So begins the restoration story of my Grandmother's 1972 Skylark Custom convertible... She bought it new in Dec. 1971, drove it and loved it. Here are some before photos for later comparison. Doesn't look so bad, right? <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/138/353961103_3b5c9daf3f.jpg?v=0"/><br/> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/353961100_f2d69223f7.jpg?v=0"/><br/> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/154/353961093_7c9d0a745f.jpg?v=0"/><br/> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/151/353961087_42c3a93b74.jpg?v=0"/><br/> The first round of process pix from <a href="http://www.paintworksunlimited.com/">Paintworks</a>:<br/> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/152/353959381_3225d0df01.jpg?v=0"/><br/> As Sean began stripping off panels, he discovered the car originally had side molding. Do I try to find replacement molding or just leave it smooth? I vote smooth. <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/146/353959391_6a9dd85306.jpg?v=0"/><br/> typical rust holes in the fenders <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/158/353959390_9e89644343.jpg?v=0"/><br/> What is that blob? Anyone have a pair of good fenders they'd be willing to sell me??? <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/132/353959386_9bbe1151e4.jpg?v=0"/><br/> Cardboard. That's stock, right? <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/45/353959383_ab838d3169.jpg?v=0"/><br/> More to come!
man, pictures can really hide stuff. yikes I sold a nice 77 gmc pickup a month ago. It was a nice solid truck but in pics it looked like a show truck. I guess I shoulda sold it on ebay. :laugh:
Rear 1/4 action <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/143/359731527_bc112ade90.jpg?v=0"/> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/164/359731530_62ee806cb6.jpg?v=0"/> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/158/359731533_c28d0327c8.jpg?v=0"/> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/165/359731538_fabdca8282.jpg?v=0"/> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/152/359731535_2bdb77ac6f.jpg?v=0"/>
<img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/130/366181889_aed1b62566.jpg?v=0"/> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/116/366181879_b03931b07e.jpg?v=0"/> Check out the mess on the floor! <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/366181891_9e93390491.jpg?v=0"/> Thankfully the upper half of the quarter panel was OK, AFAIK there are no reproduction skins for convertibles. <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/116/368081116_a3e24a18ea.jpg?v=0"/> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/164/368081122_92f0e7fd8a.jpg?v=0"/> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/125/368081119_7dfa2a7d16.jpg?v=0"/> Doors, trunk and hood are off to be media blasted. Still waiting for the California fenders to arrive!
Well, the PS door was swiss cheese and there were some major rust holes that needed patching. I'm amazed at how much body filler was in my car! <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/165/374816797_cbd7669400.jpg?v=0"/> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/165/374816799_229da53ebc.jpg?v=0"/> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/175/374816801_cede4087ae.jpg?v=0"/> The trunk, hood and doors are back from being media blasted. You can see the holes in the hood a dent puller left from a repair in the '80s. <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/374816806_aa43c4f455.jpg?v=0"/> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/374816808_085230bed4.jpg?v=0"/> I'm on the hunt for new weatherstripping, any recommendations?
Man it looks like some real Hacks got hold of this car way back when! It looks like your bodyman is doing a great job!!!! Can't wait to see it finished. Great job!!! Bill
I'll be in that same boat soon. Have lots of work to do on trunk and rear wheel houses. Thanks for the pictures. Try Ames Performance Pontiac for original GM trunk weatherstrip. Much better than the aftermarket stuff as it is soft latex. You will not have to slam the trunk like with the aftermarket stuff. For the other stuff you are pretty much stuck with aftermarket.
Primed and ready for block sanding: <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/381842949_1844aeec2f.jpg?v=0"> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/123/381842946_e6a1faf56f.jpg?v=0"> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/133/381842943_65c82040f1.jpg?v=0"> The front fenders have arrived! Weatherstrip to be ordered this week.
I was in St. Thomas for a week while the poor guys at Paintworks slaved away on the convertible. Things are looking good! The California fenders weren't exactly as advertised. One was pretty banged up and the other side had a rather piss-poor attempt at a patch. That's the way it goes, I guess. <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/180/397007329_a0332c280f.jpg?v=0"> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/163/397007332_07ebb77f57.jpg?v=0"> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/179/397007331_3bc229459b.jpg?v=0"> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/147/397007326_7f9543956e.jpg?v=0"> We were able to use the original wheel houses up front with a little patch work. <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/166/397007328_4fab9c4a82.jpg?v=0"> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/159/397007334_fc792a3643.jpg?v=0"> The front end was remarkably intact. <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/170/397014321_a3e0b4b161.jpg?v=0"> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/53/397014322_79a87531b5.jpg?v=0"> My engine looks so filthy compared to Sean's work. <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/100/397014326_c3f54e8250.jpg?v=0"> Headlight bezel <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/152/397014319_a440a4e935.jpg?v=0"> Bottom of the hood cleaned up well. <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/165/397014318_36ffc54d12.jpg?v=0"> checking the fit <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/397015903_fa8f78e7f8.jpg?v=0"> Trunk was patched and painted, looks nice. <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/185/397015017_8d425c14fb.jpg?v=0"> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/170/397015015_6abac26a8d.jpg?v=0"> The car will sit for a week while the primer hardens and then on goes the color. I saw the jambs painted and the color looks great. Weatherstrip and tires have been ordered and I'm working on some interior pieces at home. Thanks for the advice! This summer is going to be awesome...
convertables rock!!:beer but mine(#2) is a rust bucket compared to yours:ball: mine will have a hot small block buick around 350 hp 400 lbs i hope
