The Car Thread

[Tin Halo]

I'm only responding, if you'll notice.

[ranger magnum]

Today the 58 will get its coat of "hot rod black" (aka satin black). After a few days cute time, im going to lay down some stripes. With any luck, next weekend I can start patterning the roof.

I found an old 4 door 58 about 70 miles from me that has a few usable parts. Im hoping that it has a 348 I could grab. The owner told me the car is all mine, so hopefully I can grab some misc parts.

If anybody you are in the socal area, the grand national roadster show is in January. It's a 3 day event, with some of the best cars in the world on display.

[Tin Halo]

You're gonna stripe by hand, I presume...?

Oh, and I just remembered you were going to look into posting pics; if you haven't got a service yet, try postimage.org. Free, and super-easy to use. They can't make it any simpler to copy the URL to your post. The only thing you might wanna keep an eye out for is, they automatically include a link to their service, but that's easy enough to delete before sending it to a post in a thread.

[ranger magnum]

Thanks for the info. I can rebuild Rochester carbs, but I can't seem to figure out how to post pictures. I am going to make a serious effort and learn how to do it.

Yes, I stripe by hand. I didn't know there was another way. I do have a Buegler striping took if that's what you mean. It's super easy to use. I only use it when I do long lines on the sides of cars. Otherwise I use a Mack 00 brush.

[ranger magnum]

ostimg.org/image/4uqt3mp0r/][/url]

[ranger magnum]

Wow, ok I figured this out.

The picture above is a 56 Buick 322 nailhead installed in a 53 Roadmaster im building.

[Tin Halo]

Thanks for the info. I can rebuild Rochester carbs, but I can't seem to figure out how to post pictures. I am going to make a serious effort and learn how to do it.

Not bad... you got a little extra code in there but nothing you can't delete.
Basically, if you click on the "view codes" option, and simply mouse over the one you want, then mouse to the right and click "copy to clipboard", then your paste command will do the trick while making your post.

Yes, I stripe by hand. I didn't know there was another way.

Well, to some people the 'art' of pinstriping is a simple trip to the auto parts store...
I didn't figure you to be a tape-fiend but I wanted to hedge my bets, all the same. Hope no offense taken.

I do have a Buegler striping took if that's what you mean. It's super easy to use. I only use it when I do long lines on the sides of cars. Otherwise I use a Mack 00 brush.

And a Mahl stick. Don't forget the Mahl stick.

I've only recently become intrigued by the art of hand-lettering; mostly for vintage-style signage, but you know how the rabbit hole of the internuts is... at one point I found a series of videos from some dude in New Jersy (can't remember the name offhand and a quick look at my bookmarks on this computer shows me I failed to save them...) who was doing stunning work.

[Tin Halo]

Here's the one I always use for forums like this....


adult image

...and to get rid of the ad link they put in, simply delete the second, shorter string of info that starts with [url=http:..etc..]


I don't know if you're on a Mac or PC, but in whatever image editor is handy for you, you can call up a 'image size' option in a drop-down menu and resize the image there, or you can do it at postimage.org.
So, get busy and resize that engine, mister... I wanna see it.

[ranger magnum]

Im on a tablet. I'll try and resize another picture.

I've never been comfortable with mahl stick. Most of my stuff is comprised of shorter curved lines, so I can get away without one. I have several standard patterns that I use frequently....they are on tracing paper that I used a pouncing wheel on. I tape it to my surface, then pounce it with special chalk. Lift the paper and I have an exact replica transferred on to the surface I want to paint.

Most good pinheads freehand their work, but I haven't mastered it yet. My motto has always been to work out all my mistakes on paper....

[ranger magnum]

[url=http://postimage.org/][/

[ranger magnum]

Slowly figuring this out...

Ok, this is the interior view. I painted the car in Osage Cream, an original color in 53.

[Tin Halo]

I think I see what's happening, here...

When you mouse over the code link you want (again, I suggest the hotlink for forums1), don't do the copy command on that... mouse over to the right and click on 'copy to clipboard'... then when you paste into message, you'll have the complete code.

[Tin Halo]

[/

That is drop-dead gorgeous.

When you get it done, I can just hear Nigel Tufnel saying "nonono... don't even breathe onnit..."

[Tin Halo]

....they are on tracing paper that I used a pouncing wheel on. I tape it to my surface, then pounce it with special chalk. Lift the paper and I have an exact replica transferred on to the surface I want to paint.

I saw another video, just the other night, where the woman did that, and I loved it. Tell me more...

[ranger magnum]

I originally clicked on clipboard, but couldn't figure out how to get it out from there.

So basically a pouncing wheel is a little wheel with points on it. I take the tracing paper, and lay it over the master copy. I then trace it out with a Sharpie.

I take the tracing paper and tape it to a piece of cardboard. Then I roll the pouncing wheel over the outline. I flip the paper over, and lightly sand the holes to open them up a little.

I tape the paper to the surface I want to paint, and using a pouncing bag with chalk, I lightly pounce the chalk over the paper. The chalk goes through the holes and, and is left on the surface. I lightly blow of the excess chalk, and im ready to go.

An alternate method I sometimes use is to trace the design with saral paper. It's kind of like carbon paper. It's good when there are intricate designs, and multiple colors going on.

[Tin Halo]

I originally clicked on clipboard, but couldn't figure out how to get it out from there.

oh. Well there's not much to that. Once you've clicked on the 'Copy to clipboard' it's already done and when you create your post all you have to do is paste (CMD-V, I think it is on Windows.) No need to open clipboard or anything like that.

OK, so I'm curious... is it a special type of chalk? Because, reading your process description, my first thought was 'well the chalk would change the color saturation of the paint, wouldn't it...?'

edit: Duh. Went back and re-read, specifically the part where you said it was a special type of chalk.
Some mornings, coffee can't get integrated fast enough.

[Ratty]

Hello Men. I have a question for anyone with decorative car painting experience. 2 years ago I bought a plain silver toyota van. Tre Ugly. I would like to paint it. As in a VW emblem on the front, Keep on Truckin on the back. Maybe a rainbow of flower Power. Maybe something with BM in it. How , what, when so that it doesn't peel off in the first rain. Should I just google and trust different strangers? Thanks guys.

[Tin Halo]

1) Is it one of those mid-80's Toyota Mad-Maxish vans? 'Cause if so, those things kill. Love 'em.

2) You want enamel.

If the paint has lost its gloss, you're one step ahead because the enamel will stick better to a matte surface. But you want enamel; gloss would be best.

Let's say you were gonna paint the Man somewhere on it. First thing to do would be to trace the outline of everything you want, with a pencil (find a good heavy lead if you can). Second, apply painter's tape around the outside of the shapes, so that the area that will receive paint is surrounded. Then take a piece of finer sandpaper (150 or 220 grit) or some medium grade steel wool (000 probably best), and rub the existing paint of the design so that the surface is roughed up a bit.
Then, paint.
Don't be in a hurry, let it cure.

[Ratty]

Alas, It is a new van. Shiny and anonymous. The Mexicans at the flea market do pinstripes and flames. If I print out some pictures ............Maybe I'll commission it.

[Captain Goddammit]

I'm envious that you are actually working on your cars... I've been working around mine, on the garage - so that I can work on the cars! The problem is that after combining my and the First Mate's households, there's just too much... everything. So the garage is getting floor-to-ceiling shelves on both sides, a loft, and high shelves tucked into every possible place; over the water heater, above the door, wherever I can get stuff off the floor.
I'm making them extra-burly because you sorta have to climb them to get at stuff.
Oh! I should put steps and handholds right on them!

[Tin Halo]

I'm envious that you actually have the potential to get your stuff organized in the garage. My workshop has brought any sort of progress within the garage to a complete standstill. If I stand in there and try to imagine getting a car in there for any purpose, my eyes glaze over.

[Captain Goddammit]

It's nowhere near done but here's a look. I'm cramming shelves up the walls and a loft overhead, trying to use every cubic foot of space so I can ever have room to wrench inside out of the weather.

[^Rhino!]

It's nowhere near done but here's a look. I'm cramming shelves up the walls and a loft overhead, trying to use every cubic foot of space so I can ever have room to wrench inside out of the weather.

Looks like you'll have to back out a little ways if you decide to winch the engine up. Hopefully that part of it is done.

[Ratty]

My last home, (in Los Angeles) had a built-in engine puller in the garage. It had a track to swing it over to the workbench. The seller said they were coming back to get it but never did. We were drag racers with an auto parts store so we used it a bit.

[Tin Halo]

It's nowhere near done but here's a look. I'm cramming shelves up the walls and a loft overhead, trying to use every cubic foot of space so I can ever have room to wrench inside out of the weather.

jesusrollerbladingchristandhistendollarpromdate your garage is absolutely awesome compared to mine.

[Tin Halo]

My last home, (in Los Angeles) had a built-in engine puller in the garage. It had a track to swing it over to the workbench. The seller said they were coming back to get it but never did. We were drag racers with an auto parts store so we used it a bit.

(...reaches for RonCo Pocket Defibrillator...)

[ranger magnum]

As an fyi, if you go ahead with paint you will destroy any value in the van when you go to sell it.

If it were me, is go to a sign place and do the logos in vinyl. It would probably cost the same, look better, and as a bonus, removable.

[Captain Goddammit]

Yeah, the van will lose a ton of value if you paint what the rest of the world will see as graffiti on it.
The vinyl graphics will probably be more durable and removable - however, the paint will fade around them and it'll show when you do remove them.
I'd only proceed with "burnering" up an expensive new vehicle if you intend to keep it forever and are totally unconcerned about ruining it's resale value.
If it's got windows, you could do all your graphics on them, almost anything comes off of glass without damage.

[ranger magnum]

Getting shit off the floor makes all the difference in the world. Im looking for a 4 post lift for my garage. In my parallel fantasy world, is raise the roof of the garage 8 feet, and build a second floor.

[ranger magnum]

vinyl would offer the best benefits, with the least negatives. Yes, after a number of years there would be some fading around the graphics, but it would be pretty minimal. Todays OEM paints offer a high level of UV protection.

And ultimately it will better than a backyard paint job. If she went to a proper auto body shop, I'd guess it would cost over a grand. And I can just imagine the quality (or lack of) of the flea market guys.