The Kraken - A Restoration & Modification Diary
05-28-2012, 08:48 PM
#62
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
5/28/12 Update
Installed a new Kenwood CD/iPod/Bluetooth/HD Radio head unit. Awesome unit, except I now have an alternator whine I'm trying to hunt down. Next change will be improving the ground at the head unit as I've tried everything else.
Busted out the Griot's Orbital Polisher. Used a microfiber terry cloth bonnet and Meguiar's Scratch X 2.0. Holy cow why did I not do this before?! Not strong enough for the deep scratches and I've got plenty of those, but man what a difference on the rest of the car. I've used just about everything without success (including all kinds of Griot products). Check out the before and after shots:
Before:
After:
Before:
After:
Cleans up nicely
Installed a new Kenwood CD/iPod/Bluetooth/HD Radio head unit. Awesome unit, except I now have an alternator whine I'm trying to hunt down. Next change will be improving the ground at the head unit as I've tried everything else.
Busted out the Griot's Orbital Polisher. Used a microfiber terry cloth bonnet and Meguiar's Scratch X 2.0. Holy cow why did I not do this before?! Not strong enough for the deep scratches and I've got plenty of those, but man what a difference on the rest of the car. I've used just about everything without success (including all kinds of Griot products). Check out the before and after shots:
Before:
After:
Before:
After:
Cleans up nicely
05-29-2012, 10:10 AM
#63
Racer
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Monroe, NY 10950
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Hey Mike,
Yeah, people were all upset by the estimate! I didn't write it! It's a very expensive truck, too, so it wouldn't shock me that with all of the labor and parts involved it could have come in at $10 - 12k. In the end a shop near me did it for just under $6k, and they did an awesome job.
But don't dis Maaco... there's a brand new one right near my brother's shop. They did his '66 Corvair, and it looks insanely good. I believe they're franchises, so it's up to the franchisee how to run his show. This guy is amazing.
Yeah, people were all upset by the estimate! I didn't write it! It's a very expensive truck, too, so it wouldn't shock me that with all of the labor and parts involved it could have come in at $10 - 12k. In the end a shop near me did it for just under $6k, and they did an awesome job.
But don't dis Maaco... there's a brand new one right near my brother's shop. They did his '66 Corvair, and it looks insanely good. I believe they're franchises, so it's up to the franchisee how to run his show. This guy is amazing.
I spoke to the owner once and he said he would never let a car leave his shop looking like some of the other Maaco shops do. I had a work van done by him about six years ago. He cut and welded new sheetmetal on the bottom of my passenger side door, did some minimal body work (dings & and scratches) and painted the entire van for $1100. Would have been a bit more if I did it in a 2 stage, but it was a work van so a one stage was more than sufficient. I had the van for five years after the paint job and it held up great. At any given time if you go to this shop there are high line cars there and plenty of classics waiting to have a fresh coat put on.
05-29-2012, 10:30 AM
#64
Race Car
Definitely! There is a Maaco by me that turns out some serious paint jobs. You would never think it was a, "Maaco Job".
I spoke to the owner once and he said he would never let a car leave his shop looking like some of the other Maaco shops do. I had a work van done by him about six years ago. He cut and welded new sheetmetal on the bottom of my passenger side door, did some minimal body work (dings & and scratches) and painted the entire van for $1100. Would have been a bit more if I did it in a 2 stage, but it was a work van so a one stage was more than sufficient. I had the van for five years after the paint job and it held up great. At any given time if you go to this shop there are high line cars there and plenty of classics waiting to have a fresh coat put on.
I spoke to the owner once and he said he would never let a car leave his shop looking like some of the other Maaco shops do. I had a work van done by him about six years ago. He cut and welded new sheetmetal on the bottom of my passenger side door, did some minimal body work (dings & and scratches) and painted the entire van for $1100. Would have been a bit more if I did it in a 2 stage, but it was a work van so a one stage was more than sufficient. I had the van for five years after the paint job and it held up great. At any given time if you go to this shop there are high line cars there and plenty of classics waiting to have a fresh coat put on.
If your brother's single I have just the woman for him-she's a Corvair aficionado and photographer.
M
05-29-2012, 01:27 PM
#66
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
06-10-2012, 04:04 PM
#67
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
6/10/12 - adjusted e-brake cable and tried to hunt down my audio alternator whine solution. Ebrake solved, but whine not. Might need to re-route the RCAs, I guess. PITA.
06-10-2012, 06:05 PM
#69
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
06-10-2012, 07:28 PM
#70
Rennlist Member
Good luck,
Dave
06-10-2012, 07:59 PM
#71
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
You probably know this, but alternator whine is usually a ground problem. If you use a wiring harness ground wire (brown), you may want to add a direct chassis ground to your head unit. That has worked for me, but beyond that, I am at a loss.
Good luck,
Dave
Good luck,
Dave
06-10-2012, 08:51 PM
#72
Rennlist Member
Good luck,
Dave
06-12-2012, 03:29 PM
#73
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
6/12/12 update - Fender rolling complete and 19s installed!
SSI in Towson did the rolling; all 4 corners, and for under $150 (that included mounting a tire and balancing all 4). I was going to do it myself, but SSI made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Plus it didn't need to be a perfect job anyway, since I'm going to repaint the car. The shop guys did a great job gently flaring the fenders; I actually like the new lines a little better. Very difficult to notice the fenders are rolled.
The wheels are still very tight in there, but I think once the suspension fully settles and the rear camber returns, they should be perfect. I'm going back for an alignment next week and if they're rubbing then, SSI will do a little more rolling.
SSI in Towson did the rolling; all 4 corners, and for under $150 (that included mounting a tire and balancing all 4). I was going to do it myself, but SSI made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Plus it didn't need to be a perfect job anyway, since I'm going to repaint the car. The shop guys did a great job gently flaring the fenders; I actually like the new lines a little better. Very difficult to notice the fenders are rolled.
The wheels are still very tight in there, but I think once the suspension fully settles and the rear camber returns, they should be perfect. I'm going back for an alignment next week and if they're rubbing then, SSI will do a little more rolling.
06-12-2012, 03:49 PM
#75
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Thanks Mike. Couldn't really test them out on the drive home since 1) my car was full of my old wheels, 2) it was raining, and 3) it needs an alignment, too. But it felt remarkably similar to the 18s FWIW on the short ride I had.
For my notes... the fronts are 19x8.5, 54mm offset. No spacers needed to clear the Big Reds. Still available as of today from Tire Rack for $199 each. Rears are 19x10, 42mm offset. Also still available, $205 each. No spacers needed to clear the rear suspension. 19x11s would fit under the outer fender, but rub the inner suspension, on an S4. With a spacer, they can clear the inner suspension, but badly rub the fender.
I will be posting the 19x11s for sale here shortly. These are no longer available from Tire Rack. 1010 Tires has them for $276 each.
For my notes... the fronts are 19x8.5, 54mm offset. No spacers needed to clear the Big Reds. Still available as of today from Tire Rack for $199 each. Rears are 19x10, 42mm offset. Also still available, $205 each. No spacers needed to clear the rear suspension. 19x11s would fit under the outer fender, but rub the inner suspension, on an S4. With a spacer, they can clear the inner suspension, but badly rub the fender.
I will be posting the 19x11s for sale here shortly. These are no longer available from Tire Rack. 1010 Tires has them for $276 each.