After 29 years it's time for some paint Reply #15 – May 13, 2017, 03:58:35 PM Quote from: tommym;460731The moldings on my car are in excellent shape. When the car was re-painted the moldings were painted gloss black. Can't really see them in the pictures. The center molding was re-painted red. I'm lucky I haven't had to have them removed. I was told by the body shop that if they get damaged they would not even try to replace them.Have you tried to use chrome or aluminum vinyl to re-cover your center molding? You can buy the vinyl in a sheet, 12in x 60in, cut it in 1in strips and use a blow dryer, (Not your wife's), and a felt squeegee to install it. Haven't tried it myself but I have re-covered several of my dash parts with matt black vinyl with excellent results.The chrome trim on mine was faded (well actually the clear overlay over the chrome) and no amount of polishing would get it shiny again. This stuff did approximate the look of the factory finish: http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?23126-Chrome-on-Side-moldings/page3The moldings from the 67K mile car polished up nice and clear. Since they don't need the chrome strip to be covered I'll be using them instead of the moldings that were on my car. I saved those for spares, just in case. Quote Selected
After 29 years it's time for some paint Reply #16 – May 13, 2017, 10:23:56 PM How did you remove the trim without bending them so they can be reused? When I approached my favorite shop about doing the car the first thing they commented on was the fact that these strips once taken off do not usually go back on as nice as they were before. I have read that others have taken them off without bending the aluminum backing. Clearly you were successful not once, but twice. Quote Selected
After 29 years it's time for some paint Reply #17 – May 14, 2017, 12:11:59 AM Quote from: My10-80;460733How did you remove the trim without bending them so they can be reused? When I approached my favorite shop about doing the car the first thing they commented on was the fact that these strips once taken off do not usually go back on as nice as they were before. I have read that others have taken them off without bending the aluminum backing. Clearly you were successful not once, but twice.You just need a sharp joint knife and a hammer. Hammer the joint knife through the tape behind the molding from top to bottom, working your way along the molding. It cuts the tape and keeps the molding from bending up. Quote Selected
After 29 years it's time for some paint Reply #18 – May 15, 2017, 02:19:02 PM The front fenders have been jammed. So today the rest of the paint is coming off and the front sheet metal goes back on to get aligned. Once everything is straight it's off to the paint booth for primer. The hope is the car will be in primer by the end of the day tomorrow. The body shop plans on having it painted by the end of the day Friday, with Monday and Tuesday next week for wet sand and buffing. I'm hoping to get it back Wednesday next week, so I can begin putting the moldings, trim, and interior parts back in. Quote Selected
After 29 years it's time for some paint Reply #19 – May 17, 2017, 01:27:54 PM Fenders are back on and all panel gaps aligned. The panel gaps are even better than stock. Primer is going on today. Tomorrow and Friday the car will get paint laid down. I'll hopefully have some pictures of paint on Friday. The car will be wet sanded and buffed on Monday and Tuesday next week. I should have it back on Wednesday, so I can start putting interior panels and exterior trim back on. Hopefully I'll have Humpty Dumpty back in one piece by memorial Day weekend. Quote Selected
After 29 years it's time for some paint Reply #20 – May 19, 2017, 06:32:12 PM Well it's in primer :hick:. It should be painted by the end of the day Monday. So after wet sanding, buffing, and re-installing some removed trim and the quarter windows it'll be done. I'm hoping I'll have it home Thursday. Fingers crossed. It's taking longer than planned but I want it to look showroom stock on the outside. Helps with the whole sleeper thing. I'm also ditching the 5.0 fender badges. I want stock appearance more than anything else. Quote Selected
After 29 years it's time for some paint Reply #21 – May 24, 2017, 02:05:55 PM It's got paint!Now it just needs to be wet sanded, buffed, the bumpers installed, header panel and lights installed, front fender liners put back on, quarter windows put back on, window trim put back on, exterior door handles put back on, lock cylinders put back on, and then it can come home. The I have to put the door panels, sail panels, side mirrors, moldings, and emblems back on. Then the car is done :hick:. Quote Selected
After 29 years it's time for some paint Reply #22 – May 26, 2017, 08:10:46 PM Amazing how good the car looked before but now a person can really see the difference in how the old paint had just given up the gloss ghost and the pigment had faded. Looks awesome man!!! Quote Selected
After 29 years it's time for some paint Reply #23 – May 26, 2017, 09:18:42 PM I stopped by the body shop this morning. They are still wet sanding/buffing the car (getting rid of any orange peal that's left). The front and rear bumpers were getting painted when I stopped, the header was already done. I should have it home this comming Thursday or Friday. As far as appearance goes there is a huge difference, even though the car looked good before. The gloss is just so much better. New paint vs. 29 year old stuff will do that. It's much more noticeable in person than in pictures. Quote Selected
After 29 years it's time for some paint Reply #24 – May 27, 2017, 09:06:33 AM Schweet!!! I've always liked the two tones... Quote Selected
After 29 years it's time for some paint Reply #25 – May 27, 2017, 11:26:38 AM Quote from: TurboCoupe50;460964Schweet!!! I've always liked the two tones...You know I've owned this car for so long that when I see a single color 87-88 Thunderbird it doesn't look right to me :hick: Quote Selected
After 29 years it's time for some paint Reply #26 – May 27, 2017, 04:49:30 PM It's coming along very nicely. Looking forward to seeing the end result. Quote Selected
After 29 years it's time for some paint Reply #27 – May 31, 2017, 02:34:49 PM Almost done! The 30 year old NOS tape stripes went on great. Just needs trim installed and it can go home. I should have it back home tomorrow or Friday. Then I have to put the emblems and moldings on. Quote Selected
After 29 years it's time for some paint Reply #28 – May 31, 2017, 02:51:52 PM Looking great! Would have not liked being the guy that had to put the stripe on, not that it is all that difficult, just knowing that it's not as easy as ordering up another one if there is an issue. Quote Selected
After 29 years it's time for some paint Reply #29 – May 31, 2017, 03:03:48 PM Quote from: bodyman;461050Looking great! Would have not liked being the guy that had to put the stripe on, not that it is all that difficult, just knowing that it's not as easy as ordering up another one if there is an issue.Well there's only one more NOS stripe kit out there so he was careful. The guy who put it on noted that it was very fragile and he had to be careful not to bent it too much or it would crack. The new stripe kit is straighter than the factory installed one. Makes it look like the guy who put it on at the factory was cross eyed and drunk . Quote Selected
Topic: After 29 years it's time for some paint (Read 9199 times)
previous topic - next topic
