Another build thread? Yep, my track-style T

[J. Robinson]

Just a quick update. I have spent the last couple of weekends sandblasting...YUK! Anyway, I have all the little pieces in primer now and the frame is blasted awaiting primer. I still need to sandblast the front axle and rear end and finish priming. Then it's paint time. The frame, wheels, drive shaft, both axles, and the springs will all be red. The radius rods, bumpers, nerf bars, and shock absorbers will be sparkle silver...

[Dave Severson]

Think that's everybody's least favorite part of a build!!!! Oh well, it's always worth it when you're done

[oldrodder43]

OH MAN! That's what I got to look forward to???? Maybe I'll skip that step and have a 'rusty rat'. haahaaaaa. Great build again Jim. Perley

[J. Robinson]

With the sandblasting behind me it is time to move on. I spent last Monday evening getting the frame, rear end, and front axle in primer. The rest of the week was spent in preparation for Thanksgiving, etc. and Friday I went to The Turkey Run swap meet.

Finally, Saturday I painted everything. I spent most of the day making preparations; finally pulled the trigger on the spray gun about 2:30 PM. I painted the bumpers, side nerf bars, and radius rods silver (Chrysler mag wheel color), the frame and everything else got a liberal coating of red ('06 GMC Envoy metallic color). I shot the last of the clear coat at about 5:45 PM. By 6:20 I was on I-95 making a "banzai run" back to Daytona.

I left everything where it was overnight and shot some pics Sunday morning. I tried to upload a couple, but something is wrong with the site this morning. I'll try again later...

[bluestang67]

Jim I amazed at this hobby and how things come together . I am used to taking something apart and rebuilding . This thread and many others I am sure will get some people into I can do that mode . I know I have learned alot of fab technics over the 2 years I have been here . Many and I say many Thanks to you and the other teachers here for your inspiration and knowledge you all have shared . I didn't even have to buy a book .

[vara4]

J Robinson;
I tried to sand blast before with no luck, the compressor I had at the time was to small. Now I have a industrial type compressor with a 80 gal. tank. Is there a good cheap sand blasting kit that would do a good job. I need to do a frame and body,
I've heard that you can warp the sheet metal on the body. What would you recommend
to help minumize damage. And should I use sand, beads, glass or what, thanks Kurt

[J. Robinson]

Bobby - Thanks for the kind words. If I can pass along some of what I have learned to a few others before I depart this world, then my sojourn here will have been worthwhile. I enjoy doing this stuff and I want others to find the joy that comes from being creative.

Vara4 - I bought my little siphon-feed sandblaster for $15 at a local flea market! I have another one that is pressure-fed, but it's a pain in the ass to use. It goes good for a while, then clogs. When that happens, I have to take it apart to clear it. My little cheapie just keeps going and going like the Energizer bunny. It doesn't remove material as fast as the big one, but I actually progress faster because it works steadily... It came with 4 tips. I used those up, made 4 more on a lathe at school and used up 3 of those!

Do not blast the body!! I'm no expert at blasting, but having done bodywork for most of my life I can tell you that, unless you really know what you're doing, sandblasting can ruin sheet metal. Maybe someone else can give you advice on blasting... There are chemical products that you can use to neutralize rust on sheet metal like One Step and Ospho.

Here are the pics I tried to upload this morning and, no, my wife's PT Cruiser was not sitting there when I was spraying...

[Bob Parmenter]

Do not blast the body!! ................... Maybe someone else can give you advice on blasting... There are chemical products that you can use to neutralize rust on sheet metal like One Step and Ospho.

Same advice...................don't do it!!!!!!! I've seen guys with walnut shells and plastic media screw up a body, and those are supposed to be better. It still comes down to experience/technique, and even then I'd be very leary of anyone who claims to be able to do it without seeing results first hand.

[vara4]

Thanks Guys thats what I had heard before from other people.
Would it be alright to sand blast the engine compartment?
Some of the firewall needs to be replaced anyway, and the
shock towers are gonna be cut out with new sheet metal
put over the holes. Thanks for your input. Kurt

[to-qwk]

Jim,

Looks good !!!

Are those concrete blocks just a "collection" you have going on ??

[hotroddaddy]

Looking good Jim! Cant wait to see it come together.

[Dave Severson]

The frame and suspension look great, Jim!!!! Being a full fledged redaholic, I sure do admire your color selection!!!!!

[falconvan]

Jim, I'd have to take the opposite opinion on body blasting. I've got a guy who's done three bodies for me and all came out good. That said, I did look at others he had done for other people before he did any for me. The main drawback is that the sand gets into every nook and cranny and is a pain to get it all out. If you decide to do it, find someone who has done others you can look at first. Like Bob said, it all comes down to technique and experience.

[vara4]

Thanks Falconvan;
I am mainly concerned with area’s I ‘ll have a hard time getting too.
Like door jams, doors inside, dash, inside fire wall, inside roof and back wall, under body what’s left,
which will not be much.
New skin are going on lower fenders in the rear of car and one piece fiberglass
front end going on. So there won’t be much sanding on the outside anyway.
Kurt

[firebird77clone]

I don't see how you could hurt much by blasting the firewall and inner fenders.

Other than having sand EVERYWHERE. Be prepared to use a lot of compressed air to clean it up.