build thread 1983 grand prix

[jamon8]

found out that the wheels are Cragar mach 8s

cant wait to get to polishing them

its a little too cold out right now

 

[jamon8]

I just got done doing a little sorcery to get my anodized aluminum to shine again

I used some caustic soda mixed with water. I put the whole bottle in the five gallon bucket and filled it to the top

I need to find something that will take the whole trim piece that goes across the door to soak my parts in

the caustic soda does not seem to eat away at plastic since the bucket is made of plastic but we will see in the morning how the bucket faired

 

[jamon8]

did a little polishing today and I think these wheels are gonna do just fine

 

[jamon8]

just got her in primer and will take pics after she leaves the garage

I am starting the project of replacing the oil pump, the rear main seal, oil pan gasket, timing chain, cam and lifters with a RV cam, valve springs valve stem seals, intake, carburator, distibutor, and plugs and wires

may have to put headers on but we will see how well taking the air tubes off the manifolds goes

 

[jamon8]

today I got the exhaust manifolds off put in the rear main seal, oil pump, camshaft, lifters, timing chain, springs and seals

 

[jamon8]

I forgot to take a pic after I got the motor done so here it is

all you have to do is pump her twice and hold it down at 1/8 th pedal and she fires right up

after she has had some gas through her all you have to do to start it is tap the key and she fires

 

[jamon8]

I have not taken a pic of her since I first started stripping her down and doing the body work

since then I have stripped it completly and finished the major body work

then she went into primer. two coats of epoxy primer then 2k primer and got a good block with a long block.

all the low spots were filled and sanded and this is what she looks like right before getting her second coat of 2k primer

 

[jamon8]

center caps just came in the mail for my mach 8 wheels

Yeah I am probably the only person that is gonna have these wheels on a grand prix and that is the best part

the center caps cost me 270

keep in mind that these wheels are from the 70's

 

[jamon8]

I think I found a color that will work on Penny thats her name

the color is called shinny penny pearl and it is a summit brand color

 

[Intragration]

I think those wheels are pretty cool, looking forward to seeing them on the car. The color looks fairly nice. I'm not a fan of most reds, but it looks ok for a red to me. I want to say it's not too far off from a factory red that I seem to remember on GPs.