Project Frankenbird - 1968 Pontiac Firebird

[65_LS1_T56]

Originally Posted by bdahlg68

So I think I found a solution to get my car blasted and primed. I found a company that will pick up, blast, prime, and drop off my car for around $1200-1300. Not bad. Half the price of chemical strip and e-coat.

Anyone recommend a primer to use after blasting? They proposed Kem Kromic as a mid-grade primer. This is just really for the inner structure as I really just want something tough and that will seal well.

Brian, who did you find to do the blasting? I've been looking too. I talked to Ron at www.alternativemediablasting.com. He seemed knowledgable about automotive body blasting. Prices as around the $1k without priming. Think he is in Brighton area. You can shoot me a pm if you'd like.
Gonna make it to Autoramma? I'm planning on it.

[speedfreak]

Nice project !

[bdahlg68]

Originally Posted by 65_LS1_T56

Brian, who did you find to do the blasting? I've been looking too. I talked to Ron at www.alternativemediablasting.com. He seemed knowledgable about automotive body blasting. Prices as around the $1k without priming. Think he is in Brighton area. You can shoot me a pm if you'd like.
Gonna make it to Autoramma? I'm planning on it.

Hoping to go to Autorama with a guy from work. I think I saw on here that some people were going to meet up before hand and have dinner in Greektown. May do that. We should meet up.

I found Michigan Sand Blasting. Guy said he's done about 1000 cars in the last ~ 30 years. They seem to have lots of options for media and primer. I think just blasting my car was $700-900. Keep in mind I don't have much car to blast right now! They are in Redford, and they guy also will pick up and drop off which helps since I don't have a trailer. They charge $60 / hr to pick up and drop off which isn't bad. I'm only about 25 minutes from them so about $60 each way should cover it. They need the car for a couple of days to do it, which will also allow me to clean out my garage!

[65_LS1_T56]

Originally Posted by bdahlg68

Hoping to go to Autorama with a guy from work. I think I saw on here that some people were going to meet up before hand and have dinner in Greektown. May do that. We should meet up.

I found Michigan Sand Blasting. Guy said he's done about 1000 cars in the last ~ 30 years. They seem to have lots of options for media and primer. I think just blasting my car was $700-900. Keep in mind I don't have much car to blast right now! They are in Redford, and they guy also will pick up and drop off which helps since I don't have a trailer. They charge $60 / hr to pick up and drop off which isn't bad. I'm only about 25 minutes from them so about $60 each way should cover it. They need the car for a couple of days to do it, which will also allow me to clean out my garage!

That place looks like a top notch place. Been to their website before, but didn't see much on autobodies. Good to know for more options. I am having someone put quarters on mine and he said he'd clean it up an prime after blasting. He uses a "wash primer" or something like that.
I hear you on the garage cleanout. Mine is trashed after cutting, welding, grinding on my frame when I narrowed it and boxed it. I need to get the LS1 and T56 in and mocked up so I can build the mounts now.
We are off on a snowday today, got hit pretty good last nite/today.
I'll let you know about Autoramma, not sure what day I'm going yet. Somebody told me early Sunday is a good time.

[bdahlg68]

Car was blasted and primed at Michigan Sand Blasting. They came and picked up the car last Monday, blasted, primed, and returned the car today. It was blasted with Starlite and primed with Kem Kromik primer. Didn't go with epoxy simply because there is still a lot of metal to remove and the extra cost just didn't make sense. Very happy with the blast and prime - perfect for what I needed. Overall no real surprises except that the rockers are also swiss cheese.

[65_LS1_T56]

Looks good Brian. Happy with the service there? I may have to give them a call, gettin close to sending mine to Tony's. Hopefully in April. I can't wait until mine is all one color.

Back from your trip yet? Talking assembly machines tomorrow with your counterparts.

[bdahlg68]

They did pretty good. They blasted to clean metal. Not sure ifiduse the starlite on a whole car with big flat panels as it's maybe a bit aggressive. They can use just about any media though, like walnut or soda. They can also do a combination like walnut then only starlite the rust out. They seem to know their stuff.

I may be up there tomorrow too. We'll see. Been a crazy couple of weeks.

[bdahlg68]

I am getting my rendering done by Shawn Mascoll and I just got some samples to share. The biggest point for me was to get an impression of the wheels (I love the way they look here) and get some guidance on color. I was debating whether to stay with the blue like my last Firebird, or go a bit wilder with a green color.

The blue will get darkened a bit for the final rendering, more like the old Fathom Blue Metallic color from 68 Chevy's. I am going with this and chrome trim for the final rendering.

The green color is Peridot Green Metallic from the new Porsche Cayman R. I love this color. Someday I will paint a car that color!

These are just the color samples, so the lighting / details are still being adjusted. Still, this is damn cool!





Thoughts and comments welcome...

[T_Raven]

I like the 2nd green one

[65_LS1_T56]

Greeeeeennnn, do it Brian, green, you want it eventually, why not now? Do it, green with the silver/brushed/chrome wheels. Go green, everybody's "going green", right?

Hey, I like the green.