1967 Chevelle Malibu, exterior + interior...

[Dellinger]

Grab a snack and your favorite beverage... this is going to be a long one. `Thanks for your patience!


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This was a special detail for me, not only because the car is mine but for quite a few reasons I will mention as this C-n-B moves along.


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(I apologize for the pictures... this solid red was really hard to photograph. `Sometimes I had to washout the picture to capture defects... so the red paint is going to take on many different shades.)


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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">The Chevelle`s condition after sitting unused for almost 4 years...

IMG_7272 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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My dad purchased the car back in 1994 for $2,500 out of California. `Quite a bit to give, then, for a Malibu. `However, the car was low milage with 37,000 on the odometer. `It does have some interesting options... factory A/C, factory tinted glass, factory smog pump (removed but still have the unit and special headers) and some nasty, nasty, undercoating. `The odometer now reads...
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IMG_7306 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Original T-3 headlight...(3 of them are still OEM to the car.)


IMG_7520 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr


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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Here is a center console my dad made... the carpet surrounding the sides appears a feint green... it`s faded over time and used to be a dark grey.

IMG_7311 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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The original color was `Granada Gold`. `I was a freshman in high school when my family took possession of it. `Boy, was I underwhelmed when I first saw the car.... especially when I was wanting a `69 Camaro SS/ 4-speed. `It had hubcaps, ugly gold paint, and a 283, 2 barrel 195hp version and a 2-speed Powerglide auto. `(We ended up putting new rings, bearings, aluminum intake, Carter AFB, and a very mild camshaft to spruce up the 283.)
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My dad and I spent a solid 4 years on the car. `Every weekend we worked on it. `I can`t say it was fun then... but now I`m a car nut. `The paint and bodywork took 18 months. `There was one quarter that had been hit but there were no rust problems or need for patch panels anywhere. `The floor pans were solid so there wasn`t anything too crazy regarding body work. `As you have probably already noted, we exchanged the Malibu trim for SS stuff. `We even located NOS OEM `67 Chevelle SS trim from a local Chevy parts dealer on Swan Island in Portland, OR. `The SS hood was an OEM piece but it looked like a heard of elephants walked on it. `There`s lots of body filler.
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Hood... texture of paint showing shrinking/ sinking of body filler. `These appeared about 2 years after painting.


IMG_7336 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr

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We built a makeshift down-draft paint booth in our attached garage with filters, fans, lights, etc... `My dad chose to spray Porsche Guard`s Red using the DuPont Chromabase paint system. `
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By now, you are beginning to understand why the detail was special. `The car I`m presenting today was where I learned some fundamentals on bodywork, block sanding, wet sanding, and high-speed buffing. `It`s kind of neat to look back and see just `how horrible` some of my work was. `But that`s ok. `I love the car, love the time I spent working on it, and love the lessons it taught me. `Moreover, I`m highly impressed my father let me make some of my own mistakes... and you`ll see them I move forward through this project.
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Here`s my first ever strike through circa 1998. `I laughed pretty hard when I was getting ready to correct the rear decklid and found it... what was I thinking buffing that edge! `


IMG_7630 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr

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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Sun inspection, prior to wash/ decon...


IMG_7265 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7271 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Hood louver inserts looking weathered... with some old wax residue


IMG_7301 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7302 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr

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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Driver`s side rear quarter showing sanding marks which were never removed in 1998


IMG_7276 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Hood showing damage from car cover`


IMG_7275 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr



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​A`cobweb`here... a cobweb there


IMG_7270 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7326 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr

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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Condition of original vinyl top...


IMG_7286 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr




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IMG_7287 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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Wash/Decon-
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Meg`s Rinse Free Express Wash (GDM)
Meg`s APC 10:1 & 5:1
Various brushes
Goof off
Meg`s Mirror Glaze Clay, medium
Meg`s Last Touch 1:1
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">I usually pre-spray the panel and then wipe...


IMG_7381 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr

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IMG_7371 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Quite a bit of brush work...


IMG_7375 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Dirty!


IMG_7380 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7392 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7399 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Quite a bit of `air` work... (I find it imperative to use compressed air to get all the water and soap out of trim/ crevices/ etc... all pictures showing places after being dried... amazing what`s left behind in trim areas on older classics. `Another reason I do rinseless washes exclusively on these types.)

IMG_7390 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7385 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7400 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr



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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Clay didn`t pick up much... but then again, the car hasn`t been driven extensively





IMG_7433 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr



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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">More goodies as I worked around the car, working wash, bush, air, and clay a panel at a time...



IMG_7424 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7423 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">And bottom of the decklid and jambs received some attention... (black `ring` is weather stripping trasnfer)

IMG_7404 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr



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IMG_7406 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Meg`s Rinse Free Wash... doing it`s thang


IMG_7409 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Called in some Goof Off and a foam pad...


IMG_7415 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">All better





IMG_7421 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Inspection After Decon, under the lights


IMG_7437 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7461 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7500 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7496 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7503 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7509 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7511 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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The correction process was pretty clumsy on my part... it took a while to find what the paint wanted. `I started with Rupes 21, D300, and Megs MF cutting pad. `It left a good finish but it was taking too long to cut. `The DuPont Chromabase was proving to be the hardest paint I`ve come across yet... but at the same time being a little finicky to finish down haze/mar free.
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I ended up doing the following...
Makita Rotary/ 5/1" HD lambswool pad/ M100 @ 1500 (lowest speed my old Makita will go)
Rupes/Orange B&S 5.5"/ HD Uno
Rupes/White B&S 5.5"/ M205
Rupes/Black B&S 5.5"/ HD Polish
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Smaller areas...
HF D/A / 3" Meg`s Burgundy/ M101
.........../ 3" White B&S/ M205
.........../ 3" Black B&S/ HD Polish
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">I like to be organized when starting off...


IMG_7560 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr

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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Good amount of build on the car...


IMG_7363 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Some 50/50s


IMG_7543 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr


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IMG_7556 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Note to self... don`t use `cheap` tape


IMG_7563 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr



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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Extra care was taken with the DP-90... black 3" pad and DG501 for a very light clean up of area below deck lid. `The light sheen is how it should look.

IMG_7627 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">A little chrome work... but truth be told, all the stainless and chrome needs to be removed and polished. `Happy with a green pad and DG 501 for now.


IMG_7638 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr



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IMG_7516 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7518 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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<u>To be continued... give me an hour or so...</u>
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[Dellinger]

<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Some larger panel shots...


IMG_7507 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr

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IMG_7505 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7599 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr

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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Driver`s rear quarter after rotary/wool/m100... 1 pass per section. `Still some stuff there but it cleaned up nicely after with Orange/HD Uno


IMG_7600 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr

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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Driver`s rear quarter finished...`


IMG_7613 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr

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I think Dad and I were a little too hasty with the emblem application after paint. `Should have waited for it to fully cure... you can see the `Malibu` impression here...


IMG_7611 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr

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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">After...

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IMG_7615 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr


<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">No more sanding marks on the top of this quarter...


IMG_7618 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7621 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr


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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">However, it still needs more wetsanding, lol. `(Focused on texture, not reflection... Thank you Zach McGovern for the help on photography!)


IMG_7609 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr

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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Driver`s side process completed...


IMG_7614 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">And onto the hood...


IMG_7512 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7511 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Getting there... (after rotary/wool/M100)

IMG_7567 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7569 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Fixed

IMG_7765 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Passenger side was pretty much just like the Driver`s. `No sense in further beating you up with similar photos... but will post the highlights.

IMG_7557 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7558 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7546 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr


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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Door jambs polished with D151


IMG_7741 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7740 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr


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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Interior work was pretty normal. `Did not elect to use steam or hot-water extraction as the aftermarket carpet bled horrendously on test spot. `Some evidence of mice noted by their `trails` of you know what.

IMG_7350 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7310 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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Interior work:
Brush/vacuum
Meg`s APC 10:1
Various brushes
CG V.R.P to dress vinyl `(not real happy with it... but it`s what I had and I`d rather use it on my stuff that put it on someone elses.)
Meg`s Detailer Window cleaner

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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Stock vinyl interior in need of some love

IMG_7727 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7729 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7731 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7733 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">After


IMG_7752 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7754 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7755 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7745 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">Final Shots wearing HD Poxy (1 coat) `AND we even had SUN around here... how about that!









IMG_7687 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7683 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7682 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7678 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr

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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">I easily have 5 hours or more in this hood... hard work pays off!




IMG_7719 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7696 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr

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IMG_7716 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7713 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7718 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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IMG_7721 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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<span style="font-family:georgia, serif;">The hood louvers look better! `(The pot metal is showing it`s age though... and nothing can really be done about that unfortunately)


IMG_7723 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr




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IMG_7655 by GabeDellinger, on Flickr
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`
Well, you have made it this far! `Congratulations! `
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In all seriousness, I appreciate viewers reading and commenting. `
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Just some footnotes:
The car has been sprayed TWICE. `It was keyed on the 95th day after painting (I know this because I cried my eyes out and it was the day I had just waxed the car for the first time since curing.)
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At the start of the detail I had some `towel issues`... well, long story short... I had replaced the brushes on one my polishers... and the armateur was bad (didn`t realize it at the time) so it kept throwing fragments of graphite from the brushes all over the back decklid of the Chevelle where I was doing my test spots. `I kept scratching the paint on wipe off and couldn`t figure it out. `I finally did when I kept feeling little bits of stuff hit my arm every now and then. `SO... learned that the hard way. `Threw away a bunch of towels/pads... sucks but it is what it is.
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Take care,
-Gabe

`

[fdresq4]

Gabe,


Speechless. What a meticulous job you have done. That was one of the Best I have seen. Enjoy the labor of your Love!


Steve

[C. Charles Hahn]

Such an awesome car! Excellent work, Gabe.

[Dellinger]

Gabe,


Speechless. What a meticulous job you have done. That was one of the Best I have seen. Enjoy the labor of your Love!


Steve

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Steve, very gracious comments. `Thank you!


`

Such an awesome car! Excellent work, Gabe.

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Mr. Hahn, thank you for reading and the very nice comments!


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Best,


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-Gabe

[Guru17]

That was Epic - everything about it - the detail, your love for the car, the narration - everydamn thing.


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I know I`m repeating what Steve said above, but this one left me speechless.

[MrCLRider]

Looks great!! Did you dad know it could look so good? Did it look that good after the initial build?

[blucpe]

absolutely an outstanding job, if your dad were to sell it now he`d probably get $1000 more for it..`

[Dellinger]

That was Epic - everything about it - the detail, your love for the car, the narration - everydamn thing.


`


I know I`m repeating what Steve said above, but this one left me speechless.

Thank you, Guru. `I am glad you enjoyed the read! `


`

Looks great!! Did you dad know it could look so good? Did it look that good after the initial build?

mrclrider- `You know, that is an interesting question... looking back... I was 18 and really didn`t understand what paint should look like or could look like. `I remember it looking `awesome`, lol. `After I finished the job I outlined above, I need to order a new hood and spray it. `Then wetsand the entire car and pull off the stainless/ chrome for polishing. `


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I`m sure my father expected it to look great but I don`t know if he was very much into `finishing` the paint. `Especially after it was keyed 3 months after painting. `And we had to sand both sides back down to respray. ` When you spend that kind of time and then it is keyed... well, it kind of takes the wind and enthusiasm out of your sails, if you know what I mean. `Not an excuse but... I think he just wanted it done, you know?


`

absolutely an outstanding job, if your dad were to sell it now he`d probably get $1000 more for it..`

Blucpe, thanks for the comment. `LOL, I hope he would get a little more than an $1,000 more... but I can appreciate the humor!

[Jean-Claude]

Excellent results Gabe.


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If you`re not happy with your CG dressing, try out Carpro DLux.`

[1kwikf]

that thing was rough, amazing turnaround

[maxepr1]

UnF`ing Real! Awesome turnaround! Very nice documentation.

[tom p.]

Sun-sational !` You`ve added thou$$ands to the value of this classic!

[Dellinger]

Excellent results Gabe.


`


If you`re not happy with your CG dressing, try out Carpro DLux.`

Jean-Claude... you helped more than you know on this one. `Thanks buddy!


CarPro DLux will be in my next order from Corey.


`


`

that thing was rough, amazing turnaround

Thank you! `Indeed... it wasn`t crazy bad but it was definitely neglected. `My camera and I couldn`t really capture everything... it was a hard car/color to photograph. `The paint just absorbed light... I had to really zoom on most shots, which made it hard to tell when posting the pictures...`where I was at` on the car. `I really need a wide angle lens and DSLR. `But that`s gonna have to wait until I have money to allocate... and I get better photography wise.


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`

UnF`ing Real! Awesome turnaround! Very nice documentation.

Max, I appreciate the `enthusiasm`... and the nicety of your comment! `Thank you for reading and replying.


`

Sun-sational !` You`ve added thou$$ands to the value of this classic!

Tom, I`m very grateful for your words. ` `Speaking of value... we had the car appraised in `98 for insurance purposes... the appraiser was MAD we changed the trim, color, and that we added the stereo. `(The paint will never go back but we didn`t cut in any holes in the rear dash for the speakers... so all that can come out and you would never know it was there.) `The appraiser valued it at $17.5K in `98. `Haven`t had it appraised since, don`t really intend to... I imagine... on a good day...if I were to put it up for sale (but I won`t)... it might fetch $25- 30K. `It`s not a show winner by any means.

[Jean-Claude]

Jean-Claude... you helped more than you know on this one. `Thanks buddy!


CarPro DLux will be in my next order from Corey.

`


You did the work bro. You figured it out, made something your own and something to be truly proud of. Kudos.