Topic: My 1976 Firebird Esprit. Metalime Green with deluxe white/ black interior.

[4speed76]

Welcome to the site, I really like the '76, that colour is different but I kind of dig it.  What a nice firebird you have there.

[4SPEED]

Glad to see you here 4speed

Im all over the place brother.....

[Greenbird76]

Here are some more pictures.  The front end and engine compartment mostly.


Berfore Resto

hanging the Summit 2.5 inch exhaust



Video of car running for the first time



://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/greenbird76/P1010117-2.jpg[/IMG]
Entire front suspension was removed from car, stripped all parts replacing as necessary, primed painted or epoxied, cleared everthing.  Finished results look good.









   
FINISHED PRODUCT

[89flyboy]

Great looking 76. I was wondering what you used to paint the underside of the car. I like that black look, thought about doing red epoxy like factory but I want to drive my car. This is something that has had me puzzled for some time now.
Thanks,
Josh

[Greenbird76]

I stripped under body down to bare metal with a angle grinder and braided wire wheel,  Rust spots were patched or plug welded, smoothed out with all metal or self etching primed.  65% of the car had the original red oxide in tact so I smoothed out a little.  Then the entire underside got shot with rustoleum heavy rust red primer.  3 coats.  Here is the kicker, the top coat is flat Rustoleum that u can by for 50$ a gallon at homedepot.  I then mixed that with a liitle hardner because Rustolem out of the can seems to never harden.  Sprayed it on with my compressor and gun. I read a lot into it and many guys were doing it this way on other forums.  I have to say, it resists scratches and road grime pretty well.  By the way the inside of the trunk was also stripped and primed the same way except I used Eastwoods spray bomb trunk paint and a clear lacqer.  I also stripped and primed the top of the floor the same way except there I used 3m professional undercoating as described by Pete of Fbodywarehouse.  He has awesome instructional How to videos on his site.   I resealed all the joints with a high quality seam sealer before final painting.  The key to making any paint stick and last is too stripped everthing down to bare metal or at least to rough up the existing primer with some 180 grit paper.  Of course here are some more pics

[HOMER]

i seen a camaro that color at a show this year i love it!

[89flyboy]

Thanks for the info I have been debating on what to do for so long, and I also have had issues with Rustoleum not tending to harden and being very brittle on its own. I have bought things like eastwoods chassis black but didn't like the way it looked, then I got Summits chassis shield but that has to go down to bare metal no matter what to stick very well. My car is a Norwood car so the primer is etched into the metal and is taking forever to get off. I would rather just scuff it with some sand paper or a wire wheel. I will give that a try.
Thanks again,
Josh
P.S. I also need to redo my sub frame, used the POR-15 black and was not impressed with how its holding,  love the silver though it sticks like glue. Sorry to hi-jack

[Greenbird76]

89flyboy dont worry about it.  I used vht chassis black and I am so far happy with it.  But for epoxies, you need to go down  to bare metal and take off any enamel or lacquer.  Epoxy needs and likes bare metal.  The good thing about rustoleum is that it is cheap and touch up is piece of cake.  The spray bombs do work well but I would give it at least   4 weeks to completely harden.

[89flyboy]

Thanks again I will keep that in mind ya going down to bare metal is a PITA on cars that were factory diped in paint. I love epoxies but I do not have the free time or the money to get them so I think I will go with the rustoleum.
Thanks for all your help,
Josh

[ShakerBreaker]

Nice!!!!!

That color combonation is perfect.

Screams 70's !!!!!!!!!!!!

[hdebo]

Great to see you post some pics Ron. I have seen this car in person and it looks as good or better than the pics show. It is amazing how good the quality of work is for being done at his home in spare time.

Great job and keep the pics coming.
Hope to see you at the last club cruise night on the 15th, it will be Halloween themed cruise night.

[Greenbird76]

As long as it does not rain, I will be there Harry!  Lets cruise up together.  Do we have to dress up?

[Yukon Jack]

Outstanding color - you should be very proud of your bird!

[Frode_skj]

Very unique bird you got there As others have mentioned the Esprit usually ain't getting restored, so this is nice to see

[hdebo]

As long as it does not rain, I will be there Harry!  Lets cruise up together.  Do we have to dress up?

Dressing up is an option, there will be awards for best costume for person and best dressed car.