Why build a car with a rusty body?...

Bob, I love the coupe, but, would you mind fixing that grill shell, it looks like it's about to fall off.

 

Well thought out response. Right up there with,"It's your car...do what you want".
Sure don't want to be the same as you!!! haha!

 

I actually did! It was leaning forward before.

 

Long, cold winter.

 

I prefer painted cars. Exception being patina'd Pick-ups and slddnmatts '51.

 

When I started my truck, I went after all of the rust. That is why I have a bare frame sitting in my garage. I would have had a much better time with it so far if I had left it as it was. Now after I've gone to all of that trouble, I no longer want to do one of those cheapie roller paint jobs. Cost goes way up, truck takes way longer to finish. I now wish I had done just what I needed to get it on the road.

 

So that we don't end up spending 150K on our car .

Seriously though finished cars are what it's all about. Time to step up our game.

 

that hurt...

 

I was taught by an old friend, to build vehicles in a certain order.

Ch***is and drivetrain first, then body and paint then interior.

I didn't see any reason to disagree, and that's how I've tried to do it ever since.

 

**** I'd be lucky if I actually started with a body, rust or no rust.... I've got a frame, engine, trans, axles, brakes, and steering components... No body...

The plan is just to find a cowl I can use to mock up things (preferably off whatever body I decide to go with) then save up for a nice body...

I figure if you have the meens fix the rust before anything, if not, oh well...

 

Then we could all get a satin jacket with a pic of our painted car embroidered on the back ,and sit around in lawn chairs and bragg about how much $$ we spent .Seriously though , i have had my share of painted cars and spent many days fixing rusted panels and block sanding ,but not every car is better finished out in paint IMO.Theres something about factory patina that just looks right in sum cases to me.On the other hand fake patina ****s ...

 

Larry I said it with love.
I've been up to no good and cheeky all week. I only get away with it 'cause the missus can only stay mad at me for 5 minutes tops. Love your old car.

I am building a '27 roadster now. I fabbed up the subrails and cross braces under the seat riser I made. Did a little sheetmetal work to the areas that really couldn't stand to look at. I'll blast it then fine tune the patch panels and all.

Oh and if I am going to invest in an embroidered jacket, it is going to be black with dragon or a Firebird logo . Love the Burt Reynolds look.

 

My intention wasn't to start an argument.

...and I'm not saying to do any body work or rust repair before ch***is fab...just get the metal clean and primered before hand. It just seems more logical to me.

 

The bad thing is. If I get to keep this Coupe,i'll have to strip all the paint off to put GOOD paint on it. Oh well...maybe i'll sell it before then,LOL...

 

Why build a car with a rusty body?...

Why build a car with a $10,000 paint job on it and be scared a bug might hit it...I'm not much into the California feather dusters that you see people running over their cars.
Park it......get out and enjoy the show or cruise in dont wipe on it for hours and hours thats what make your paint turn into PATINA.

 

But until then, you get to drive it.

 

YES!!! A well thought out plan,haha!

 

I think Larrys question was in regards to. If you are gonna build a painted car as a finished project. Why not clean up all the parts before you start the build, instead of afterwards. At least that is the way I read his thread. If you want to build it rusty, and drive it rusty. Was not the question.

 

I hate rust, unless it is an original 30s, 40s, 50s, rod that has just been found and put back on the road, I almost prefer them to stay that way because you see the craftsmanship of the original builder. I am going to do the drivetrain, ch***is, underneath, patch panels, and firewall of my truck this winter and drive it this summer while I'm doing body work. Paint it next winter, I like the Idea of tearing it apart after a couple months of driving it to see if anything is not working the way it should. Just my 2cents

 

Larry, great post!!!

I could write a book on the subject and actually cover all the sides.

Lets take number one. This is my friends car he found in a building after sitting for 35 years....we been on it for about 5-6 months part time.
A couple weeks ago we took it for its first ride. Modified banger engine.
Now check out the picture leaving our shop for the first test ride in his first hot rod.



Now i want ya to check these two fat boys out. ( me in the red shirt) (Rich Brannon of Brannon Engines driving his car).
Now ask yourself ? What do you think we are talking about??? Paint?? I dont think the word paint has ever been discussed in this entire project.
The bed is going on sat and then its off to the Motorama Car Show and hopefully a very happy driven summer etc.
Will the car ever get painted ? Could some day but check those smiles out, it has nothing to do with paint. Its all about a traditional old car cruising down the road.

One more :

This one is mine , model a sedan made into a truck, 32 frame rails, 322 GMC six with a four speed and quickchange.



Car was put together 5 years ago and painted with a case of spray cans we had in the injection business. Did i plan on paint and finish back then ?? Yep i did, but once i fired up the killer GMC engine the thought of paint never ever came up. Car has been just about everywhere and actually won the pennzoil hot rod of the year at Goodguys Indy a couple years ago.
Now i have a problem everytime i mention the word paint all my friends ( including my wife) scream "No way" the car has developed its own little world and will more than likely stay that way.

Good post guys and some very good answers !!!!!!

 

Ok we did scare ourselfs riding i the dark
And we needed a windshield...... Weekend jobs..



And he had to have a brakelamp..........



Didnt want the safety patrol after us ???

 

I like patina I can certainly understand saving it.

If the car is scheduled for paint eventually though...

I can handle the ch***is work before addressing the body but when it comes time to start on body work, I want to start with a clean body. Even if the body is rougher than a night in jail, I'm more motivated & can see where I'm going, & exactly what is needed to get there, if the body is clean.

Like most everything else, there is probably no right or wrong. Just do what works for you (& try not to spend 150K getting there).

JH

 

I like paint myself, but there are a lot of reasons to leave a ****py looking body as is until other things are tidied up.

I really think paint should be done all at once. strip it or scuff it. hit it with a hammer. prime. block. prime. block. sand, sand, sand, prime. wipe. paint base. paint clear. buff.

that way it doesn;t get a bunch of bird **** and other paint destroyers embedded in your primer as you are driving around.

 

Last post then I'm done.

I've seen numerous builds here where the builder has a new project and starts putting in a new sheetmetal floor/firewall/patch panels, chopping the top, etc. while the body is still covered in surface rust inside and out.

 

There is a deeper issue here, Larry. Asking for the answer you already have.

 

Im sanding mine down as you can see in my avatar. I want to know what every square inch of the body is .So far Im impressed just a couple small areas of lead no bondo yet. Then replace/fabricate what it needs then primer. may be a long time before she shines......unless she gets wet. but I also dont have a frame yet, but when I get one...same thing. clean it up and that I will paint before sitting the body down. But I also like it when people build their rides exactly the way they want them.

 

On every car i've ever had, the body / paint came last. with a limited budget i thought i'd get the mechanicals squared away first. being a "shade-tree engineer" I never know when i'm gonna need to make a new hole or alter something.

 

Sometimes its just easier to do all the fab and mechanicals before you blow it apart for rust, body and paint. If you get rid of all the rust before you are doing it again just from the humidity in the air.

 

AFTER...you decide!
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Bad Bob, that looks great man!!! wow!! good choice of colors!!