated.

[TXBoudy]

Today I saved the biggest part for last. I figured after yesterday's practice I had to just go for it. Nerves were killing me all weekend as this part scared the tar out of me. Needless to say, I'm happy with it. Mostly.

Boudy

[TXBoudy]

Maybe it's ADHD or something but I'm embarrassed to say that I spent 2 hours collecting and filtering $3 worth of powder. The worst part, I'm pretty sure I'll do it again next time. lol... Sad, I know.

[TXBoudy]

I put the project in reverse the past few weeks. Since the chassis had nothing more than the cab left on it I went ahead and removed the cab to paint the chassis. So 2 coats of POR 15 and she's ready for reassembly, NOT. Once I started removing the fuel system I decided it sucked so I ordered a Aeromotive Phantom 340 which then required an adapter plate from Boyd's Welding to fit my tank. You can see below the mounting arrangement I found so I ordered Boyd's mounting kit as well. Parts are due to start arriving today so I can get it all installed hopefully this weekend. I'm going with aluminum hard-line in the frame rail to a bulkhead up front that changes to braided line to the carb. Speaking of carbs, the Demon 1905 is now mothballed as I'm also waiting on one of Holley's new Sniper EFI carbs. An finally, all the fuel lines will be run inside of fire sleeve to prevent possible fuel issues due to heat. Most likely overkill but I surely don't want to lay under there to add it later. (Note to Santa: Can I have a lift please?) But anyway, I should have pictures of the new fuel system installation by the end of the weekend. Notice how I'm putting this deadline on myself...

[NewType72]

Absolutely love the ingenuity with the powdercoating booth. That is too awesome!

[TXBoudy]

Thanks Dylan. After test coating a couple of parts it became painfully obvious that some type of containment for powder mist was a must, that crap floats EVERYWHERE.

[ChuckLee]

I take it that there's no way to make the setup mobile and don't outside the garage? I like the fan and filter idea though.

[TXBoudy]

Actually I built it on a Harbor Freight cart specifically to roll around the shop and easily out of the way. So I could also just loan it to a buddy to take over to his place. Now the oven on the other hand... While sitting on an old audio video cart and easily movable around the shop would take 2 guys to heave into a pickup for transport. I also made it so that the A/C filter slides in and out for easy replacement.

[ChuckLee]

What did this setup cost you all included? I'm thinking of grabbing a free oven off Craigslist and trying it out myself.

[TXBoudy]

Eastwood:
Powder Coating gun $70
Accessory kit $70
Amazon:
Silicon plugs $12
Powder coating tape $7
Craigslist:
Oven $75
Harbor Freight:
Cart $49 - 20%
Halogen light $17
Infrared Thermometer $28
Welding gloves $5
Nitrile gloves $7
Air fittings, blow nozzle, and hoses $50 + or -
Home Depot:
Filter $18
Shop Junk:
Box fan
.040 White aluminum
Roof edging
Pop rivets
Consumables:
Powder
Denatured alcohol

Looks like I spent about $400 + to do my own powder coating. Just about what a shop would charge I guess but now I can do my own stuff anytime for next to nothing. A set-up could likely be done for 1/2 that if a guy is patient on craigslist and maybe has allot of junk around the shop.

Boudy

[ChuckLee]

I was really hoping you would break it down as nicely and meticulously and honestly as you did. That is what I call "real world help" right there as opposed to the "yah I just grabbed me a gun and powder and a free oven!"
Thanks a bunch! Ya see....being OCD does have its advantages!

[TXBoudy]

This forum has been a tremendous help to me so it's nice to be able to give a little back. I've built race cars over the years but this is my first restoration and this community is a great help.

BTW: I forgot $13 for a 220V plug for the oven so that it matches my welder's plug.

Boudy