Primed but not Pretty

The wind cooperated, but equipment less so.

The body was rolled out and wiped down before the sun had cleared the horizon. While the primer mix sat and did its thing for the recommended fifteen minutes, I got the HVLP sprayer hooked up with filter and pressure attachments, and air hose run outside.

I immediately had problems adjusting the spray pattern. The pattern would not spread as much as it should have, so there was a heavy spot in the middle surrounded by thin coverage, but I had to get started before the weather changed and the epoxy began to set. It worked t to a certain degree, but there were several runs due to the poor pattern, so that means more sanding. Nothing is ever easy!

Before I finished the first coat, it became apparent that I wasn’t getting enough air pressure and after playing with the pressure adjustments on the sprayer, I discovered that the line pressure was low. For some reason the shop circuit breaker had tripped and the compressor shut down. By the time I got going again, a breeze had started, but I still managed to apply two coats of epoxy. It looks like crap, but at least it’s covered!

When I disassembled and cleaned the gun, I found a tiny particle of dried paint stuck in the spray nozzle, so I suppose that was the cause of my problems. The last time I used that gun, I took extra care soaking all the parts in solvent and then blowing everything out, so I can’t figure where the paint particle came from. As usual, I filtered the each part when I filled the measuring cup, and then filtered the mixture again when I filled the gun, so I don’t think it got in there today.

Missed by that Much!

Saturday was another calm morning and I hoped it would remain quiet enough to shoot the epoxy primer. I pushed the car outside soon after sunrise, but didn’t have quite enough time to do the job before the wind began. Another twenty minutes and I would have been finished.

The car was filthy dirty as it hadn’t been outside for a good cleaning in weeks,  so I had to spend a half-hour brushing, blowing and wiping before I could finish masking. I was nearly done masking when the wind came up. Though it wasn’t strong, it was too much to spray.

The forecast for this morning looks similar, so if I can roll it out before sunrise and give it a quick dusting while the primer mix is sitting, maybe I can get the job done. Then it has to receive the final build-primer coat within three days, or the epoxy would have to be sanded again and I really don’t want to do that.

As long as the car was outside, I decided to give the inside work area a good cleaning, and also rearrange the stacks of parts and materials that had been put aside for storage. It looks much better now and I have more elbow room.

I also had a chance to check my winch setup. While I can still roll it around myself, I won’t be able to do that after the drivetrain is installed. The winch worked okay until the cable angle became too steep and tripped the safety shutoff. I’ll have to try rigging a brace and pulley setup to reroute the cable path. Seems like there’s always something not directly related to the car that takes time and money! I can always use the come-along, but electric motors sure makes it easier.

More Hurry up and Wait

Still passing time waiting for a little cooler weather and calm mornings. I was ready to roll it out the door and prime, but the wind was already too strong by 7am. By 10am, the forecasted 8-9mph was blowing at about 15.

I did manage to get the left exhaust manifold sand blasted, painted and installed. It's darker in color than the new casting, but nobody will be able to see both sides at the same time, and after a few months they will both be getting gray and rusty.

I also got more console sheet metal cut. Soon that project will be on hold as I can't finish the top plate until the transmission is in place and the shifter can be mounted in the proper location. Only thing left is to make a plate for the seat module and fuse blocks under the arm rest storage bin.

Console Progress

In spite of near 100 degree heat, I've been able to spend some time in the workshop doing what I consider the fun part of  car projects...customizing the interior. I've changed my mind about details of the console design several times, but each iteration seems to be an improvement over the previous one, but that remains to be seen. It will probably undergo several more changes.

Yesterday, I sanded the etching primer on the body with hopes the wind is calm enough one morning in the next few days to apply a coat of epoxy primer and a couple of coats of primer-surfacer. I really want to get the painting done so I can install the engine and transmission. I can't move the car by myself with those heavy parts installed, and I much prefer to paint outside the workshop, so I'm at the mercy of Mother Nature for the next major steps.

New Arrivals

The reproduction '66 Fury, rear-dump, right side exhaust manifold arrived and it's a very nice casting. It fits exactly, so it should be good.

The replacement for the broken metal shear also arrived, so I can get back to work on the console.

While waiting for fence and roof contractors and the insurance adjuster, I did manage to finish the mounting brackets for the AC compressor and the alternator. Everything fit-checks okay, so I can cross off one more task, though they will need some paint touch-up.

More Non-car Problems

There’s nothing like home ownership to take away the fun time of working on old cars.

Since my last post the AC drain plugged and the AC shut down in 100 degree heat. The installer built the drain so it wouldn’t come apart, so I had to use a snake, air pressure and lots of Chlorox to get it to flow. This came after working on the new ice machine that died a few days after being installed.

Then yesterday, a wind storm took down my vinyl fence and destroyed my 16’ garage door. A large hammer and an hour of straightening panels and brackets allowed me to operate the garage door, but it’s a twisted mess that will need replacement.

The fence will need major repairs. I managed to cobble it together by propping with 2X4s, but it won’t withstand more than a gentle breeze in that condition, so I hope no more storms hit before I can get it replaced. A fence contractor is coming on Monday to give an estimate, but he can’t get to it for 2-3 weeks.

The roof leak  above the kitchen also made another appearance during the storm, so the roofer was out to inspect it again.  Looks like he’ll have to replace about 200 sq ft of shingles to make sure it’s fixed, but it will be at least three weeks before he can get to it.

I’m really getting to dislike this house!

This afternoon, I tried to finish the AC compressor mount, but the Ingersoll Rand metal shear broke another set of blades, so nothing got done. Since that’s the second one that broke, I ordered a different brand to replace it.

The only car work accomplished has been ordering and receiving a few more parts. Maybe tomorrow will go better.

Tach and AC Controls

Sometimes things actually turn out better than expected, so I’ll bask in contentment before the next “Oh shit” happens.

It was a lot of work, but I think I managed to come up with a design for the Vintage Air controls that looks somewhat like it might belong in a ’55-’56 Plymouth.

There are still a couple of things to tweak before it’s ready to mount, but for now it will go on the shelf until needed.

The slider for the floor shift arrived, so one more item to cross off the list.

I also ordered the right side exhaust manifold without a heat riser. The Chrysler Power intake manifold does not have a crossover passage to help heat the carb, so no need for a riser. The picture looks good, so I hope the part is of high quality.

Part Needed

Does anyone have an extra one of these you don't need? Either the one that says Lights or Heater is fine, as I will change the legend when I have them re-chromed.

I'm replacing the plastic Vintage Air control knobs with the stock style, but one was missing from the Fury and I need a total of four.

Parts I ordered are beginning to arrive, so once again I'll have plenty of small fill-in jobs to keep me going.

Anyone appalled by the rising price of 75-25 inert welding gas? When I began the sheet metal repair a couple of years ago, I filled a bottle for $14. The next one was $17, and the third was $20. It's now been nearly a year since the last refill, but yesterday I paid $39! The welding supply store has changed ownership, but that's ridiculous! Time to look for another supplier.

Cleanup Time

Despite not making a lot of progress on the car build, I sure can make a mess of the workshop! Not only is it messy, but I’ve misplaced several parts and tools, so I decided to clean up, organize a little bit, and see if the lost items show up.  

My upper cabinets still don’t have doors, so the shelves were filthy, but I do have them looking much better after cleaning, disposing of dried-out paint, adhesives, and sealers, and rearranging what was left.  (Question…Will I ever use up all those sample bottles of “Mother’s” detailing products handed out at car shows?)

I also installed a goose-neck light at the workbench and hooked up the Mopar AM, FM, CD player that has been mounted on a panel above the workbench for three years. I now have music, powered by the DC power supply my wife gave me for Christmas two years ago, and adjustable light where I need it for those close-up jobs.

If the parts I ordered for my car don’t arrive in the next couple of days, I’ll attack my bench stock bins. I’ve been squirrelling away small parts and fasteners for more than twenty years and it’s time to purge all the junk that was so important in the last century, but hasn’t been touched since!

Accessory Brackets

It’s ugly, but it’s tacked together. Sometimes it’s easier to modify a mounting bracket from a different car than to create one from scratch. This bracket is from a ’79 Aspen slant six. When done, very little of the original will be saved, but the spacer end has the usual Mopar spacing for the alternator and it bolts to the engine in a way that lets me relocate the alternator to the opposite side. Even after reinforcing, trimming and painting it won’t be pretty, but it should do the job.

The compressor bracket had to be made from scratch, and I have temporarily assembled the pieces and located them on the engine. Now all I need is the compressor so I can verify that everything will clear before I can weld and paint it

I've been tinkering with camera settings and the pictures look a little better.