Todd- Jeg's carries the 1200 degree Duplicolor Red DH1608. It's $7.99 per can. I like the higher temp protection. Randy
Sorry about the long delay in posting progress pictures, but I've been busy travelling with my 'part-time' job. I hope to be home now thru the holidays, so I plan to get going again. I finally got a good rear bumper core (Thanks Scott!!):TU: and it turned out great after re-chrome. The rear GS400 emblem came ok after some nervous hand painting. I finished installing the vinyl trim strip on top of the windshield frame. That took a LOT of fitting and trimming before actually gluing it in place. Thanks to other board member's suggestions on gluing one side at a time- made it much more managable. I'm now polishing the stainless steel trim to get it ready to install. I'll remove the wheels soon and bead blast and paint them. I have new BFG Radial T/A tires sitting in the basement ready to mount. The seats and interior trim panels are finished and ready to install. The conv top will be the last big hurdle- the top is in great shape, I just need to refinish and paint the frame before install. Thanks for following my post.
UPDATE. It's been a long winter and I haven't worked on the car that much since November. However, I got motivated again and restarted recently. I have installed the wheel opening moldings, the hood and trunk trim strips and the hood scoop. I installed the side view mirror also. Polishing all the trim, then painting the black inserts takes a LOT of time-- as you know if you've done it before. Next in line are the wheels. I'll remove them and unmount the tires prior to beadblasting the rims and painting. These wheels are the original on the car- the poor man's chrome wheel with the stainless beauty rings. A 1968 only wheel. After that, I'll tackle the convertible top frame- sanding and painting prior to taking to the trim shop for the new top install in March. After that, the interior goes in- it's all set to install- seats and door panels are complete. Thanks for checking out my thread. Randy
Richard- I've actually driven it around the neighborhood quite a few times- not on the road yet. Engine runs and sounds great. I hope to have it on the road by the end of March. Convertible top is next. Randy
Will you have the Convertible top custome made or do you order one ready to go from a company ? I hear you really have to watch out for some aftermarket tops not fitting correct.
Looks good Randy cant wait to stop by and see it in person soon. I think I have some stainless you could practice some more on LOL Better get really motivated since the first show around here is April 17th in elyria!
Richard- I'm having a local installer with a great rep do the top. He's had good luck with EZ On Tops-- He's also used Electron Tops wtih good luck. I'll post pics when it's complete. I'm refinishing the top frame right now. Randy
UPDATE. I took the car this week to Tailored Trim Service in New Philadelphia, OH for installation of the new convertible top. They have a great reputation and have been in business since 1957. He's installing an EZ-On top- says he's had very good luck with them over the years. Can't wait to get it home and start on wheels and interior. Norwalk is coming! Randy
UPDATE. I have the car back from Jan at Tailored Trim Service- as expected, he did a first class job with the top installation- it's an EZ On top with a zip-out glass rear window. It looks like a real car again. I've started installing the interior trim panels and will start putting the carpet in this week. I finished restoring the center console last week also. I took the wheels/tires off today to unmount the wheels so I can bead blast and repaint them. They are the '68-only Type 2 wheels that are painted steel wheels with the rallye centers. They have polished stainless trim rings- that I still have to polish ray:. New BFG Radial T/A's going on. More to follow. Randy
Looks great Randy! I know you haven't had it long, but how do you like the glass window? It looks great, but it sounds like a pain that you have to fully remove it before dropping the top.
Joe- the installer suggested the zipout window- he says he has much better luck with the top folding more evenly with this style window. It only has a zipper at the top- unzip and then you set it down in the top well before putting the top down- only takes an extra couple seconds. He also suggested laying a towel on top of the window before putting down the top.
The top looks great, You are about finished now. Am I correct that it took about a year and 3 months for this project so far ?
Richard- thanks. I started in Oct 2008, right after I got the car. So it's been 2 1/2 years to this point. I've been working by myself other than when the car was at the body shop for bodywork/paint. I haven't been in a big hurry- just trying to enjoy the ride.
Update. I'm installing the sound deadner and carpeting now. I used the factory-style 'tar' paper that I bought from Ames- a great Pontiac supplier. I laid it flat in the heated garage for a day or so and installed it when it was above 70 in the garage. It installed very easily and quickly. Cheap too- only about $60. The carpet took a lot of time, but not difficult. Just measure 10 times and cut once.ray: So far, so good. I installed the newly restored center console- I used SEM Landau Black paint for plastic and vinyl- turned out nice. I had to sand and fill the flat, metal center section as it had a lot of pits. The paint turned out ok. I also installed one of the rear seat armrest trim panels that I'd previously recovered with Legendary covers. I have the right side to do now, then seat install. Getting closer by the day. Thanks for reading. Randy
