new project

[carson]

Ok everybody, I've been here for awhile off and on, but I think I've only posted once or twice. I just came up with a new concept for my car, like when Car Craft did the flat black '69 Camaro with the white hockey stripe. They didn't make it perfect, just a fun cruising car that you could enjoy on the weekends. And when I get a real job with a real salary I can work on making it the car I've always wanted.
My Camaro is in pieces right now, I was dreaming of the perfect restomod, now I miss driving it and I would like to get it up and running and be a decent car. The biggest problem is the budget, I'm trying to go back to school and am working at a temporary(ie. not well payed) job.
I was thinking just fixing all of the rust, and getting the body pretty straight and shooting with a good flat black sealer. Rebuilding the suspension with PST or similar parts, upgrading the brakes on the cheap, and swapping in a good strong running 350 or something to replaced the somewhat pekid 305 it has now. Most of my interior pieces are in decent enough shape to reuse or will be with some clean up. And the body is in ok shape.
I'll probably have alot of questions as time goes on, if I run with this idea. I just thought I would post this to get me started and maybe get a little input on the idea. Also, the car has been sitting pretty stationary for about three years. So alot of little things need to be fixed. If some of yall could maybe give me a ballpark estimate, I know it will be hard without more detail, I would really appreciate it.
Sorry for the novel and thanks in advance for all of the future help
Carson

[gchandler]

I would not worry about upgrading the engine right away. Get the brakes and suspension squared away first.

Good electrical, wheels, tires, etc next.

Then transmission, engine, and finally paint and interior.

That is how I always do my cars, it lets me enjoy them whilst I build them.

[carson]

I've been working a little on my car, and have realized I need a good small media blaster. Just to get the 30 years of paint away on some of the tight areas. Harbor freight has a few to choose from, does anyone have any suggestions?
On the places where I sandblast and fix rust, what kind of primer should I use? I want the whole car to be flat black for now but I'll probably repaint with some shine later on, I do want to do some blocking right now but not looking for perfection.
And on the interior floor and roof, is there any way to other than blasting or scraping to get off all of the sound deadener and glue?
One more for now, my driprails are in a terrible shape should I shave them or try to fix and patch them? there are places where they are rusted completly through.
Thanks for the help

[71FirebirdLS1]

Almost any brand of primer should work fine depending on how much you want to pay, but it wouldn't buy the super el-cheapo.

If you have rust on the driprails, you probably have rust elsewhere. If you want to have your car last, please, fix ALL of the rust. If you don't, you'll get bubbles under the paint after a few years depending on where you live, then you'll eventually start all over again with another paint job. Do it right the first time! Once you blast your car, there will probably be more rust to fix.

Sound deadener will not come off using a sandblaster. The soft deadener will just absorb the sand's energy. The best way is to scrap most if it off, then use a rag with paint thinner to get the rest or try scrapping first, then blasting.

Have fun with your Camaro!

[carson]

I have a little rust on some of the more common areas, door and fender bottoms and trunk gutter, but it is just a few bubbles, right now at least.
I plan on media blasting all of the areas that are bubbling to see just what I'm in for. The way it seems those areas are nothing compared to the drip rails, they really have me worried right now. I'm going to get a blaster and some media on Tuesday hopefully, are there any suggestions on what to get?

[derekf]

Almost any brand of primer should work fine depending on how much you want to pay, but it wouldn't buy the super el-cheapo.

Make sure that your primer seals out moisture - Epoxy primer should, not so sure about the other types. Ask your paint salesman - worst thing that could happen is you going through all this work to get rid of the existing rust, but create new rust problems in the process.

[carson]

Would the starblast media work good to remove the rust and bondo, or will it just take off paint? and if it doesn't what should I use to do that?

[carson]

I got a small 20lb sandblaster today from harbor freight, I think it will work out ok for my needs. But I need to know what kind of media to use, I can get 50lbs of Starblast media for 19.99 or 25lbs of walnut shells for 26.99 through my job. I think I would rather use the Starburst but will it remove rust too?

[carson]

Well, I had a wreck Wednesday night in my sonoma and totalled it, so this projest is either about to step it up a notch or fall completly through. I guess on the bright side I now have a homeless LT1/T56 combo that might look pretty good in my Camaro.