Bodyshop Prison Diary: Day 9

I have been locked up in this prison now for 9 days... surrounded by shells of other once amazing cars- A 70 Challenger Ragtop straped to some sort of rotisery- a 55 Chevy convertible being suffocated by plastic sheets- A 62 BB impala mising its nose & doors- looks like it was beaten with baseball bats...
They started in on me last week- First they yanked my nose off and put me on some sort of midevil torture "rack" and pulled me back and forth- They got midevil on me with a pair of pliers and a blowtorch- then they started this sanding action which initiall felt pretty good- but after 5 coats of paint they are now scratching at my skin- Luckily now it seems i'm getting a facial with filler.

Not sure how much more of this torture I can handle. Luckily today my owner stopped in during visitation hours. Nice to see him, although I could tell he could barely recognize me....
--------------------------------
-----------------------------------
:D :D

Guys, I Can't even describe how pumped I am. The shop is KICKING SOME SERIOUS ELCAMINO A$$!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/benstheman1/bodyshop68/MVC_011S.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/benstheman1/bodyshop68/MVC_016S.jpg

Front end has been pulled out and straightened. Door gaps are PERFECT NOW! The tiny bit of rust in the lower fenders has been cut & patched. No other rust was found at all... Sanded through about 5 various paint jobs, Discovered some wacky 1970's painting- Green with a gold leaf & pinstriped stripe down the middle of the car coming to a "V" swoop at the doors...

:D :D :D

Recieved a couple more taken earlier this week during the beginning of the stripping stage, Couple show the rust in the lower front fenders...

I'm posting all the bodyshop pics on my photobucket site as they come in...

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v661/benstheman1/bodyshop68/

Ben,

Your Elky looks darn nice there in those pics!
I'D FEEL BETTER for you if they had wheel covers on to protect your wheels and tires.

RatVette looked worse that your pics back in the mid and late-90s during its body shop years! No rust holes obviously but that multi-layed look your Elky is wearing now brought back a few memories.

Now would be a good time for the ELKY grudge match, think of the weight advantage you'd have without the 5 previous paint jobs holding you down!!

Is the Gunmetal Grey your color choice?

Is the Gunmetal Grey your color choice?

Looks like the gray may not be the winner afterall... stay tuned for the latest color developments....


:-)

Allright, what now? :rolleyes:


:D

uh oh... Ben's "thinking" again... :noway:

:secret: I hope he's not going orange with yellow and blue ZZ Top stripes down the side..

Umm.. no offense to anyone out there with yellow and blue ZZ Top stripes... I'm sure they look great on YOUR car. :D

Well, the Color Decision has been made!

After much hand wringing and rubber necking at every third car passing on the road, and a hour long session at Westco Staring at paint chips I picked....
.
.
.
.
.
...But i'm not gonna tell ;)

Sould only have to keep the secret for a week or so till we see some pics with color on it! :D

Well, the Color Decision has been made!

After much hand wringing and rubber necking at every third car passing on the road, and a hour long session at Westco Staring at paint chips I picked....
.
.
.
.
.
...But i'm not gonna tell ;)

Sould only have to keep the secret for a week or so till we see some pics with color on it! :D


Yeah....right, you don't know.:D You're just stalling, you can't make up your mind, just admit it.:yes:

Just a quick monday update- The car is now in the Paint booth getting first coat of primer.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/benstheman1/bodyshop68/MVC_005S.jpg

I guess my decision to have them fix my rear wheel well lips for Chrome & finding out Redrum's old Hood wasn't as straight as i thought put them back a day... but they are still cruising right along.

Sorry if you already mentioned this, but I didnt see it. Where is this shop? I have a 68 and would like to repaint it in a year or so. If you dont mind me asking what is the final bill supposed to end up at? Thanks, Brett

Ben, it's coming along really fast. Cool pictures, can't wait to see it finished. I do have new console trim and a blower relay for you too.

If you dont mind me asking what is the final bill supposed to end up at?

Hey Brett-
The shop is 6th Ave Autobody down in Tacoma. The owner/painter is my boss's best friend, and he got me the "in".

I'm really not supposed to talk about the deal- but I'll say this: Its a deal, but still pretty far from cheap. It has had the usual growth spurts as things have been uncovered, and I've changed my mind on details which added cost too...

The biggest reason this whole "deal" was so good was they had a dead spot in work at that moment-so getting my car to them asap (which I did- I had 2 days notice to tear it down and get it to them) got it in the door when he could have all 8 of his guys working on my car alone (ok they had two other real projects at the time...).
The chances of that ever happening again are pretty much zip. The work they have done in 2.5 weeks would normally have taken about a month or longer if the shop had been busy- and it appears that his work has already picked back up- so I'm lucky I got it in and started during the dead zone.

Anyway- next time I see you I'll give you a business card, and you can check em out in a year when you're ready. So I can't help with cost ests- but I can tell you they'll do a kick ass job. :thumbsup:

Fair enough, thanks for the info.

Ben,

So ya sprung the cash for a new SS hood, eh?
What else?
When does the Elky get outa bodyshop prison?
Still gonna paint it PINK?:beers:

No no... I already had a "replacement" hood- i've had it for about 2 years, before i ever got this car. The original hood needs a little bodywork, and i mistakenly thought my other one would be better. Turns out it needed work too- but a little less than the original one.

I had an update on thursday basically telling me the car has now been blocked out 3 times and is laser straight, the doors and front clip came back off to do the jams up to show quality. Said they would be shooting the black lower body section friday afternoon- and would be masking stripes monday morning and shooting color on monday afternoon.

Fingers are still crossed for it getting done by friday- they may not make it- but it'll be darn close.

You'll have to wait another week to find out the final color choice ;)

If you get it back on Friday, can you get it together for the show? If you don't, are you gonna make an appereance at least?

Need to set up a time and place for the TC pic.

Well.... Still shakey weather or not it will be done by friday- Just talked to the painter a little while ago and now i'm a little doubtful. They are just now starting the masking of the black & SS stripes now... That puts it really really tight to paint, Clear and Sand & Polish before Friday. So I'm going to be pessimistic and guess that it probably won't make it- it'll be done early next week... however if that happens, I'll still come up for the show, just won't be getting there at 8am! ;)

If by some miracle they do finish it (and I am not pressuring them at all- in fact they don't even know "my deadline"), I will bring it- even if I don't have time to reinstall the chome or clean out the sanding dust from the inside or engine bay.
Hey, at least then at least you'll have some competition for best "under construction" :D

As for the group pic, i'd just wait till about 11am or so and then ask whoever is running the mic to announce a gathering of TC members for a pic.
Simple Pimple! :thumbsup:

Cool, but I'd take ya in the UC class.:D Primer alway's wins it.:thumbsup:

Ya' think everyone will be there by 11:00am, I was thinking about 1:00pm.

Well, latest update is looking promising for being done by this weekend. Painter is saying the car will be ready to go home on EOD Thursday....
The car will be getting fully sprayed TODAY :D :D :D

Looking GOOD ! :thumbsup:

Ben, I decided to bring up the '70 and will now try to get the new front suspension installed during the week, should bring the front end back to earth again. Call if you want any help getting it back together.

Taking any bets on the final color?
I bet corvette monza red.

Well, latest update is looking promising for being done by this weekend. Painter is saying the car will be ready to go home on EOD Thursday....
The car will be getting fully sprayed TODAY :D :D :D

I Might be in the area Friday or Saturday dropping off my son. Let me know, I might be able to help you out. I'm pretty good at cleaning parts.:D

Thanks the the help offers- but putting the chrome back on, i'm gonna be so anal and paranoid about scratching something, i don't think i could handle any help without watching every second... If something is gonna get scratched, I'd rather be the one doing it ;)

Actually, all the chrome has been cleaned and buffed and is ready to go back on- So other than the hassle of the peices with speed nuts at the rear it should go fast- The bad part is the engine & interior are coated with sanding dust- so i will have to do a mega detail job on the engine & interior.

I will be taking off thursday or friday to bring the car back, and will then be reassembling and detailing the rest of that day and saturday.

I'm pumped! :D

Hey Ben, I guess the secret is out! :thumbsup:
Nice choice, and you did say black stripes right?

Did I miss the color announcement post?
Had to check out the newest prison pics to figure it out. :D

Hey Ben, I guess the secret is out! :thumbsup:
Nice choice, and you did say black stripes right?

Did I miss the color announcement post?
Had to check out the newest prison pics to figure it out. :D

oh, thats just the base coat- the hot pearl pink goes over the top of that ;)

yes, it will be getting the 1968 style SS stripes, albiet, with my own custom version of them.
I didn't like the exact specs of the factory 68 stripes, so my painter and I improvised a little bit to get them the way I want. I'm sure I'll get hell from purists telling me how they are wrong, but I don't care, they will be the way I wanted. :thumbsup:

Umm.. you're talking to the guy with the SBC in the buick, with chevelle door panels, MB rear seat, gto hood scoop(hopefully soon ;) )

I learned a long time ago that it only has to make ME happy! :D

I could see the factory stripes on it if it had the original block, etc, etc...
I say do as you've done and make it how YOU want it. :yes:

Ben,

I had my suspicions on the color.....looks like a good choice.
I thought you'd put a little rasberry tint in the clearcoat.
Looks like a classic combo.
The bed, what is in store there?

Ben,
The bed, what is in store there?

The original idea was they were going to just scuff and shoot the sides and front and spray the new color, and I was going to use one of the duplicolor black roll on bed kits for the bottom- but when they started, The crappy red paint started peeling off- they said to get the new stuff to stick properly they would have to do more than just scuff- they would have to D/A it down a bit- and that would have been more $$, so I just opted to leave it alone.

Since the bed will be under a tonneau cover, I will just sand it all down myself later and do the whole bed in a trunk style black & gray splatter paint. Should be fairly decent protection against scuffs, and look good against the new body color.

Plus, if i ever decide to have the bed sanded and painted properly, it won't be as big a nightmare to sand and remove as rhino or Linex lining would be.

So don't be surprised if i'm not in a big hurry to open up the tonneau and show off the bed for a while ;)

uuuuuugggggghhhh.... Towl pleeeze!!! (i might need to change pants now!)

Couldn't wait, had to share:

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1348965#post1348965

(don't ever ask me to keep a secret, I suck)

:D :D :D

That's what I'm saying, you need acouple of people supporting the bumper, while it's being positioned. Put a couple of towels in the corners to make sure it don't scuff. Good luck.

AHHHH I'm at work and can't access the link. Please post the image in the post!!!!!

its a link to the bodyshop forum- go take a look!

Looking nice Ben,

I like the SS strips on the 68. Thought about adding them to my 68 but I think it's way to late now.

You can always do one of the vinyl stripe kits... from my understanding thats actually the way the factory did them back in 68... they weren't painted on. I originally was just going to use the vinyl kit- but when i asked the painter he said $400 more to put them on and bury in the clear coat... Since it was $112 for the vinyl kit, i couldn't pass up having them painted on for $300 more...

here are some more pics after they baked it and rolled it outside:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/benstheman1/bodyshop68/5-15-07/MVC_004S.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/benstheman1/bodyshop68/5-15-07/MVC_005S.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/benstheman1/bodyshop68/5-15-07/MVC_002S.jpg

Looks great! You say its gonna be ready for Sunday?

Dang, that's gonna make my car look really ugly.:D

:thumbsup: Very nice!!!:thumbsup:

I bet you had visions of your Elky in your head when you finally attempted to sleep last night. Have you worn out the carpet pacing yet? :D

Can't wait to see it in person!

Who says I slept last night! ;)

Very Nice :thumbsup:

My Favorite Year :D
painted one of my Favorite Colors !!!

GOOD JOB !!

Cruised by your house last evening to see if you got the car home yet, but no one home. Hopefully you were gone picking it up. I'll try again after work, gota see this new paint!

let me know if you ever come through Memphis with that, so I can hide my convertible first :)

let me know if you ever come through Memphis with that, so I can hide my convertible first :)

Hey! Your not from the NW! :noway: Still welcome though, go pick on me in the big block discussion here. :beers:

Gents,

I just spoke to AHSOM. He's leaving work to go get his Elky outa Bodyshop prison. If he runs late I could join him there at the body shop....doubt that this will happen, him stuck there to 4pm....

FYI, he sounds pretty stoked about his ride. He's gonna have the Elky hauled/flat-racked up north.....

Do these answer your questions:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/benstheman1/bodyshop68/5-18-07/loadingup1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/benstheman1/bodyshop68/5-18-07/loadingup2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/benstheman1/bodyshop68/5-18-07/loadingup3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/benstheman1/bodyshop68/5-18-07/newpaint1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/benstheman1/bodyshop68/5-18-07/newpaint2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/benstheman1/bodyshop68/5-18-07/newpaint3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/benstheman1/bodyshop68/5-18-07/newpaintcloseup.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/benstheman1/bodyshop68/5-18-07/newpaintcloseup2.jpg

:D

WOW! That looks great. Are you linexing the bed or something?

Who are the two honey's in the back ground?:D

That thing in the foreground look's nice to.:thumbsup:

I don't see what the fuss is, its just another El Camino......................;)

Damn that looks awesome!! are you going to take it out in the rain? Wouldn't blame you if you didn't.

Wish I knew you wanted to trailer it, could have saved you some $$. Glad you got it home, looks awesome for sure. Time to break out those cool valve covers now!

Wish I knew you wanted to trailer it, could have saved you some $$. Glad you got it home, looks awesome for sure. Time to break out those cool valve covers now!

no worries- i have AAA Plus- so it was a free tow :)

If you have time, swing by today. Just got back from running errands, and i'll be here the rest of the day now...

:-)

Ben,
Resting on your laurels? Where are the pics with the chrome and trim back on the Elky?

George

Gimme a break, its been raining non-stop until this afternoon-

I went by Westco at lunch and picked up some Trim rivits today which should hopefully solve my tailgate trim problem... Then its just left to decide what to do for the lower body trim- Save & buy new 69 Repops that will fit with the wheel well chrome, or Trim my original 68 peices so they fit with the wheel well chromes.

I also picked up some weatherstripping adhesive so i can start putting the new weatherstrips in. OPG sent me Soffseal peices- hopefully they will work ok- I've done a lot of searching here, and I've seen good and bad reactions to it.

So whats the deal with the bed? Linex or Rhino lining? Something else planned?

Ben,

Ok, ok, ok, Rome not built in a night. I still am not totally finished with RatVette.

Brett on me to polish my Elky. Some merit to this but then all the dents would show. Perhaps local guy Scott will do a buff (think he has the stuff) after I give the Elky a color-sanding. Naturally will make sure all is in place before starting.

Your Elky looks great Ben.
Brett, I did like your Elky....please get taller front springs. :D
Might as well order some BBC front springs.

George

George, try some 3M Finess It and a foam pad, might bring her back without sanding. I have a Porter Cable machine if you need one.

Mark,

Give my cel a call tomorrow. I moved to the N Fort job location over lunch.
I have a Craftsman car polisher/rubber. What this Elky of mine needs is a color sanding and polishing. Got a real car polisher? Gee, then everyone would notice all the little dents

Wonder what BEN AHSOM is doin' with that Elky of his......
Wish my Elky was that straight.....

Wish my Elky was that straight.....

Agreed! :yes:

Maybe we can get a package deal for paint on 2 Camino's...
Too bad I wont be able to afford it until next summer. I will be making better money, but probably trying to save for a house down payment.

Ben,

Please post a partial pic or something....the suspense is killing me.....

Darryl,

Got the rest of the interior into that smart 68 ya got?

Brett,

New front springs! Gonna need 'em for that BBC......

Ben,
Please post a partial pic or something....the suspense is killing me.....


George, you really need to check the other forums too... Posted these over in Bench Racing a couple hours ago... But just for you, i'll post em here too.

Went down to Marymoor park at Lunch and took a bunch of pics...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/benstheman1/1968%20El%20Camino%20SS396/

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/benstheman1/1968%20El%20Camino%20SS396/DSC01325.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/benstheman1/1968%20El%20Camino%20SS396/DSC01311.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/benstheman1/1968%20El%20Camino%20SS396/DSC01321.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v661/benstheman1/1968%20El%20Camino%20SS396/DSC01327.jpg

She's beautiful Ben! :thumbsup:

So are your face muscles tired from driving around like :D all day???

Greg

No, but I keep falling down after I park and I'm walking away... need to perfect the walking backwards thing ;)

Wow, that looks really nice! Seeing those pics of Marymoore makes me wanna go flying at the flying field there.

Looks sweet Ben!:thumbsup:

Ben,

Thanks for the PM pics too, she looks sharp! Damn Sharp.
I look at PERFORMANCE, ENGINE, and NW
Do you think I search "all posts by AHSOM"?