This may be a little ridiculous - a $2018 challenge oddessey

When I finish this wet sanding and buffing process and get it out in the sun I think I will be absolutely amazed. The depth of shine and reflective quality of the paint at this point is amazing and I'm only one step through the buffing process

Testing, details, and presentation are what will determine how high it finishes. The engineering is way up there and overall visuals are getting close. It's a good car.

And thanks again for the hospitality. We had a great time.

In reply to mazdeuce - Seth :

Dad and i have already started on the presentation ideas and workup.

Details are in pricess.

Testing is tough. Im not a good enough driver to know what it needs yet.

Before wetsanding and buffing 

After

a bit more to finish yet, like glaze and wax. But, incredible difference. 

Whoops, how did this get here?

In reply to wheelsmithy :

Mayyyybeeee.......

Have not decided on a livery (or lack thereof) yet. Just trying to get the basic car sorted at this point. You know, a finished prior to the event car. Not one that is finished after loading on the trailer. Like the amc.

Dusterbd13-michael said:

In reply to wheelsmithy :

Mayyyybeeee.......

Have not decided on a livery (or lack thereof) yet. Just trying to get the basic car sorted at this point. You know, a finished prior to the event car. Not one that is finished after loading on the trailer. Like the amc.

Weirdo

Old money: 1945.53

new money:

none of this counts in the budget, thank god, but it counts in my wallet....

buffer and pad, harbor freight: 45

cutting compound, scratch and swirl remover, and machine glaze: 65

pads and sandpaper for DA 44

sandpaper and block for hand sanding: 26

Recoup: 820

new total: 1945.53

so, this week ive learned some new skills, and a new thing about car people.

First thing is about the people: the guys that buy really high dollar materials, and lay down paint that looks great out of the gun have large balls. I mean HUGE BALLS. It was pucker inducing taking sandpaper to a $4.50 quart of valspar. I cant imagine a $450 materials job. My job was garbage, and I was still scared of screwing it up.

That being said, it was bad enough (though all one color, which was the primary purpose!) that something needed to be done.

This is what I was starting with. Random pictures of the as sprayed surface. It was BAD. I did try to take similar pictures for before an after effect, but im not all that good with a camera, so make sure to squint. Or drink. Heavily. Much like last call, this car will keep looking better!

Overall long view

20190602_103336 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr

decklid, with a picture of my beginners wet-sanding kit.

20190603_073709 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr

super closeup of the surface on the best panel on the car

20190603_073726 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr

good overall of texture, along with my complete beginners kit of materials. (note, I wound up with a hell of a lot of different supplies by the end.)

20190603_073742 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr

started with the foam block and 800 grit. Wet the paper in a 5 gallon bucket of soapy water, and used a spray bottle of soapy water on the surface. I watched youtube videos and internet posts made it look like a few seconds of sanding would produce a nice flat surface. This was after 10 minutes of sanding, and it definitely AINT a flat surface yet.

20190603_082603 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr

so after enough wet-sanding with 800 grit to make my arm fall off (it got better!) the surface of the decklid, quarter, and door were flat. Except for the fisheyes. Those were DEEP, so I left them. Figured they wouldnt be noticeable.

20190603_170045 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr

one of the tips I learned was to use blue tape to outline areas of the panel that needed more work. Trhis also worked to help flatten the runs without going too deep on the surrounding area. Also taped the edges of the panels, though this proved to be wasted effort. Supposedly it would prevent burn through, but it didnt. Aparently 800 grit will work through tape.

20190604_080329 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr

20190605_081857 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr

at some point, my bum shoulder and wetsanding conspired to make me hate life. Thats when I struck on an idea.

20190605_125047 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr

I went to the local autobody supply house and obtained a box of 800 grit wet hook and loop sandpaper discs. As well as a couple of buffing pads, and a backer pad for the paper. This made quick work of the rest of the surface. And the edges. And my wallet. But, my shoulder was a whole lot better, and the process sped up immeasurably!

We got the whole car down to 800 grit. I was pretty happy, but definitely concerned that I just ruined the paint. But, im a redneck with a rabbits foot and no fear of failure!

Rolled it outside, and washed the slurry off with dawn and a rag.

20190605_180533 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr

20190605_180951 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr

next was 1000 grit

20190606_080451 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr

then 1500

20190606_084847 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr

then 2000, but it didn't really look any different. And my shoulder was back to hurting. (unfortunately, that's a lingering aftereffect to eating a honda in the drivers door of a 1964 el camino at 50mph. Look back in the thread, there's a picture)

20190607_081933 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr

anyway, we then started on buffing. I originally started with the porter cable DA and turntle wax rubbing compound.

20190607_165024 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr

garbage. Ruined paint that actually looked worse than before I started. So, did some digging, and was told to use a firm foam pad on a rotary buffer with 3m compound. So, a trip to harbor freight and oriellys, and a bunch of money later, we were making progress!

20190607_165029 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr

but I still wasn't happy with the results. I called Art over to give me pointers on what I was doing wrong. 30 seconds of watching him showed I was moving too fast, at too low a speed, with too much compound, and too much angle. I took back over, and came up with satisfactory results!

20190608_180227 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr

so, last night and today I worked through the 3m, meguires scratch and swirl remover, meguires machine glaze, and tr3 resin glaze. My shoulder and back are killing me, but im pretty happy with the results!

20190609_160837 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr

20190609_160843 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr

20190609_160927 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr

20190609_160857 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr

and a super close up of the same horrible surface of the decklid as in the first pictures

20190609_160953 by Michael Crawford, on Flickr

lots of work. Lots and lots of work. But, I have a target. See, in every competition ive ever been in, ive been told to pick your targets. Wether that was football, autocross, or boy scouts, ive always had to have something i was aiming for. In this years upcoming challenge, I have two targets. First is top 10 overall. Second is beating angrycorvair in his mid engine v8 corvair. That may or may not actually get finished. But my major one, and the most euqal challenge target I can think of to my build, is machinenbau in datsanity. Its an incredible build, that outclasses mine in every measurable way. And has already competed at the challenge and placed well before the mammoth paint and body and sorting campaign hes been on all year. But v6 swapped, street legal, rwd Japanese car. Who's build thread rivals mine in length and scope. Its incredible I hope to match him, and hopefully squeak by him in the rankings. But it will be close! And FUN!!!!!

heres his build thread: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/datsaniti-1980-datsun-210-wagon-vq35-swap-2018-cha/138776/page1/

as soon as the resin glaze cures (24 hours) ill take my car outside to was every surface. Twice. Then, reassembly! And engine bat detailing. And figuring out the livery. And nitrous install. And.....

Octobers coming quick.

Your new name is Meat Loaf.  ‘Cause two outta three ain’t bad.

AngryCorvair said:

Your new name is Meat Loaf.  ‘Cause two outta three ain’t bad.

AngryCorvair said:

Your new name is Meat Loaf.  ‘Cause two outta three ain’t bad.

I snarfed my coffee. Thanks!

This weeks goal is body kit, jambs, and detailing parts prior to reinstall. 

And rustoleum hunter green is close enough to use a rattle can on the jambs.

I'm honored to be your rival and to finally meet you this year! We've been alternating which years we attend the Challenge, but 2019 is the year. I don't know about "outclassing", I'd say we're definitely on par. Your interior blows mine away and actually looks like a nice place to spend time and not get mold poisoning or tetanus. I find it hilarious that we seem to be building on the same exact schedule, for months (maybe even a year?) We both just spent the weekend buffing our asses off and both cars are looking amazing. And both are getting sprayed to the moon right??

And #1 goal is definitely beating Angry's theoretical, academic bench build that probably won't even be rolling by the time we stage up for the 1/4  But that's low-hanging fruit

Thats looking amazing! 

In reply to Professor_Brap :

Proof that a squirrel can occasionally find a nut.

I have to decide at what point to let the final details of the car go dark. Have to leave some suprise for the event .....

had to clean the shop. And car. Wetsanding and buffing swarf gets EVERYWHERE. 

Livery has been decided. 

Now for safety reg updates. Currently limited to 13.49 due to no door bars. Im going to hate cutting the door panels, but it is what it is. 

13.49 you gotta be dreaming!!!,  and that Green Heck even Kirmit would Run, what are you Thinking, Man , Really Sorry to see All that work,     well,   COME OUT SO FRICKIN' AWESOME !  Great Build Thread again.

looking really good

This is really shaping up nicely.  Keep up the good work!

So what happens if you make one pass at 12.9 without door bars? Do you get your time? Or do you get thrown out with no time given? Is there an outlaw strip somewhere you can take a few practice passes to know for sure before cutting the car for a door bar? If single best time wins, and you get your time I would just run it!

In reply to TurnerX19 :

Rules have a specific call out for "banzai" runs.

But I agree, go test on a Friday night test and tune before cutting the doors.

In reply to Dusterbd13-michael :

Is it a jerk question to ask why you painted a cracked front bumper ? Or are those sekrit aero mods?

In reply to cdeforrest :

If you’re talking about lower edge on passenger side, that big missing chunk is a reflection of the photographer

In reply to AngryCorvair :

Lol wow it really IS shiny! Thx