Finally something to update!!!

We've been working on my Son Dan's rpu for the past couple of months, on the phase we absolutely hate the most.........body and paint work. We also stink at painting, which doesn't help.

We kicked around a lot of options, like taking it to the body shop that painted my T and my Son Don's T, but ruled that out for a couple of reasons. First is the money. Dan has 5 years of sinking tons of money into this car and just needs to get it over with and stop spending every free buck he has into it. It would cost between $ 4000 -$ 5000 minimum to get a fair paint job, and that is just something he can't spring for right now. The other reason we wanted to do it ourselves is because a body shop just wouldn't take the time to prep and paint each body panel, like we would, and since this is a brand new Brookville body Dan wanted to get as much protection on the body and bed as possible. So, we had to do it ourselves.

What we did was spray PPG etch primer and then several coats of DP90 onto the whole thing, top and bottom. We then sanded that smoother and shot a couple more coats of DP90 onto it all over again. Then we flipped the main body section over and used a two part epoxy bed liner on the entire bottom. That stuff was nasty! If it got on something it was there for ever. We had to buy a special gun to shoot it, but it did put a really good coating on the bottom, and it should last forever.

Then we sanded the body one more time and shot a couple of coats of SEM Hot Rod Black onto it. This is the same paint I used on my 27. Dan liked the look of mine so well he decided to go with it on his too. I really like the look of it and think it will contrast with all the shiny black, polished stainless, and chrome on the rest of the car. Best of all, the car is finally being assembled for the last time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The last thing we did was spray the entire interior of the cab with another SEM product, "Chipguard." This is made to go on the rocker panels of cars and protect them from stone chips. It is some very tough stuff, and we tinted it with some base coat black to match the rest of the body.

Here are some pictures. I will have to do these in two posts as you can only put 5 in each post.

Don

A few more pictures................

Awesome job guys!

Looks better than great! Isn't it a blast to put things on knowing that they are not temporary?

Don and Dan. Very nice work! Just a super job! Thanks for posting the prep and paint process along with pics. The detailed work is evident in the pics.

;)nice!!!;)

I wish I had thought of bedliner for the underside. I used a rubberized product, but it isn't as durable.

Don, Looking good - especially with the environment you have to paint in.

looks great don.

WOW all i can say is WOW looks great Don

Not bad for an old geezer and a kid :LOL::LOL::LOL:

Looks spot on Don & Dan

Thanks all. :) You have no idea how happy this makes me to get to this stage. This car has been spread out in a zillion pieces for so long and Dan kept finding things he had to change. Every time I thought it was ready to spray he kept finding more "issues."

Someone posted on another forum that you have to decide at some point if you are going to do everything you want to do to a car or if you want to actually drive it at some point. While I respect Dan for wanting to do the best job he can, I think he is now learning that if you agonize over every little spot on the car you will never, ever get it done. Besides, I want my car to have some flaws before I drive it so that the first rock or speed bump mark doesn't drive me nuts.:D Luckily, Don inherited that same trait from me, but Dan takes after his Mother, I think. :LOL:

Last week we took the last 33 pieces to the powder coater, and got them back on Friday. Stuff like the underdash supports, brake pedal and master cylinder bracket, etc. Now he can start bolting that in place, but first we have to prep, prime, and paint the bed. Hopefully, this next weekend we can do some more priming.

Only 78 more days until we leave for Turkey Run, and he still has a bunch of work to do.

Don

Amazing job Dan and Dad,you both should be soooo proud of what you have accomplished. The most outstanding finish on both interior and exterior,love it.

Thanks Whiplash. If this thing didn't get painted soon I was about ready to sneak over there with a brush and some Mary Carter House paint.:LOL:

Don

your son would go nuts don :LOL:

I know Barb. You should see the "discussions" we have when I suggest some shortcut. You would think I am defacing the Mona Lisa. :LOL::LOL: I want to be there when the first big bug has the nerve to hit this thing at 70 mph. :LOL:

Don

Looking great!!!
that thing has come together so nicely

Looks really good, would a rock chip red tag it?? :LOL:
Ken

Don when you 2 get bored I have a my 1ton panel you guys can sand on...lol

But really it's looking good & I bet you both will be happy when it's all over....joe

Thanks guys. Ya know, I wonder. Does anyone actually enjoy sanding? :confused: Body work is our least favorite job......I hate it with a passion.

Don

i'm with you there Don, I hate it too :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Thanks guys. Ya know, I wonder. Does anyone actually enjoy sanding? :confused: Body work is our least favorite job......I hate it with a passion.

Don

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Thanks guys. Ya know, I wonder. Does anyone actually enjoy sanding? :confused: Body work is our least favorite job......I hate it with a passion.

Don

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First of all,absolutely awesome lookin job..You guys have done well..As far as sanding goes,its not one of my favorite jobs either,BUT...never mind,,I just try to tune myself out a little when I do it..But,hey it is only a little body,,good thing its not a mid eighties Suburban,or a Ford e-van...:LOL:

I hear you on the sanding, Don. Sometimes I have to force myself to do it. The truck looks awesome!

I have found the secret to body prep and painting. I do machining for my painter and he does painting for his machinest.

Thanks guys. That sounds like the way to do it, Bruce..........trade labor for labor.

When I worked at the body shop (I was office staff, not a tech) I would see our guys out there sanding away all day, prepping cars, and they did it day in, day out. I would just get up in the morning and shoot myself if I had to go to work and do that. :p I guess every job has people who like it though.

Nice part is, we are heading to the shop in a little while to do more sanding on his bed.:( Dan has actually done most of the work on the sanding so far though. I don't do it to what I know his standards are, and he is also doing things like rounding corners while he is prepping it. So, I either work on wiring my 27 or on building my minibike. :o

Don