fyrebird68

iTrader: (1)

.. all stripped down, sanded, patched, washed up and ready to paint. I think I'll wait until after Christmas so not to inflict the mess on my (very patient) wife.

Epoxy primer and Nocturne blue BC/CC is the plan. I didn't realize how many loose pieces there are to paint on this car - 28 separate pieces. Last car I did had three.

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

That will look nice when done. Look forward to seeing it.

Tuned Performance

iTrader: (92)

I though I was going to see a pic like this with that title.

MYFIRSTZ

Thats alot of extra pieces!! Mine has...lets see... 12. But I left the nose on mine.

fyrebird68

iTrader: (1)

Making progress...

njmick24

iTrader: (3)

Gret pics! keep us up to date!

LHernandezJr

...

punkmaster98

iTrader: (5)

subscribed

carlos64030

iTrader: (1)

Looking forward to seeing the final outcome.

Michael Knight

iTrader: (1)

Looking forward to following and seeing your progress. Looks like how mine will progress. Subscribed.

navy02ws6

WOW, nice ft bumper! Never seen one that wasn't torn before. I can only assume it's brand new.

fyrebird68

iTrader: (1)

Yep, it's new. Had it for several years in anticipation of the big paint project. I have the old one if anybody needs it. Not torn, but cracked paint and it's saggy.

2007xl50

Looking good man, you have her stripped down for sure. keep the pix coming

Javier87z28

iTrader: (1)

Suscribed

Slowridr

iTrader: (1)

As I tape mine out I see that I should really continue to tear this thing down more but I know if I start to do that I will not stop until its in 1000 pieces. I will always feel like I am leaving something undone on this go round. Let me tell you I am leaving lots undone but I will have to come back when I buy all the T-top seals, door seals, hood insulation, etc, etc to do it right. I have to fight the urge to just get it black and decent right now since it was horribly stripped with chemical stripper by the previous owner. Your job looks very Thorough. Good job!

fyrebird68

iTrader: (1)

Update: Got three coats (each one blocked) of hi-build primer on. I'm all the way through the 400-grit and halfway done with the 600 grit. (Got slowed down with a bad case of bronchitis.). SO MANY PIECES!

Picked up two rattle-can paint samples at the paint store today. They are gorgeous. It's gonna be one of these two. Getting stoked...

I am hell-bent on getting the sealer, base and clear coats on by the end of this month. Slowridr is right - I REALLY need this space back. Three garage bays have been tied up since last December.

fyrebird68

iTrader: (1)

Somebody asked for pics of the old nose....

punkmaster98

iTrader: (5)

that one looks like its in great shape. just needs a little touching up

Hawkeye1980

iTrader: (3)

Subscribed!!!

fyrebird68

iTrader: (1)

FINALLY got to put some color on. Sealer, two coats of base, three of clear. Got the door jambs, hood edges, spoiler and internal pieces.
It's such a slow process. So many pieces and no place to put them.

Now need to unmask, back-tape and clean up the edges. Next I'll probably do the main body. Then I can roll the car out and use the booth to paint all the ground effects.

BTW, GM has two different mixes for the same paint code - GM27 Nocturne Blue. Go figure.

fyrebird68

iTrader: (1)

It's "P" day - (paint day)!

one coat sealer, three coats Nocturne blue base, three coats Clear. Pics show sealer, then base, then clear.

Still lots to do, but now I can untape and move the car. Frees up the paint booth for doing the bumpers and GFX. Got the usual orange peel and a couple runs (hey, I AM an amateur), but this will get color sanded and buffed.

fyrebird68

iTrader: (1)

Pics show sealer, then base, then clear.
more pics:

fyrebird68

iTrader: (1)

Pics show sealer, then base, then clear.
more pics:

Ron U.S.M.C.

Excellent job,
How many cars have you done this to in the passed. It appears you have the patience and knowledge and talent to pull off a top notch paint job especially considering the space and place you have to work and using a home made booth.
Nice.....

Side note = Nice tool chest and air gun you have there, man I miss my garage.

fyrebird68

iTrader: (1)

Thanks. This is the first car I have painted by myself.
I am a great believer in reading and study, persistence, the guts to back up and correct my mistakes. I dont cheap out - i buy the right stuff to get a quality job. I also have a patient wife.

fyrebird68

iTrader: (1)

Just done with cut and buff.

punkmaster98

iTrader: (5)

that looks GREAT

Swamp Thing

I am drooling over that paint job.

LHernandezJr

...

fyrebird68

iTrader: (1)

Finally got the stencils done and the GFX mounted. These are painted on and cleared over. (crappy fuzzy phone pics. I'll see if I can do better tomorrow.)

(I removed these fuzzy pictures to reduce bandwidth on the post. Better pics of the graphics below!)



Stencils came from Raynehr. See the thread here.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/auto...ake-light.html

I recommend them - nice work from Ray.

zenish

seeing this makes me wonder if anyone ever made a mini pickup from a third gen.lol

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

Wonder no more

Note, this NOT mine

Back on topic, the paint job is looking absolutely amazing. I'm getting mine done soon and this was a great reference as to know what to do in terms of prepping

Ron U.S.M.C.

Just a little something for those that want to tape/mask off the car for paint.
If you use plastic sheeting you're taking an unnecessary risk . The paint will dry and when you go to remove it the paint can flake off. Just buy real masking paper that you can even get at your local auto parts store.

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/se...0936/C0171.oap

Edwardgp

That looks good, I to believe in reading and studying and repeating until you get it right.

Javier87z28

iTrader: (1)

coming out real nice!!

fyrebird68

iTrader: (1)

Got the weatherstrip on. Outside is done. Need only to check for leaks and we start putting the interior in.

Firechicken86

iTrader: (1)

What brand of weatherstrip did you use? and how long did it take to put on?

zenish

i meant a camaro/firebird converted into a pickup not a front end grafted on a el camino.lol

fyrebird68

iTrader: (1)

I used SoftSeal from 1AAuto. I did it in stages (one piece per day) but total time I would say was 4 hours.

It is a very good fit, nice and soft. If you use the adhesive like it's intended to be used - that is, apply, let it air-dry and then stick together - it goes on with little stress.

One thing I recommend - the push-in buttons that hold the corners on didn't hold very well. Have some small phillips screws with flat washers ready to use instead.

knight72

any pics of the weatherstrip installed?

fyrebird68

iTrader: (1)

Not really much to see - looks like weatherstrip! I'll be back later this week and get some shots.

fyrebird68

iTrader: (1)

Some better pics of the paint so far. Just have some details to do (hood grills, etc.) and some spots to fix (where the tape pieces are). Line up the hood and then get to work on the inside.

fyrebird68

iTrader: (1)

Buffed and polished. Fixed as many goofs as I could. Installed the interior. Put the original wheels back on. Lots of little projects remaining to do, but we can cruise now.

Looks like a million...

fyrebird68

iTrader: (1)

Couple more shots:

We intentionally left off the side moldings and B pillar bird decals. Going for a clean presentation. I really like the way the red stencils came out.

Restrorob

iTrader: (7)

SUEWEEET !!!

Sure hope it doesn't take a year to finish mine.....

What spoiler is that ?

I don't recognize it, But I'm new to third gens......

fyrebird68

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, a year to the day since I started. It was WAY apart. If you're not taking it that far apart, shouldn't be as long.

That's the stock spoiler for the 91 TA

Unscarred5

Very nice work. Love the color. Hope it runs as good as it looks!

WTR388

Getting me excited to do mine!
Taking mine that far apart as well as taking the front glass out (a pillar repair). Makes it easier to mask, just gotta cover up the dash and engine and wheels.

As for as birds being pickups, there was a gold second gen for sale that was turned in to a pickup. It was done well.

Zane M

iTrader: (1)

Beautiful job. You should be proud.

Sierra6

sorry to bump an old thread but I am trying to pick out a color for my car and i'd really like to see this car in the daylight. thanks.