TODAY'S LESSON - - - UPDATED

[anlauto]

Okay class.....


For years I've been preaching on these boards and to every one of my customers is that the ONLY way to restore a car completely is to strip the car 100% and media blast the shell to find out exactly what's hiding.

About six months ago, maybe more, I had a potential customer on the phone wanting me to restore his 1970 Cuda. When I started talking about the cost of stripping the body and media blasting etc....he stopped me right there and said that the body was real real nice and would most likely get away with just a "scuff and paint"...

I told him that I would not take the job if that's all he was interested in doing....I guess my persistence paid off because late last year he gave me the go ahead to do it my way....

Here's what I started with:  Nice looking car....just as he bought it....perfect body and all

[anlauto]

So here's what I found under that real nice paint after proper media blasting....

[anlauto]

That's just some of the patches I found welded directly ON TOP of the rusty metal. There are nine separate patches alone in the engine compartment , another half a dozen more in the quarters.....

This my friends is why you should listen to me !

[blown motor]

Now I'm REALLY scared about what I'll find when I get to the body and paint part of my 'rolling restoration' 

[dfrazz]

Some of those patches look pretty obvious, could you see any of them prior to media blasting?

[HP_Cuda]

It's doing it the right way, not specifically listening to you Alan 

Scuff and paint would have really fun for that guy when the paint started bubbling up and you would have to explain why.

 

[anlauto]

Some of those patches look pretty obvious, could you see any of them prior to media blasting?

That's the thing...The bondo work on top of the patches was done good enough that you couldn't tell, at least on the rear quarters....I knew going in I wanted to replace the inner aprons...

[mud man]

Way to stick to your guns! We do media blasting and it is amazing what shows up when you get them  to their birthday suits. A friend paints hot rods for a living and lives by the same motto. Strip em  or go somewhere else. No other way to stand behind your work.

[soundcontrol]

Now I'm REALLY scared about what I'll find when I get to the body and paint part of my 'rolling restoration' 

Me too! I know I have some patches, but I'm leaving the body for now, it's not a rust bucket, I can drive it. One day I will strip it completely and do it the right way though. When I have a bigger garage, more money, and can weld better.
Very cool Alan!

[dodj]

and can weld better.

Looks like the guy who welded on those patches needed more practice himself. Barely more than 'tacked' in place.

[anlauto]

That's what so funny...Look at the one on the trunk lid...there's an open gap between the patch and the rusty metal....How long do you think that would last

[HP_Cuda]

Guess the guy used this as a leaning tool....

[RCCDrew]

I'm scared to see what under my car's paint. I know there's been lots of work done...

[TelisSE440]

I'm scared to see what under my car's paint. I know there's been lots of work done...

  Me too, although I have the floors and the interior stripped and there was no problem, I left the exterior paint intact. Who knows what's hiding under there.

[AAR6BBL]

Wow!
And I guess this is why anyone of us who digs into one of our beloved E- Bodies should never worry about the budget.
I know I blew through my target 2 days into the strip down, and haven't even got it blasted yet!
Not for the faint of heart, but if you worry about it you will never achieve your goal.
I just told my kids not to count on an inheritance, they can fight over the Cuda when I'm gone.