elacruze '68 resto thread (Heavy photos)

[Brass]

Awesome stuff!

[tan top]

      nice 

[elacruze]

Getting closer...fenders, trunklid and hood assembled for final spraying. Still no outside photographs...

[chargd72]

Man, looking great 

[charge69]

Fantastic looking car!!  Mine also has its first layer of "color" on it and it is exciting!  I am going a little different route with my Charger as I am painting it with a single-stage acrylic enamel instead of a basecoat/clearcoat finish. It is a little harder to get the paint as it is really for more industrial use and at least twice as expensive as basecoat/clearcoat.

We  are doing it basically the same way as the  body is on a rotisserie and will be painted with color to get the body lines perfectly straight using Z-Grip where a little filler is used. Surprising how little filler is used but a little is used to make it all even and straight. The car is amazing right now but not quite up to his standards but will be before we proceed.

The Charger will then have the hood , front quarters , doors , and trunk lid removed for all but the final paint and then will be assembled again for the final coat. Yep , all single-stage in R6 Red.

I am anxiously awaiting pics of your car with the final coats of paint on it! Should be an amazing paint job.

[elacruze]

x2 $ ??!!

Holy smokes, this thing will have $500 worth of clear over the top of the color alone!

Since I'm going to drive this thing so much, they've finished the car with an eye towards touch-up later as opposed to Concourse perfection. They're using PPG products, but I don't know flat latex from acrylic enamel...

Now, Garlits Show!

[charge69]

Well , let me put it this way , I bought 3 gallons of paint and it will need more than 2 but less than 3 to make it right and it was $601.11 per gallon at the paint store with the discount for him!!  They do not really even sell this paint for the normal guy on the street, just industrial users. That does at least include the reducer and hardener and is in no way the best they carry in acrylic enamel but, if it comes out as nice as his other cars, and he assures me it will be nicer, it will look as shiny as any BC/CC paint out there and will be a lot easier to repair, if needed.

The only reason I went with acrylic enamel single-stage is it is close to what the factory put on them but I suspect the factory did not use near as much, if any, hardener in the paint. It was probably some kind of single-stage enamel but, couldn't be acrylic as it was definitely not used by the factory at that time. Probably never, but his cars are amazing and already a few years old but look new! Everyone thinks they have been shot with BC/CC they are so shiny and smooth!

[elacruze]

Man, I just know that one of these days I'll actually get a decent photo...I'm totally knocked out. Can't wait to see it in the sun with the top on. The stripe is painted not decal, and can't even feel a lump in the clear.

[RIDELIKEHELL]

Beautiful! I can't wait to see my car with the stripe on it so thx for letting me view yours in that phase. Cheers

[charge69]

That is gorgeous! We want pics in the sunlight too !!

[68RT4ME]

Looking outstanding Eric. Thanks to you, I definitely have found the shop I want to use when my time comes and this one's it. 

[elacruze]

Crap, it's always something. I finally got around to swapping the transmission into the aluminum Passon case, and discovered that the Gear Vendors tailshaft adapter has the small output bearing register. Gear Vendors had no problem making the swap, even tho I've had the box for a year and a half...still paying the freight though. And my tranny gets to lay in pieces on the bench through the holiday. Fooey.

[tan top]

That is gorgeous! We want pics in the sunlight too !!

   

[elacruze]

Still more crappy color...but more progress.

[GPULLER]

Like the choice of rubber and wheels.  What size are they?
You're right about the crappy color...the white letters almost look blue! 

[elacruze]

Finally, a little real progress, again. Still waiting for the crank scraper to button up the engine, assemble the front suspension and stick it in.

[elacruze]

Like the choice of rubber and wheels.  What size are they?
You're right about the crappy color...the white letters almost look blue! 

LOL...the letters are blue, I haven't cleaned off the protective stuff yet, which is blue.

The wheels are stock 7" x 15" police wheels, tires are 255/60-15. I'm seriously hoping they clear the front fenders.

[elacruze]

K member ready to receive engine. The crank scraper was holding up taking it down from the stand.

Firm Feel stage II steering box.

[sixty8charger]

 

[PatrickPeeters]

Love the Colour!

[twodko]

I have the FirmFeel II in my 69.........you're going to really like it!

[Charger-Bodie]

I have the FirmFeel II in my 69.........you're going to really like it!

I had a frm feel stage II in my 69 satellite convert. It kinda felt like manual at really low rpm,Is this common or did mine have too big a pully or something? It was reall nice down the road though. I will say that.

[Bob T]

Thats looking exceptional Elacruze  keep it up

A friend of mine has just got his 70 500 in silver and black on the road a few months back, its quite a crowd pleaser, Ive had a silver and black Australian Charger and a silver and black Australian Pacer and it would be my top automotive colour pick hands down. 

[200MPH]

Wow great thread i cannot believe i miss this 

[twodko]

 I had a frm feel stage II in my 69 satellite convert. It kinda felt like manual at really low rpm,Is this common or did mine have too big a pully or something? It was reall nice down the road though. I will say that.
[/quote]

I couldn't say about any pulleys rather than stock which is what's on my engine. My FF II appears to have the same "feel" regardless of the speed I'm driving. I'm curious now and I'll have to see if I experience what you describe.