bigdavesiroc

looks to be coming along nicely, i too have been painting my car. i haven't seen mine in the sunlight and i would imagine yours will look better too in light. check mine out at https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...rt-finish.html

tony_cogliandro

iTrader: (3)

Did you know that project panther is the internal code name by Ford Motor Company for the Mercury Marquis, the Mercury Marauder, the Lincoln Town Car, and the Ford Crown Victoria?

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

IF its getting a 350 i'd keep 5.7 tuned port on it. If its not, i'd use the tuned port injection sticker. NO 5.0 tuned port.

hotrod16105

If i were going to put a badge on it i'd go with 2.8FI. Hehe. I'm weird like that.

LMSkyliner

iTrader: (1)

interesting bit about the name. Didn't know that.


And yea. I think I decided to go with the Tuned Port Injection badge. I am not sure there is a 5.0 badge. Im not entirely sure what I am thinking...


Anyways. The car is most definitely black. Saw it today, but the camera batteries were dead unfortunately.


Still trying to decide where to get the rest of my decals and emblems from. The stuff GM either doesn't make anymore or is too expensive. Anyone got experience??

LMSkyliner

iTrader: (1)

Finally got my proof that the car is BLACK. and yes it is THAT black in real life too

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

wow your car is gonna look SOOO good this year. Keep that clean. nothing like a good black paint job

hotrod16105

Looking good!

bigdavesiroc

looks good. keep it up!

LMSkyliner

iTrader: (1)

Well I had a nice long detailed psot for you guys but TGO deleted it when i hit submit so heres a shorter version

I am sorry it has been so long since I last posted. I have been busy (again), and ended up taking a 2 week break on the car anyways. Finally though, I have gotten back to work on it. Last weekend, I purchased the last part that I need to put it all back together properly, and now it is just a matter of doing it. Also 2 weeks ago, i removed the final parts that needed to be removed to do everything I planned on this winter, so the car is about as empty as it has ever been.

Now parts are off to either the media blaster and then the paint shop, or directly to the paint shop as i prepare to reassemble everything in record time. This is because I have set a due date for myself as July 5th, not only because I want to finish but also because i want to take it on a road trip that day up to my friends house in Erie for a party.

First, 2 weeks ago we started with some organizing and cleaning, followed by gutting the rest of the interior (less the steering column and guage cluster, which need to come out because they are being replaced as well (145 MPH speedo))

Pics:

LMSkyliner

iTrader: (1)

Went to work on the interior expecting to find some rust. While i wasnt dissapointed, it was so minor that it came off easily with a little wire brushing, and a few minutes of rust stopper later, it looks great and should be perfect.






ill post more pics and stuff in a few hours

GTAwheelman

so you ever get done with the car?

Bullydawg

iTrader: (7)

Yeah, I have been following your build too. Whats current?

Maybe he finished it and has been tearing up the streets

LMSkyliner

iTrader: (1)

unfortunately, the body man that was giving us a big big break on the price was out for 3+ months with a pretty serious injury.

he just came back to work 2 weeks ago...

Sooooo all the detachable body parts are still in body-shop jail. Sure you all know how that goes.


here's how she sits now:




The black carpet is in it, and also the 145 speedo. However with the body work taking so long ive been slacking (getting ready for college instead). I've been looking for a specific steering wheel i want rather badly, and looking at some stereo stuff (all the speakers were shot) to replace the old ones. No big box and subs and whatever i feel that is silly. Just new speakers in the old spots.

Other than that not much.. this project has really gotten me down cause its the stuff out of my control that has delayed it so many months.

the good news is the money to finish it is there. This isn't one of those "ill finish it when i get money". It's a "it'll be finished when the body shop gets its act together".

so thanks for the support and lets just hope the body shop can get my parts back to me so that i can drive it once before college, where it is not welcome (northern michigan in winter with fresh paint/no rust? No thanks).

Bullydawg

iTrader: (7)

Anymore updates? Looks good! I want to see it out in the sun already!

LMSkyliner

iTrader: (1)

update: college sucks. LOL

but honestly im still waiting on the body shop. there have been some nasty phone calls recently. mostly along the line of "parts now and they better be your best work at your best price".

I do have 1 or 2 pictures you guys havnt seen though of it out in the sun. keep in mind that it has not even been wet sanded yet so give me a break on the little stuff you might catch.






I'll be home for 3 months starting this saturday. On the agenda? Get all the parts back on, install the new interior (i have picked up brand new plastics for the entire interior since I last posted) get the paint all wrapped up and clean (I hate you orange peel!!! You shall be gone!) install all the emblems logos and stickers (which are sitting next to me) remove the 305, put in a warm 350 while i save money for more 383 sex, replace the T5, 3.42 gears (also next to me), the dyno don headers, magnaflow cat and catback, break it all in, then I'm taking a road trip to CA. Yes all in 3 months

edit: forgot new wheels and tires. 18s or 17s cant decide but its gonna get some pretty serious meats on the back trust me


edit #2. I really need help getting these parts out of the body shop. Anyone have tips? They are basically half done with the work that was supposed to be finished 3 months ago. They are the best shops around when they do the work, but this is getting RIDICULOUS. I want my parts. I want them painted. And i want them NOW.

hotrod16105

Glad to hear there's been some progress. As far as the body shop goes, if you have paid them already i would just show up and ask for your parts. If they aren't done and they start throwing out excuses tell them you'll be back in a few days and they better be done. Or you could just ask to take them right then and there and ask for some sort of refund for work not completed. If they are being a pain in the *** i know some people in law enforcement that can point you in the right direction to get your stuff and or money back. I'm sure they could make an appearance if that was neccessary.

If you haven't paid them yet then perhaps you should work out something with them. Maybe pay for the work done and set a date to pick up the finished pieces and pay for them. You don't want to be a **** about it but you dont want to be bent over either. Getting all bitchy and in their face only works 50% of the time at best.

I hope it all works out for you. If you need anything let me know.

GTAwheelman

So anything new? get the car finished?

Sonymaster20

iTrader: (3)

Yes been looking forward to this one for a while

LMSkyliner

iTrader: (1)

no and no. It turns out that getting an engineering degree takes some time up.


On the other hand though, college isnt draining my bank too bad, and if i get one of any number of jobs i am pursuing, I should be able to put an extra 8-9k into the car in the next 3-4 months.


The motivation is still there though trust me. Im living up in detroit now for school (compared to Pittsburgh), so I cant get any hands on time with the car. But I also am seeing a huuuge number of classic cars rolling around recently and it has really worked up my motivation to get some solid progress done. In fact my fraternity is also behind me on the deal, offering any assistance i need from simple hands on help to access to welding shops etc so once I have all the parts in one place with the car, it should be thrown together suppper fast. I'm hoping to get the entire drivetrain in in one go (so i dont shatter any cheapo-GM transmissions/rear-ends)

LMSkyliner

iTrader: (1)

Just lettin yall know that I havn't given up!!! Car is STILL getting paint work done. I have been letting it go since my new job is taking all my time, but "take your time" only goes so far. I have a week off at the end of the month, if the new painter has the parts done by then I will try to have it together before April 1st.

On another note. Make some extremely good $ at the new Job. Bouncing ideas of changing to an LS1 despite all the planning into the 383. Just ideas though. At least now I have the funds to back the project. now for the time!


In the mean time. Thanks for all the support guys!!! I don't think ill ever find as supportive of a message board as this one!

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

keep plugging away at it man.

I know exactly what your talking about Once you get one, it still takes up your time

LMSkyliner

iTrader: (1)

yea lol.. apparently being salaried means you get to work an extra 2 hrs a day for free

But it's gonna get there. Its nice to have a really supportive family behind me too, especially my dad. One way or another it'll be a beast one of these decades

GTAwheelman

good to know you havent given up.

LMSkyliner

iTrader: (1)

It is really hard to keep motivated with the car locked up like that. But I got home one day opened the garage to get something and there she was. It just felt like it was time to finish this yanno. I'm feeling really motivated now and can't wait to get it on the road!

LMSkyliner

iTrader: (1)

Sweet progress! Finally getting stuff back from the painters!

Here are some quick pics i snapped today after bringing more parts home still almost tacky from paint. Too cold to do anything and they need to dry more but da** so exciting!!!!






Next up, hood and the door moldings. After that. Assembly time!! We are ordering the necessary emblems/logos/decals this week to get everything ready. Finally some progress!!!

'87IROCZOWNER69

iTrader: (1)

Wait, they made you wait a year to get your car painted? A YEAR??? I would have taken the parts out gotten a refund and taken it to someone else at that point. I understand the guy is a good friend but that is redonkulous. Anyway, it looks like it is coming together great! Makes me want to work on mine but no garage space and cold weather along with snow and rain keeps delaying the work. I hope to get mine done by the summer time as well! Even though I have currently made no progress but at the moment I am just wanting to get dents removed, any rust treated, and get some paint on it. Along with engine getting tuned up and steam cleaned and then some minor interior work. Just got a job at Burger King but heck, the money will soon pour in and I will be able to work on it, but if I cant paint until about August I might just delay it another year but I dont know yet. I might just have to rent a storage place to start parking it in or maybe have my dad let me park it at his house. Just got to keep persuading him to buy something that wont fit in the garage and then I could probably park there. Like I said dont give up!

hotrod16105

Nice to see it's starting to come together. Very nice.

lysol106

iTrader: (1)

Great build thread!

What body shop did you use? I'm in the Pittsburgh area and shopping around for a paint job on my GTA. I want to make sure I don't go to a shop that takes a year+ to get the paint job done.

LMSkyliner

iTrader: (1)

I'd rather not say because they do their main stream work very efficiently its just we told him to do it in his off time sine he was helping us out and he has been VERY busy with more urgent business. To his credit when he heard we were going to switch he stayed all weekend to do it for us and as you can see it looks great.

lysol106

iTrader: (1)

^Thats awesome to hear that he would do that. The paint does look flawless though. Good luck on the rest of the build. I'm hoping to get my GTA done by the GM Nats this summer. It deserves to have a new paint job on it.

LMSkyliner

iTrader: (1)

still trudging along. I am back at school now and therefore I am 6 hrs from getting any work done, but my dad has taken it upon himself to keep working on it as the parts come in so progress is being made!

Thankfully, all the major parts are now painted!! There is still a few little trim pieces that could use a quick spray, but that is a non issue in comparison to pieces like the hood doors etc.

More good news is that both of the doors are almost completely put back together and working flawlessly. This includes the power windows and the power mirrors (in all directions) which I feel is a major accomplishment considering that my DD's power mirrors dont work all directions.
They do not have glass in them yet, but that is because me and my dad agree that a reasonable tint would look good on the car, so we are going to tint them out of the car.

Also, my DD has to go under the knife for cancer sometime this spring and I am hoping to DD the camaro by then. Very exciting!!

LMSkyliner

iTrader: (1)

She's inspected




super quick photo. I was more focused on going for a nice long drive, But MAN IS IT NICE!! All the interior is in for the most part, and a few extra pieces of Dynomat made a huge difference! So much work went into even getting it this far it really is just spectacular. Every switch, light, or general gizmo works perfect and I really can't ask for anything more. Car rides like brand new and was just so much fun to drive! I'll get more details and pictures up later but for now im just psyched. I owe so much to my dad who worked on the car while I was away at college and made this possible.

For reference and side by side comparison, here was freshly purchased:


and trust me, the issues were way more than skin deep.



Really needs some new wheels and tires, get the louvers back on, and she'll just be so sexy!

Bullydawg

iTrader: (7)

Looks good and congrats on the inspection pass! Plans to put the factory decals on? I think they look sick. Wish I could be home to finish my Formula... I'm stuck in Japan for a few years.

LMSkyliner

iTrader: (1)

yea we just havnt ordered them yet. Some of these emblems and stickers are expensive! We were more concerned with getting it on the road.

hotrod16105

Congrats man! Looks beautiful. Its come a long way. Glad you can enjoy it now.

bigdavesiroc

glad your finishing it......i had forgotten her for so long. she looks sexy in deep black. makes me wish i would have just went black on mine.

GTAwheelman

awesome that you are able to drive it now. seems like you started this forever ago.

LMSkyliner

iTrader: (1)

Long time no post eh? Seems like GFs, school, and 70+ hr work weeks get in the way of my car every time I turn around! However, We managed to get out and take some last minute pictures before spring so I figured Id share a few with yall.

I also want to note that this is not finished. I still have every intention to continue with a full drivetrain and suspension/chassis build, I simply do not have the time. I do, however, have the money thanks to an excellent job. Consider this a halftime break while i finish college. New gf loves the car so i'm in the clear there

anyways, Pictures!

LMSkyliner

iTrader: (1)

I'd like to thank my sister for taking time out of her day to come snap some pictures! None of these images have been photoshopped beyond 1-2 cropping, it's awesome having a supporting family/photographer lol. Next upgrades in the very near future will be a tasteful window tinting and wheels/tires (probably no larger than 18") then It will probably stay like that until I am out of school but I just gotta say I absolutely LOVE driving my car!

Awesome-X

Wow the before and after pictures really tell the story, huh? It came out great for sure!

GTAwheelman

looks great. the next 3rd gen i buy i want to look just like yours

LMSkyliner

iTrader: (1)

Soo uh... It's not often you get to necro your own thread however....

6 years, an engineering degree, new house, and a '14 Camaro later this build it totally still happening. Hope to post some updates soon! The machine shop is closing up some of its work on the block while the rest of the shopping list comes together. Some details have changed but the concept is still the same, although I'm not sure that mid 20s me agrees with teenage me on build names!