Here is an update on Project Saint Maries body work.. I will have the car back
at my shop for suspension, motor, and trans fitment in the next couple of weeks.
I like to get restorations up to atleast the second parts alignment and blocking
stage before I get to heavy into the other work.. By doing this, you allow time
for the primers, glazes, and sealers to cure out properly while you are doing
other work necessary.. Alot of builders will get all the fab stuff done first,
and get the car running, before they start on the body work.. Then once they are
to that body work stage, they get it done with out necessarily think about cure
time and material shrinkage.
There was alot of hammering and pulling to the body here or there, but it is
much better to get all the low areaa you can get out, rather increase the filler
thickness.. There is really nothing wrong with larger blending patches, versus
thicker smaller patches.. Larger thinner patches will actually flex with the
body and cause no issue.. It isnt until the filler gets past a certain thickness
it loses its flexibility property's and will potential problems.
As you can see in some of the pics, guide coating is very very important. We
will guide coat and prime several times before final blocking, just to ensure
the body lines and panels line up and blend properly. The even during final
blocking, we will guide coat a few more time.. It really helps to find any low
areas, warpage, or imperfections you cant see due to the dull finish of the
primers.. So many times the body work looks great in the primer stage, but once
you add the gloss paint to it, all the imperfections stand at attention.
We will be addressing the bottom of the car and engine bay, once the car has had
all the suspension and drivetrain components fitted. After that is done, the car
goes back to the body shop for final blocking and paint work. Then it will come
back to the shop for final assembly.. Alot of People dont realize, you will
actually build and disassemble the car several times over during the process..
The car will be painted in peices to ensure coverage of all areas..
