84 Vert - Who Needs Maaco when....

[JTurbo]

EDIT - Here is my YouTube video that documents the rebuild process on this 84 LX Vert:
https://youtu.be/ubXezDC5tIE

I've got "Joeaco".
OK so I bought this car at the end of Feb. It was stored in a barn in NW CT, and I found it advertised on craigslist. Car was a basket case, basically ready for the JY. PO was thinking about ripping out the V6 and installing a 5.0, but lost interest. Here are the photos of when I purchased the car / towed it home.





I ended up fixing a bunch of small stuff (gas line leak, re-installed the exhaust system, replaced driver side door pins, hood release cable, new filters, etc.). I needed to "jeff-clean" the whole interior including a full shampoo of the carpets and seats. Turned out pretty good (especially considering the mileage)...



Then onto body work:

[JTurbo]

And finally prep for paint:





Keep in mind I'm only looking for a driver - this is by no means intended to be a show car. Just a nice daily driver for the summer (and hopefully a bit better on gas compared to the Tahoe )

[JTurbo]

So last night I shot it in my garage:

[JTurbo]

Here's the best part - paint was $30 bucks, hence the reason for "Joeaco":




Tomorrow I'll get it back together (lights, molding, mirrors, etc). Still need to install my slightly used replacement top and replace the front brakes. And I've got a set of 15" turbines off my Pace Car (put the original TRX tires back on that one)

Enjoy - Joe

[gunderp1967]

Looks great!!!! Rustoleum????? really????

[SVO4PWR2]

Joe that just ROCKS
Thanks for covering up the RS!
When can i drop off the Notch for the Joeaco specail?

-RICH-

[kj_80Cobra]

Those bumpers will peel off without flex additive, but it looks great. You did a lot of work in a short time.

[fred414141]

YEE_HAWW !!! JOE FOR PRESIDENT! BREAK OUT THE FANCY CIGARS !!!!


(geez,i need to calm down)................looks great Joe,I like it!

[86gtwith82nose]

wow really nice thank you for saving it. on the first pic i was like o its not that bad then i went o yea about that.

[tman1257]

Turned out pretty good!

[flyboy60]

Man - did you thin that paint out with paint thinner? WOW GReat job!
Did you use that compressor in the pics - looks like craftsman 150psi 26 gallon


KOOL

[gdniel]

I'd also like to know what your thinning ratio was, and what brand you used. I am about to shoot my car in rustoleum also, so I'm curious.

[la.fraude]

yes! i need to know how you thinned it. I realized that rolling it isnt fun haha. I rolled a couple coats on my dd and realized that spraying it would be way easier and give me a better surface as it'd be mroe evenly coated. But yeah, i'd like some ratios too. i dont want it to sag or drip like i had seen when mine was just barely too thick.

also what psi were you shooting at? how thick is that too?

[JTurbo]

Yes that's Rustoleum (ever read that thread where the guy painted his 69 charger in Tremclad Orange??). Thinning ratio was basically 50/50 using plain old laquer thinner. If you ever shot Dupont Centari (or similar Enamel paints), the final paint consistency should be about the same. The hood is going to need wet sanding and buffing as I'm not totally please about the amount of orange peel. But that can wait for now - I need to get this car out so my wife can have her spot back (she's been a trooper).

Yes, I used a craftsman compressor (if you need the size I can get that). I also used a gravity feed HVLP guy (Eastwood - Christmas present) - 40psi. The key is to have good ventilation system. Last weekend I installed a high volume fan in the back wall of the garage to pull out the paint fumes / dust. Draw fresh air through a window of the garage (using simple HVAC filters) and another filter on the fan inlet to trap the spray dust.

As for the bumpers cracking - time will tell. I'm doing this car on the cheap. Hell, I even used the $1 cans of flat black from Walmart for the bumper strips. Hopefully more pictures tomorrow after some additional re-assembly.

[JTurbo]

Thanks for everyone's compliments.

Joe that just ROCKS
Thanks for covering up the RS!
When can i drop off the Notch for the Joeaco specail?

-RICH-

Don't worry, the RS is basically ready for paint (wet sanded and all) and I wasn't going to get enamel dust all over "our" car

[Capriman86]

Joe you have Foureye A.D.D....FOCUS MAN...LMAO

Looks great!!! You crack me up.

[dave]

I have that same exact car. I will try to post some pics.

[86GT2go]

Looks real good for Rustolium! And thanks for the tips on how to turn your garage into a spray booth (wonder if I can get a tax break/credit for doing that!?).

[jonas1022]

Old Fox Mustang basically ready for the JY = pig

Rustoleum and thinner = lipstick

Joeaco = Lipstick on that pig!

That is one great job!

[gdniel]

Thanks for the info, I can't wait to do my cheap paint job as well.

[RichV]

Very cool. You should do 'race car paint jobs'. A day and $60 of paint, charge 3-400 bucks.

I wish I had paint skills. I'm a mechanical skills guy.

[JTurbo]

Well here is today's update. I was originally going to fix the top, it had a rip near the back window:



But I actually found a used top (~ 1 year old) from someone that totaled their car. So today after I finished assembly, I did this:



Here is the {almost} finished product. Still need to install some weather stripping and the rear window, but the heaft of the work is done. Check it out:



Again, I will try to get some outside pictures. It's been raining off and on since Friday in these parts. And I really needed to get this car water tight.

[JTurbo]

Very cool. You should do 'race car paint jobs'. A day and $60 of paint, charge 3-400 bucks.

I wish I had paint skills. I'm a mechanical skills guy.

Never thought of it, but you are correct. This is a race car paint job on my V6 buggy

[JTurbo]

Old Fox Mustang basically ready for the JY = pig

Rustoleum and thinner = lipstick

Joeaco = Lipstick on that pig!

That is one great job!

Hmmmmm, not sure if that's good or bad.... I'll take it as good

[la.fraude]

some key questions. how many coats and how long did that take to dry? i rolled some coats thickly and they were dry in about three hours, but that was merely simple coats. and was that painting done in a single night?

also what was the last grit you used sanding your car? i might need to go with somethign grittier b4 i finally paint. i just did the whole car over with 220. its nice and ready to be painted.