Hey all,
First off, I enjoy writing so my posts will be long winded but informative about "Piper's" restoration. I'm not one to be vain, but in the spirit of restoration and since some like pics, I thought I would place my progress reports on the forum for all to enjoy and perhaps chime in on with questions I might have. Since it has a rather rare interior trim package, she will be going back to stock despite my desires to hot hod her a little. Sure would love to put 350 heads and a cam in her along with a larger exhaust down pipe.
I scored the car for only $500 to learn how to work on cars, restore a classic, and check something off of my bucket list. Big bonus for me is she started after sitting for many many years and she was 95% all there. All I really need are wheels that I can restore, new TA tires and parts that are well worn out and interior seat covers, new carpet, door panels, headliner, etc.
I am guessing it will take 2.5 years to get her back to original....pending available funds. My plan of attack will include a complete frame up restoration as well as interior overhaul. I will be using 3M restoration products for repair of the plastic trim along with oyster SEM dye. The dash has cracks so I will also be using Dash Filler for the padding once I get the old vinyl torn off of it. Then new vinyl skin will be applied to the dash and the console will have some cigarette holes filled and the shot with SEM Carmine vinyl dye after a complete cleaning an prep. The seats will also be redone using Deluxe oyster vinyl....and of course new carmine carpet, pad, sound insulator, oyster headliner and door panels.
The engine compartment will also be restored with fresh paint and a few coats of primer and Corporate Blue will go onto the engine as well as all new hoses, journal bearings, rings, a cam........bla bla bla depending on the compression and leak down check.
As far as the paint goes, first grind down with 80 grit, white SPI epoxy primer, some Rage Gold filler, then Slick Sand, guide coat and sand, more slick sand, sand, wet sand, then 2 coats of primer, wet sand and then a seal coat of white epoxy primer. then the Mayan red will be shot with two coats, then 3 coats of clear. (I think that is how it was described to me.) My goal is to have around 17-20 mil average overall.
The basecoat and clear will be shot by Todd Cook at Underground Customs here in Redmond. I am pleased to have such a fine mentor in the bodywork and prep department as people from around the country send their cars to him for paint work and restoration. His work is nothing short of flawless and amazing. I promised not tell what he is going to charge me for paint booth time, but happy to say........it is less then what I paid for the car. :-) Of course all the body work, primer and prep will be done by myself with him overseeing the progress and noting areas in need of extra care as the prep work is everything. I imagine I won't have the car to him until late Oct of next year. The blocking and priming will of course take the most time as will as saving the cash for the interior package, and all the other work that needs to be done.
So for now, I have the interior ripped out, pan was wire wheeled then shot with etcher primer before I put a couple coats of Rustoleum bedliner down. For now it will sit that way until after she is painted.
Well, the front clip is almost off and the hood and fenders have been ground down to bare metal. There they will sit until my compressor arrives and then I will DA all of it with 80 grit......filler from previous damage to 180 prior to applying SPI Epoxy.
In the meantime, I will be focusing on the engine bay including replacing the bushings of the control arms, sway bar, perhaps ball joints if needed. Of course new paint to the suspension, chassis, inner fender wells and firewall. Lots of work in the near future.
So for now, how about some pics of her.........her hood looks pretty awesome with grind marks..yeah.........I got carried way as you will see.........would look HOT painted red with the hood bird done in grind marks with orange pearl.
Here is what she looked like in her original state of mind before some yahoo decided to race her on a track or throw her into a ditch. However, I think the number 1 sticker on the door is the give away as to her use. She will be reborn!
This will look so damn HOT!!
But for now, time to grind down the skins with 80 grit to get a good bite for the filler prior to epoxy primer.
