Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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Don,I have watched this build since start to right now.I thought I was the most miticulus person in this type of building,But I think you have me beat by more man hours when it comes to the frame.
lol lol I am just messin with you.I know that its all in the details when you are lookin for the finished product.Don,You dont know how much you have inspired me to build my new project.You have the same qualitys in your build that my Dad had back in the day.You will take the time and explain every little detail.No matter what time its takes or how many times its asked.Pictures inlcuded.With step by step instructions.You should be very proud of yourself.There arent very many Old Hot Rodders Like Yourself that would have this much still left in the brain that they would even remember to pass on.. I have always said,I think you were a 50s Hot Rod Shop Teacher In Another Life.This isnt the first time I have said this and in my life time most likely will not be the last.
My Hats off to Bud.You know how to do it,Explain it and show all of us when its done.
Don I am not calling you the OLD TIMER...

But you have the patience that I havent seen anywhere when it comes to the details.

George

Wow, thanks George. I've said it before, I am just a shadetree hobbyist, and when I see some of the work done by others on here, it makes me realize that more and more. There are some really talented people out there, and lots of them hang their hat on this forum. You are no slouch yourself bud.

Where were these forums when we got started in this hobby? We had to rely on making our own mistakes and waiting for the latest rod magazine to show up on the newstand to get some new ideas. There is such a vast amount of information available today through the internet that guys just starting can tap into it and save themselves tons of heartache and money.

The other funny aspect of forums like this are the bonds you form with people you have never met, and probably never will meet. Kinda shows you that it really is a small world, and that good people are all over, and willing to roll up their sleeves and help someone out. I guess that is why these darned things are so addictive,

Don

Don,You pretty much hit it on tghe NAIL.There is plenty of internet stuff that you mentioned.There are many people that will lend you a hand in most of the stuff.But like I said,No one beats the detail like you have it.I have alot of respect for a person like yourself.There arent many left with your kind of patience.

I think Don should do a book, ( How to Build a Hot Rod for $3,000 or a little more ) with the same teaching and humor as this post. I hope some day soon to start my 31 model A. If I copy Don for his expertise and work style, May he forgive me, if I screw up.
Brad

Thank you Brad, but if I wrote a book tonight it would be " how to screw up primering in 1 easy lesson. I am having absolute fits with primer causing me problems. Last week a batch gelled within 10 minutes and ruined a brand new gun. Ok, I blamed that on the activator being in the hot shop for the past couple of weeks. Then last night I had the same problem with a different batch, one that Dan and I had just used a couple of nights ago. It started curing after only a couple of minutes too, but luckily I was able to clean out the gun and save it.

So, today I spent a few hours grinding then sanding the rear axle assembly, and the plan was to etch prime it, wait 30 minutes, then shoot a few wet coats of high build primer on it that would allow me to sand it very smooth.

I mixed the etch primer according to the can, one to one, started to shoot the rear axle and all I got out of the gun was spider webbing. For some reason the etch primer was curing as soon as it hit the air and was turning into strings !!! This was a brand new can of primer and brand new activator.

Dan came out from working on his car, and mixed up a new batch for me, because he thought I might have put too much activator in it. Same thing, and we even tried a new gun, same thing. It was just little strings hanging in the air when I shot it. I am taking this back Monday, but do any of our paint experts out there have any ideas??? I have never had so much trouble with primer in my life, and am not sure what is going on.

Anyway, I did get my steering box mounted for the final time today. Luckily, it came already powder coated black, so I couldn't screw that up. I also have to scuff and spray a couple more coats of the orange on the axle, spring, and wishbones. In the daylight there is some shadowing because this color is so translucent, and I ran out last night before I could lay on as many coats as I wanted.

I can't do anything til Monday when the paint shop opens, but I hope someone has some suggestions in the meantime. Here are some pictures of some of the stuff, anyway. Where did I leave that bottle of Jack Daniels?


Don

It's not screwing up, it's schooling and some of us need a little more school time as others. I myself should have a masters degree I have had so much schooling. Sometimes there is no better way to learn.

WOW Don, can't wait to see the suspension parts go on the frame. I think the colors your picked for the componets will give a great contrast.

Years ago, I did a couple of cars and did the overboard thing on chrome (and you remember the colored hose coverings ). I came across some old pictures of those cars a while back and it was one of those "what was I thinking ???????" moments

The different colors really help set off the individual parts and bring out the detail.

Don't have a clue about what's going on with your primer it will be interesting to see what some of the pros thoughts are.

Don frame is looking great i myself can't wait to see the suspension all in . The look is and colors are a fantastic choice . Those backing plates are a pot of gold being so protected like they where .

Thanks guys. Yeah, it's going to be bright, that's for sure. Every so often I look at the orange and think maybe it's too loud, but I did want this car to be different than others I have had, so we'll see. If worst comes to worst, I'll put some 22 inch wheels on it and pick up some extra money pimpin'. lol

I really hope someone knows what is going on with the primers. I am thinking about switching back to the Dupont UroPrime system I always used (Centari) I never had any problems with it, but I have used Nasons on the last couple of jobs and had no issues there either, so I have no idea what has changed. I have never seen a gun shoot out strings of primer before like that. In the marine industry, there is a process called webbing, and they sell a product that is designed to do that. It puts that squiggly lined pattern in the interior gelcoat of fishing boats that you have probably seen. This primer was doing exactly that.

BTW, now that I have seen the frame that came out slightly glossier than I wanted, I kind of like it, and am thinking about doing the body in gloss black. A buddy of mine has a body shop, and I may have him prep and shoot the body in base coat clear coat gloss black. I still haven't ruled out the satin black, but it is one possiblility.

Don

John, you were having trouble too? I wondered if the humidity or something was affecting it. Maybe you have hit on something. BTW, what do you mean catch it on fire? I missed that story.

Don

I think with the color you have picked for the body, the contrast will look really good. I'm not a painter, I have painted a lot years ago, but I was never a painter, if you know what I mean. But just a suggestion, when I start a new project I have my bodies chemically striped then they use a primer powder coating that is painter friendly. I know that doesn't apply to you but then I have them make up a half dozen spray cans with this stuff in it. It really works good. I wouldn't want to spray can a whole frame but for the smaller stuff it is easier than mixing everything up then cleaning everything up. I think I read in one of your post that you have a friend at a powder coater. If you think it is worth while maybe he could do the same for you.
Ken

Don it must be something in the air in florida, i have been having some of the same problems with primer this week, i have been using the featherfill product, and it did the hardening act on me too, 3 or 4 minutes into it it started kicking, luckily it was a cheap gun, so it went in the trash. Yesterday it was drying on the surface before i could finish spraying a line. Hopefully we will have better results this week, now if i can keep from catching the car on fire again ill be in good shape.

what do you mean catch it on fire? I missed that story.


Well i did not tell that story hehe.

Well i was doing a little welding on the door frame yesterday trying to close up the door gap some when i guess a spark landed in the body cavity in the back, well i forgot a had placed a piece of foam to act as a sound barrier back there, and im sure you can guess what happened next, whoosh, flames shooting three feet out the back window. Luckily i got it put out before the whole thing went up, but i did get a little primer bubbling on the back panel, but no big deal i had to redo that area anyway, im just glad that the body metal did not buckle or warp, or worse loose the car and the garage.

Just another reminder of safety!

That's a h*** of a way to get a flame job on the Merc. Glad you were able to put it out. That is my one fear when welding or grinding, that some stray spark goes in the wrong place.

That reminds me that I have to pickup a couple more extinquishers for the shop. We have a few now, but more wouldn't hurt.


Don

That reminds me i have to get a new extinguisher