Went & did some tire kicking

Did get a call this morning about the old job getting a MBC formula to match from PPG. Since I had something come up & had to be over near the store I stopped ing & had a quart mixed. It looks good as it sits in the can but I hope soon to see if the gamble pays off or Jr. gets another lesson in being a cars guy. Still going to the place near work to see if I can have better luck with a Shop Line match. Then to ensure I'll have a good sample of the color on hand I picked up a pack of spray out cards to restock after all these years just to see those weren't safe from the price increases.

From what started as a really good day bit me at the end. Took Jr. to a Trunk-N-Treat car show & meet up with an Army buddy who brought his 5th gen Camaro SS. The get back to the house to get everything ready to repaint the plate pocket & bulb access panels. Got the 10x10 canopy set up as a booth, did my spray outs with the Omni & Shopline to see what was the best match with the Omni being the best match. Even tried the first batch of Shopline to find out the compressor going down was why it didn't spray right but needs lots of coats just to be close. Got the parts ready to go, planned out a spot of the original hood I was going to let Jr. loose on to learn how to paint. Then as I mixed up a cup of paint unscheduled rain & a cold front had to visit.

I was at the point of no return with the paint & everything being set up I went for it but the lock ring for the cup (Spectra liner cup) didn't feel right but it was snug right up to the air hose hook up.



Didin't it blow off wasting half the cup. hurried up & grabbed the other cup that came with the gun, saved what I could & Charlie Mike. Color came out good but still had to mix more to get all three pieces done. Then I moved n to puting on the clear but the air temp dropped just enought to let me spray it but it ended up blushing & got cloudy.


Good thing Jr. ran inside when the rain hit & kept away until he knew I was done, missing out on the colorful words being muffled in the mask. I hope to wet sand it out but I think the blushing is deep into the first coat of clear. Then I see dispite the sanding, cleaning & spot glazing didn't those lift cracks show up in the same spot again on the covers. Good thing those really didn't get that bad of blushing. A good take away was Jr. got to see what the spray out cars are for & was able to see how different each shade can be. Even showed what the black squares on the top were for from seeing them disappear as I put the coats on. This was one of those "sometimes you eat the bear & sometimes the bear eats you" days. Think the bear got a taste of my arse.

Think the gods were being nice to us this morning. Got through the Sunday choirs & check things out with the blushing. Still was there but wet sanded everything anyways. Like before but not as bad had a few over sanded light spots but one will have to look. Cleaned the put the compound to work. Brown & shiney. Now it'll be up to the wind on what gets painted next. It already blew down my ghetto paint booth. Maybe I should have Jr. wax it all so he can get it so I can get a plate on it.

I just realized that getting Jr. to wax it up now is a rookie mistake. I even told him earlier everything has to fully dry & outgas everything which hould be about 30 days. But we did get the extra quarter extensions sanded & some primer put on, took off the inner plastic brackets that they paint over on the assembly line just to paint them black & won't go back on until the brown & clear gets sprayed on them. I would of liked to of done it today but the wind wasn't playing nice with my ghetto booth, Then as I was getting things cleaned up I hit his column with the can SEM camel just so I can get it out of the way.

After getting other things done today we finally had a oil change lesson which we should of already had done. I wanted to get it done earlier but the wife had other plans for me so it was a after supper job. Again shown Jr. what he'll have to do to ensure everything is safe before getting under his car. Pointed out the drain bolt & filter locations along with getting the catch pan in place to try to keep things as clean as possible. Got out the needed tools & it was a go. Pulled the bolt & found it still had the originally installed plastic gasket, still with some GM blue on it. Told him to put it back in with a new gasket as soon as the pan finished draining. Got the old filter socket out & showed him how it seats & grips the filter using the new one. Get back under & in position then Murphy came to help. It wouldn't get a bite to grip the old filter (looks like a old PH25 Delco). Go get the gripper pliers just to remember they don't work too well on our cars. We already drained the pan so it be came a oil only change. So in with four quarts & the zinc additive, checked to make sure the new gasket didn't leak, had him fire up his car to get the oil moving. He said it seemed like it started better & was smoother with mostly new oil. All is good for now, just will need to get the filter delt with after getting something else to grip it. Can't seem to have a lesson on his car without an issue. Guess it's a good teaching tool since not much goes according to plan.

Took Jr. to a local small (really small like less than 10 venders) swap meet to hunt for treasures for his car only to for him to be surpised by a red Monte Carlo that pulled in. Asked him if he knew who it was but he was unsure until he noticed UC645 when he parked it, While we all were looking over the tool vender's stuff I found him some clear for a killer deal. It's U-Pol's Rapid System UP6505 with the needed hardner & was only $75. Shame to find out U-Pol don't make it anymore but I don't think it'll be a problem. Did see a older Eldelbrock single plane intake with EGR & was thinking it could of been something for Jr. down the road but passed as there's no engine plans in the works anytime soon & his budget money cone go to better/needed things for now. Next weekend will be another small local meet to see what we can find.

Somebody was able to do some chores & did some other good things to earn some money towards some more paint for the spring. I went to pick it up this afternoon as I burnt the day for the vets event at the Jr./Sr. High this morning. Guessing maybe getting another quart or two then there should be enough paint for everything & for some boo-boo's from his learning of how to paint. Next to get a plane on what primers & sealers that'll be the best for this paint job along with the glue for the new vinyl roof. Just hope I get the doors figured out with either getting a good set or see if Jr. has his great-grandfather's metal shaping skills in his genes.

Spent some more (over paid) on what is supposedly NOS vertical seals for the quarter window seals. Not happy on being charged shipping cost for UPS just to have them shipped USPS Ground Advantage but was given the excuse "All of our shipping is done through the Ebay Calculated Shipping Program platform. Shipping is based on your zip code, box dimensions and dimensional weight of the box." Two flat pieces of rubber don't need a big box. Hell, the NOS door edge guards were shipped in a schedule 40 pipe & was way cheaper. One of those deals with somebody having what you need while being the only guy around selling it. Now the quarter windows will have fresh seals.