Doc Zinger
Member
H.daddy , is that an example of being " hoisted by his own petard" guess I did say that. :banghead:
Bruce,
Bruce,
'79 CDV: 425 out 500 in!
- Thread starter Doc Zinger
- Start date
61cadman
Member
Bruce,
Your Cadillac looks fine and will be really nice after you paint it, detail it. I am up against the same thing, been blocking and sanding my 65 GS, guide coat, block sand, little filler here and there over the last two weeks. second guessing myself ,Painting trials ect.. The killer now is the weather has changed from 60, 70's to 90's with rain or very high humidty. But enough is enough I plan to finally paint starting tomorrow. Wish you well with your painting. Looking foward to seeing more pictures, articles and reading up on your project.
Todd
Your Cadillac looks fine and will be really nice after you paint it, detail it. I am up against the same thing, been blocking and sanding my 65 GS, guide coat, block sand, little filler here and there over the last two weeks. second guessing myself ,Painting trials ect.. The killer now is the weather has changed from 60, 70's to 90's with rain or very high humidty. But enough is enough I plan to finally paint starting tomorrow. Wish you well with your painting. Looking foward to seeing more pictures, articles and reading up on your project.
Todd
Doc Zinger
Member
61...glad to hear your car is comming along, PHR mag has a '65 Olds mid size project car, don't know if they are the same under body/frame might be worth checking out for ideas.
Am just about in final sanding before paint, now know why good paint jobs cost so much. :yikes:
Have been thinking all along this project about some exterior graphics but couldn't come up with anything I liked. But today I went ahead and did a simple layout with black primer just to see how it might look. Since the theme is a stock car with some bolt on mods I went with something they were doing in the '70s.
Doesn' look too bad, problem was working with the existing hard lines in the hood and trunk. There isn't a consistant line from one to the other like some cars, I thought if I extended the line from the trunk panels which are wider at the front(rear glass) to the rear of the hood where is seemed to intersect, that could the starting point and I could follow the curve of the hood panel to the front. :scratchchin:
Took some pics, have one other option that I will do tomorrow, will extend the trunk panels down over the rear curve about 2" to see how that looks. And extent the front part of the hood panels out over the front nose section, there is alot of space there that might look better filled in, will see. Everything is in black primer now and will be sanded out and covered with epoxie gray primer, have had some paint mixed up (putting cart before horse) that matches the dark blue vinyl top.
Here are some pics, any suggestions welcome but it's a '70s look so this limits the range somewhat, guess I wouldn't the calling Chip.
Bruce,
Am just about in final sanding before paint, now know why good paint jobs cost so much. :yikes:
Have been thinking all along this project about some exterior graphics but couldn't come up with anything I liked. But today I went ahead and did a simple layout with black primer just to see how it might look. Since the theme is a stock car with some bolt on mods I went with something they were doing in the '70s.
Doesn' look too bad, problem was working with the existing hard lines in the hood and trunk. There isn't a consistant line from one to the other like some cars, I thought if I extended the line from the trunk panels which are wider at the front(rear glass) to the rear of the hood where is seemed to intersect, that could the starting point and I could follow the curve of the hood panel to the front. :scratchchin:
Took some pics, have one other option that I will do tomorrow, will extend the trunk panels down over the rear curve about 2" to see how that looks. And extent the front part of the hood panels out over the front nose section, there is alot of space there that might look better filled in, will see. Everything is in black primer now and will be sanded out and covered with epoxie gray primer, have had some paint mixed up (putting cart before horse) that matches the dark blue vinyl top.
Here are some pics, any suggestions welcome but it's a '70s look so this limits the range somewhat, guess I wouldn't the calling Chip.
Bruce,
Attachments
Ted in Olympia
Well-Known Member
It always been hard for me to see these things so I always end up with a single color car, or simple two tone. Now you are getting into personal stuff.
What are you going to do about the vinyl top and side windows? I alway thought it would look nice to do away with the rear side window and no vinyl.
Keep up the great work.
TED
What are you going to do about the vinyl top and side windows? I alway thought it would look nice to do away with the rear side window and no vinyl.
Keep up the great work.
TED
I don't know about losing the side window but no vinyl top is always a plus.
Speaking of vinyl, was reading on the ImpalaSS forum today about something I had never heard of before: "wrapping" cars. They literally cover the entire car in the 5 year(or whatever) vinyl material used for signs/graphics. Usually to get a matte look. I think it's sort of nuts but it did make me think of something here. Paint the car, then get said vinyl cut for a style of graphic and put it on. You get to see a "finished" product. If you don't like it, peel it off and try another until you hit the exact style you're looking for. THEN have that second color/graphic painted on. Avoids creating something that looks perfect in primer and your own mind's eye, but that you hate after all the paint has been laid...
Speaking of vinyl, was reading on the ImpalaSS forum today about something I had never heard of before: "wrapping" cars. They literally cover the entire car in the 5 year(or whatever) vinyl material used for signs/graphics. Usually to get a matte look. I think it's sort of nuts but it did make me think of something here. Paint the car, then get said vinyl cut for a style of graphic and put it on. You get to see a "finished" product. If you don't like it, peel it off and try another until you hit the exact style you're looking for. THEN have that second color/graphic painted on. Avoids creating something that looks perfect in primer and your own mind's eye, but that you hate after all the paint has been laid...
Doc Zinger
Member
I read an article in Hot Rod a few issues ago on full vinyl covering with added graphics, but seemed to cost about as much as paint and was not project for DIY.
I like the full vinyl top and for now will keep it. I have seen a car with the plastic window liners removed and it does give a leaner, meaner look to the car. Don't know if I could do the glass to metal transition the way I would want it to look. Think some else on the forum is going to do it in the future.
I did extend the panels today and like the look. This will be the way I'm going for now. Guess it can always be change if a diffent look is wanted.
A few pics of the changes.
Bruce,
I like the full vinyl top and for now will keep it. I have seen a car with the plastic window liners removed and it does give a leaner, meaner look to the car. Don't know if I could do the glass to metal transition the way I would want it to look. Think some else on the forum is going to do it in the future.
I did extend the panels today and like the look. This will be the way I'm going for now. Guess it can always be change if a diffent look is wanted.
A few pics of the changes.
Bruce,
Attachments
Doc Zinger
Member
Got into and out of the painting booth this weekend. :weeping: Seems like life is always a learning experience and I learned something about painting cars and people some of which will be useful.
Had guy I traded the pulled 425 engine/400 trans complete set up/ running to for painting the car, he had done some work on my neighbor's car and quite few of his own and worked in the business for years, but not for a while. He got the body looking better than I ever would and I learned a few new ideas by watching what he was doing, so the body part came out great.
The painting was a different story, I think painting is one of those things that doesn't have much leeway in how it's done, you have to get the right amount of material on the surface for flow out and leave it alone after that, not keep comming back to touch up an area here or there. This calls for spraying in a logical pattern and staying with it not jumping around. :eyebrow: Atleast with primer you have the blocking/ sand out but the finish especially single stage you should be able to get a good flown out finish that you don't have to cut and buff, only if you want a major step up in the look.
I thought the car should have been alot smoother and had a more glossed out look( it did in some areas) since it was single stage paint, even if we were going to clear coat ( which I bought materials for if we needed them) it still should be glossed out and flowed in. I think too many people think clear coat will bail them out of a poor base coat laydown. I know most 2 stage base coats have no gloss look to the but they still should be flowed out and smooth.
Ended having some issues with the painter, like showing up late or not at all and not keeping me informed, when he was working his management of the job and the time was poor, we needed to get the hell out of the booth when my time was up. After every thing I think he's one of these guys that needs supervision but doesn't think he does. Some of that falls on me for not knowing more about the guy. Not to go on about this but sum it up, I thought I was treating him like an adult and he insisted on acting like a child. So I thanked him for getting me this far :tapedshut: and will take it home myself.
I'm going to sand out what's on there now with 800 or 1000 grit and respray it myself, I think I've read enough and looked at enough people painting and painting videos that I can get the results I want. I think I've probably have done more reading and research on painting than most guys before they painted their first car. If it doesn't work out it's only paint and can be redone by someone else, just requires some more bucks. I don't want to throw money away but if need I'll just have to pony up.
uke:
I started out using single stage to avoid cut and buffing and it looks more like the '70 period but may end up with it any way, kinda like on MASH- screwing up in reverse.
This is getting to long :soapbox: a few pics in the booth, after some more thought I dropped the stripes, they just got to looking too overpowering. PS that auto paint is some nasty shit isn't it, hope all my protection is up for it!
Bruce,
Had guy I traded the pulled 425 engine/400 trans complete set up/ running to for painting the car, he had done some work on my neighbor's car and quite few of his own and worked in the business for years, but not for a while. He got the body looking better than I ever would and I learned a few new ideas by watching what he was doing, so the body part came out great.
The painting was a different story, I think painting is one of those things that doesn't have much leeway in how it's done, you have to get the right amount of material on the surface for flow out and leave it alone after that, not keep comming back to touch up an area here or there. This calls for spraying in a logical pattern and staying with it not jumping around. :eyebrow: Atleast with primer you have the blocking/ sand out but the finish especially single stage you should be able to get a good flown out finish that you don't have to cut and buff, only if you want a major step up in the look.
I thought the car should have been alot smoother and had a more glossed out look( it did in some areas) since it was single stage paint, even if we were going to clear coat ( which I bought materials for if we needed them) it still should be glossed out and flowed in. I think too many people think clear coat will bail them out of a poor base coat laydown. I know most 2 stage base coats have no gloss look to the but they still should be flowed out and smooth.
Ended having some issues with the painter, like showing up late or not at all and not keeping me informed, when he was working his management of the job and the time was poor, we needed to get the hell out of the booth when my time was up. After every thing I think he's one of these guys that needs supervision but doesn't think he does. Some of that falls on me for not knowing more about the guy. Not to go on about this but sum it up, I thought I was treating him like an adult and he insisted on acting like a child. So I thanked him for getting me this far :tapedshut: and will take it home myself.
I'm going to sand out what's on there now with 800 or 1000 grit and respray it myself, I think I've read enough and looked at enough people painting and painting videos that I can get the results I want. I think I've probably have done more reading and research on painting than most guys before they painted their first car. If it doesn't work out it's only paint and can be redone by someone else, just requires some more bucks. I don't want to throw money away but if need I'll just have to pony up.
uke: I started out using single stage to avoid cut and buffing and it looks more like the '70 period but may end up with it any way, kinda like on MASH- screwing up in reverse.
This is getting to long :soapbox: a few pics in the booth, after some more thought I dropped the stripes, they just got to looking too overpowering. PS that auto paint is some nasty shit isn't it, hope all my protection is up for it!
Bruce,
Attachments
Doc Zinger
Member
Guess it's been a few months since I posted anything, a short up date on my sad painting efforts.
As covered in pervious post I tried painting the car myself after poor 1st painting. This went ok until I had trouble seeing what was going on and removed my googles and moved the suit hood up, better to see but caused contact dermatitus on my forehead about 5 mins into session, I had a good resporator and paint suit so atleast I didn't screw up my lungs. I finished painting the car and let it set over night. It looked ok except for a few runs and a few curtains, no really it was bad. Had to sand it out again so left with a super primer job and a really flat surfaces for new paint.
Decided it would be better for the car and my health to get it painted by someone else, lesson learned. Found a good painter, switched to base coat/clear with better grade paint. Got car painted with out standing results and resonable cost , am getting it cut and buffed this week.
Will get some new pics when all the trim is back on and car cleaned up. Still thinking on lowering front end for better stance, just hate the thought of taking out the coils to cut. Guess that's the price to pay to get a look that sets a car apart from the crowd, went to alot of shows this summer(Wash, Oregon, South Dakota) there are alot of great cars out there to measure up against.
Bruce,
As covered in pervious post I tried painting the car myself after poor 1st painting. This went ok until I had trouble seeing what was going on and removed my googles and moved the suit hood up, better to see but caused contact dermatitus on my forehead about 5 mins into session, I had a good resporator and paint suit so atleast I didn't screw up my lungs. I finished painting the car and let it set over night. It looked ok except for a few runs and a few curtains, no really it was bad. Had to sand it out again so left with a super primer job and a really flat surfaces for new paint.
Decided it would be better for the car and my health to get it painted by someone else, lesson learned. Found a good painter, switched to base coat/clear with better grade paint. Got car painted with out standing results and resonable cost , am getting it cut and buffed this week.
Will get some new pics when all the trim is back on and car cleaned up. Still thinking on lowering front end for better stance, just hate the thought of taking out the coils to cut. Guess that's the price to pay to get a look that sets a car apart from the crowd, went to alot of shows this summer(Wash, Oregon, South Dakota) there are alot of great cars out there to measure up against.
Bruce,
61cadman
Member
Bruce,
I will definantly give you an A+ for effort. Never know what you can or cannot do until you try. It is a lot of work with some not so friendly chemicals and not worth wrecking or risking your healtlh. I am kind of in the same vote with my 65 Buick. I still need to give it the final 3 coats of clear then final wetsand and buff out The hi temps and humidity this summer delay the painting and first 3 coats of clear but I did manage to get that all done and lightly wet sanded the clear coat with 600. Now the weather is turning cooler and fall / winter is comming it is getting to cool to where I would not feel comfortable spraying the final 3 coats clear so maybe I will decide haul it to a autobody shop to have it finished. Good to hear you were able to get it painted at a reasonable price. Will look foward to seeing the pictures.
Todd
I will definantly give you an A+ for effort. Never know what you can or cannot do until you try. It is a lot of work with some not so friendly chemicals and not worth wrecking or risking your healtlh. I am kind of in the same vote with my 65 Buick. I still need to give it the final 3 coats of clear then final wetsand and buff out The hi temps and humidity this summer delay the painting and first 3 coats of clear but I did manage to get that all done and lightly wet sanded the clear coat with 600. Now the weather is turning cooler and fall / winter is comming it is getting to cool to where I would not feel comfortable spraying the final 3 coats clear so maybe I will decide haul it to a autobody shop to have it finished. Good to hear you were able to get it painted at a reasonable price. Will look foward to seeing the pictures.
Todd
EZ
New Member
Painting is definately not for the faint of heart. There are lots of ways a paint job can go wrong. But I always like to see guys trying their hand at painting their own car. I'm a self taught painter and I have to admit I've made my mistakes. Although after 25-30 years of doing my own painting I pretty well have it down pat. I just wish I had a better place to shoot the paint. My garages are too ful of projects and tools and equipment to have the room I need for painting anymore. :cursing:
I'm always glad to help a beginner painter though. Let me know if you have questions.......... :reading:
I'm always glad to help a beginner painter though. Let me know if you have questions.......... :reading:
Doc Zinger
Member
Bruce, got trans from Ted and had a friend of his install rebuild kit, think I mentioned in previous post.
Bruce,
Bruce,
Doc Zinger
Member
Doc Zinger
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Doc Zinger
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Doc Zinger
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Doc Zinger
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Maddog
Active Member
That looks great Doc...beautiful car. Hope she meets your expectations!
Maddog
Maddog
Cadillacs R Us
Active Member
Youv'e done a lot of restoring. Impressive 
I think something was mentioned before about lowering your car, if your interested the stock front springs cut one and a half coils will bring it down some. I did it to my stock springs, but I don't like front rise coming out of the hole, so called Shawn and he said he used 77 caprice non-air springs cut 1 1/2 coils. Something for me to do this winter lol
Refresh me on you double hump trans crossmember.....nice :yes:
Ron
I think something was mentioned before about lowering your car, if your interested the stock front springs cut one and a half coils will bring it down some. I did it to my stock springs, but I don't like front rise coming out of the hole, so called Shawn and he said he used 77 caprice non-air springs cut 1 1/2 coils. Something for me to do this winter lol
Refresh me on you double hump trans crossmember.....nice :yes:
Ron
Ted in Olympia
Well-Known Member
Very Nice! Your hard work really shows.
TED
TED