Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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One more shot of the frame. (I had to sit in my chair and stare at it for a while, I thought I was never going to get this thing painted )

Somehow I am not going to mind having to shower and eat dinner at 2 AM, I am really stoked tonight.

Don

Congrats Don---Looks great!!!

Thanks Brian. I can't wait to get there and see it now that the paint has toned down a little. It was still damp when whe wheeled it in last night, so there was still a little gloss to it, but if it ends up there I will still be happy.

I feel rejuvinated, and can't wait to get the front and real suspenion pieces painted so it becomes a roller for the last time. I know I don't want to be carrying it around too much more, darned thing is getting heavy.


Don

Lookin' good Don!

It's nice to sit back and look at the finished product sometimes. You've earned it.

Hope everything else goes as good as the backing plates.

Mike

The frame is looking fantastic Don, all the hard work really paid off didn't It?

By the backing plates I guess that shoe brakes for the front?

Don- It really looks good, I really think something weird happens to you when you get to this part. I think it has something to do with knowing that this time when you work on it, it starts looking like a finished car. And all along while you were picturing in your head, it start becoming reality.
Ken

Thanks guys. Yep, I am running drums all the way around........I'm just old fashioned that way. Plus I have enough of them stored away to last me for the next few projects.

I did some more painting today. I got the front axle, wishbones, and front spring done, so tomorrow I can hang those parts once the paint is really dry. It should be relatively easy now that I am dealing with small parts to paint instead of the entire frame. The only big part I have left is the rear axle and spring.

Hopefully, this weekend I will get the rest of the suspension pieces primed. I forgot to pickup more Fusion Orange, so I am dead in the water on spraying that until Monday. That's ok, I sure have enough other stuff to do.

Don

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

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.

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

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 .