. . . a factory two-stage finish . . .
. . . a factory two-stage finish . . .
. . . base-coat, clear coat . . .
The thing I liked the most was something John mentioned:
The paint isn't flat, as John calls it --- it has a nice texture to it. It'll still get a polish . . . but it'll keep that slight finish. NOT like glass . . .
. . . Like factory.
The painting part is done, so now the work on the car is picking up speed.
John spent last week carefully polishing everything. The re-assembly was supposed to begin after . . . but John couldn’t stop himself, so he hung doors and sent me some pics.
This color, 8383 metallic green is really growing on me --- just dark enough to show off the car’s shape, highlight all the shiny bits --- the window trim and rockers, lights, etc ---- but not so dark that every speck of dust and fingerprint shows.
John matched the paint to the original finish on the underside of the hood. The color is wonderful, but what doesn’t come through so well in the photos is how fine the metallic is. Honestly, I’m not a big fan of fancy colors, especially metallics. Single-stage paints can be easily touched-up when the inevitable happens, plus . . . they just look regular, normal, you know? Metallics and pearls and all that kind of stuff don’t look appropriate to me when they’re on sports cars or GTs.
Caddies and Lexuses –-- sure. But on a scrappy little Porsche? . . .
But --- as long as 1059 is going back the way it was first built . . . 8383 will do. Have to.
Kinda nervous, though. This is the first new finish I’ve had on any of my cars in quite a while, maybe 20 years? (Only had one new car in my life --- and that was when I was 19!) Be an adjustment. I usually buy very used cars. Once I get the mechanicals sorted, maybe repair or touch-up a panel or fender or two, then I get out the polisher and all my detail stuff, wax . . . and make it shine. But now? John’s already told me not to use a hose when I wash it. ‘Sponge baths.’
Check.
Anyway, for the last few days, John’s been putting all the trim and bits back on. We replaced some stuff, like all the seals and the rocker moldings, lots of clips and hardware. Looks like the turn-signal lenses are good enough to keep. (The prices for NOS are just amazing.) It’s a lot of work, putting everything back, and doing it on a freshly painted car must be pretty nerve-racking . . . but John’s actually enjoying himself. He says he almost never gets to do the assembly part.
I'm glad John’s having fun --- good Karma.
We’ll see how Tony and Marco feel about it.
1059 has a couple of mechanical things left to do, so, after John finishes, the car goes next door for:
a) re-installing the re-built front brake calipers. As I was getting set to leave NC, back in May, one of the fronts had a bad piston, so John Forbes fitted an SC caliper to get me here. Tony re-built both while the John Esposito had the car.
b) Fishing out an attachment bolt that came loose and dropped onto the track on the driver’s seat, keeping the seat from moving up and back. (Total PitA)
c) Trying to get the driver-side switch for the passenger-side electric window to work
d) Hooking up the original horns, now that the funky air-horns are off the car
e) Changing the oil and filter
f) Having a general look around, seeing if there’s anything else that might need attention.
Here’s some pics:
1 and 2 Some shots of the final color, as sprayed onto the gas door, compared to the original finish under the hood
3, 4 and 5 Polished and ready for assembly
Stopped by John's shop last night . . . to visit, take care of some business, and look at 1059. I was surprised by how different the paint looks in person.
Color's pretty striking. In some photos, especially under fluorescent lighting, 8383 looks more subdued, kinda gray, while in direct sunlight it comes off much brighter, silvery. But when I saw it for the first time last night, it looked darker. I know, I know --- that's what metallics are supposed to do --- but its still surprising how much variability the color has. If I hadn't taken the pictures myself, I could believe they were different cars.
John commented that, even after 40-years and at least one re-spray/go-through, a lot of 1059's smaller original details were still there, still intact --- the original plastic jackets for ground straps and wiring were still in place, even supple; door releases and locks just needed cleaning . . . even the door restrainers still had their original springs in them. Things come up, putting a car back together. I'm always expecting complications --- something's missing or screwed-up, won't fit, 'doesn't wanna,' problems --- but so far . . . going pretty smooth. And John's smiling . . . said even the alu lid went on right . . . first time.
Here are some pics . . . with and without flash. See what I mean about the variability?
It's funny . . . I've never looked at this kind of stuff on my cars before.
Or if I have . . . I don't look this close.
Now? Hhhh.
Rick,
That looks great! The VIN tag looks as it should as does the unpainted door hinge pins. I love to see those kinds of nice details in a newly painted car.
Brian
'71T
R Gruppe #299
Hey, Brian . . . .Originally Posted by fryardds
. . . looks great! . . . I love to see those kinds of nice details . . .
Yeah --- the details really make these cars, don't they? John and I talk about them a lot --- actually, John talks and I listen. And all the fasteners and hardware, all the bits and trim --- three tables-worth of stuff --- all still left to go on the car. John's meticulous about building it up, too --- pretty much took my pictures around him as he dusted stuff off! I'm sure he'd've wanted another chance to wipe off the dust in these photos. Seeing these places . . . I'll be in there, too.
But all this shiny newness . . . is only the outside. Underneath and in in the engine bay and inside? 1059 is the same good old car that I picked-up in North Carolina, a year-and-a-half ago. The panels and the gaps are all fixed, better than new. And the paint-job is beautiful. I do wanna show the car around a bit, while it's pretty like this. And I'll take a ton of pictures, when its finished.
Then?
All these 'details' hit the road. Hard. 1059's a runner. And I'm short 3 months of seat-time. Jonesin' --- big time. Got plans for a trip --- just as soon as Tony finishes his bit.
Here's some in-process detail shots . . .
1) John installed a brace that was missing from this area ---- it's the diagonal bit in front of the blower. This area inside the trunk is otherwise un-touched.
2) Here's the cowl area during re-assembly --- and, yes, the dash is cracked
3) Right fender seal
4) and 5) window trim detail
1) and 2) right side door latch details
3) and 4) John re-conditioned the turn signal housings, but both lenses are being re-used
5) Also re-using the original threshold plates. See that little white bit holding the plate in, on the facing edge? That's the original type of small white plastic rivet. If the little hole, either in the plate itself or the sheet metal behind it, is in the wrong place, or too big --- you can't use that original bit . . .
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