<VV> Turbo Odyssey, Part 12 -- The Paint Man Cometh

[Norman C. Witte]

This post can be viewed on-line at

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/12.htm

I know I have been one poor correspondent lately.  It has much to do with
this job thing.  However, I have not let work stop progress on the
convertible, and there is news to report.

In the last installment  I had delivered the convertible to the body shop.
Work has progressed surprisingly well on the car.  My general experience in
working on old cars is that when it comes to rust, they are like icebergs.
What you see is 10% of the total rust that lays beneath the surface.

This car, however, was more like the output of a computer program: WYSIWYG.
What You See Is What You Get.  While there were rust areas on the car, there
were no hidden surprises at all, except good ones.

One of the best surprises was found under the passenger side rocker panel.
Bob and his assistant Carlos cut away the rusted rocker panel on this side
to find that the stiffener beneath it was pitted with surface rust but
otherwise solid and intact.

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/3-4-05%20005.jpg

Here you can see one of the quarter panel patch panels; both lower quarters
behind the wheels were replaced.

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/3-4-05%20003.jpg

As a result of the rust under the windshield there were some pinholes in the
driver's side floorpan.  We decided to replace the damaged section.  Here,
you can see the patch panel cut from the replacement part prior to being
fitted into the floor.

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/3-16-05%20001.jpg

Bob and Carlose were able to butt-weld this panel in so that after grinding
down the the welds and repainting the floor, it will be impossible to detect
the repair.  Here's a picture after the welding took place:

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/3-16-05%20003.jpg

After the sheetmetal was repaired and the various dings in the car were
fixed or filled, it was time for primer.  This picture shows the car prior
to block sanding.

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/3-16-05%20002.jpg

Block sanding of the primer surfacer eliminates minor imperfections and
provides a very smooth surface for the application of the finish.  The
sanding leaves enough "tooth" in the surface for good adhesion of the color
coat to the primer:

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/3-16-05%20004.jpg

I think Bob needs to clean his lens.  (Of course, all that sanding does
create dust.)

Yesterday, March 23, Bob started the process of applying the base-clear
finish coats.  The first step was to paint the pinstripe color around the
belt line of the car.  I specified a dark navy for this.

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/3-23-05%20001.jpg
http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/3-23-05%20002.jpg

After painting the pinstripe color, Bob and Carlos masked off the pinstripe
with fine masking tape.  They then applied the base-clear Mist Blue final
finish:

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/3-23-05%20004.jpg
http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/3-23-05%20005.jpg

Additional work that remains to be done at the body shop includes wet
sanding and wheeling the paint, and painting the interior, trunk and engine
compartment. I have to admit that this restoration is going much faster than
any other I have ever attempted.  Of course, I started the red Corsa coupe
in 1987, so I guess it shouldn't be too hard to be my old record.

In the meantime, these pictures make me glad that spring weather is around
the corner.

Norm Witte