my low budget dream car build

[jpnovak]

Hahaha. It might not be able to keep up with the "no windows" part.

Currently in Chicago. 18 here.

[ADDvanced]

ami the only one who saw the IG posts and can't wait for the sunday update with this thing looking shiny AF? HYPE.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by chrisbalich

I finished the install of the electric-heated-defroster last night..................

Thank you for sharing this, I've been dreaming for years about doing this myself.

I've settled on using an independent second battery in the smuggler box for heating power that gets charged at night with a trickle charger.

I'm just too afraid of taxing my old electrical system, and if I don't use the heat I have a back-up battery (light weight Odyssey ).

[chrisbalich]

HURLEY SHIRT, IT'S MONDAY!!

Let's all jump in the time machine.


Thursday
The homie Gabe. drove down from MN (during a blizzard) to help me shine the LBDC.


Sanding


Sanding


Sanding


Compounding


Compounding


This is where we left off for the night.

[chrisbalich]

I took the LBDC to work on Friday. It was cold. There were only windows in the doors.
Most people are never as glad to get to work as I was that day.


We started again in on the compound and random orbital, but Gabe wasn't convinced it was powerful enough for the mess my paint was. We borrowed a 7" rotary polisher and fitted it with a short-nap wool pad and got to work.


Gabe couldn't stay long, but the work needed to be done.
After Gabe left, I started in with the random orbital again. I got <10 minutes in and Kevin felt I wasn't getting the job done.


Kevin and I then chased each other around the car taking turns compounding the car.


The paint is pretty hard. So it took a lot of compounding to get through the worst of the haze. Here's the LF fender after three or four goings over with the random orbital and the compound.


Compare that to the LR quarter with the same amount of time with the compound and random orbital.


It took us another three or four passes and the fender matched the quarter. Eventually, we all went home. The car had been extensively compounded and was looking pretty decent from 10-15'.

[chrisbalich]

Saturday was a lonely day in the garage. If you ever want to test your resolve to get done a job you just don't want to do, spend two days doing it with friends and then go home to finish alone. #slog #misery

To break up the general misery of polishing the LBSB, I made, painted, cold-blued, and epoxied a small piece of steel to the inside of the roof. This is my defacto glove box. I use a magnet to hold my registration and insurance to the roof. I assure you, it's more clever than it sounds.

Black piece of metal epoxied to roof.


It's wicked hard to hold a piece of metal up against the roof with tape or my hand for 24 hours. So I put on my thinking cap. (It's the magnet-mount for my GoPro.)


While the epoxy cured, I stared at the hood. It was a leathery mess of orange peel and disappointment. It was going to need to be repainted no matter what happened, so I started sanding.
800 didn't get the job done.
600 did...mostly.


After 600, I did 1000, then 1500. My fingers, forearms, back, feet, and head have not yet recovered. Three days in and it wasn't exactly flying along.

Somewhere in the middle of all that sanding.


And here is where the hood ended up after 1500. The dark spots are what you're thinking they are. That's the primer poking through.


Oh well. It's a driver, and I figured I'd end up repainting something. Plus I may yet have to paint the rear bumper and valance. No way out but through.
I compounded the life from the hood because flat and covered in liver spots is the only fate worse than shiny and covered in liver spots.


That exhausted my will to live for one day, so I shut off the lights and took my a$$ inside.

[chrisbalich]

SUNDAY, you beautiful ba$tard. I was so glad it was Sunday.
Once home from Sunday breakfast, you could see the light in my eyes die. I had to go out to the garage and polish the car. It was sanded and compounded as good as it was going to get and it was time for polish.

Let's start at the beginning of garage time.
I know I want to put in the windshield so I can drive it. I can't put in the windscreen until the dash has been reinstalled. The dash is broken into two (really three) pieces and barely held together by the vinyl covering. Let's see if I can't unfork the dash, at least structurally. I used some industrial staples (formerly used to close the box my new windscreen came in) to reinforce the break. I bent them into the shape of a staple (not closed), heated them with a torch, and pressed them into the foam. They burned a perfect-fitting hole as I pressed them in. I then, carved a little valley along the cracks and epoxied over everything. Tonight, I'll do the other side...as long as the bottom held at all.
First pass


I'm not sure how many hours I put into polishing the LBDC, but I did each panel twice...and went around the car twice. So I reckon it got a healthy four goings-over with the polisher. Is it as perfect as a Tweet car? LOL no. Am I going to scratch and chip it? Hell yes.
This is how it's going to be for a couple months. I may break out the paint in late March or April. It's going to depend largely on how I feel and how other projects are coming along.

At any rate, after polishing this turd, I pushed it outside so I could fire up the sandblaster. #glamourshots #ihateitlessnow




While the car was out in the fresh air, I set to refinishing the headlight rings. I dismantled the lights and sandblasted the rings. I then sanded them with 400, wiped em down, and then hosed em down with some satin black. #chromebegone

While the headlight rings dried, I took parts outside and started re-assembling the car. Quarter extensions and fender extensions took a little longer than anticipated, but I got them on without scratching them. I then pushed the car back in. I dug for my accordions for an age. I either lost my RF accordion, or it was deemed unfit and discarded without sourcing a replacement. I eventually phoned a friend and I have another pair of fronts inbound.
Enough time elapsed during this accordion mess for the headlight rings to be ready. So I jellied those hogs back together and shoved them into the car.

This is where I stopped for the night.



SO CLOSE.

I need to install the interior, clean all the windows (covered in soap), work on the dash, and fit the rockers tonight. Then, it's a matter of finishing the dash, and fitting the dash and windscreen. I probably won't make March 1, but I'm going to be close as hell.

[Evan Fullerton]

It’s looking REALLY good from here.

[chrisbalich]

Originally Posted by Evan Fullerton

It’s looking REALLY good from here.

Thank you.
My iPhone is very gracious. I'd say it's a solid 5-footer.
I'm really very pleased. I'm just super tired and eager to drive it instead of rub it.

[Eric at Pelican Parts]

Great work Chris! I don't miss detailing cars... as awesome as it is seeing a mirror like finish on the paint after a full detail, the back pain from being hunched over for hours is not worth it to me anymore. It's definitely more worthwhile when you have friends willing to help with payments of food and beer though

LBDC is looking great, can't wait for the next installment of updates!

[ToySnakePMC]

It was a leathery mess of orange peel and disappointment.

I’m telling you, we got our very own Peter Egan up in this joint. Read some old R&T mags or one of his books, and you’ll see it as well!

Little hot rod is looking great.

[Gabe.]

What a weekend Chris!

I was sad to have to leave prior to seeing the end result but glad I was able to help get you started.

My fingers, wrists, and shoulder are still feeling it... and I still need to do my car.

With the compound and polish out of the way, you should put sealant on so that you don't need to do this over again any time soon.

Kevin might have had some: https://adamspolishes.com/collections/protection-synthetic-sealants/products/adam-s-liquid-paint-sealant

After that, you can apply wax which I know he had: https://adamspolishes.com/collections/carnauba-waxes/products/adam-s-buttery-wax

Both of those are way easier to apply (than what we were doing with compound/wax) and take a lot less time. Essentially spread it on, let it sit, and wipe it off. Which, by the time you get it applied around the car it's ready to wipe off.

[chrisbalich]

Originally Posted by ToySnakePMC

It was a leathery mess of orange peel and disappointment.

I’m telling you, we got our very own Peter Egan up in this joint. Read some old R&T mags or one of his books, and you’ll see it as well!

Little hot rod is looking great.

This is a well-timed compliment. I've been feeling like my posts of late have lacked the creativity and story-telling you've all become accustomed to. I'm glad I still have a little in the tank, even when I feel it's run dry.

Thank you for both compliments.

Originally Posted by Gabe.

What a weekend Chris!

I was sad to have to leave prior to seeing the end result but glad I was able to help get you started.

My fingers, wrists, and shoulder are still feeling it... and I still need to do my car.

With the compound and polish out of the way, you should put sealant on so that you don't need to do this over again any time soon.

Kevin might have had some: https://adamspolishes.com/collections/protection-synthetic-sealants/products/adam-s-liquid-paint-sealant

After that, you can apply wax which I know he had: https://adamspolishes.com/collections/carnauba-waxes/products/adam-s-buttery-wax

Both of those are way easier to apply (than what we were doing with compound/wax) and take a lot less time. Essentially spread it on, let it sit, and wipe it off. Which, by the time you get it applied around the car it's ready to wipe off.

IKR. And then Sunday, I roped in all the rear glass. Absolutely brutalized what was left of my hands.
Sealant and wax will come after it's back together, I reckon. I'll probably bring it back to work and con Kevin into helping me with that stuff before I clock too many miles. So far, the fresh paint has ~10 miles on it. (all from last Friday)

I can't thank you enough for all the help, except to offer to come up when it's time to do yours. I'm hoping to have my car roadworthy this weekend. So name a date, and I'll clear my schedule. #justPorschebrosthings


I got some more work done to the dash last night and then one skirt most of the way on the car. Not the monumental progress (in nominal time) I'm known for...but incremental progress is still progress. Tonight should be a little better.

[ADDvanced]

I have been refreshing the Technical forum over the weekend, multiple times saturday, sunday, and monday, waiting for this one. It's looking awesome! Wet sanding and polishing a car out is a total slog, here's just some random thoughts.
- Sometimes it's worth checking paint/body shops to see how much they'd charge for wet sand/buff. They have all the pro equipment and people who are used to doing it all the time, and if they haven't changed their entire strategy to marketing BS and rebranded things like "paint correction" instead of cut/polish, their prices may be reasonable.
- I wet sanded/polished out my Audi wagon, it ... sucked. But I did pick up a few things. If you're hitting a panel w compound and it's still not getting shiny, you probably need to sand it more. I went down to 1500 everywhere, it polished out rather quick. What compound are you using? I pretty much use 3m PerfectIt, it's $50 a bottle but it's a big giant commerical bottle and it works amazingly well.
- Sanding through the primer, so, just throwing this out there. My car had **** paint. One side, someone got too happy with a buffer, and cut through the paint into the primer on the fender, door and rear 1/4. The other side had crazed/crackled look to the finish like somoene sprayed a weird chemical near it. Since I had just gone through the hell of wet sanding/polishing out the Audi with it's >checks notes< 33 individual painted parts (FML), I didn't want to paint a car again. Possibly not ever. So.... I started sanding the rest of the car, 800 down to 1500, in random spots, then just polished it out, so now the entire car has a 'mottled' appearance. It looks well worn, and reminds me of an old baseball glove. I get CONSTANT compliments on the paint, it's unique, it's still shiny, and people love it. Point is, I took a flaw and made it into a feature, and I think that vibe would fit your car.
- For paint sealant, I use Klasse, german, been around since the 60s, works awesome, can layer it, and its CHEAP. Link: https://amzn.to/3YgqbUs
- Distract! Add a bunch of vinyl decals, and nobody will ever notice flaws in paint.

Anyway, lookin killer man, just don't want you to get too bummed about sanding through. Hope this helps, cheers!

Edit: I'm stuck in a teams meeting for a few hours, so, idk, something punchy/graphic/loud/vintage like this = nobody notices your paint flaws:

[Focker]

To add to the peanut gallery, 3M trizac 3000 grit is expensive, but 10000% worth the price.

[Porkshop]

Please keep us updated on the dash, as I have one in the same state of problems. I will probably end up painting my car also as I hate the thought of painter jail....

[Hulley]

Not gonna lie, I like the no rocker look even though I know you're putting them back on.

[jpnovak]

I think the paint looks great. It takes the ethos of the car and ups a few notches... And I mean that exactly as-is.

[chrisbalich]

Originally Posted by ADDvanced

I have been refreshing the Technical forum over the weekend, multiple times saturday, sunday, and monday, waiting for this one. It's looking awesome! Wet sanding and polishing a car out is a total slog, here's just some random thoughts.
- Sometimes it's worth checking paint/body shops to see how much they'd charge for wet sand/buff. They have all the pro equipment and people who are used to doing it all the time, and if they haven't changed their entire strategy to marketing BS and rebranded things like "paint correction" instead of cut/polish, their prices may be reasonable.
- I wet sanded/polished out my Audi wagon, it ... sucked. But I did pick up a few things. If you're hitting a panel w compound and it's still not getting shiny, you probably need to sand it more. I went down to 1500 everywhere, it polished out rather quick. What compound are you using? I pretty much use 3m PerfectIt, it's $50 a bottle but it's a big giant commerical bottle and it works amazingly well.
- Sanding through the primer, so, just throwing this out there. My car had **** paint. One side, someone got too happy with a buffer, and cut through the paint into the primer on the fender, door and rear 1/4. The other side had crazed/crackled look to the finish like somoene sprayed a weird chemical near it. Since I had just gone through the hell of wet sanding/polishing out the Audi with it's >checks notes< 33 individual painted parts (FML), I didn't want to paint a car again. Possibly not ever. So.... I started sanding the rest of the car, 800 down to 1500, in random spots, then just polished it out, so now the entire car has a 'mottled' appearance. It looks well worn, and reminds me of an old baseball glove. I get CONSTANT compliments on the paint, it's unique, it's still shiny, and people love it. Point is, I took a flaw and made it into a feature, and I think that vibe would fit your car.
- For paint sealant, I use Klasse, german, been around since the 60s, works awesome, can layer it, and its CHEAP. Link: https://amzn.to/3YgqbUs
- Distract! Add a bunch of vinyl decals, and nobody will ever notice flaws in paint.

Anyway, lookin killer man, just don't want you to get too bummed about sanding through. Hope this helps, cheers!

Edit: I'm stuck in a teams meeting for a few hours, so, idk, something punchy/graphic/loud/vintage like this = nobody notices your paint flaws:

I don't hate those graphics, but they're not really my style. If I go with any sort of graphic, it'll be big flat black (satin?) meatballs. Even that may be more than I can stand. I'm a 'less is more' sort of fella.

Originally Posted by Focker

To add to the peanut gallery, 3M trizac 3000 grit is expensive, but 10000% worth the price.

Good to know.

Originally Posted by Porkshop

Please keep us updated on the dash, as I have one in the same state of problems. I will probably end up painting my car also as I hate the thought of painter jail....

I spent another hour on that dash last night. The vinyl on it is so brittle, that any amount of flexing the dash causes more cracks. I got mad last night and ordered a new unit off eBay. The reviews/feedback on it are that they fit well, but the covers are a little rubbery.
We'll see in a week when it shows up. If it's horrible, I'll send it back and be out shipping and another week of my life.

Originally Posted by Hulley

Not gonna lie, I like the no rocker look even though I know you're putting them back on.

IB cars without rockers look unfinished to me. I just can't do it.

Originally Posted by jpnovak

I think the paint looks great. It takes the ethos of the car and ups a few notches... And I mean that exactly as-is.

Thank you.
Once I get it on the road and clock a few miles, I'll be better poised to assess the 'character' in the paint.
I honestly think the blems in the paint are an expression of honesty. This is what really happens the first time you paint a car.

[AG81]

Originally Posted by chrisbalich

IB cars without rockers look unfinished to me. I just can't do it.

Yup...I tried..... it doesn't work for me either.