So I got this shoebox originally to clean it up, add a free '49 grill and drive (Its a '51 v8 3sp od car.) but it spirolled out of control. I bought some areostar coils and 3" blocks and I didn't want to put them in until I did the kingpins and steering and cleaned and painted the front frame and.... I didn't do any of that. Insted I started taking the car apart.I'm just short of pulling the body off as of today. Now my plan is to start frame off and clean/paint/rebuild everything. I talked to the powdercoating shop that is currently doing my wheels and he said he could do the frame,suspenion and rear axle for $1000. I'm still up in the air on this. 1k includes blast, prime, and powdercoat. What do you guys think? Is it better than frame paint? is 1k a good deal? any way here are the pics ready to go to her new home my son helping with the facelift as it was free grill new hood (and latch panel) kevin showing some enthusiasm down it goes Found this at the good guys show in Plesanton as you can see its an improvement over the 6cyl freebie
If you intend to keep the car for a long time the powder coating would be okay...and save you a lot of work. As for the money involved, you might check a few other places in your vicinity and see what they'd charge. Whatever you do...keep that kid working on the car ! He's the FUTURE of R&C. The more he learns now the better he'll be able to do it when he's our age !! Good luck...nice Shoebox ! Jonnie King www.legends.thewwbc.net
One vote for the powdercoat too.I have powdercoated a lot of bike parts past years and i am going to the same thing with my shoebox. The plan is to powdercoat the frame too,if it fits into their oven... Good luck with your project!
Not a bad deal, in my opinion--but see if he will also powdercoat your fenderwell panels (six pieces, three per side); the panel that hides the clutch linkage; the hood latch panel (you may need a new one--'49 is different than '51); your radiator shroud piece (again, you may not have one) and maybe also the two pieces that cover the transmission tunnel. That would be a truly good deal--especially just those six fenderwell pieces, 'cause they are a pain in the you-know. I'd even throw another $100 on the pile for all that, bumping it to $1,100. Save you a ton of aggravation. Lastly, keep your little helper out there. He's doing a great job, and what everyone else says is true: everything he learns now, he'll be able to do much better in just six months.
The blasting and pre paint prep is definately worth something to me. But I'm confident in saying powdercoat isn't a magic time proof coating. I honestly believe there are liquid coatings that are on par or our perform many powdercoats. That being said, there are many different powders out there too. Just as there isn't just one kind of paint, there isn't just one kind of powder either. If you find a shop that can e-coat (dip) and then powdercoat then you've really got something. But a single stage powder (probably a TGIC polyester) over a prepped frame vs a liquis chassis coating over a prepped bare frame... Toss a coin IMO. Because of the nature of electrostatic powder application it can be difficult to get coverage in boxed or deep inside V areas. Powder coaters call it faraday cage effect. It's very common to end up with light or no paint in areas like this. Don't get me wrong, powdercoat is great. But it's not superior to all as many people think it is. I run a powdercoating line for a manufacturing facility, we coat over a million parts a year. I guess I've got around 20 yrs experience in the coatings world both in liquid and powder. If the shop gets the prep right, gets the application right and gets the cure right then you'll have a good coating. It all depends on your budget and what you feel like doing yourself and what you don't feel like doing yourself. If it's worth it to you to see that frame go away nasty and come back all shiny and nice, ready to assemble then it's just plain worth it. If you struggle with the idea of handing out that money but you believe you are paying for someone to do a better job than you could do on your own then I have good news for you, you can do as good or better on your own. Keep in mind you wont do it for free though, you'll have to buy some supplies so you won't save the whole grand. It's more likely you'd save 600 or so doing it yourself. (awesome project by the way and you've got the best kind of helper there!)
Now my plan is to start frame off and clean/paint/rebuild everything. I have had blasted two frames, one a 62 Chevy, and, a 1947 Ford. The 62, I primed, and painted. Came out great. The 47 Ford, had powdercoated(there is an industrial coater in our community) and I like it better. I do not have the lighter areas on my Ford Frame. All the interior cavities were covered and look as good as the outside perimeter. My choice is powder coating. The price quoted for blasting and applying the coating is not too far out of line. Consider the cost of stripping and prepping the frame yourself. It is a labor intensive situation to do it right. And if you are going to do it, might as well as get it right. Otherwise, no reason to do it at all. As mentioned in another post, it is the attention to prep and and work ethic more than choice of products.
Food for thought. I do have the '49 latch panel, I have not considered anything past the frame yet Thanks for the info. As far as e-coat I am limited as there arn't any places around here (rural area) as it is I have to load it up and drive an hour and a half to the powder coater to everyone else thanks for the kind words and info. My son really digs this project and begs to go out to the garage every day after school. He wants a '50 merc. (He better start saving now)
If I had an enthusiastic helper I would more than likely strip, sand, metal prep and paint myself. I think POR 15 is a good choice. Cost of paint and prep materials would likely be under $200.00. That being said, a $1000.00 seems quite reasonable to do all of that work. It's really what works best for you. The other thing that concerns me is if your going to powdercoat, are you really ready? I seem to always go back and fix or change something and it is much easier to touch up paint than powdercoating. No wrong answer here. I need a Shoebox!! Love 'em, neat car!!
cool project-as for taking body off to powder coat frame sounds like a lot of work and expense just to impress the roadkill passing under your car. powder coating inner fender panels, etc sounds like a better idea. depends if you are going all out with high buck everything or a clean driver. also, how deep your wallet is. I have a "simple" chopped project '51 that has not seen the road for a couple of years. need to focus on getting back behind the wheel and enjoying the ride. for me mine will have to be sold to pay bills as soon as I get it running.
I see your point. This is definatly a budget build but I want it to look nice and be protected. So I'm trying to get the most out of what I have to spend. another thing to consider is work space, I don't have alot of it right now and if I don't have to blast and paint the frame my self I can get alot more done sooner. If I wait I can blast and paint at my brothers house, but He won't have the space for a few months as he has an ot truck project taking the space right now
Just a quick update no pics. We removed steering box, master cyl and parking brake today (last few linking to frame) unbolted the body mounts, and made an attempt at lifting the body. After a little bit of f-ing around I realized someone had put a floor patch over one of the bodymounts cut a hole in the floor, removed it and it came right loose. Now I just need to rig up my stands and roll the frame out.
If it's going to be a budget build and you have the means to blast it yourself I would go that way. Keep the updates and pics coming.
I'm about ready to pull the body off. glass is out and everthing is off. Should I brace the body? I've heard they are pretty flimsey. I will be doing the bodywork after the frame is back on but I'm going to need to move it around so I can blast/ undercoat under the body. If I were to brace it, is x-bracing side to side at the jambs sufficiant?
Haven't been out in the garage lately (not much time) but I did get these back from the powder coater yesterday
Finally got out and pulled the body off on thursday night. pulled the frame out of the garage today to get a look at it in the day light. Kevin pulling the last few items off the body Kevin's signature thumbs up frameless outside Thats it for now
Can any one recomend a good place to buyfront suspension and steering parts? (stock) Does anybody make a suspension rebuild kit? I've seen some steering kits around but havent seen any suspension kits
Here are some of the parts places I know of for stock shoebox parts. Shoeboxford.com (Oklahoma City) C&G (in California, Escondido area) Mac's (NY) Dennis Carpenter (North Carolina)
Thanks blacklisted, have you or any one else used c&g before? I'm just curious about shipping times and costs.
I give highest marks to Shoeboxford.com. If you are looking for original parts, they are the ones to talk to.
I've heard alot of good things about them but there website seems incomplete. mabey you have to call to get prices and availability? I checked them out and they do have a kit I'm looking for I would like to use them because they are closest to me and might not be as long of a wait
The guys at shoeboxford have alot of stuff not listed on the site, you just have to call. I ordered parts from them and it was quick shipping and they will give you a strait answer, if they can't they will refer you to someone that will. Great guys. Mac's was slow to deliver parts the couple times I've ordered parts. And C&G I will just drive up there and get the parts when I need to. They are having a open house Oct. 15th and you can get "up to 10% off" at the counter that day. Sign up for there email and they have specials they send out monthly.
Good luck on your build it looks great. Glad to see the young guy helping you out that's what it's all about!
I'm going to call shoebox up and see what they have for me, I figured it wasn't all on the site. As for C&G I'm too far away to go there, but I may use them too Thanks, and as far as my son Kevin goes He loves old cars and he loves using tools. It's a great way for us to spend time together in the garage
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