Donny's 1969 GTX

[Donny]

I Media Blasted today some old furniture for a guy, using pure plastic, thought I'd slip in my GTX tail housings; badly pitted and rotted from 40 + yrs. They are heavy chrome, pits, ran some plastic over 'em, shined up good, didn't do anything for the pits though, wondering how you all handle this? How/where does one go from here?

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[detmatt1]

I think they actually fill the pits with something and grind them flat before the rechroming process, but I am not sure what materials are used. I would be interested to know.

 

[Donny]

There's a chrome/plating shop down the street from me, I hear he's basically closed to the public as all his work is done for rich *** Arabs, I think I go down and inquire....

 

[Superfreak]

I believe a metal filler is used to fill the pitting, one compatible with the chroming process.

 

[Donny]

I also did the unique GTX tail-panel too the other day. Man, that sucker is pitted badly. I took it to the Chrome guy, he told me to find a better piece on e-bay! He didn't want to touch it b/c of the extensive prep work required. So, I'm wondering what my options are? Dremel tool/sand the pits down, then just paint it and omit chroming it? Or, sand it down then take back to him to get his evaluation? Yeah, I think that's what I'll do...glad I took pics before/after blasting, I think they look fantastic in stock condition! But, I wonder if these pieces are being stamped as re-pops yet? I tend to think they will not be as they were only used one year on this car with near-duplicates used again and only on the same year Sport Satellite. Also, notice in the below pics the 4 headlight bezel trim housings off my 2 Plymouth B Bodies. I bet 'cha no one usually media blasts these things. But, I did, I like how it put a argent/texture on 'em, plus it cleaned up the 40 yrs of film/crud off 'em, and it took only about 1 minute per item to blast; I put 'em in some green self etch-I know, may bot be 'correct', but, I may want to paint 'em the color of the car, or, leave the option open for another color, or, put 'em back in a silvery kind of color that they came with stock. For sure, the insides near the bulbs will be that flat black that (I think) was the same color as the lower GTX black area near the rocker panels and if the car was a hood stripe car that same color too. And that poor plastic GTX grille (or is it grill) has seen better days! I'd say half of it is broken up, the tabs busted off it, etc. But, considering the condition of the car when I got it, I'm surprised the plastic didn't start rusting!!!

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[roadrunnerman]

hey donny nice to see you get a chance to work on the"X".

 

[YY1]

You are HARD CORE, man! I wish I had the balls you do to tear into my projects.
(....and I'm an IT project manager, by trade!)

Go , man!!

 

[Donny]

Hey YY, I spent many years looking at stuff like this: # chmod 777! and then, if I wanted to mess with somone; # rm *.*! hahahaha. They are easy to tear into, you then find TONS more damages than the previous owner indicated (haha), and end up doing it right regardless of the cost/time, it will get done, eventually!

 

[rapidtransitric]

Try all-metal or solder.....

 

[3404speed]

Kruisinmoons might have something pretty pricey

 

[Donny]

ouch! 2300 bucks!!! 1800 bucks for the GTX tail lamp housings, ouch!

 

[3404speed]

yeah, well, not quite made out of unobtanium, might as well cast a new one and polish.

 

[generaljmwlee]

donny dont know if this would help
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1969...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item230d9218cb

 

[Donny]

Those are Satellite and or RoadRunner housings. GTX and Sport Satellite use the deep dish style. Those are running cheap too!

 

[68427vette]

great thread, and an inspiration to all, i like the fact that you have a marker board, "LIST" of things to do. the only thing i see that hold you back, is the extra cool cars, that you are also working on,, (like we all have) but if you get bored on one, work on another one, keep it fresh.

JUST AN AWSOME JOB, i'm getting ready to do my superbee 440/6pack car.

http://www.uscartool.com/img/70Superbee4406/index.html

i do the blasting for the local high end hot rod shop. its hard to get motivated to blast your own stuff.(non-paying) Its hard dusty awful work!!!! I feel you pain. but you'll get there!! And i get what your saying about, "paint/bondo hides" alot of stuff!! man i've got some pics.....

keep up the work... the cars will always be there. I have a 4 1/2 year old. and Its been a struggle(a good one) to get working on my cars. once in a while, i just have to , tell the miss," i need a day...to bang on my cars" and she gets it..... (well, she also gets a shopping spree)...

its all about keep a balance.... families most important. i try to juggle a few companies, landscaping, construction, and the hot rod stuff.. its tough... as i read your thread.. i ve been close to the big "D" but worked things out.. we have to do what we have to do in these times....to survive....i dont care what income level your in, or occupation.. its bad.......and not getting better.

i'm also adding soda this year,( for doors, roofs) i'm buying a dryer,, any recommendations? or just buy walnut or plastic, and turn down the pressure..
i use a 250 ingersoll rand trailer, (john deere diseal motor),

thanks for the thread....
jc -ohio

 

[Donny]

Got some work done today! Well, bought it at least, getting closer friends!

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[Donny]

Nice car JC! Do you have a thread dedicated to this car so one can follow along? Blasting for a local shop? Cool! If the shop does a LOT of work, having your own in-house set up is cheaper, but, I bet the turn over rate for blasters is high? I would NOT do this every day, nope, 2 times a week, maybe 3, if I'm crunching a project 4 days a week, NO more than that. Too hot, filthy, dirty, etc. But, this is why I charge blast time (nozzle time) what I charge, I make no apologies for my pricing. When a guy told me he took 8 hrs to sand blast a Super Bee fender with a Harbor Freight system, I about shat my pants, he took three shats in his pants when I told him about 55-75 minutes for the entire fender; about $150.00 for that fender, which, there is no way he could get it that clean with sanding discs, HF tools, etc. But...this is how it goes I suppose! How in hell can you hang for a full week in your blast suit etc? Or, is it just a few days a week and do other things too.

I've decided to do just Media Blasting and maybe a little metal working side jobs, yeah, that Chevelle was a side job And I do no painting, if it needs it, and the guy wants it, I'll sub it out to the guy across the street!

 

[68427vette]

yea, i do ALL the blasting,, i tell the shops to bring them in bunches,,
its like sanding drywall, glad you only do it once in a while, LOL. its awful job!!
the old tractor guys, just drop them off, and i call them when there done..(also good clients)

I cant lie to ya, i got into this because i own about 80-100 cars/trucks, and was shocked at the price when i took,
my WWII M20 Ford Armored car, to get a quote.. now to think of it it was a reasonable quote, S
o, i went and spent 10,000 on equipment, for as much stuff, as i have, YES< A GREAT INVESTMENT!!

here's the M20:

and my next project: WWII LVT-4 Water Buffalo

i laugh also..
"fenders, we dont need no stink'n fenders" kids stuff...lol

a few more of my projects in one of my buildings:

no thread on the Superbee, going after it next week, cant wait,, and i'll start one,, and to those who read these threads, its a sucky job.. really suckkyy.
pay the price... and get your stuff!! CLEANED!!!!!!! you can only do it one time!!!
Costs for a whole car, EVERYTHING, around $1200-2500+++. I mean every thing, frames, doors, everything. i charge by the hour, or by the job.
i'm buying a dryer, for soda blasting...in a week or so. roofs/doors/hoods. i'm in columbus.ohio

 

[68427vette]

no blasting required: my rat rod. and BB 427 68 black/red interior conv.vette

soda-- for corvettes/ fierglass cars, avanti's

 

[Joe Mopar]

Wow ! You have some real neat toys. Wish I lived closer so I could ask to take a tour.