Which fender did you need ??

 

Don't need one anymore haha! It was the passenger side.

 

Update as of today...

My drivers door jam stickers are so yellow I just took some close ups so they could rip them off and sand it down.

I'll just replacements from http://www.ecsvin.com/order.php

They are masking over the factory t-tops seals since they are still mint and don't leak. They are going to reinstall the hatch weather strip since that is mint as well. I will have to order new door weather stripping and I already have new upper door to window weather strip pieces.

 

Ouch, I had both done for $350. You must be funding the junkets of the CA EPA!
Do you know if they were dipped?

 

I'm not sure what they are dipped in exactly that you are referring to, but it came back looking just like your photos, black and like it was an NOS piece. They did do a great job on it in that regard.

However a few weeks later, if you look REALLY closely knowing the license plate holes were there, even under the new paint you can just barely see where the holes were filled in so whatever they used for that was a fail because it shrank

I am going for an inspection of the completed paint job tomorrow and might be bringing it home. If I do, pictures will be posted.

 

Great, waiting for shiny pics.
It was my understanding on the bumpers that abrasion/heat could deform them. My body guy suggested they were dipped and some of the torn eyelets looked as new - maybe my body guy got a jobber price.
I didn't want to re-drill holes for the plate, but it's better than risking a pull-over.

 

 

I look back and it's crazy an interior refresh turned into a full-on rip the car apart and paint it too lol. I hadn't planned on painting it for another 3-4yrs, oh well

The guy text me this morning and said 3PM instead of 12PM and that it's $1,700 more than the original estimate, WHOA

Let's see, they took an extra month, broke the tip of my aero wing, broke a door handle, had to repaint the hood and aero wing twice. It was $300 extra for the front bumper repair and then extra to repair a couple cracks in my side gfx. Then there was the extra labor to get the terrible aftermarket fender to fit, plus I told them I changed my mind and wanted them to reinstall my front bumper and side gfx (not the nose gfx, I'll do those later). Does that seem like an extra $1,700 or am I out of touch? I was planning on an extra $1,000.

A friend is picking me up to go get her, he's an **** SOB like I am so we are going to go over every inch of this thing with a fine tooth comb. The black trim better be beautiful, the body lines perfect, and the paint/wet sand gorgeous. If there is any over spray, cracks, or orange peel, I'm gonna be pissed.

If all is perfect, like perfect, I'll swallow it. The total will be $3,700 of which $1,500 I paid up front. The guy knows full well what my standards and desires are and I even gave him a written list of what I wanted right before he started, then I left him alone and didn't bother him for the 2.5 months so he could do his thing unless he called me to come over. I didn't wanna be THAT customer that's a major PITA. But tell you what, every imperfection is going to be $100 I take off what his final price is that he's asking extra.

He had quoted $2,000 originally. I supplied all of the parts and all of the paint & materials. He said he bought an extra gallon of paint from the same supplier to mix in the batch plus an extra almost 2 gallons of clear. I had told him I want multiple coats of color and LOTS of clear. They are a tiny shop (but with a bomb *** paint booth!) that just started, have no store front, the body guy is the paint guys (who's the owner) brother, his son helps out, it's that kinda thing. They are new and were hurting for work and since they opened up next to where I work I figured I'd give them a shot. Honestly I knew he was unreal with the $2,000 but $3,700 seems a bit much but hey, if it's what I wanted then it's all good. I've seen several other jobs come out of their ship and they looked great.

I want to quit sweating it because $3,700 for a paint job is really a good deal, BUT I don't want to just accept it because of that and there be all these flaws I'm not happy with that will forever bug me you know.

 

Well I've already been over there twice this morning, not the happiest, kinda stressed...

They installed the lower front GFX behind the nose which I asked them NOT to but they did, which of course means they used all incorrect hardware. I ended up taking the guy the new correct hardware so they can be re-installed, at this point may as well so I know the fit is right plus they have already adhered the 3M trim tape

I can already see over spay in places like the black metal headlight brackets. They also managed to nick the paint while installing the new outside upper door weatherstripping. There are also scratches in the top of the rear bumper where the primer/filler wasn't sanded perfect with the right grit I can just imagine them screwing up the hood/latch alignment, closing it, and not getting it open again cause they didn't make sure it was perfect before closing it, I did warn him about that.

God knows what else I'll find when it's all together and rolled out into the sun in a few hours, argh I'm so stressed. The guy just said to make a list of what I'm not happy with after I get it home and he will make it right later, great

I haven't made the gaskets for my aero wing pedestals yet so I'm having them put painters tape on the deck lid when they install it. Hopefully they don't screw up the wing anymore.

RWAR, I'm so gonna drink tonight lol! Plus this is the first V-day I've ever been single, haha I maybe drink in the garage with my true love while I take note of all the imperfections, oh joy.

 

You're lucky, I went through this with my black car. I delt with it for a few yrs then completely stripped it down myself and redid it the way I wanted it done.
It would have cost a person 15-20k back when I repainted it correctly.

3700 is a great deal but 90% of the shops wont take the time to prep, prime, paint and R&R things properly.

 

I shorted the guy $700 until it's taken back and he makes everything right, he agreed.

They bent my only door key and my passenger side lock they somehow broke. They didn't install the side moldings (trim guards, whatever they are called), the clear is full of imperfections and orange peel. The nose looks a different color than the fender, again, wtf. The hood isn't aligned, the list goes on.

They say in 3 or 4 weeks I can take it back and they will make everything right and finish it. Here are the pics:

 

...and another 3 pics...

 

You're not alone. The aftermarket is a crapshoot. Rock solid people screwed me, no name people came through big time. No way to tell til you have committed, or should be committed (ha).
My body guy was a friend. Ran the bill up big time, even though we had a written agreement. Total was close to 10k with all new seals, but it was done right (except for a slight paint crack by the hood cowl ).




Like your philosophy, looks close to stock, but not.


Don't become discouraged, stay determined and keep your standards high regardless of other people!

 

Thanks for the encouragement! Just really sucks their overage ate into what I had saved for the set of taillights I've been wanting from someone on here

I already posted a wanted ad for the passenger door gfx that they broke a sliver out of and I've made a "to-do" list for them. All in all looking at it (the list not the car haha!), it's not that bad I guess.

I was hoping to buy those NOS taillights by the end of January and have my 17" Hawk's wheels and new tires by the end of Feb. Now I'll be about 2 months behind that schedule

I think what gets me the most is 15yrs ago when I got my car the paint and body was show perfect, so smooth, so just beautiful. It's that I'm chasing and getting disappointed with. If the car were a resto from a beat project I'm sure I'd be ecstatic right now lol.

 

I have that part you need 4 the pass side door.

 

Well hook it up lol! How much sipped to 93311? PM me, I can get a money out on Monday.

 

Wow 92gt, quite the trip you've been on. I thought I was brutal on myself... you got me beat! At least you are proving that these cars can still be ''put right' given enough time/ perseverance. Hope it all works out/gets fixed the way you want it to be.

TEDSgrad- What seats are those? I like the way they look, how comfortable are they for long drives vs holding you in for spirited driving? I have red cloth with black bolstered Corbeu Cr1s, love their support and are generally comfy, but not a lot of lumbar support (man I sound old now).

 

Looking Good,your almost there

 

Yeah, I made a pretty definitive list for them and it's really not that bad. I'm allot more calm about it. Long as the orange peel and imperfections in the clear REALLY all go away, I think I'll be good.

The nose being slightly darker is going to bother me another 15yrs tho lol.

 

I may have missed it in earlier posts,but what Color is that??I really like it

 

Dark Jade Grey Metallic (it's really a mica tho), it's as 1992 only 25th anniversary color. Only 18 GTAs made in this color.

So the news has gotten much worse I had another professional paint guy come by my garage and give me a second opinion. He says not only is the orange peel in my clear BAD, but that the imperfections that I was told could be sanded out of the clear, this guy says no way, says they are simply too deep. He also said I have another BIG problem, the painter did NOT color sand the paint as I specifically asked prior to shooting the clear so the color has actual texture to it as well. FML

The only good news is that this other says guy my painter simply needs to sand all the clear off down to the color (which will correct the colors texture) and re-shoot the clear then wet sand the clear. He should NOT have to repaint my car. I don't know if I trust this guy to be able to do that without sanding thru too much of the color, dammit.

However he has to repaint my rear bumper, a new passenger door gfx, and possibly my front bumper anyway. We'll see. I'll be taking it back to him end of next week maybe, waiting on the gfx for the door to arrive.

What a PITA, $1,700 over budget, a total botched job, and no way I want to deal with a lawsuit and STILL have to get my car done right. This is like the project from hell now. Not to mention saving for the NOS set of taillights has been slown down by my hours at work getting cut 95%, unemployment is a joke.

Anyway, totally off to have a few drinks now lol.

 

[ it's as 1992 only 25th anniversary color. Only 18 GTAs made in this color.]
That's why I like it,never seen it before.

 

What a great read! I have a 1991 firebird with the sport appearance package that I am customizing. Did I miss the pictures of the weld reinforcements or they coming soon? It's a little known fact that Pontiac began doing this in 1990 on 91 models but did not advertise it until the 1992 model year, one of the reasons I chose my car. I too bought a set of 91-92 GTA tailights that were damaged in shipping, so I share some of your pain.As for interior, I converted it to red and black and will be listing the grey parts on ebay soon.


Pics are a couple of weeks old, as I installed heat shielding, new black carpet and carmine red sill plates 2 weekends ago.
Last weekend I installed an overhead console and my next project is replacing the 91 steering wheel with a 93 leather wrapped job with radio controls. The stock air bag is grey and will be available once the swap is complete.
I look forward to hearing more from you, and wish you success!

 

That is one sweet car you have there 92GTA. Very cool color, there was one cruising around my area about 18 years ago. I cannot remember if it was a GTA or just a TA. At the time I had a 92 TA that was dark green it may have been called hunter green. It was a beautiful car untill I bent it in half. I think your second opinion is blowing smoke up your tailpipe. I really do not think anybody takes sandpaper to color. Color sanding I believe is just another term for wet sanding the clear before buffing and if you do not know better you can be led to believe a crucial step has been hastily missed. The clear shrinks and gets hard as it dries out it takes some time. I have seen fresh paint/clear get wetsanded and buffed to a glass like appearance only to look like poo poo in a few months after everything shrinks. Rough clear should be able to get sanded smooth and buffed out. Is there marbling in the color ? Do have pics of the bad spots ?

 

You can't sand a metallic base color, it would screw up the metallics in the base. The base is also MUCH thinner than the clear and primer/high build, so it is doubtful that there is peel in the base color. Also I have been told that with BC/CC with a metallic, you paint the whole vehicle as normal, then you have to spray a light coat over the whole car again, but (I think) from a little further away (the gun) so the metallic stands up and is uniform over the whole car.

Yeah, color sanding is usually for single stage colors, not base/clear

 

Thanks allot for the additional information and clarification guys!

 

The clear coat hides a LOT of problems too. My cousin just finished a 67 Firebird that he painted. After he put the base down you could see a little bit of sanding scratches in the roof. After he put the clear on you couldn't see them anymore. I couldn't believe it, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes....

Normally he wouldn't have continued, but this was a job he didn't want to put a ton more time into. He knew the scratches wouldn't be seen in the end.

 

So I think I have my "fix it" list for the body shop about 90% complete after really going over it today in the garage.

The passenger door lower gfx I needed arrived.

The upholstery shop actually started on my seats last week, FINALLY The guy knows I lost my job and that he is 3 months behind so he absolutely promised everything would get done right for the initial price I threw around ($700) which includes making all new foam for the front seats from scratch and buying aftermarket foam for the rear. *Hopefully* he will be done by the end of next week. I'm then going to HELLA wrap the drivers seat up in shrink wrap and plastic so the *******s at the body shop don't **** that up too

I have just enough left in my savings to pay off the body shop (provided they make everything right!), and pay the upholstery guy.

Looks like I'm up **** creek for new taillights and a radio pod until who knows when. So of course the new 17" GTA wheels and tires are also on the back burner. My next priority is going to be new door weather stripping and an emblem set. Then I'll detail clean the car and start re-assembly of the interior!!!!! I think I literally have every single little thing I need except a good radio pod, so I'll just use my original for now.

I'm busy looking for another job but my old employer also said he has work for me come April. Sooner I start back to work or get another job, sooner I can get those last couple parts I need. Blows too, I had all the money saved for the taillights but now need to hedge it for living expenses until I get work to be on the safe side. Man, 10yrs ago I would have said F it and just stayed on a friends couch or in my car haha! I want my GTA to stay garaged now after all this work and I don't want my golden retriever going to my ex wife and kids lol.

Yeah, anyway...... I'll get this thing back on track soon. I'm really hoping to be able to do the interior while the weather is perfect right now and while I have the time. Hell, with no job I could have that interior done in like 2 weeks. Hopefully the body shop doesn't have it more than 5 days to fix everything.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Camaro-Firebird-Rear-Seat-Belt-Receiver-Gray-New-GM-NOS-/291374186622?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1987%7CModel%3ACamaro&hash=item43d741407e&vxp=mtr

 

Thanks! My original rear ones are still minty so I'm going to replace the red buttons/springs and reuse them. I managed to find GREAT condition front receivers a couple months ago. These will get new buttons/springs too.

 

Once you start body & paint – you’re committed. You never know what you’re dealing with, or what’s underneath, plus all the problems along the way.


Contrary to popular understanding, love is not an emotion. Love = commitment. One’s commitment should not vary with how one “feels.” Our feelings, emotions, brain chemicals are a roller coaster ride, but our commitment should be steady/unshakeable.
It is not wrong to find another woman attractive (or a Ferrari), but don’t look too long or you’ll get poked in the ribs. Love says, yes I find that really attractive (definition of beautiful), but I am committed to/love you – a love deeper than sight alone. You have the freedom to like looking at beautiful things, but the security that what your eyes see are not a threat to the love/commitment you have made (like going to a car show). Don’t flirt with danger, but live in freedom.


Sometimes (not always), the commitment itself is a worthy goal – staying faithful and true – because that’s who you want to be in life. Along the way, you’ll find new appreciation for the object of your affection, too.


Weather these ups & downs; Stay committed to this process. You’re not the only one to travel this road. Many will tell you that they can do it cheaper, and then you would have a cheaper car. The cost of commitment/love is high, but in the end you will have something of great worth – the knowledge that you are faithful and true, and that you have a great car worthy of love/commitment. The cost is yours to bear, and the worth is yours to share!


Be encouraged.


Brian

 

Thanks for posting that. That's really how I feel after 15yrs. Hell, I let my beloved '56 Vette go without even blinking to keep my 92 GTA.

That did help encourage me. I went out today to get my hood nose grills ceramic coated, and I bought the new door weather stripping from 1A and the new emblem set from CarMotorSports.

That means I'm now 100% complete on everything I needed to totally finish the body work. I do still need reproduction door stickers from ECS Auto but can't afford them right now, but I have great HD photos of my originals for when I can. I at least have an original set of the SLP C.A.R.B. door stickers for the Tri-Y headers tho. I had the body shop remove and paint over where those were on my passenger door simply because they were too discolored.

One step at a time. Once I get the hood grills back and the upholstery is done, back to the body shop to wrap things up and get all these new and perfect interior parts back in

 

Ok, got my mesh grills for the hood back and the upholsterer told me today my seats will be done next Wednesday! W00t!

My plan is next Thursday taking the car back to the body shop finally with my "fix" list. Then I'll smog it, then down to LA for Lon @ TDS to replace the drivers door hinge that broke, then I can go crazy on putting the car back together!! I'm finally starting to get excited again lol.

 

UPDATE: The upholstery shop still isn't done, RWAR! I'm really getting pissed off now because I've pretty much wasted the last 60 days of freakin gorgeous weather for putting my car together because I CAN"T

I went by this morning and picked up the front passenger seat (only one that wasn't apart) and managed to half-*** bolt it in the drivers. I drove by the body shop and they confirmed Monday was a good day to bring it back. So, Monday it goes back to body shop and when I drop it off the passenger seat is coming out and going back top the upholstery shop.

I expect the body shop will have the car 2-6 weeks (at their pace ) and during that time the upholsterer should finally be finished

Gee wiz, maybe by the time it's June and over 100F I'll finally be able to start putting my interior ****ing in

 

Car is finally back at the body shop for them to get it right and the seat back at the upholsters. Hopefully in 3-4 weeks I'll have everything back!

Geez what an ordeal.

 

This saga still continues to drag on...

Upholstery place still isn't done.

Body shop hasn't even STARTED yet on any of the repairs and finishing touches they are supposed to do. What really bothers me is they are starting my car every morning to move it out of the shop then starting it to move it back in every evening. I just cringe at the thought of what months and months of doing this has done to my engine I know they can't drive it because there are no seats or taillights on the car, plus it's not tagged.

Good news is that I'm done flying around the country training for my new position at work so I can finally pressure these guys. This coming week and the one after I'll be making visits and being the totally ******* these guys apparently need me to be.

On other fronts, I'm finally buying the NOS set of taillights I've been trying to save for. End of this month I should be able to order my 17" gold GTA wheels from Hawks, and a couple weeks after the Toyo R888s for them. Then once I reinstall the interior this fall/winter (no FREAKING way I'm going to do it when it's over 110f!) the car should be done with the cosmetic restoration and I can start saving for rebuilding the engine and the few mods I have planned for it.

 

Looks like I may have to sue the paint/body shop.

Meanwhile the upholsterer tried telling me the seats were done and when I saw them they didn't even stitch in the plastic on the side bolsters from the originals! Then they tried saying how they have to take the covers off to do it like I'm retarded! I told them "DUH....and you aren't going to charge me extra for it either because I specifically told you when I dropped them off I wanted that done!" I'm so done being courteous and professional when dealing with pieces of **** like this. I'm totally loosing my ****.

WTF is wrong with people who half *** ****?!?! This has got to be the most stressful thing I've ever been through and killed any bit of happiness I had left for the hobby. I thought dealing with business fraudsters and counterfeit in the Corvette hobby was bad when I did my '56. This will for sure be the last car project I ever do and that's no BS.

 

If it makes you feel any better,it took 13 months for mine to be done and to tell you the truth,it was worth the wait.

 

I wish I could see it as being that way but after being led on week after week with excuses and seeing the crappy work, I've just lost hope.

I looked up my counties information for doing a small claims case (I've never done any sort of litigation before) and they also offer this (see below). This week I'm going to go by and get everything so far in writing first like the quote and what I've paid so far, I'll just lie and tell them I want it for insurance purposes.

Anyone done anything like this? Of is it just a waste of time? -

Community Mediation
The court provides a community mediation program that is designed to resolve disputes before or after court documents have been filed. Trained mediators will work with both parties to try to reach a satisfactory settlement. It is a good idea to try mediation before filing documents as it may result in a faster settlement at no cost. Bilingual English/Spanish mediators are available. For more information, contact:
BBB Mediation Center of Kern County 1601 H Street Ste. 101 Bakersfield, California (661) 616-5252 or (800) 675-8118 ext. 300

 

Wow man.. I really hate to read all this. I cant imagine leaving my car with someone for so long, having them screw it up, then having to give it back to them only for them to sit on it for months.

I hope you get it resolved. And I hope you get your car done. Sorry it ruined the experience of restoring a car. That should be a fun and rewarding process. Not the nightmare you are going through.

Good luck.

Justin

 

Well this week has been a roller-coaster....

Monday was my last day of work, again (grrrrr oil), next week I leave for my dads funeral.

I got a call from the body shop Thursday saying the car will be ready to pick up this weekend. Uh huh, heard that one before. I went by to take a glance and they are making good on some of the corrections but not all. I figure I will just not pay the balance until they do (again) and at least my baby will be in my garage safe and sound in my garage under cover while I'm out of town for the next 2 weeks.

So Thursday afternoon I called the upholsterer and said I needed to pick up my driver's seat Friday to get my car Saturday. They called me back this morning and said by 4pm the seats will be done! I thought, uh huh, here we go again.

Well not only were the seats done for real and how I told them I wanted them, but the fit and finish was many levels above how they looked last week when I saw them. I think the owner himself re-did them instead of his guys, nothing was detailed before and now they look like they did 15yrs ago. Even in my opinion, I think the seats turned out GREAT! He cleaned up my door panels so they look like new and didn't even charge me for them. PLUS he charged me $40 less for the seats than what we originally agreed on 10 months ago. The seats are now home safe and sound, I'm soooooooooooooo freakin relieved, words can't express after all the stress of this.

Here are some pictures! He said a few days of the car in the sun (which it never is lol) and the wrinkles will disappear.

 

More pics of the seats...

Sorry, no pics of the interior door panels before I put them away. They are stock anyway, he just cleaned them up to brand new.

So wish me the best of luck tomorrow when I got to get my car! I sure hope it's not a total train wreck like before.

I'll update tomorrow.

 

Hmmmm. I thought the rear seat stitching didn't look right in the middle. I pulled some pics of my original rear seat back, take a look below at the original, not the same!!!

So much for being EXACT copies of the original. Oh well, you know what, I'm not even going to trip, screw it. Lifes too damn short and I need to start enjoying the car again.

 

That's a good philosophy. Cars are made to be driven.
Minor difference, most will never know, it does flow well which is most important. I like to keep a stock appearance with subtle improvements (visual ones).

Sorry to hear about your dad. Puts our vested projects in their proper perspective.

I'm having problems with Mark Williams, of all companies for the last 10 months. I saw so many horror stories with aftermarket rear ends; I went to the 'best' and paid for it. Gear noise! Their response: you can do this, you can try this, if this all fails, you can take out and ship to us, and we'll check it out. There is no user error with a TA, bolt in rear. There is just no one to trust.
More reason to trust the Big Guy upstairs, get along with others down here as much as possible, and realize all this stuff is just stuff, and don't forget to have fun, and become the trustworthy person you would like to see in others. That sounds like the best revenge, right there.
You're getting close to the finish. I'm waiting to celebrate with you.

What are you plans for paint protection the first couple months?

 

Car is in my garage......BUT.....

They shoved the garage opener in my WAS still mint and un-sagging map pocket, now it's destroyed. They broke my steering column pulling down on it too hard, can't even get my key out of the ignition. They didn't install the windshield weather stripping. The rear bumper is now a totally different color than the rest of the car even tho it was a perfect match before. They ripped a corner of my nose which I lost my **** about because he knows what we have been thru getting the entire nose re-done.

When I'm back in a couple weeks I'm supposed to take the car back so they can reinstall the door locks (remember they broke one so they are having a new tumbler keyed to my original). I'm also supposed to take them the aero wing which they still hadn't re-painted yet.

Who knows what else is wrong when I actually look at the car closely. I'm just too stressed to even deal with it right now.

 

HOLY CRAP! I just read the whole thread and I have felt plenty of those pains myself. I cannot believe you not only documented this whole ordeal, but have stayed fairly calm,amidst losing jobs/family members....UNREAL....I have a question,very minor in comparison, but important to me.....Can you measure the approximate size of the anti theft decals for the side windows?..I am going to have them made versus actual GM ones. I know this is absolutely minor, but may give you something EZ to consider. Thanks for the whole post regardless!!!

 

Sure, I have 4 of those stickers NOS. It will be a couple weeks though, I'm out of the country for my dads funeral right now and lost my job for the 2nd time this year thanks to oil prices so I'm a little pre-occupied right now.

 

OK..No problem...Just went through the same last year(father)...Sorry bout that info...But yes, I'd love to get some official measurements on those when you get a chance...Keep u the good thread....

 

Dang, still plugging away i see.

 

I just started my 1990 firebird project. Just finished ripping out the front and rear seats and all the plastics inside just waiting for the new carpet to get shipped and I can start on the inside transformation. Hopefully it turns out as good as yours does. I'll keep you guys posted on the progress as well !