Ford Model A Tudor Modern Twist on a Classic

[gigamanx]

An epic month of sanding and filling going on across the car. This week I had to close the shop, so sprayed epoxy primer over the body on the last 70F day on the forecast. Now to wait until warm weather in the spring to shoot color.

Filler first over the whole body using Evercoat Rage Ultra. I started with hand sanding and quickly had to move to a Harbor Freight palm sander. As long as I kept moving that little palm sander did an awesome job cutting down the filler.

High build primer. Honestly afterward I'm still not sure it was needed. While it did fill a few areas, the high build also created pin holes so I had even more filler work to do afterwards. 180 grit to shape then final sand with 320 grit dry hand blocking. Of all the chemicals I've used in the garage, Featherfill G2 uniquely burned my eyes like I was spraying acid into my face. Even with a respirator and goggles, that stuff was nasty.


Epoxy primer down. Looks a little orangle peeled because it had just been sprayed and was still settling on the body.



Also threw the engine in which fit like a glove. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I got my QA1 rear shocks in the mail and they don't quite fit my brackets. The springs are a larger diameter than the mock up ones I used


One last problem I realized as I was working the car over -- I have no idea how I'm going to set glass in the rear and side panels. The original body has wind up windows which were removed because of the channeled body and rear suspension now living in the passenger seat compartment. The rear window was held on by a piece of trim that was nailed to the wood surround. I'm not putting wood back in so I'm now scratching my head on what to do there.

Final note from the wife: This is the last car you're doing in this garage after the mess all that sanding made.

[notsolo]

Awesome build, painting turned out great. On your window problem.. possibly Corian counter material, can be molded and shaped with circular saw and router, polished to high gloss, glued in with polyurethane caulk. Plenty of other modern materials that might also work...Cheers.

[gigamanx]

Originally Posted by notsolo

Awesome build, painting turned out great. On your window problem.. possibly Corian counter material, can be molded and shaped with circular saw and router, polished to high gloss, glued in with polyurethane caulk. Plenty of other modern materials that might also work...Cheers.

Thanks! Not a bad idea with the counter material. It doesn't have to be strong just firm to hold the glass against the rubber edge to seal. Maybe I just try fabricate some screw in clamps before I hit paint. Anyone know what the standard auto glass thickness is?

[gigamanx]

Quite the hiatus as I waited for Winter to come and go. There wasn't a lot to work on in the cold garage, but unpacking and getting back into things slowly. Engine updated with a few bits, installing the Holley Terminator kit, running brake and fuel lines, and starting back on the body work to prep for paint.

[Dieselwrencher]

Let the blocking begin!

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Let the blocking begin!

X2, let he sanding and guide coats begin!

[gigamanx]

A fair bit of blocking and sanding was done prior to the primer. I had figured out my process on the frame rails and realized primer was one of the last steps so long as I spent extra time blocking and sanding the featherfill G2 and the filler. Still going to wet sand it out, but it's darn smooth already. A few pinhole repairs to do yet then at some point I just need to call it good enough and start spraying color.

[gigamanx]

Funny story... remember that time I thought I was done sanding? Yeah funny hey....


bring on the "I told you so..."

[Ol Blue K20]

Going down the rabbit hole...lol

[Dieselwrencher]

Hey, at least you're that far along!

[G&R's57GMC]

Here's a thought engine cover / air filter ...

[gigamanx]

Originally Posted by G&R's57GMC

Here's a thought engine cover / air filter ...

Not a bad idea!

I may not have the head room for the cover there but have been trying to find an air filter that makes sense. So far the best idea for a front mount air filter on an LS has been a motorcycle one because it's low profile enough to fit behind the radiator.

Pics for clicks... starting on wet sanding. Already went through primer in a few spots to make it silky smooth, so looks like I'll be onto a second round of primer and wet sanding.

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by gigamanx

Not a bad idea!

I may not have the head room for the cover there but have been trying to find an air filter that makes sense. So far the best idea for a front mount air filter on an LS has been a motorcycle one because it's low profile enough to fit behind the radiator.

Pics for clicks... starting on wet sanding. Already went through primer in a few spots to make it silky smooth, so looks like I'll be onto a second round of primer and wet sanding.

It's looking good, sanding is not fun.

[gigamanx]

Big fathers day weekend in the garage when I finally tried painting. Rookie mistake but I forgot how to set my gun properly and was already committed. In hindsight I now have a few areas with decent runs and a lot of orange peel on the surface. Big question...do I try repair with wet sanding or do I just do a deeper wet sand and recoat? I've already determined I can sand 1500 wet without hitting color so that's good if i needed to protect the current finish. Got a couple runs out already too. Just seems like a lot more work when I could quickly scuff down to color and do another couple coats with some better settings

20220620_091853 by giga manx, on Flickr

received_747802936353726 by giga manx, on Flickr

[gigamanx]

Ended up talking to my paint guy....full wet sand with 800 being careful not to go through the color. I've already started getting it back to a good base to work from. In good news, the filler/body work was an impeccable substrate. I found one little dime size dent in the whole car that I missed.

[Ol Blue K20]

It's still looking good. You're gonna get it, keep at it.

[gigamanx]

Nailed it today! The craziest part is that I noticed my more expensive gun was not consistently shooting paint. At the last minute I switched to my harbor freight $70 one and laid down two smooth coats of clear. Something to be said for those darn things!

[Warrens69GMC]

Nice job!!

[burnin oil]

Those purple guns are nice. Good job on the paint.

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by gigamanx

Nailed it today! The craziest part is that I noticed my more expensive gun was not consistently shooting paint. At the last minute I switched to my harbor freight $70 one and laid down two smooth coats of clear. Something to be said for those darn things!

Looks great!

[youngrodder]

Nice job on the paint work. There is A LOT of labor in those pics

Marc

[mongocanfly]

very nice..!!!!!!!

[gigamanx]

Big 4th of July milestone. Damn the driveway was hot, but I couldn't just leave it alone...Body is on, she looks like a real car again!







A seemingly simple job turned nightmare...the oil check tube was rusted to the engine. Broke it off and had to fish out the remains. I thought I'd have to remove the oil pan to attack the tube from underneath, but this morning the hot rod gods smiled and let me pull it out with some PB Blaster and patience.



Now to get an engine running, brakes installed, instrument cluster, door hardware, window glass, seats, everything else...

[Ol Blue K20]

Looks great! It's nice to have it a roller....

[mongocanfly]

my tube broke off as well...but the end fell down in the oil pan..darn it