largecar379

Finally got around to removing the rub strips.....not too big of a deal.
Got rid of the Federalizer rear side markers as well.....

due to the rust on the lower hatch window area (it was a Florida car), removed the S4 wing and the "S" side wings, and the rear wiper. (Roger would love this.....)

Have new, pristine hatch to replace the rusted one.....

Preliminary sanding done, next: filling the holes. Then it's on to removing the quarter glass and fixing the rust there, fixing the minor rust areas on the front windshield, along with a few minor scrapes and dings.....

Did I say it was a Florida car....? They must have parked it in saltwater......

Primer after that, and paint job sometime this spring.

And yeah, I could not believe how much paint is on this car----cosmolene, then primer, then 5 coats of Oak Grun, another two coats of primer, and then two coats of Oak Grun, then clear coat......

Must be four hundred pounds of paint on it......Geeezzzzz----

Back to work.......

----Russ

Airflite40

youre gonna love the look without the rubstrips.....its well worth the work.

are you gonna do a full repaint?

Jim M.

Russ, If you going to go to that much trouble you should also remove the front side marker lights too. Then move on and remove the headlight washers.

Jim Mayzurk
93 GTS 5-spd

djurek

Headlight washers are pretty ugly. I never thought of getting rid of them. Good idea.

kccampro

What are you using to fill the holes on the aluminum panels? Are you welding them closed? I’d like do you the same thing on my ’83. Planning on using my mig for the quarters but welding aluminum isn’t something I’ve done before.

Jim M.

Couldn't agree more!

Jim Mayzurk
93 GTS 5-spd

Mrmerlin

before you repaint the areas you have sanded i would recommend that you spray at least 4 coats of HI build epoxy primer on the rub strip areas after you treat the metal with zinc chromate. Do 2 coats then sand it down dry then 2 more coats with wet sanding, this will build the surface back to flush with the other areas, otherwise after the car is painted you will see the old sanded down areas, you only need to spray the areas sanded try to stay off of the painted surfaces

largecar379

well Jim, the car didn't come with front side markers. Luckily, no one put any on it when it got Federalized----just the Euro turn signals, which will stay (otherwise, I think it would lose it's "Euro" identity).

the car also did not come with headlight washers, so I have no holes to fill in that position, unless I put my spare "S" front bumper cover on (it does have squirter holes). I am also considering removing the power antennae and filling that hole as well. Deb's Caddy CTS has a great little antennae at the back of the roof that may be an option for radio stuff.....Well, not her CTS's antennae, but one like it-----

Plugging the holes left by the markers and rub strips will be no easy task. I would like to weld them shut, but my budget may not be able to stand that, especially when it comes to the aluminum. Repairing the hole areas will require filler anyway, so it may just be an issue of placing a small plate behind the holes for the filler to attach to. It isn't my first choice, but I have done this on several race cars with good results (if it'll stay in a 10 second Super Stocker for over 11 years, it's good enough for me)......the panels won't be fatigued and warped do to welding, and the filler is kept to a minimum anyway....besides, the backsides of the holes won't be seen. It's a cheap trick, but it does work....

as for a total repaint? Yes Borys, absolutely. There are too many issues with the whole car (paint-wise), to not do the whole car. It won't be a total strip it to the metal-start over paint job (Dad is going thru this with his '79), but what I have in mind will get me by......


Now..... I'm just trying to remember if my pristine hatch has wiper mechanism holes......guess I'll un-box it tomorrow and check it.

Might add another rear Euro fog light to the (right side) rear bumper cover, as I have a spare to do that........maybe. I saw a picture of one that had two, and I think it gives the rear a more balanced look......maybe.


Anybody need a S4 wing or rear "S" spoilers (2 sets).....??????


--Russ

ROG100

Russ,
Leave it like it is - psychodelic is in 8>)
Nice move Baby!!!!
Roger

largecar379

Thanks Roger---knew you'd like the rear accessory removal, even though it still has the 5-speed in it!!!!

the more I think about it, the antennae has gotta go-----

What's one more hole to fill----ha,ha,ha......

--Russ

Airflite40

definitely remove the antenna....I like the look of 1 offset fog light, mostly UK cars had dual rear fogs lights, its too much for me....

an option would be to put in a FUBA roof antenna that comes on S4's and up....

largecar379

better pics of the front ("S" spoiler, no front side marker lights, no headlight squirters) and rear (Geeezzz that hatch rust really got worse than I thought-----).

the quarter window rust will be a little work to remove/repair, but the more I look at the antennae, it seems a shame to leave it in. Removing the antennae will clean up the rear even more.......besides, I listen to CD's and not much radio-----

---Russ

IcemanG17

That looks SUPER clean.....very nice....

RyanPerrella

what do you fill the headlight washer holes with? Some type of plastic epoxy or what do you use for that?

largecar379

Good question Ryan......

whatever is used could be used for eliminating the tailpipe cutouts as well.....?

hope we get an answer on that one----

--Russ