Finally found and got my CarPac roof rack!

[burbluv]

After searching for a couple years I finally found the rack that I think will fit the suburban perfectly (4X6 feet) and it just arrived now I need to refinish it and shine it up. My question is if anyone has any suggestions on the following.
1. How should I approach refinishing the wood?
2. The metal has a heavy haze on it and spotting and need to get those nice and bright as well?
3. Lastly is reaching out to Classic Racks http://www.classicracks.com/ the continued way overpriced maker of CarPac roof racks the only way I can get the CarPac sticker? Still have not heard back from them.
Thanks!
AJ

[RANDY COX]

Kool

[kieth]

Are the rack brackets and frame made of aluminum, zinc plated steel, hot dip galvenized steel, etc what they are made of will determine your course of action.

Aluminum: Acidize the alum parts, then polish them

pot metal, take them apart and have them zinc plated

[Clyde65]

The metal looks like Pot metal so be careful with it.

I bet you could take that to a sign shop and they would make you a new one.

[NEWFISHER]

Stickers are no longer available, Michael at classic will send you a square , black engraved metal tag and some brass screws. I have had a few of them.

[Snailed]

I would have all the metal stuff chrome plated.

The wood would be nice stripped and done in a few coats of Waterlox Marine.

[MusicMan70]

Nice score. I got one of those but I do not have the rail clips and adjusters. Looks like you need some of those rubber "O-Rings" for the base of your pads too.

[MusicMan70]

The gray ring is factory. I went to Lowe's and used this plastic looking rubber fuel line from the plumbing section and cut to fit.

[nbrfd007]

It will look great on the suburban.

[NEWFISHER]

Michael at classicracks reproduces all of the parts including the brackets and turnbuckles.

[GMCBURB]

Wow, that's awesome! I never knew these existed, now I'll have to find one.

I think it looks great the way it is. It took a long time to get that aged look. You could make the wood pop by lightly cleaning with murphy's oil soap and then rubbing in some linseed oil. Linseed oil brings out the color and grain in the wood and gives it a slight sheen.

[1963c-10]

Nice find....its always fun to find the parts that I've spent countless hours or chased endless leads down for. Looks complete and in great shape. Will definitely want some pics of the install.

[Coursey]

How did this turn out?

I am getting ready to build one. If you have time could you post a close up picture of where the slats join the main rails?

Also what is the overall dimension and the dimension between the slats?

[Brad54]

When I was freelancing full-time for car magazines, I wanted one of these for the roof of my Suburban so I could use it as a photography deck.
Never got around to it, but I'd have absolutely loved using it!
My 'Burban has barn doors, and I bought a complete lift/tail gate setup for the truck... I think they make or made a ladder to go from a tail gate to a roof for TV cameras and photographers... it wasn't uncommon back in the '40s, '50s and '60s to use these and other platforms on the top of station wagons and Suburbans as camera platforms, so they had ladders to get up there.

No longer freelancing, and the truck is non-op thanks to a deer, so I don't need a roof rack.

But oh how I'd still love to have one! It'd be the cat's ass for watching races, going to Bonneville, etc. etc.

-Brad

[mrtoni]

Brad, I have on of those photographer special racks for sale with the primal ladder and canvas cover. I have a second rack without feet for sale for 350. Matt

[Coursey]

Does anybody know the dimensions of the side rails and slats?

[mrtoni]

I will measure tomorrow.

[Coursey]

Originally Posted by mrtoni

I will measure tomorrow.

Thank you