58mark

iTrader: (3)

ok, I finished sanding this morning, and then started buffing with the wool pad.

I got about half the car done. it looks nice, but should look even better after I polish it with foam pad. I'll finish the wool compoundng tomorrow morning, and move onto the foam next wek

Jupiter

iTrader: (1)

Damn that looks awesome Mark. Good work bro.

kmcn47

car looks amazing mark, great work

58mark

iTrader: (3)

thanks, hopefully by this time next week it will be back on the ground, and I start putting the doors back together. The hood stripes and replacing the windshield will be the last things I do

58mark

iTrader: (3)

still working on my car. It hasn't been all sunshine. I sanded through a couple small spots, I actually chipped the clear in a couple more, and had a few various other problems

I finally finished touching things up and finished the compounding today, and started to take the tape off from the moldings above the doors and around the back glass. that's a much bigger job than I thought it would be. After spraying, epoxy, high build primer, sealer, paint, and 4 coats of clear, the tape has turned into a very shiny, rock hard strip of granite. Most places the tape just comes off a chip at a time, so I'm having to work slowly to get it all off of there. Hopefully I'll finish tomorrow

rbjones

That's really complete reporting--what an education.

texascat2

The sign of a great teacher!

kmcn47

great teachers are what made high school bearable for me

rbjones

This thread has taught me all I need to know to try this myself--I didn't know squat before Mark dived into it and wrote it up, plus all the good advice.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

I hoped to have the car on the ground today, but it took longer than I thought it would to get the ground effects attached to the fenders, put the wheel well linings in, and all the extra stuff that still needed doing. I did get the taillights on, and secured the back bumper.

I got the back end on the ground, I'm going to work on my flip up license plate bracket before I lower the front.

rbjones

Mark--Talk about smooth, that could be a trailer queen.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

nah, it's no show car. Lots of little flaws that were caused by my inexperience as a painter.

I took my daughter to school early today and came back to get some stuff done before I had to leave for work, so installed my hide a way license plate bracket


normal


hidden

Jupiter

iTrader: (1)

That's a nice touch Mark. Is it the electric one? I have kept mine retracted
since i installed it and just waiting for the day i get pulled over for no front
plate. I figure if am getting pulled over then the cop is behind me so i have
the six seconds it takes for the motor to extract the plate... lol
'what do you mean officer, i have a front plate, just look' hehehehe

58mark

iTrader: (3)

Lol. It's the manual one, but if I had the electric 1 I would be doing the same thing

Jupiter

iTrader: (1)

That's still cool. My second excuse would work for you.
'sorry officer i forgot to extract it after this weekends car meet'
I find cops are pretty forgiving of old/classic cars.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

True!

rbjones

My brother in Greenville has his front plate in the lower right (passenger side) of the windshield, stuck to the inside with suction cups, says it's legal, hasn't been pulled over.

68Strat

iTrader: (3)

Love the hide away plate. I had my plate in the passenger side of the windshield when I had my IROC and got nabbed for it. I only got a warning but the cop had me sit there for 20 minutes. When he asked why it wasn't mounted on the front I told him holes hadn't been drilled and I didn't want to drill them, and he gave me all this crap about how it would fall down in the windshield... When I showed him it was held on with foam tape, he got very angry and said he'd ticket me if he saw me again.

Jupiter

iTrader: (1)

It's not legal. It WAS a grey area of the law until a judge ruled on it two years
ago if i remember correctly. The defendant quoted the law as per written to
the judge. The judge however ruled that the law 'intended' to mean the plate
needs to be on the bumper. Until a superior court judge rules otherwise or the
legislature pulls their collective heads out of there back side, we are stuck with
the current ruling.

This has been around for quite some time now.
http://www.petitiononline.com/txplate/petition.html

I hadn't seen this before but looks interesting.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Texas-...79181428797175

EDIT: i was just thinking with current economic situation this would be a good time to push
for change. Change that would save the state a whole lot of money. If fee's stay the same
and they are only making half the plates as before they could make a good bundle of cash.

rbjones

Gentlemen--That's VERY interesting--I forwarded this info to my brother. He bought a new Challenger SRT8 in May, no holes drilled in that front end yet.
New Mexico, 60 miles from me, has no front plate and there's been no major crime wave there--good petition.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

Here is what it looks like from underneath

58mark

iTrader: (3)

I have something to say...

Nothing makes your car feel newer than a brand new outer door handle, that isn't all rattly and sloppy.

I've rebuilt the drivers side door (minus the inner panel) and everything looks and feels like new. New sweeps, new handles, window in perfect alignment... Feels and looks great. I even put on a replacement drivers side mirror to replace mine that the cables were shot in. I can actually control what I'm looking at!

crazynights

iTrader: (3)

THIS LOOKS FANTASTIC!!!! LOVE THIS THREAD!!
What gun did you use for the Base?
Also, LOVE the tails!! They look better than fresh from the factory!!

haps

iTrader: (4)

Source for the handles and sweeps please. They OEM handles and sweeps?

58mark

iTrader: (3)

I used the Grlzzly H7667 LVLP gun. I was very very happy with it. I had some problems with dust control in my garage, but I can't blame that on the gun. the gun laid down a very smooth pattern with next to no overspray. For a $50 gun it is incredibly well built. I would buy another one in a heartbeat.

I'm proud of the taillights too. I can't say enough good things about SPI universal clear. It is so easy for a novice to use.

I bought the ones from 1A Auto. I know the handles are made in china, not sure about the sweeps.

I love the quality of both, but with two small observations...

1. on one of the outer door handles, the retaining clip was installed backwards. Gave me a few seconds of panic and cursing until I realized I could just reverse it myself

2. the window sweep look and feel great. they don't feel cheap at all. I've never had a 3rd gen that the rubber on the sweeps was actually flexible, and i bet I'm not the only one. I'm not sure if I installed them wrong or it's a design flaw, but there doesn't seem to be as much overhang on the top of the door. in fact the sweeps barely come over the lip at all. I kept pushing them as high as they would go as I installed them, but I couldn't get them any higher. Sweeps are not the easiest thing to install in the world.

Anybody that is thinking of attempting it... do your self a favor and make sure you have a 7mm offset wrench. Makes the job so much easier.

crazynights

iTrader: (3)

Thank you so much. I am going to pick one up for the cost.
Great thread as the car looks so awesome!!! Congrats on a great build!!!

kmcn47

damn!!!! cars lookin good mark, cant wait to see her all done, and i have to say you have one of if not the nices v6 camaro on the whole board

one92rs

iTrader: (5)

looks good mark. cant wait to see her next year at the statewide meet.

FryeDaddy

iTrader: (1)

If you've seen a gunmetal/gray camaro Through Rockwall~ Commerce, it was probably me! And guess what? I dont even put on my front liscense plate, from what I been told is because my car is an 85. ( I been pulled over so many times, none about the missing front plate)

58mark

iTrader: (3)

Year doesn't have anything to do with the plate law. I even have to have a front plate on my58 impala

I kept my plate in my front window, but i'm glad I don't have to do that anymore

travis401

iTrader: (1)

The whole front plate thing varies from state to state. Some states require a front plate, some dont. Most are moving towards requiring it though. I was living in WA when they made the front plate a requirement. Never did get a any greif for not having mine there though. Some cops dont care, some will hassle you about it, and some will just write you a ticket over it.

Duane's 91 Z/28

iTrader: (1)

Where did you get that plate holder?

58mark

iTrader: (3)

It's a show and go. Got the kit from amazon

jimmy_pop15

iTrader: (1)

I wish I could be there for the first time it meets a speed bump or steep driveway to hear you curse it lol. I can't imagine there's much ground clearance left.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

No more than an inch less than normal. My car isn't lowered, I should be fine

58mark

iTrader: (3)

today I put on my NOS door edge guards, the gas door and bucket, and after gaining a little education on electrical systems, I installed power door lock actuators (the car didn't come with power locks) and a keyless entry system.

I bought the keyless entry system mainly because I wanted some way to pop the hatch when approaching the car, but as long as I was going to install it, I might as well have power locks too. I bought a couple used actuators last year, and have been holding onto them for all this time

The wireless system cost me less than $50 from amazon, and it works perfect. If anybody is interested in more details on some tricks of installation, let me know

one92rs

iTrader: (5)

what is the name of the kit. i already have all power. have been looking at getting keyless entry.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

http://www.bulldogsecurity.com/Produ...ry-system.aspx

bulldog KE1702. $41 at amazon,
http://www.amazon.com/Bulldog-KE1702.../dp/B000CS9Q6E

but it takes this relay if you want to use it with your hatch
http://www.amazon.com/A2C-775-Univer...gy_auto_text_b

one92rs

iTrader: (5)

did you have to use any of the resistors to make it all work mark?

58mark

iTrader: (3)

Nope. No switches, relays, or resistors needed. (Except the 775 relay needed for the hatch)

With factory locks, all you need is the bulldog. Without the factory locks, all I had to buy was the actuators and the part that connects to the locking rod. Those cost about 30

texascat2

More great info Mark! Thanks for sharing! My alarm needs a new horn so while I'm at it a remote pop-up hatch would be great to have!

58mark

iTrader: (3)

tonight I did the passenger door...

new weatherstrip from 1A auto, put the old water barrier back in, and upgraded the door panels to the deluxe interior ones to match the seats I put in a few months ago

I love the new weatherstrip, but until it compresses down a little, I really gotta SLAM the door to get it to close.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

got the other door done today before I had to go to work


what's left...

putting on the RS emblems and the body side moldings (going to try to find the correct 3M adhesive foam today)
put the plastics back in the back hatch (hope to do that today as well)
replace windsheild


That's about it...

one92rs

iTrader: (5)

where did you buy the actuaters from for the door locks.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

Ebay. Used OEM but came with a warranty

jimmy_pop15

iTrader: (1)

dang i would of gave you some free. I got like 4 extras

58mark

iTrader: (3)

Today I put all the interior plastics back together, and installed a factory switch in the hatch so I can turn on and off back there. For some reason, that light has always stayed on unless I took out the bulb. It may not be factory perfect, but I can at least turn it off and on at will now.

This is what I have left to do, Wow... my list is getting pretty short.
1. Body side moldings
2. Heritage Stripes
3. replace windshield (been cracked since before I bought the car)
4. clean engine bay
5. install feet covers on seat tracks.

The light is shining at the end of the tunnel!

kmcn47

wanna give me some free jk my car doesn't have power anything

58mark

iTrader: (3)

couple new pics... I taped on my side moldings, and the used the same 3m adhesive tape to put on my new center cap emblems

82tarecaro

iTrader: (4)

What did you use to put the side moldings back on? I know you mention 3M but is it specifically made for that?