Stage 1: Underway on 4.30.07

[averagewhiteboy]

Hey guys.

Just wanted to let y'all in on the info for my 2 stage process to get my sh*t back on the road. It's been hibernating for like 8 months, so she saw spring here lately, and she wants in on the fun. We'll see what we can do. I'm bringing it up on monday, and have all week (my parents are going on vacation) so I got the whole garage. Plus, after that, I'm leaving it up until the body gets done. Let's see the breakdown shall we?

- swap door plates with better condition ones I have from '85 Monte LS
- reattatch drivers side front bumper
- tuck in all body panels that are poking out (long story)
- clean floor in trunk
- fix small trunk leak
- fix all squeaks (hood, trunk, suspension) if possible
- pop out big dent in passenger side rear quarter
- Bondo the other tiny dents and big scratch on passenger side
- Nevr-Dull and polish all chrome
- take remaining trim off trunk (has this tacky sh*t on there)
- clean carb up real well
- super duper ultra mega interior scrub, part deux (carpet this time too)
- Armor All dash and door panels again
- replace overhead light and reverse light bulbs
- pop out rear bumper if possible
- we'll see what else happens

I'd like to get the whole thing sprayed flat black before I take it back, just so it's not spotted with Bondo, and half in primer. The paint needs re done anyway, so I'd like to just get it all to match for now, then get a respray in the green or something later on. But for now, I'm sick of it being half green and half primer. lol. So we'll see how it goes. I'm real pumped up. This is all the time consuming work, then part 2 is just getting a cat-back installed (currently has no muffler), fixing the drivers side door handle (doesn't open from outside), changing the brakes out, getting it insured, and getting it inspected. So next time is mainly just cash. So we'll see. Hopefully by mid-June, if not sooner. Which will be funny because that's when I bought it last year. So it'd be a year. lol. Then, after it's legal, I'm doing the speakers, installing the rally gauges, installing a small column-mount tach, and doing a good tune-up. Then after that, suspension. After that, drivetrain (if I'm still interested by then). lol. 350 w/ 4 speed and 3.73's. After that (if I'm really still interested), a good paint job. By that damn time I'll be 80. haha.

I'll throw some pics up of the before and after on Monday (I'll get the befores up) then I'll throw some up progressively as it get's done.

But also, I need some input. For now, I've got the drivers side door and fender in black primer. Is the primer necessary if I'm just painting it flat black? Is the flat black spray paint sandable at all? I don't want any drips or anything. Eventhough it's gonna be flat black, I want it to be as nice as possible. Plus, with the black top and the Cragars, I think it'd look pretty cool. So, should I do sanding, then primer, then flat black, then sealer, or just go sanding, then flat black, then sealers? And for sealers, what should I use? I never used sealers, I just left the primer as it was and it's held up perfectly...

Thanks!!!!!!

8)

 

[averagewhiteboy]

Also, do the base models have stock sway bars? I would assume the Monte SS and the Grand National do, so could I use the stock ones from them if I coudl get them for pretty cheap? Because when I do the new suspension I'd like to do that, but surely don't want to spend 300 for both aftermarket ones. lol.

 

[averagewhiteboy]

So, the car is up here now. And I almost made Americas Most Wanted in the process. haha! The car doesn't have a current inspection or insurance coverage, so me and my dad went down to get it and drive it back up very carefully. It's 85% highway and noone really noticed any other time we did it.

Having that said, I needed air in my tires and some gas in my tank before we could leave. So I started out by pulling into the road to go get gas. There's a cop right infront of me. Damn. My inspection tags are in plain sight, I'm toast. Nah. The cop pulled into the other lane and turned into the gas station too. I did as well, but pulled over by the air tank. Turns out, there was a gas tanker truck parked inbetween the cop and me. At this point, he thought I was avading him and he left. So I got gas and air and left. I get on the highway, do my 55 (the car's got the 3.8, it won't go uch higher. lol. I pass a cop that was in the median. N obig deal. I was going 55. Nah, next thing I know, I've got the flashing lights in my rear view. I then said every swear word I know. Then, after some talking, I just get a warning. No insurance, no inspection, no muffler...lol. A WARNING. I was so pumped.

Long story short, the cap at the station thought I was avading him. So he radio'd in and told the other police to be on the lookout for my GP. So that cop was waiting on the highway for me to come right by. If I had my CB plugged in, that would've been exactly what would've went down. It was intense.

So, bodywork starts in the morning!!!

:wink: 8)

That's right. In my '85 GP with 110 hp. I was avading the cops. hahahahaha!!!!!

 

[averagewhiteboy]

Day one went well. I started off by washing her in the afternoon, then pulled her inside to do work later that night. I started about 11, and just got done (3:10 am). lol. Fully scrubbed the carpet, reinstalled my CB and ran the cable, replaced the dome light, replaced the reverse lights, messed around with the radio and speakers, experimented with my bumpers, fixed my window cranks, and a bunch of tiny things that made one very sucessful night. I can't wait until tomorrow night! In the morning, just a solid vacumm job, then later that night (after work) starting on the sanding hopefully. We'll see how it goes. Pics up soon as well!