1968 Plymouth GTX

['68 Coronet R/T]

First round of block sanding with guide coat has begun.
This is the roof, which is so much easier to reach with the rotisserie I might add.

 

[zyzzyx]

Oh boy, is it! just keep blocking until you go through and use an "X" pattern. Here's what my roof looked like. Notice the supports underneath?
while I was blocking it:

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

I started to shoot two more coats of 2k Build Primer but ran out after only 1 coat. UPS didn't deliver my new order until later that day.
Since sanding was necessary before applying anymore primer, I went ahead and block sanded the car with 320 grit.
Here's the roof:

I did find some oil canning metal on the trunk lid and got that taken care, plus I hit metal in few areas on the quarter panels.
Got the areas taken care of and spotted in with epoxy primer.

Today I shot 2 more coats of 2k build primer. Things are starting to look much better.

I will let this sit for a couple of days, while I start working on the underside.

 

[MarPar]

Looks great!

 

[zyzzyx]

You'll take 75% of that primer off when you block it. Those quarter are L-O-N-G-! 120 grit sticky paper on a long board.
Use a spray bottle with water and a couple of drops of soap to be able to see how your progress is coming along. A well
placed light will help!

 

[Rich H.]

It's coming along great.

To the OP, I have to say thanks for being a valuable resource on the body and paint forums that I have checked out over the years, and now this one too.

Thinking about how many times I've seen examples of your work on
the spi user forum and autobody 101 while researching whatever topic I was looking for at the time, and now you're here too, thinking of the pics of beautiful work you've posted over time.....well you obviously know what you're doing.
I can't tell you how many times I'd go digging for information, was wondering if you'd weigh in on a topic and usually, you did.

I might not be able to make EXACTLY the same process as someone else work for me, but I can
always use a piece of it or an idea from it.

Between all these and youtube, it is amazing how much info there is.

Facebook seems to have one good group and one horrible one.

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

It's coming along great.

To the OP, I have to say thanks for being a valuable resource on the body and paint forums that I have checked out over the years, and now this one too.

Thinking about how many times I've seen examples of your work on
the spi user forum and autobody 101 while researching whatever topic I was looking for at the time, and now you're here too, thinking of the pics of beautiful work you've posted over time.....well you obviously know what you're doing.
I can't tell you how many times I'd go digging for information, was wondering if you'd weigh in on a topic and usually, you did.

I might not be able to make EXACTLY the same process as someone else work for me, but I can
always use a piece of it or an idea from it.

Between all these and youtube, it is amazing how much info there is.

Facebook seems to have one good group and one horrible one.

Thanks for the kind words.

When I started my first serious restoration I had many questions and, like you, I searched for help and answers. Back then it seemed there were only a couple of places to get detailed information.

It was then I decided to post pictures and comments of my progress so others could learn from my mistakes and experiences. The fact is, I learn something new on every project. Often it's what NOT to do. LOL

I'm one of those people who doesn't do Facebook, never have and don't plan to start.

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

You'll take 75% of that primer off when you block it. Those quarter are L-O-N-G-! 120 grit sticky paper on a long board.
Use a spray bottle with water and a couple of drops of soap to be able to see how your progress is coming along. A well
placed light will help!View attachment 1442983View attachment 1442984View attachment 1442985

I am just now cleaning up the underside of my car and it's a lot of work.
Did you paint the underside the same color as the outside will be? I have been debating whether to paint the underside black or body color?

 

[zyzzyx]

Yes I did. I wanted it to be easy to wipe down if I got cought in a rainstorm and weeping trans fluid from the rear
of the trans.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

I am just now cleaning up the underside of my car and it's a lot of work.
Did you paint the underside the same color as the outside will be? I have been debating whether to paint the underside black or body color?

In the past I've always painted the bottom body color, not technically correct but it looks good & offers good protection...

On my Coronet I sprayed the bottom with urethane paint that replicates the original dip primer but offers a lot more protection that the dip primer.... And of course the obligatory overspray...

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Thanks guys, I'll have to give this some more thought.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

Thanks guys, I'll have to give this some more thought.

If your interested..

Restorations by Rick Kreuziger - Product and Component Restoration Detailed Information

www.restorick.com

FWIW the price has more than doubled since I bought it....

 

[ct71rr]

It's coming along great.

To the OP, I have to say thanks for being a valuable resource on the body and paint forums that I have checked out over the years, and now this one too.

Thinking about how many times I've seen examples of your work on
the spi user forum and autobody 101 while researching whatever topic I was looking for at the time, and now you're here too, thinking of the pics of beautiful work you've posted over time.....well you obviously know what you're doing.
I can't tell you how many times I'd go digging for information, was wondering if you'd weigh in on a topic and usually, you did.

I might not be able to make EXACTLY the same process as someone else work for me, but I can
always use a piece of it or an idea from it.

Between all these and youtube, it is amazing how much info there is.
Facebook seems to have one good group and one horrible one.

Yes, exactly what I was thinking!!

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Yes I did. I wanted it to be easy to wipe down if I got cought in a rainstorm and weeping trans fluid from the rear
of the trans.View attachment 1444739

Did you add those frame rails? If so what brand and how did they fit?

 

[1 Wild R/T]

Did you add those frame rails? If so what brand and how did they fit?

Those are US Cartool subframe connectors.

Subframe Connectors

store.uscartool.com

I've heard varying reports on how they fit.... The set I bought fit surprisingly well..

 

[zyzzyx]

Yep, U.S. Car Tool. They have a little X-tra stock on them in places so you have to have
a die grinder to make them fit perfect but yeah, they're nice!

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Decided to work on the underside before going any farther. Man I wish it hadn't taken me so long to buy a rotisserie.

Two coats of SPI black Epoxy:

Still considering the frame stiffeners.

I'm going to mount the doors and front fenders to check gaps and fit before going any farther with the block sanding.

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Got the front fenders out of the shed and put on the car today.
They are not in terrible shape but will still need some work. The doors are next and then I can get an idea of the work yet to be done.

 

[Pistol Pete]

If you have the tail panel, do yourself a favor and test fit it now with the tail lights. Damn few of them line up well from the factory and you very well might end up having to relocate the holes in the deck lid a bit.

 

['68 Coronet R/T]

Got the doors installed yesterday and the fit is decent.
The passenger side is the better of the two.
Body line shot:

Passenger side Front Gap:

Rear Gap:

The lower rear corner area shows some issues with the body:

It's worse on the Driver's side:

I'm going to try and move the lower hinge forward a bit to try and even the rear gap.

Before messing with this any further. Should I do this on the rotisserie or put the car on jackstands?