SURVIVOR vs. GROUND-UP RESTORATION!

[GranCuda1970]

looked easy to install on the episode just a mild heating up of the part and brush it on!!

[GranCuda1970]

I liked the product add and will probably get some in the near future!! OSPHO was my freind, now we got this and it is better!. Can you make it in a cosmoline color for the lower control arms?

[spamtank]

RPM has a grayish/green appearance but does not add any color to the part.  It is not meant to build a thick layer of protection on the metal surface.  When it is properly applied, it leaves a very thin layer of protection that cannot be seen when it cures.  You can use RPM under cosmoline because it will not affect the adhesion.  (You cannot paint over RPM because it will repel that type of liquid coating.)  We used it on the end of the lower control arms and went a bit further than where the cosmoline line started.  By doing that, the entire arm was protected even where the cosmoline was not covering the bare metal.

NOTE:  We are gathering and sorting the pictorial documentation on the Paint & Body of the Valiant.  Lots of in depth material and information to cover!

Any chance your products will be available at Carlisle in a few weeks? 

Cheers, Rick in NH

[DodgeMaterial]

Dave - those pictures really bring back memories and illustrate how this car was a "10 footer."  Those before shots in my driveway are far enough away to make it look very nice and new.  However the close-up shots show a car that really needed everything restored to look new.  Since you are in the engine bay/paint area, how about showing some close-ups of the sealer runs, solvent /primer pops and other factory paint issues that were PAINFULLY retained.  I'm pretty sure Tom took plenty of pictures to show that stuff.  Dave 

[EB3-GranCoupe]

Those before shots in my driveway are far enough away to make it look very nice and new

Are ya sure you didn't just wash and wax it?     Thank you Dave, and the rest of your crew for providing us with this graduate level education experience!  as an engineer, i can appreciate a fine eye for detail, and you guys mastered it!  i read about this car, and the white challenger (both with blue interiors, ....interesting, very interesting) in the mopar mags, but this is like sitting in on an interview and getting to ask questions!  fantastic work, absolutely fantastic!

i can't wait for more!!

[EB3-GranCoupe]

ok dave, now you have me curious.  i noticed the brake lines in the engine compartment pics, and i remembered mine (after 100+ thousand miles) were pretty toasted.  you may not be ready to post the pics & discussion yet, but i am anxious to see how you restored those!

[GranCuda1970]

Yeah! I just chopped mine off!!  I still have the lines to the master and the single block valve under the master for the drums brakes, if I'd have known they could be restored I would have saved the whole set-up for someone.

[EB3-GranCoupe]

It really is all in the details!  Thanks for the explanation, i really was curious!  and i was going to ask about the exhaust too (when you got to that) , but you beat me to it!  like i said, this is a graduate level education experience!

[spamtank]

At every turn of the corner, you continue to amaze me with not only your thoroughness, but also your knowledge.

Still on the edge of my seat. 

[EB3-GranCoupe]

Any idea what the arrow mark(on the passenger side frame rail) is supposed to indicate?  Great job on duplicating the factory overspray, even mocking up the 'ride height' as it cam down the assmebly line.  it seems so obvious to spray if that way to get it correct; and yet you indicate that last years' "understanding" was some something different.

[PasiR]

Outstanding detailing!! Keep the pictures coming. 

[RamSRT]

Great job on duplicating the factory overspray, even mocking up the 'ride height' as it cam down the assmebly line.  it seems so obvious to spray if that way to get it correct; and yet you indicate that last years' "understanding" was some something different.

Do you have any comparisons to show the differences in technique? Great idea using the comparison pictures during the painting process.

[GranCuda1970]

Stunning resto pics. 

[DodgeMaterial]

Dave, it is very obvious that the blue car had the black-out applied and was painted from angles that were from underneath...not like the assembly plant painted in 1970. Small details like black overspray on the bottom of the radiator support that somehow never hit the frame rails are real eye catchers to me.  Also, the heavy color coat on the bottom of the frame and underside of fenders indicate a paint pattern from below...which would not be the way they were painted in-plant.  As you noted, we put the "assembly line paint shop" into Steve's booth when he painted the black Valiant...it really shows when you see the comparison with the blue car.  Do you know if the judges were very critical of these paint deficiencies on the blue car?  Dave S.

[resq302]

Dave,

Blue paint as in paint that was used from the car that they just painted from the car that was ahead of the Valiant?  Ive heard other stories where people have found a little of another color on floors and jambs where they used that area to "clean out" the prior color from the gun.