<VV> Convertible frame restoration

[corvair@mb.sympatico.ca]

Norm,

The only piece of the top I had powdercoated was the header and it looks great. You can't coat anything with moving parts because the plastic coating will glue everything together even if the bushings aren't plastic.

I figure the handles don't look too bad after 40 years painted so it won't hurt to paint them again.

Les

Message: 6
From: "Norman C. Witte" <ncwitte@wittelaw.com>
To: <virtualvairs@corvair.org>
Subject: RE: <VV> Convertible frame restoration
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2004 14:20:03 -0500

Thanks to all who responded on this query.  Lots of valuable comments on
this one.

I think I am coming up with a plan.

I talked to my powdercoater.  He says that he has a low temp system that
normally doesn't melt things like those bushings, but that he has no
experience with anything that old.  I am not inclined to take my chances on
that score, so powdercoating is out for the riveted parts, which are the
long rails on the sides.

Plan B:  I have to take the car to a media blaster anyway, so I think I will
take the side assemblies r with me and have them stripped there with some
mild abrasive.  Then I will give them a thorough coating of epoxy primer,
followed by several coats of Plastikote low gloss black engine paint.  This
perfectly matches the Ink Black my powdercoater uses.  The parts that don't
have bushings get powdercoated.  Any reason I can't powdercoat the top catch
handles? Are the bushings plastic?  They are a high wear item and I would
prefer to have a high durability coating on them.  The other part I am
considering powdercoating is the header.

Comments?

Norm