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It's gettin' done, slowly...

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PatGalvin

PatGalvin

Jedi Warrior
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Hey all. Thought I'd share my latest progress with you. Have finished all the rough sanding and priming of my body panels. They are ready for blocking, urethane primer, and blocking again before sealer and final paint. Painted the underside of the tub on Saturday afternoon. Luckily no neighbors complained. This was basically a warm-up prior to painting the rest of the car. Will flip the body, take off the twirler, and paint the interior this week or weekend (scuff, seam seal, epoxy prime, and base coat/clear coat. Then, all that will remain to paint are the parts "that show" (scuttle, sills, quarters, cowl, and rear apron). And of course, paint the wings, doors, hood, and boot lid. Painting parts off the car is pretty easy. Painting the nooks and crannies on the underside was a little more challenging. Using PPG DBC and SPI Universal Clear. Color is Mercedes Arctic White. Hoping this will be very pretty when it's done.

Here are some progress photos.
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I'd be afraid to drive it. Maybe just leave it and use it as a fancy eatin' table. It sure is purdy!
 
Wow, that is some very nice work there Pat.
 
I'm sure that's better than it was done originally1 Absolutely gorgeous Pat. Are the reinforced holes in the rear tunnel for seat belts?

Gordon
 
Hi Gordon
Thanks - The underside will never be as clean as it was this weekend. The fun part will be painting the part that you actually see every day. I'll add to this post as I progress. Trying to get paint down before weather gets chilly.

I've been practicing body and paint in my spare moments over the past year. Have learned a ton about metal, primers, and finish coats. I reckon that the cost of body work and paint on my car is easily north of $10K. My friend recently had a virtually rust free 240Z with full paint and he paid $9K for that. My car was rust-full, not rust free.

I had purchased a couple large washers and welded to the rear tunnel for future seat belts. I also added same reinforcement to inside of dog leg (quarter panel) for the outer belt connections.

Pat

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Looking great Pat.

Cheers,
Tush
 
Wow Pat, based on the "before pictures" you would have easily spent 10k on rust repair......before you got to the paint and primer IMO. Nice job!

Gordon
 
Pat I agree with Gordon. WOW!!
You do great work and have done alot... I still gotta get up to Folsum for a afternoon to get some info on how to paint the TR250. You are the MAN!!
 
Pat,

That looks gorgeous, can't wait to see the finished result.

Scott
 
Looks great, lots of hours spent to attain that sort of finish. Congratulations. Cheers, Mike
 
Pat - You are doing a super job. I think that when you do it right the first time (like now), it will be easier to keep clean and maintenance will be more fun as the years and miles go by.

I painted the bottom of the car as well as the frame black during my full body-off restoration (my 1958 TR3A is black) in 1988 and now - 24 years and 109,000 miles later, I can clean under the car with white spirits and it's just a nice as it was 24 years ago.

Keep up the good work.

Don Elliott, Original Owner TS 27489 LO
 
Pat, I wish I could relate to your recent progress. Your work is looking great, and it appears our cars are making a similar reconstruction. -but it's good to see some cars were in worse shape than mine. I hope mine looks as good in the end.

Cheers
 
Very nice work Pat, the car has come a long way. It's something to be proud of. It's fun to look at the before and after shots.
 
Pat, you could go into business making that rotisserie !. It's sure come a long way from the strip down pics and great credit to you.

Sadly I have to send that work out which drains the till in a hurry at today's labour rates.

Viv.
 
Hello everyone.

Well first, I wanted to thank you all for the kind words and encouragement. I am appreciative of all I've learned from the forum members and also very thankful for all the friends I've made, many who I've never actually met in person.

Since last post, I've built a nice litter roller stand from a few 2x4s and got the tub prepped for paint. I finished the body work in the engine compartment which is a real chore. Just painted that last week - see photos. I'm in final primer on the scuttle, cowl, sills, and rear apron. I'll paint those in the next couple weeks and the tub will be finished. Most body panels are nearly ready for paint after numerous block sanding events.

I have a whole new appreciation for restoration work and body and paint guys. This is really hard work, to make an old part perfect. After all the metal work and patch panels, it requires numerous applications of body filler (not inches thick, just lots of skim coats), rough shaping and sanding, glazing putty, sanding, polyester primer and final blocking, epoxy primer to seal the porous poly fillers, seam sealer, urethane primer, final sanding, and sealer, base coat, and clear coat. Sheesh. Would be easy on a newer car - just buy a part, scuff, and shoot your color and clear. Restoration work is amazingly difficult! I plan to set up a paint booth in my garage for final finish painting.

Oh, and here's a pic of me, so you know who's doing all the complaining...

Happy New Year to you all!

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Here's where I started.
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Engine Comparment in final paint.

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rear apron - I thought it was done.. But then applied guide coat and sanded with 600 grit.

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see the sand scratches - couldn't feel them but evident with guide coat and final sanding. Guide coat is the amateur body man's best friend.

Hoping paint will be done soon (been sayin' that for a long time). Then, fix the leaking rear seal on the engine and mount the tub back on the frame.

Cheers,

Pat
 
Hey Pat, looking fantastic. I know what you are talking about! Just doing all the body work and have started etch priming and epoxy priming....Lot of sanding to be sure.

Cheers
Tush
 
Pat, let me rephrase that for you.

It is getting done slowly AND correctly.

That is some great looking work.
 
I am Jealous. I just dropped off my TR3A at American Stripping to get it to bare metal. Then more body work. I can only hope I don't park next you at one of the shows!

Jerry
 
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