Paint and Body Work 101


Imperial Home Page -> Repair -> Body & Paint -> Paint & Body 101 -> Part 7


Engine detail and block sanding

Jan 30, 2003

I was determined to finish the engine compartment and get the car started on Friday and with about 8 hours of effort made it.

Jan300001.jpg (53756 bytes) While I had the wiring harness out, I re-wrapped it with electrical tape.  Took half a roll!jan300002.jpg (62361 bytes) A lot of the engine accessories are bolted through intake manifold bolts so these had to be re-torqued with a torque wrench.  This is a Craftsman click type wrench which I prefer to the beam style.

 jan300003.jpg (75359 bytes)  While I was at it, I straightened out all the pulleys so the belts run true.jan300010.jpg (70690 bytes) About 4pm it was time for a 'smoke test'.  crank, crank, crank.  nothing.  Check the timing since I had the distributor out.  Humm only out a tad.  Set it at 10 degrees.  Crank, crank, crank.  What the heck?  Got fire, timings right, pump the accelerator and see gas jet out.  Got gas, got air, got spark.  Should run!  Where is the starting fluid.  Oh, wait, why is the choke still opened.  Duh, I forgot to put the choke linkage back under the carb.  Dumb!  Once that was fixed she fired right up and ran as sweet as ever.

8 hours on Friday.

Feb 3, 2003

Well, I guess I've put it off as long as I can so I'll start blocking the primer.  Unfun but VERY important. 

Feb3_02.jpg (35897 bytes) Using a new guide coat product.  This is 3M's new dry product. It goes on with a sponge pad and darkens the whole panel where you rub it.  As you sand the high spots go back to standard sanded primer color and the low spots stay dark.  My primary goal with this pass is to level the paint surface and identify any spots that still need work.  I'll then spray a final coat of primer and block with 600 grit prior to color.

Feb3_03.jpg (26984 bytes) Immediately the fender/roof seam was leaded in at the factory shows up as a problem. Feb3_05.jpg (29990 bytes) Feb3_04.jpg (27510 bytes) Here is a close up view of the right side seam.  Lots of work.  Two big highs with lows in the middle.  The two spots in the upper high are actually metal.  The other side is identical.

Did some other stuff today and only put about 3 hours on the car.  Got the trunk and top blocked.

Feb 4, 2003

More sanding on tap for today.  Hope to finish.  Couple tricks to share.

feb401.jpg (65244 bytes) Make SURE you mark your problem areas.  I always think that I'll remember them but never do and end up seeing it when the color is on.  I use a piece of masking tape (look at the top of the panel above the glare) and put it on as soon as I see the problem while I'm still sanding. feb402.jpg (89442 bytes) For detail work, you can use spray adhesive and glue sandpaper to a paint stick.  The paint stick bends a little and works really well for easing around contours. feb403.jpg (81516 bytes)  This urethane primer loads up the sandpaper pretty quick.  An air gun will blow it off and you get good paper again.

 feb404.jpg (52280 bytes) Believe it or not, this panel is VERY straight...now!

Didn't get finished today.  Still have about 1/2 of the left side but just ran out of steam.  Tomorrow I hope to finish, back it out for a bath, clean out the shop (dusty, dusty work), and apply more primer.

 


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