Re: Driveit's day dreaming and build thread.

[JB2wheeler]

I had my 78 painted at MAACO about a dozen years ago and they used urthane metalic midnight blue. It cost around $450 during one of their many sales. It was OK for a daily driver, it had minor orange peel and dust. The only thing I really did not like was the metalic looked a little .... muted. JB

[Pontichev327]

I have see a couple of cars at the cruises that were painted at Maaco, but the owners did the prep and removal of all trim. After a little cut and buff, they were quite respectable. But like dynchel said, a chain will vary greatly from one location to another, there are some that just do a better job.

[driveit]

Yeah.  I am thinking of taking it to the body shop down here at the college.  All I would have to pay for would be the paint and other materials needed.

I am going to try to do all of the body work myself.

[driveit]

Just got my To Do list ready for this year. If I can get all of this done I will be surprised, but hopefully I can at least get the things done that are just a few bucks or so.

Current Focus:
Brake lines 150.00
Front and Rear Seatbelts ?
700 R4 Transmission 500.00
Shorty headers - possible free set from my uncle
Repair windshield leak 5.00
Install headliner and visors ?
Carpet and insulation ?
Scuff and black out trim that is not removable 5.00
Remove all other trim possible 10.00
Refurbish steering wheel 2.00
Install new steering gearbox ?
Balance d/shaft if same can be used on OD. 75.00
Rewire Stereo 0.00
Repair dash light dimmer assembly ?
Cut or replace front springs. 40.00
Build console 40.00
Correct my poor install of roof rail w/stripping 10.00

[dynchel]

What trim is not removable?

[driveit]

Around the windshield and rear glass. The rood rail and top of the door with the felts. I thin they have to be there, don't they?

[dynchel]

That stuff all comes off. You need a release tool to remove the window trim. The chrome on the door is part of the felts. They are held in place with Phillips screws, the door panel will need to be off, and if I remember correctly the lower window stop will need to be removed (so the window will drop enough to get to the screws)

[driveit]

I know it all comes off, but around the front and rear glass doesn't it serve a purpose? Or is it just for looks? I would like to remove it all accept the bumpers, door handle and locks. I have never seen it without the trim so I am not sure what it looks like.

[dynchel]

I think its just for looks, and it dosen't look good without it. I know mine was off for two years while i was doing the body work.

[driveit]

By any chance do you have a pic of it?

[Wallyuph]

I think its just for looks, and it dosen't look good without it.  I know mine was off for two years while i was doing the body work.

Yes it looks bad with out it. I have seen some guys paint them but I have also seen it peel from poor prep on paint

[driveit]

I had planned to scuff it really well them prime and paint it just like the car in a gloss black.

[driveit]

Ok, so I changed the HD big block springs out for the HD small block springs Saturday. It is pretty much level now. Definitely does not look like a 2 inch drop on the front. I really wish I would have saved up and go the qa1 coil overs for the front. I will upload some pics from Saturday, hopefully tonight.

I found these at Summit.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hal-ge401-10350c
$339.97 for the pair.

[dynchel]

Stuff like that is nice, but can you really justify the expense? It all seems unnecessary unless you are planning to do some real autocrossing (or a wheels off show car)

[driveit]

Main reason I want it is so that I can get the exact stance I want. I am tired of switching springs and not get the stance I want. I bought the 2 inch drop spindle for the front. I was mistakenly given big block springs. I replaced those and it is still not 2 inches lower. It is about level now I think.

[dynchel]

My experience is if you cut one coil it will drop appx one inch. Maybe cut a coil or coil & a half.

[driveit]

If I do that I think I will pay someone to do it. I am tired of taking them in and out... Too much other stuff to focus on. lol... life!

[chevellelaguna]

When I first built my car no one made dropped spindles for our cars so I bought new replacement Moog springs and cut 2 1/2 coils out of them. It's low.... So low in fact that you cannot slide a floor jack under the crossmember without  driving it up on blocks first. I can go over speed bumps slowly, diagonally, and still scrape the Hedders. You get it too low and it becomes a pain in the as$ sometimes.

[driveit]

Yeah. I just want the nose to be lower than the back. Then I am happy! I hope to get some pics on here by tomorrow, but if I don't I am sure I will have plenty from the show this weekend.

[dynchel]

When I first built my car no one made dropped spindles for our cars so I bought new replacement Moog springs and cut 2 1/2 coils out of them. It's low.... So low in fact that you cannot slide a floor jack under the crossmember without  driving it up on blocks first. I can go over speed bumps slowly, diagonally, and still scrape the Hedders. You get it too low and it becomes a pain in the as$ sometimes.

I would really like to drop the front of my '74 another inch, but the side pipes already bottom out on speed bumps, and it is hard (not impossible) to get a jack under the crosmember now.

[driveit]

Does your sit pretty level?

[dynchel]

Its level, but I prefer a little rake....low in the rear, lower in the front.

[driveit]

Me too.

[driveit]

Ok so the local show is in 3 days. Gotta do a llittle prep work!

Clean inside and out.
Touch up all paint.
Push the rear bumper back in and tack weld it this time.
Repair windshield leak.
Install carpet.
Install tires if they can be found...

[driveit]

Got very little finished on my project list in my last post. I did get it washed and polished it up on the inside a bit. I got the tires installed, but that was it. Not enough time in the day! Had a good time at the show though.

[Sponsored content]