1987 Olds Pro-touring project build - Now with paint

[FE3X CLONE]

Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*

Are they telling you to skim the whole car in plastic filler and then block it?

No, my friend Gregg (blacksheep on ROP) was telling my to use the body filler around all the gaps. 1/4 panel to doors, doors to fenders, etc. He said that the panels tend to cup inward when they meet each other and that high build primer usually isn't enough to get them straight in this area.

What are you sanding with.

Well, I first knock the body filler down with my DA sander and 80grit paper. Once I get the high spots knocked down I switch over to my sanding blocks and 80 grit paper. I bought the 7 pc Durablock kit for my sanding blocks. They're like a hard foam block.

http://dura-block.com/durablockline.html

Are you using the x pattern when you sand followed by a straight pull when leveling your filler? I also use the X when blocking.

Yes, I'm blocking everything in an 'X' pattern at roughly 30-45* angles. I spray on a mist coat of SEM Guide Coat black and sand until its gone. Then mist another coat on and keep going. What do you mean by a "straight pull"?

 

[Bernhard]

Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*

I have used dura -block they are good as well. The staight pull is a horizontal pull across the filler with the board or block in the vertical. The X patern is done moore often than the straight pull, there was a rule to this I just can't remember. Body work is done so much by feel of the hand and checking with your eye's.Your tech is good guide coat and X patern, you do good work car is going to look very sharp.

 

[Andy]

Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*

DId I miss the posts about the watts link install? DId you build it yourself? Got any more pics of it?

 

[FE3X CLONE]

Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*

Not sure I posted much on the watts link.

I did build it myself. Well, at least to a point. I actually bought a weld together kit from SC&C. They sell a bolt-in kit but with my frame notch, that wouldn't have worked.

Here's a picture of all the pieces after I pulled them out of the box:

After I had it mocked up in place:

And a couple after I painted the chassis and had the watts link, rearend, etc. all powder coated:

 

[454muscle]

Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*

Nice work on the doors and the powdercoating looks good. Time consuming work, but well worth it. You must have tons of patience! 🙂 ... Only thing is that I really like the current 17" rims and tire combo you got. I like the look and the size. If you do get new ones, I hope you don't go higher than 18"!

 

[FE3X CLONE]

Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*

Thanks.

As far as wheel/tire size. I'm not really considering anything larger than 20". I think 20's can look good but only if you can keep a decent size sidewall and lower the car.
However I'll probably stick to something around 19" mostly for the bigger brakes and little more performance wheels/tire options.

Right now I have 12" front rotors with ZO6 Corvette calipers and 12" rear LS1 rotors with LS1 single piston PBR calipers. I'm sure these will be a great upgrade over stock however ultimately down the road, I'd like to go up to a 15-15.5" front rotor and 14-15" rear rotor setup with 4-6 piston monoblock style calipers. Something similar to the new ZR1 setup.

For those I'll need all the wheel room I can get. :lol:

 

[FE3X CLONE]

Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*

Well, spend the better part of the weekend block sanding my drivers side door. I stripped the primer that was on it to keep it from rusting years ago off and found some small rust pits all over. So I took my spot sand blaster and blasted the pits really well. Cleaned everything down good then started spreading some body filler.

I hadn't planned on putting on has much as I did but I just kept finding low spot after low spot. Had to fix the rear corner of the door as it was bent slightly for some reason.

It's pretty darn straight now but I know after the primer is on it I'll have a few spots to touch up.

Dropped the door and my trunk lid off at my neighbors house along with the HOK DTM primer so that he can spray everything.

Next I need to finish rebuilding my driver's side top door hinge and then move onto stripping the passenger door.

In a few weeks I'll be headed up to Michigan to pick up an entire roof someone on Oldspower was gracious enough to offer up. Once I get it back I'll reskin the roof and then hopefully move onto aligning the body panels and fitting the body kit.

Hopefully by the end of the summer I'll be done with the block sanding and primer and ready for paint....(fingers crossed) :lol:

 

[pontiacgp]

Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*

That's a nice set up in the rear end. Did you ever consider another mod and going with a 3 link?

 

[FE3X CLONE]

Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*

That's a nice set up in the rear end. Did you ever consider another mod and going with a 3 link?

Yeah, but that will have to come later down the road. A 3 link would be ideal, I just didn't have the time or patience to design and engineer one. 🙁

 

[pontiacgp]

Re: 1987 Olds Pro-touring project build *LONG*

That's a nice set up in the rear end. Did you ever consider another mod and going with a 3 link?

Yeah, but that will have to come later down the road. A 3 link would be ideal, I just didn't have the time or patience to design and engineer one. 🙁

I'm doing the same thing, I'm anxious to get my car back on the road so there are a few things I'm putting off till I put the car away next winter...