Multi-tasking projects

[Tom Kochtanek]

Multi-tasking is a technology term used to describe the apparent ability for a computing device (processor, memory, and so forth) to ACT as if it can handle multiple tasks at a single time. I do this in real life, as when one project slows down to a crawl, I can switch over to another part of the Big Picture.

Many of you know I'm having an interesting set of of "clearance issues" with my first ever engine build :), but undaunted I head for other waters even less familiar -- final coats of paint on the '62 SS :) This part is in the hands of a talented and capable expert, in this case Mike Butler, a retired city cop who is helping me work the body and applying the primer and final color coats.

Here's a pic of the firewall, which has it's second and final coat of two part PPG Ermine White with hardener. We have that cowl and the roof done (4 coats there, with light sanding in between), but still have the sides and rear in final sealer and several coats of blcoking primer. I figure in two weeks we get the body and doors done, then focus on the fenders, hood and trunk. Long way to go :) :) :)

[Tom Kochtanek]

Here's another shot of the left side with my 21 year old son, Jeff, who will be attending the September Convention. Hope to have him take his first ever set of flags (possibly from Dyno Don?) at the strip that weekend :)

[Tom Kochtanek]

Right hand side, from the rear. That is a heavy seal coat with several coats of blocked primer on the quarters. Making it look as straight as possible with as little filler as possible (and lots of buildup primer :)

[fourspeed409]

Tom
Your project is lookig real good.
I have a couple of questions. Why did you paint the roof and firewall first instead of painting the whole body at once? Why did you sand between coats on the roof? I need all the help I can get.
Shane

[bobs409]

Lookin' real good Tom! Pictures like this always get me motivated. I feel like doing paint/body work now! :D

That 62 is gonna be real nice when it's done. :cheers

[fatride]

Tom, The stripe on my 60 Impala is Ermine white. That has to be one of the most feel good white colors in the world. It reminds me of making "real" "Home Made" vanilla ice cream with "real" whole cream, it's that color I remember when the ice cream was still liquid. Remember? Can't wait to see the car up close in KC.
:cheers

[Tom Kochtanek]

Shane asks: "Why did you paint the roof and firewall first instead of painting the whole body at once? Why did you sand between coats on the roof?"

Well I am no expert, but we first took this down to bare metal (by hand sanding), then sealed her with a two part epoxy primer over that bare metal. We noticed a HUGE number of dents and divots that were part of the original car, and we wanted to get as much pulled out as we could before we started using plastic filler to raise the surface.

After the first coat of sealer, we started with sanding/blocking primer to build the surface up. After long boarding and a good "hand feel" we shot a coat of the Ermine White. That covered the firewall and the roof line. A slight scratch and a second coat covered that same surface. I figured since the top is most exposed to the elements (althought this will be stored inside most of its life) we might build that up a bit, so we shot second and third and fourth coats, with light sanding in between (like 360 to 500 grit). I bought 2 gallons of Ermine White and seem to be most inclined to use it all.. This is not an Earl Shieb or a Maaco job :)

The sides just take a long time. They are huge slabs that had a number of door dings and parking lot scratches. So they are taking a bit longer to get straightened out. Recall this is not what I do for a living, so we are perhaps stretching this out over months, not days as in a repair job. We let the coat of paint harden for 7-10 days, sitting in the paint booth. Not a production effort, to be sure!

So that's the reason for the sanding in between coats. Not afraid to use a lot of paint, trying to get the best lines possible. It's a bit of trial and error on our part, and time is not the issue. I've got other things that cause me more problems right now (like getting clearance in the stroker build :)).

Hope this helps. Not sure if it's duplicatable :)

Best,
TomK

[bubbletop61]

Tom and son;
You are doing this the right way, together, and a square foot at a time. You can not pay anyone to take the time and do this as perfectly as you will yourself. I think your approach on the top and firewall is a good way to go, you can always mask the roof off when you go to do your final coats on the lower, or give it one more scuff and include it in your final coat. The approach of getting a good base in epoxy primer which gives you a good levelling capability at final color sand is the way it is done by the pro's. With the care you are taking you could have painted her black and it would have still come out perfect !!!! I've done many cars myself, usually for others, but
I insist in doing them just this way. Needless to say, I gave away a lot of hours in my youth LOL.
I wish my son and I were close enough to finishing the car to be able to bring the car to KC in September, but we'll just have to look forward to seeing this ermine white gem take the flag. My guy will turn 21 in June, and the car is actually his. He found it and bought it himself when he was just turning 17, and we went to Colorado to get it. Lots of fun and memories since...
Cheers
BBTP61

[Phil Reed]

Tom.....don't say anything more!!!!!!! You are at 409 POSTS!!!! :deal :deal :deal

Re-register under another name and this will live for Eternity!!!!! :D :D :D

[real61ss]

Tom,
Congratulations on two things, a nice job of restoring the car but better yet, congratulations on doing a great job of raising a son!!!! It's really nice to see young people interested in the cars of our youth. :cheers

[bowtieollie]

Hey Tom,

She is lookin' good and I also agree with real61's comment on the father/son project.

I have one question for you?

Why did you leave the body mount bolts in at the cowl?
They should have been removed during the repaint, then installed once cured.

You have time to correct that..... :bow