57 Chevy Wagon - Californa Dreamin'

[swamp rat]

Happy New Year to you and yours!

[jlsanborn]

Good luck on the search, and Happy New Year to you Vic!

[Vic1947]

Thanks guys for all the Happy New Year wishes. So far - so good!

I spoke with the owner of a shop in Iowa about my "Paint Your Wagon" situation. Unlike the local shops that specialize in custom work, they'll take in a project at any stage of completion. I clicked on their FB page and their work looks nice. Only problem is, they're booked up until late spring. My first thought was, the time frame is a deal breaker, but upon further reflection, I decided there was no reason I couldn't modify my work flow to fit their schedule. So I called them back and have a place in line.

What I'll do is complete all the body work and then paint areas like the firewall, door jambs, inner fenders and dash. I can go ahead and build the exhaust system, hang the EFI gas tank and rear mounted battery box, run brake and fuel lines, build the console and a host of other tasks. I'll set the body on the chassis and take it to them when they're ready. That way, all they really need to finish out are the exterior panels. They said it would be no problem to mask the chassis and etc. If I do my part correctly, it should turn out okay.

I've been making progress on the body panels as you can see from the photos. The firewall is pretty well done as well as the outer door skins, the tailgate and the jamb areas on the driver side. Still a long way to go. I've already used up almost 3 gallons of filler. Most of it ends up as dust in the trash can. My arms and shoulders are getting a workout.

[Scott2]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

Thanks guys for all the Happy New Year wishes. So far - so good!

I spoke with the owner of a shop in Iowa about my "Paint Your Wagon" situation. Unlike the local shops that specialize in custom work, they'll take in a project at any stage of completion. I clicked on their FB page and their work looks nice. Only problem is, they're booked up until late spring. My first thought was, the time frame is a deal breaker, but upon further reflection, I decided there was no reason I couldn't modify my work flow to fit their schedule. So I called them back and have a place in line.

What I'll do is complete all the body work and then paint areas like the firewall, door jambs, inner fenders and dash. I can go ahead and build the exhaust system, hang the EFI gas tank and rear mounted battery box, run brake and fuel lines, build the console and a host of other tasks. I'll set the body on the chassis and take it to them when they're ready. That way, all they really need to finish out are the exterior panels. They said it would be no problem to mask the chassis and etc. If I do my part correctly, it should turn out okay.

I've been making progress on the body panels as you can see from the photos. The firewall is pretty well done as well as the outer door skins, the tailgate and the jamb areas on the driver side. Still a long way to go. I've already used up almost 3 gallons of filler. Most of it ends up as dust in the trash can. My arms and shoulders are getting a workout.

Sounds like a great plan! Love the work - that wagon is going to look great with paint!

[jlsanborn]

Solid progress, Vic! Did they estimate a turn-time for you?

[Low Elco]

seats look awesome!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Adapt and overcome. Seats look nice!

Thanks, John!

Originally Posted by Low Elco

seats look awesome!

Thanks, Chip, new color on the firewall and interior of the black truck looked great when I was over with Boppa the other day. Like you, I'd appreciate some good painting weather instead of this single digit crapola.

The brown truck showed up today with new fenders for the wagon. I dug the originals out of storage a couple of weeks ago and decided the effort to repair them wouldn't be worth it. The areas around the headlight bezels needed a LOT of attention as well as places I'd previously patched. Summit had a great deal on the Danchuk fenders, so I popped for them and will swap meet the OEM stuff. Unfortunately, the new RH fender had a really ugly fold in it so it went back. Spent about a half hour on the phone with a nice lady at Summit CS. She handled the claim number the UPS driver gave me as well as placed the order for the replacement fender. Always something.

I got the rear inner wheelwells smoothed out and ready for upholstery - not that that will happen anytime soon. I also rigged up a hinged cover to allow access to the EFI pump in the fuel tank. Not gonna get hung out to dry like I did with my last project.

I contacted a company about doing spray chrome on the grille bar. I'm also waiting to hear from a local sign shop that does wraps to see if they think they can do chrome vinyl on it. I'm concerned that the fine detail around the emblem in the center may be beyond the limits of the material. That said, the guys that work with that stuff do some amazing things. We'll see what they have to say.

Monday is predicted to be a bit warmer so I'm hoping I can get Feather Fill on some of the pieces. I have about an hour of work left on the rear hatch and the body work should be complete... except for stuff I've probably overlooked.

[cornerstone]

I tell ya man, you are on whole nuther' lever Vic. Every time I come and check in I'm amazed at the cleanliness of your work. Thanks for posting what it should look like!

[knomadd]

Wow, it's been a while since I've been on here, but you've done quite a bit! Looks like nice work Vic. Keep it up!

[jlsanborn]

Love seeing updates here. I'll have to Google spray chrome. I can't think a wrap would fly, but like you, I'm always amazed by that stuff!

[Ol Blue K20]

Looking great Vic.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by cornerstone

I tell ya man, you are on whole nuther' lever Vic. Every time I come and check in I'm amazed at the cleanliness of your work. Thanks for posting what it should look like!

Thanks, Brian. When you're old and retired you can dink around until you get it the way you want.

Originally Posted by knomadd

Wow, it's been a while since I've been on here, but you've done quite a bit! Looks like nice work Vic. Keep it up!

Hey Duane, I need to make some progress if we're going to make the TriFive Nationals in August.

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Love seeing updates here. I'll have to Google spray chrome. I can't think a wrap would fly, but like you, I'm always amazed by that stuff!

Thx, John. After talking with the guy that does the wraps, I decided to go with the spray chrome. He'd never actually done chrome vinyl and I was concerned some areas of the bar might present a steep learning curve. So the grille bar has been at the spray chrome place since last week. No word yet on when it will be done, but he sounded like he preferred to collect several pieces before firing up the equipment. Said it takes an hour to get the equipment to the right temperature to spray and then two hours to clean up, so it's more cost effective to do multiple jobs. Speaking of which, he said it costs him 48 cents per second when he pulls the trigger.

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Looking great Vic.

Thanks, Dale.

I was able to lay down some Feather Fill and 2K primer recently. Still a lot left to do, but now I can block a bunch of stuff when it's cold outside. I'm deep in the middle of that right now. I anticipate more nice days in March so it won't be long until it's all one color... gray!

Kathy and I went to the World of Wheels show last weekend and talked with one of the owners of Hot Rod Express in Blue Springs. Their shop is only 25 miles from the house. He seemed enthusiastic about doing the paint and was willing to take it over when I felt it was ready. We went to their shop on Tuesday and got the nickel tour. They provide a full range of services - fabrication, mechanical, paint and body, upholstery, transport and etc. We're tentatively setup to deliver the car to him by the end of March and they'll do the final blocking, paint and cut / buff. I think this will work out better than hauling it all the way up to Iowa, especially since the earliest they could get me in was late spring.

Fingers crossed this works out.

[mongocanfly]

Good luck with it Vic...its looking good

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Good luck with it Vic...its looking good

Thanks, Greg. Hope to have it looking even better in the coming weeks.

[Ol Blue K20]

It's looking great Vic. I'm looking forward to seeing how the grill bar comes out. The spray chrome is interesting me.

[mongocanfly]

I've seen that spray chrome used on TV shows..never seen it in person...hope it turns out good...

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

It's looking great Vic. I'm looking forward to seeing how the grill bar comes out. The spray chrome is interesting me.

Me too, Dale. Still waiting to hear from the guy about his progress. He's had the bar two weeks tomorrow.

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

I've seen that spray chrome used on TV shows..never seen it in person...hope it turns out good...

I've mainly seen it on YouTube videos, but not in person either, Greg. We'll see I reckon.

I've completed blocking all the Feather Fill on the body and doors. Tomorrow if the weather cooperates, I plan to cover it all with several coats of 2K primer. My goal is to prep the firewall and door jambs, paint the dash and let HRE do the final blocking on the exterior. When they're happy with everything, they'll paint, then cut and buff.

Still a lot to do. I need to apply the 3M Body Schutz on the underside, set the body on the chassis and mock up the front clip to see how the reproduction fenders fit.

[JayMc46]

Looking GOOD Vic. Better weather will help!!!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by JayMc46

Looking GOOD Vic. Better weather will help!!!

Thanks, Jay, we're due for a few warm days fer sure.

[Vic1947]

Had a few days just warm enough to be able to prime some parts. Due to being shortsighted, I ran out of material with a bit left to do. Ordered up some more which should be here on Wednesday according to the tracking. You can see from the first photo below what happens when a wobbly, weak old person tries to pretend he can still paint. Fortunately, it's just primer and it blocked right out but it illustrates why I'm delegating the actual paint job.

Meanwhile, I've made the filler panels for both sides to cover the areas I cut out when installing the suicide hinges. Also needed a couple of plates to cover the spots where the original tailgate retractors fit. Now that the rear hatch is one piece, those are gone. I also spent a little time under the car tidying up the floor pan before it gets body schutz. There's also some places that will need seam sealer replaced from having the body dipped. Hope to get the floor pan coated from the firewall back to the rear wheel wells this week. So I'll be doing a supply run to the paint store tomorrow.

Being a tightwad, I'm blocking the jambs, the firewall and the dash to save a few bucks. I'd rather spend a bit extra on the outside where it matters. Lots to do and the Tri-Five Nationals will be here before you know it. We're hoping this coronavirus thing has faded away well before then. If it lurks around it could put a damper on all kinds of fun stuff.

[mongocanfly]

Looks good Vic...I've had my share of those paints sags...hoping I can pull mine off without having any this time..

[swamp rat]

Your car is going to be beautiful!

[sduckworth13]

�� it’s starting to get exciting knowing your going to have paint on it before long.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Looks good Vic...I've had my share of those paints sags...hoping I can pull mine off without having any this time..

Thanks, Greg. At least it was just primer and easily fixed. I'll be interested to see how your booth setup turns out... and good luck on the paint!

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Your car is going to be beautiful!

Thanks, Mike, I hope it turns out nice. Lots of hours in it for sure.

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

�� it’s starting to get exciting knowing your going to have paint on it before long.

Hey Scott, I'm thinking it will be ready by the end of the month and with any luck, so will Hot Rod Express. We'll see.

[Vic1947]

Kathy and I had planned to drive to Houston this weekend. I was going to fly back on Tuesday and she would make the trek back on her own later in the week. We decided to err on the side of caution and stayed home instead. Will go down in the fall when things are (hopefully) back to normal.

So I forged ahead on the wagon. Everything from the firewall back is in primer and I've blocked the door/body jambs, the firewall and the dash. After hanging the doors and getting them more or less adjusted, I laid down some fine line tape to show where I plan to break the two tone. The bottom color will be Firethorn Red Pearl and will peek about an inch above the upper stainless trim on the quarter and rear door. It will disappear into the trim in the middle of the rear door and then split the trim all the way forward to the front. The upper color will be Millennium Silver and where the red and silver touch on the rear quarters and the jambs they will be separated by a bright orange pinstripe.

I've also started prepping the reproduction front fenders. As you can see from the photos, there are quite a few tooling marks around the headlight areas. There are other places as well, but they'll probably block out with several heavy coats of primer. Supposed to be cold and rain all week so once the EDP is scuffed, I'll have to set the hood and fenders aside and work on other things till I get a nice day. Will probably get the bulk of the underside in Body Schutz this week. More photos when I have some progress to report.