63 Spyder Preservation

[rv6aaviator]

Working on stripping the underside of the engine and trunk lids. These are a pain the butt. So far the stripping process has been easy when working on the "flat panels". It has now become a tedious and time consuming process to get all the small areas cleaned up and there are a lot of them.

Picture 1 shows the underside of the trunk lid after the first coat of stripper has been applied. I think if that was on canvas and on the wall in a big city gallery, it would be pricey!!

Picture 2 shows engine underside of engine lid after two coats of stripper. Scrapped and wiped down with thinner.

Picture 3 shows engine lid after some sanding.

Picture 4 shows how it looks after 3 hours of work. And still needs a just a little more elbow greese.....

[rv6aaviator]

It's been a few weeks since last post. Hope everybody is having a good summer. Here's a few pictures of most recent work.
Found some rust on the car in the lower rocker panel area in front of the wheel wells. And it was on both sides. Rear quarters are both solid. I ordered reproduction panels from Clarks and decided to cut off the old and replace it with new. The new panels from Clarks are really nice. Did a bunch of sandblasting to get things cleaned up to weld.

Second photo shows the rust on on the inside of the panel. Note the old sound absorption material. Both sides of the car looked alike.

Photo three shows rocker under the door after sand blast.

Photo four shows sand blasted door jamb.

[rv6aaviator]

I've spent enough time on the 62 the last several months and pretty much have the car where I want it. I have not been working on the 63 for several weeks. I'm back full steam on the 63.....

Today, I finished fitting the driver side door. Welded on the driver quarter panel and put a coat of POR 15 on the interior.

[cad-kid]

Nice!

[rv6aaviator]

Three hours in the shop tonight. Finished grinding down all the welds. First coat of filler drying. Hit the trunk with the first coat of aircraft stripper. Applying aircraft stripper is my least favorite thing to do on the car....

[rv6aaviator]

Hit the trunk again this evening with a second coat of aircraft stripper. Another hour of scraping and a quick rinse/wipe down with thinner. I then hit a small area with the DA waffle wheel. I can now start to see some shinny metal. I can not believe the amount of seam sealer GM used when putting all the trunk panels together. To my surprise most of it is still very soft and has done its job well for 50+ years. Anybody else run into this when stripping the trunk?

[rv6aaviator]

I always liked the trim on the 64's. Thought about putting enough pieces together to make a set, but decided to purchase the reproduction kit from Clark's.

Here's a few pictures of the pieces mocked up/installed on the drivers side. Fit was very nice, took about 2 hours to get it all done. Trim metal is a little thin in my opinion, but overall I'm happy with it. Passenger side mock up tomorrow. Then fit the hood & trunk and shoot the whole car in primer. I'm getting closer.....

[cad-kid]

Nice upgrade with the new trim.

[rv6aaviator]

Well after 9 months since my last update on the 63, I finally have things ready for paint. Decided to cut in the doors and door jambs today. Color is Daytona Blue.

[BobWitt]

Jeff - I just read the whole thread... Nice looking project...

I'm taking notes - next winter I might need to get after the cosmetics also...

Keep up the posts! I need to get my thread up to date... Looking good!

Bob

[rv6aaviator]

Doors went back on the car tonight.

[rv6aaviator]

Realized that I had forgotten to strip the rear seat side trim panels and gas cap. Applied aircraft stripper a couple of times. Hit them with some aluminum oxide soda blasting, Coated the back sides with POR 15 for the next 50 years of protection.

[rv6aaviator]

I finally laid down 4 coats of base and 3 coats of clear on the body today. After 9+ months of stripping, sanding, welding, filling, priming, sanding, priming, sanding, priming and did I mention sanding.....I am ecstatic on how the body and paint has turned. Laser straight. Now a couple of days off to let everything cure and then I will wet sand with 2000 and buff.

Hood, deck lid, and gas cap up next.

[cad-kid]

Wozer!

[rv6aaviator]

Finally got the trunk painted over the weekend. I elected to use Clark's splatter paint which I purchased in quarts to shoot out of my spray gun. This method also eliminates the need to apply clear coat/sealer.

Couple of things learned for those whom are going to be painting their trunks.

1. Clark's says 1 quart is enough to do a whole trunk. I disagree, buy 2 quarts.
2. Use a spray gun with a 2.5 mm nozel. I tried a 2.0 nozel and the 2.5 spays much better.

[cad-kid]

Looks great!