Donny's 1969 GTX

sweet deal on the blast cabinet.If it came from bell heicopters it would have been nice if it was big enuf to put the whole car in there:rolling:.just think how many cars you could blast in a week:rolling:.been wondering where and how you've been.

The blast cabinet looks very much like this: http://www.empire-airblast.com/ProductsPages/cabs_proFinish.html in fact, it's an Empire model, just like the one illustrated.

I WILL be getting busy on the GTX this coming week; I promise myself this!

nice equipment.maybe with graduations all done and everything you might get a chance to work on the gtx.while having an occasional cookout.are you going to finish the X then start on another one of your cars?

I can never get my own stuff done, as soon as I finish the Dart, I get a Chevelle SS in, I'm not complaining; the $$ is good! And, my American Picker dude brought me lots of old crap to blast too!

The GTX and Satellite are in the same basic condition; needing a final Media Blast, then, into primer, and then concurrent metal installation (that out to be fun, I will certainly run out of space QUICKLY)

I've got a 'drug deal' worked out with Paintshop101, their shop car; a 68 Charger is getting sliced and diced; what I media blast for them on that car, they apply to quarters, remember, I need two sets of them; that's a LOT of steel!!!! This should commence in August. Pics are coming...I PROMISE!!!!!

This reminds me of the tale about lifting the radiator cap and driving a new car under it... Truely a labor of love!

I reconnoitered the primer to use on the GTX, which I WILL BE Media Blasting tomorrow, finishing the final touches before primer. I'm going to use an epoxy primer, gray shade 4 (recommended as Q5 will be the color). I chose the epoxy b/c everyone I talk to says epoxy also etches the metal a bit, to adhere better. Plus, it acts more of a sealer for any long stays between painting after the primer; totally my world!

Once this is done (Blasting), I will swap the Chevelle with the GTX, and blast the Chevelle starting on Tuesday or Wed, that bay is wicked hot in the day; mid to high 90s, so I don't stay there but for 4-5 hours in blasting mode.

The GTX has less surface area to blast, and I can get it done faster vs. the Satellite. I'll have pics tomorrow, going to start early in the morning; Howard Stern is going to be back live tomorrow, even more reason to wake up earlier to get going! haha.

Oh yeah, I just saw a little statistic on the side, how on earth did I make it into the top 10 posters? Jeesh!

Means your spending too much time playing on the internet, and less time working on your car. ha ha

Gotta hand to y'all that do this.....I know it's a huge undertaking! :tiphat:

Are the headlights on that treat original or aftermarket?

Hey Donny,are you still around? Did you recuperate from the daughters grad? Get one of those cars finished blasting? Looking for the car porn so I can get the enthusiasm for mine this fall. Bernie.

Sorry to let these threads lapse, graduation came and went, been busy getting her set in college and new apt etc, new school, moved up to Austin, etc. Busy busy busy, plus, all the blasting I've been doing has been for paying customers, and with the heat blasting in Aug/Sep south Texas, can't make it more than a few hrs this time of the year; HOT! However, hoping to get the GTX done this week, I promise, car porn pics will come, promise!

know what you mean about the heat.It just makes you not want to do anything.This time of the year,you can't even walk outside without the sweat rolling off.

It hot up here, (102) don't want to think what it like further south, especially in a blasting suit.

I can hardly deal with it up here...87F up here today but 98% Humidity. Us northern guys melt at 102F Iraqivet....Can't imagine it down there. I wouldn't leave the house!!

Let it snow!!!:skier:

Donny, let's see those motivational pic's brother!

I'm elbow deep in GM stuff these days, I know, sad...but, this is $$! I'm on the edge before I can start welding new metal into these cars, literally, all I need more is time! I can post some nasty Chevelle SS pics! Need some more BBQ sauce?

Today, in my workshop it was 101, inside! I had both fans blasting away, still hot, just pace yourself, drink lots of water, and rest here and there, this is how you do it. In the blast suit is a no-go, this time of year I have to blast at night when it gets down to 85!

On the edge of tapping off the last of the BBQ sauce Donny..Got some people hooked on it around here....Clowns show up on the weekend, drink my beer, Swim in my pool and eat my BBQ sauce while i'm working...WTF!!!!! Bunch of ticks!!!!! Gonna start charging at the door around this place.



I'll have to see what AMD parts I can dig up for more BBQ sauce bartering..LOL


101 and working, how lovely...YUK!! Yeah Ditto on the water. Last Sunday probably went through 2 gallons....I guess at least here with the humidity, you walk around soaked in sweat and it gives you an idea how much you need to rehydrate. Sure beats that crap we dealt with over in the sandbox eh? 130-135F, Dry....Sweat evaporates so quickly off you that you can't tell how bad off you are till things start spinning

Can't wait to see the metal being slapped back on the GTX..Gonna be great!

Man, I know, I gotta and will get the GTX coming together, just that this Chevelle SS that I'm doing is pretty bad, needs everything, all new metal is at my shop, just studying GM build methods vs. our MOPAR builds. Built a pretty stout dolly today to handle the GM body, gotta get things tightly mounted before pulling stuff apart! Wonder if the Admins would allow some GM Car Porn on this site?

I'd say go for it! I'm a mopar guy thru and thru, but still give respect and am sometimes inspired by the other steel that rolled out of Detroit.

I vote for some bowtie car porn!, 3 words I never would have thought could be used in the same sentence, let alone consecutively.:rolling:. I would like to see what you are up to though, Donny, are you doing some panel replacement on the Chevy, or just building a fixture to roll it around on?.

I agree, turn off the heat already, supposed to be 92 and very humid in the D today.:car flipper:

I am DEEP into this Chevelle! The Floor is bad, the right outer rocker panel is bad, the trunk pan is bad, the qtrs are bad, the doors were junk, the deck lid is salvageable.

This is a SS396 car, so, it's kind of cool! I do have TONS of car porn that is current on this car, but, need a 'green light' from the Admins to post away?

I build the dolly to roll it around, and, to serve as a table to hold it up; so, it's pretty stout!

Yeah, please, turn the thermometer down a bit, just down 8 or so degrees, this makes a huge difference!

Ok, I'm getting GM'd out, ready to get back into my MOPARS! Got a call from my antique furniture guy, he's bringing 4 dressers and 4 desks to me on Monday, needs 'em blasted asap, my hopper is loaded with the good stuff (fast stuff) and I need to unload it and then load up with plastic/acrylic mix for his furniture; not too much more to blast on the GTX -- then primer, then metal assembly on top of the dolly I made! I can feel it happening folks, I can!

I know about hot shops. Everything I shot with my temp gun registered 100-101 but at least there was a good breeze blowing through. This was Friday and today was no wind at all. Saturday and Sunday wasn't too bad but I took a break today lol

OMG, today was BRUTAL! I had a breaker trip, sun was intense!

Here's the dolly/stand I made for the Chevelle project. I am putting it here for all to see as the GTX will go atop this dolly as soon as the GM car is done -- getting closer! I shall set this stand to the Satellite first as a template; adjust to the places/points on the frame/chassis and bolt it in place, then, set the GTX on it, and lay the frame in place, and the new metal!

Here's what it looks like with the Chevelle attached to it. I shall scale back the Chevelle thread as this is MOPAR B Body land, and only show it here where there is some benefit to the MOPAR B Body lovers out there.

The rear deck panel is 'locked' in place, deck lid is operational, and lined up with the old qtrs that are now in the junk bin, there is extrusions that appear to go nowhere and do nothing, but, they are there to rest next to the new qtrs with I lay 'em on, just another template and measurement device to help me get it 'right' quicker on the other end of assembly!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_2867.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_2836.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_2865.jpg
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Nice fixture, Donny.

Thanks Matt!

Dang Donny, your the only one I know will get a car, keep the roof and firewall, and replace everything else.

Your one devoted Dude.

...phew, this ain't my car! Honestly, this is a lot of work! Bondo hides A LOT of damages!

I actually got to get some time in today on the GTX!!!

I had some small fenders to blast, put 'em on the front crossmember and got near 100% deflection to the underside of the dash and inner firewall! Did both fenders, sitting there, and got much of the GTX media blasted while still charging $$ for the customers parts! Now, if I can apply this to ALL my jobs....

Here's the latest; got a chance to use the inner firewall as a back stop to media blasting ops., as I mentioned above. However, I freely admit this pic below doesn't indicate a finished product, just what's going on now...if you've been following this thread, you know how rusty this 'new' inner donor clip was, but, at least this is just surface rust and not deep stuff as the original car clip was!

Went to a local MOPAR show today in San Antonio, and, I have set a goal for myself to have my GTX at next years show as a work-in-progress so to speak! If that is no attainable I shall DEFINITELY have my 300 in it as the major hiccup is the wiring issues!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/GTX/IMG_3075.jpg

Awesome thread Donny, I am in the middle of my 69 Coronet 500/ super bee clone tube chassis project and threads like yours keep the inspiration going.

Looking good Donny....Nice to see the GTX getting the attention it deserves.

It all ads up so a little attention is better than none......although it must be frustrating at times, but as you've said Donny, the $$$ jobs come first.

Good job on the gtx donny patience and it will get done I'm kinda starting to loose mine cause I want to finish it already but better slowly but right, keep up the good work and the pics coming

You want to know what really sucks in one way, but, is fantastic in another way? I have had so much work, that one of my cars has been relegated to the back yard over night a few nights; and in bare-metal form if the dew is low, surface rust creeps in...this is the current state of the Satellite!!!! The answer is simply get these cars in primer/sealer ASAP!!! Look for re-energized efforts on these cars as the year closes out! No more excuses!!!

donny,you can only do what you have time to do after the $$$ cars are done. it's good you set a deadline,but don't worry if you go past it.the cars will be there and i hope you will be there for a long, long time.

I made this video today, a montage of pics, some here on this thread, others never seen here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqgb-taq7GU

Matt will like this music, maybe even recognize it?

You want to know what really sucks in one way, but, is fantastic in another way? I have had so much work, that one of my cars has been relegated to the back yard over night a few nights; and in bare-metal form if the dew is low, surface rust creeps in...this is the current state of the Satellite!!!! The answer is simply get these cars in primer/sealer ASAP!!! Look for re-energized efforts on these cars as the year closes out! No more excuses!!!I know exactly what you mean! I've even used spray bombs to try and slow down the rust. Not sure what's worse...the paint with no primer or the rust!

That factory Q5 is a nice color Donny, are you going with that when the time comes?

Oh yeah, Q5 again, and with a White Interior.

Ok, I made some serious traction today on the GTX! I blocked off all this morning to Media Blast this car; rather what's left of it. No more leaning customers parts on my GTX and catching overspray to 'help the process' along. Today, I got elbow deep in my car, with no other client or stuff on the docket! I was thinking as I was blasting this car that I bet I am perhaps the only one in the world that has done, or is doing this level of work given the amount of rust on this car, and rust scale crap that was under the roof skin, on the inner C Pillars. If I was charging a customer for this car, it would be a sure $2000.00 job.

I got most of it done today, only had time to run one full blast pot of media over it, it lasted nearly 2 hours of blast time, and I turned the pressure up to 48psi to cut the rust down faster too! Another 2 hours of blasting and the car will be ready for self etch then some epoxy primer. Sure, the C Pillars have some holes from rust, but, I'm going to fix them after I get it in primer. Even the roof rails were covered in rust, both sides! One good thing is the front clip I scored on has virtually no rust, just a little on the inside of the firewall, inside the cab. The rockers...the hacked up rockers I 'built' also cleaned up nicely too. I'll take some pics tomorrow of the car as it is right now, try to get some contrasting areas of recently blasted to as yet to be blasted. I know, no car porn in this post...

we know you will get some pics up when you get a chance donny.

The actuality is this car is almost ready for primer, which is exciting!

can't wait to see it,you'll have to put up before,primer,and paint picture's when you get to that point.

i shall!

Donny, I'm convinced, you ARE out of your mind and I love you for it!, don't ever change and keep plugging away on that car. BTW, I do like that music, thanks!.

donny,just watched your video,cool.My wife was watching it with me and she couldn't believe how much you took it down to.

Wow! One thing about this thread; I can't fail! I have too much support to cease operations-which I won't do! Already been to the paint store for the Primer! :)

Ok, here's some pics from last week's Blasting time on my car only, and no one else's! It's almost done, and ready for some self etch!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_3320.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_3319.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_3318.jpg
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_3313.jpg

I Media Blasted today some old furniture for a guy, using pure plastic, thought I'd slip in my GTX tail housings; badly pitted and rotted from 40 + yrs. They are heavy chrome, pits, ran some plastic over 'em, shined up good, didn't do anything for the pits though, wondering how you all handle this? How/where does one go from here?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_3457.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_3472.jpg
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_3474.jpg

I think they actually fill the pits with something and grind them flat before the rechroming process, but I am not sure what materials are used. I would be interested to know.

There's a chrome/plating shop down the street from me, I hear he's basically closed to the public as all his work is done for rich ass Arabs, I think I go down and inquire....

I believe a metal filler is used to fill the pitting, one compatible with the chroming process.

I also did the unique GTX tail-panel too the other day. Man, that sucker is pitted badly. I took it to the Chrome guy, he told me to find a better piece on e-bay! He didn't want to touch it b/c of the extensive prep work required. So, I'm wondering what my options are? Dremel tool/sand the pits down, then just paint it and omit chroming it? Or, sand it down then take back to him to get his evaluation? Yeah, I think that's what I'll do...glad I took pics before/after blasting, I think they look fantastic in stock condition! But, I wonder if these pieces are being stamped as re-pops yet? I tend to think they will not be as they were only used one year on this car with near-duplicates used again and only on the same year Sport Satellite. Also, notice in the below pics the 4 headlight bezel trim housings off my 2 Plymouth B Bodies. I bet 'cha no one usually media blasts these things. But, I did, I like how it put a argent/texture on 'em, plus it cleaned up the 40 yrs of film/crud off 'em, and it took only about 1 minute per item to blast; I put 'em in some green self etch-I know, may bot be 'correct', but, I may want to paint 'em the color of the car, or, leave the option open for another color, or, put 'em back in a silvery kind of color that they came with stock. For sure, the insides near the bulbs will be that flat black that (I think) was the same color as the lower GTX black area near the rocker panels and if the car was a hood stripe car that same color too. And that poor plastic GTX grille (or is it grill) has seen better days! I'd say half of it is broken up, the tabs busted off it, etc. But, considering the condition of the car when I got it, I'm surprised the plastic didn't start rusting!!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_3527.jpg
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hey donny nice to see you get a chance to work on the"X".

You are HARD CORE, man! I wish I had the balls you do to tear into my projects.
(....and I'm an IT project manager, by trade!)

Go , man!!

Hey YY, I spent many years looking at stuff like this: # chmod 777! and then, if I wanted to mess with somone; # rm *.*! hahahaha. They are easy to tear into, you then find TONS more damages than the previous owner indicated (haha), and end up doing it right regardless of the cost/time, it will get done, eventually!

Try all-metal or solder.....

Kruisinmoons (http://www.krusinmoons.com/) might have something pretty pricey
http://krusinmoons.homestead.com/files/69_gtx_tailpanels.jpg

ouch! 2300 bucks!!! 1800 bucks for the GTX tail lamp housings, ouch!

yeah, well, not quite made out of unobtanium, might as well cast a new one and polish.

donny dont know if this would help
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1969-B-BODY-TAIL-LIGHT-CHROME-HOUSINGS-PLYMOUTH-DODGE-/150551533771?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessorie s&hash=item230d9218cb

Those are Satellite and or RoadRunner housings. GTX and Sport Satellite use the deep dish style. Those are running cheap too!

great thread, and an inspiration to all, i like the fact that you have a marker board, "LIST" of things to do. the only thing i see that hold you back, is the extra cool cars, that you are also working on,, (like we all have) but if you get bored on one, work on another one, keep it fresh.

JUST AN AWSOME JOB, i'm getting ready to do my superbee 440/6pack car.

http://www.uscartool.com/img/70Superbee4406/index.html

i do the blasting for the local high end hot rod shop. its hard to get motivated to blast your own stuff.(non-paying) Its hard dusty awful work!!!! I feel you pain. but you'll get there!! And i get what your saying about, "paint/bondo hides" alot of stuff!! man i've got some pics.....

keep up the work... the cars will always be there. I have a 4 1/2 year old. and Its been a struggle(a good one) to get working on my cars. once in a while, i just have to , tell the miss," i need a day...to bang on my cars" and she gets it..... (well, she also gets a shopping spree)...

its all about keep a balance.... families most important. i try to juggle a few companies, landscaping, construction, and the hot rod stuff.. its tough... as i read your thread.. i ve been close to the big "D" but worked things out.. we have to do what we have to do in these times....to survive....i dont care what income level your in, or occupation.. its bad.......and not getting better.

i'm also adding soda this year,( for doors, roofs) i'm buying a dryer,, any recommendations? or just buy walnut or plastic, and turn down the pressure..
i use a 250 ingersoll rand trailer, (john deere diseal motor),

thanks for the thread....
jc -ohio

Got some work done today! Well, bought it at least, getting closer friends! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/Schertz-Cibolo-20110125-00166.jpg

Nice car JC! Do you have a thread dedicated to this car so one can follow along? Blasting for a local shop? Cool! If the shop does a LOT of work, having your own in-house set up is cheaper, but, I bet the turn over rate for blasters is high? I would NOT do this every day, nope, 2 times a week, maybe 3, if I'm crunching a project 4 days a week, NO more than that. Too hot, filthy, dirty, etc. But, this is why I charge blast time (nozzle time) what I charge, I make no apologies for my pricing. When a guy told me he took 8 hrs to sand blast a Super Bee fender with a Harbor Freight system, I about shat my pants, he took three shats in his pants when I told him about 55-75 minutes for the entire fender; about $150.00 for that fender, which, there is no way he could get it that clean with sanding discs, HF tools, etc. But...this is how it goes I suppose! How in hell can you hang for a full week in your blast suit etc? Or, is it just a few days a week and do other things too.

I've decided to do just Media Blasting and maybe a little metal working side jobs, yeah, that Chevelle was a side job :) And I do no painting, if it needs it, and the guy wants it, I'll sub it out to the guy across the street! :)

yea, i do ALL the blasting,, i tell the shops to bring them in bunches,,
its like sanding drywall, glad you only do it once in a while, LOL. its awful job!!
the old tractor guys, just drop them off, and i call them when there done..(also good clients)

I cant lie to ya, i got into this because i own about 80-100 cars/trucks, and was shocked at the price when i took,
my WWII M20 Ford Armored car, to get a quote.. now to think of it it was a reasonable quote, S
o, i went and spent 10,000 on equipment, for as much stuff, as i have, YES< A GREAT INVESTMENT!!

here's the M20:
http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab239/meatball427/M20%20RESTORATION/M20Restoration067.jpg

and my next project: WWII LVT-4 Water Buffalo
http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab239/meatball427/LVT-4/LVT4HOME322.jpg

http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab239/meatball427/DODGE%20TANKER/DODGEAIRFLOW022.jpg

http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab239/meatball427/DUKW/DUKWLOADED2.jpg

i laugh also..
"fenders, we dont need no stink'n fenders" kids stuff...lol

a few more of my projects in one of my buildings:

http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab239/meatball427/PHOTOS/2009VeteransDayparade603.jpg


no thread on the Superbee, going after it next week, cant wait,, and i'll start one,, and to those who read these threads, its a sucky job.. really suckkyy.
pay the price... and get your stuff!! CLEANED!!!!!!! you can only do it one time!!!
Costs for a whole car, EVERYTHING, around $1200-2500+++. I mean every thing, frames, doors, everything. i charge by the hour, or by the job.
i'm buying a dryer, for soda blasting...in a week or so. roofs/doors/hoods. i'm in columbus.ohio

no blasting required: my rat rod. and BB 427 68 black/red interior conv.vette



http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab239/meatball427/RATROD/PHONE1024.jpg

http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab239/meatball427/RATROD/ratrod137.jpg

soda-- for corvettes/ fierglass cars, avanti's

Wow ! You have some real neat toys. Wish I lived closer so I could ask to take a tour.

Vette; :yourock: :yourock: Yup on the investment side; I spent some $$ on my stuff, and, it's maintenance intensive too to keep the stuff all dialed in! I used to cringe a bit when I'd come back to my client with the price; here's your price, billed by the minute, but, I don't anymore, Rust is time consuming to remove, people think this is easy work, I just laugh. Thing is I actually like getting dressed in my suit, dialing everything in, setting everything up and getting to work -- I look at each item and do it as if it was my own; and ask myself would I accept this this way? Never had any complaints yet.

Wow, those are some big jobs there, bill by the hour on that stuff or by the job?

Its a playground, of WWII,, looks like the Battle of the Bulge 1944 right now..
that's why i have/need some MOPAR COLOR!!!

LOL, all the big stuff is mine.. i wish i could bill it out!! LOL


here's the key to your success:

"I ask myself would I accept this this way"

i wish the AMERICAN WORK FORCE WOULD READ THIS EVERY MORNING!!

You use sand? I would on those outside jobs!

sand, cuts the WWII PAINT!,, i'm looking for NON SILICONE sand,(BULK), kinda freeks me out,, the silicone,, but i have good respirators,, but still FREEKS me out,, i dont want to be on O2!! , i use the sand on the frames, and the hot rod shop send cars over, with floors/trunks,1/4s off, and on rotessoires,
the roof and hoods they strip(they like to bill those hours) that's why i'm going with soda also, but product is expensive!!,

what respirator setup hood are you using, i have a larger hopper also,
jc

I never get a car in with no rust on it, never. Paint blows off pretty easily with my media, but, rust...man, and Bondo, man! Talk about time! And cost, You are not kidding, I pay $1.30 for a lb of plastic, and buy it in 1500 lb containers at a time. Yeah, that's a cheap thing to do, get it blasted, worth about 200 bucks, at least this is what people think it's worth...

Non Silica sand? Never heard of it! But, there is other stuff you can buy and re-use over and over, cuts good as sand if not better!

i got my hot rod gig, by doing some stuff with the GOOD GUYS show, and the shop, was using a guy that was using Black Beauty, and smashing hoods, doors, roofs,, FIRED him... my friend then took his 69 mustang to the shop, ,, they did a great job!! i'm heading there today, for some parts,, and then this weekend the painter, is bringing his 50's car over for me to blast the bottom,, and we are bardering for services. scratch scratch... i have my own professional paint booth, and lifts,, here...i'm fortunate.

soda i think is $22-25/bag,, and there is a supplier in columbus!!! YEA!!
jc

I don't use Soda; too many problems, plus it's too smooth for paint to stick to, and it does nothing to rust; great for graffiti though! PPG won't warranty their paints on a Corvette body if it was soda blasted, I use some acrylic T5 plastic in a a 40/100 size on that stuff, comes out slick and perfect, no upset on the surface.

Black Beauty is (I think) coal slag? I run low PSI but lots of air volume, if there's Bondo in there, and on thin metal, got to be careful!

We gave walnut shells a try but you need way to much of it and it does nothing to heavy rust. I like aluminum oxide.

:occasion14:Well, Mr. Donny, thanks to you, I did my homework and bought the highest CFM compressor I could afford...and I couldn't be happier!

I got a Bal-Aire 338V that's been converted to single phase. 7 1/2 HP 2 stage pump, 32 CFM, 80 gal tank and cooled inlets and outlets.

Got it off craigslist for $750, and the guy threw in a harbor freight large pressure pot.

That's more than 3 times the compressor than the largest ones available at Lowes and at a lower price.

I've blasted a battery tray, supports, and bolts in a cabinet, and then hooked up the pressure pot and did the underside of a hood. CRAZY.

Thanks a lot for sharing.

All that was with sand, and I'm itchin to try platic media.

Awesome! Glad to hear it!

dont do HOODS or roofs with sand,, even the underside,, if you blast the supports, the sand will hit the non-supports(sheet metal, and warp it!!! jc

I don't like using heavy media; too much like ball peen hammers smashing into your metal. It's all air pressure (low) and air volume (high) and lean mixture of media.

Today, since work has slowed to a snails pace; I played with my 300 (see C Body's Only for that information), but after getting that objective solved, I moved over to my li'l friend. I brought it out and actually utilized the frame system to let the car rest on it's side so I can blast underneath the rails; sort of almost as if I had it on my rotisserie, but, since the car is sooo fragile, leaning it over is best...for now! This gave me great access to the few remaining areas needing to be blasted before I put it in self-etch, and start hanging metal on it. I just hate laying on the floor for anything, can never do the work as good, and as fast as if it's easily accessible.

cool, i'm heading out to blast a 53 chevy, my superbee, and some fenders,, yea!! fun...:icon_hang:

I piddled on the GTX today, finished the last areas to media blast, the underside of the package tray; remember how rusty and crappy it looked? Well, it's looking darn spiffy now! Couple areas I'll Ospho, around the roof in a couple little areas -- then self etch it all, and slap the rear frame in/on it, and with the inner fenders, but likely will need (and want) to get new outer rockers; the ones I fixed up I want to rip off and put new steel on 'em!
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The above are cellphone pics, and they suck, here's some new ones, notice the before pics earlier in this thread of the underside of the package tray...and notice the same package tray right now.

FYI I blasted this all with a mix of Plastic Urea Type II, some fine sized walnut shells, and some material (a mineral) called Powerblast. I understand it's a by-product of mining Aluminum; how, and why, I don't know, I know it's very fine, get about 10 uses out of it, recycle it, and it cuts rust fantastically!

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Next up and next round of pics to post will be this same car, as is now, in primer, maybe I can get it done this week!???

Go Donny go!!. I know I took mine down pretty far but it always amazes me to see this one in its current state. Can't wait to see it go back together!

Go Donny go!!. I know I took mine down pretty far but it always amazes me to see this one in its current state. Can't wait to see it go back together!

Yeah....Same here! Rock n' Roll...........

I looked for a pic of the underside of the package tray as it was before I finished media blasting the entire car, but, there's not one in this thread!!! oops! Here ya go! It's frightening!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/FATPIG.jpg

Here's a MUCH better one, ahh, the Mamories, I mean memories!!! She's still a good friend, BFF! :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/fitness043.jpg

Here's the before...sorry, could not help but insert the above pics, they are on my PB account, and I chuckled when I saw Porky girl, and smiled when I saw Marcia!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/X-Mas2007034.jpg

I got ambitious today; put most of it in self-etch! Pics coming...

always like to see the work that you do on your cars donny,it's like watching a magican,now you see rust-now you don't.

Thanks RoadRunnerMan!!!!

wow i dont think i was ready to see that!!! but anyway its nice to see progress

Thanks! Was wondering what primer I should use to 'seal' it up, repel and resist any moisture? It's not going outside, just want to tidy up as much as I can, got a little more self etch to put down, so far, 4 cups of paint out of my HVLP with a larger paint cup on it, got a little more on one frame rail and some inner roof areas that are still in bare metal, but MAN IT SURE LOOKS GOOD to see this car in some paint, and one color even though it's missing all it's metal, and it's taken down about as far as you can go!

My plan of action is this; remember the Chevelle dolly stand thingy I build for that guy? Well, I'm buying it back from him as he has no need for it, I'll modify it to be like the first one I built -- the good one and put the Satellite on it, and the GTX on the good one where the Satellite currently resides. The stand is set to the right position to allow me to slap the rear frame on it, and build off that to the shell of the car; I have all the metal sans qtrs, but, the floors, frame, wheelhouses all have to be right before qtrs go on! So, the GTX will go on this dolly, the frame thingy it's on now will be cut off.

Bottom line, I'm getting excited!

Here it is, outside, in self etch. Going to put some Epoxy Primer on next; seal it up.

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all i can sat donny is AWESOME WORK!!!!!!

Wow man, she is going to be tight, tight, tight!

long after the human race is gone from the planet there will be 2 things remaining....

Cockroaches will be the only thing living and Donny's GTX will be the only remaining momento of the human race.

:grin:

This thing is going to last FOR EVER!!

any updates?

Nope, not really...hope to get it in epoxy primer soon, balancing it out has been tough as I'm in school full time, media blasting also when the jobs are there, but, school is a bit lighter now as I'm only in 2 classes vs 3! I see some serious progress real soon though!

How I didn't put more of my latest 'move on the board' of this GTX chess game I don't know! Here's some more of the latest stage; next up, as I said Epoxy Prime what you see here, then put the rear frame assembly in, and qtrs, install doors and fenders and line it all up, along with the new floor pieces too. Not too sure I'm going to do the GTX/SRT conversion -- at least not at this time, let me deal with what I've got going on...
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Decided to head out for a little ride on one of my motorcycles!

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Under the dash; spotless!

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Remember what this looked like before; all rusty and crusty, now, even I'm impressed!

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Got to get to all areas!

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Better than the factory did it, my mantra, also John Balow's of MCR! He actually told me this personally; do 'em better than the factory did!

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Folks; tear the cowels off, there is lots of bad ju-ju in there underneath; rodents and critters make their houses inside next to these air plenums!

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Decided to head out for a little ride on one of my motorcycles!



Nice boots man! Sweet!!

Got ambitious today and put most of the GTX in Epoxy Primer on top of the self etch. I had my new-hired guy do the media blasting today on the Challenger, and likely he will be doing the labor more often than I now that I got me a good job with the Railroad as a Conductor/Train Crew-and can't do all that work as I used to over the past 3 yrs -- plus I can work on my stuff now, and, he needs work. It's not all done yet in Epoxy Primer, but, I went with Black, and added the stuff to it to make it a sealer, so, no more rust for me on this bad ass GTX! Figured a major issue out; hire some help to get it done, and I can do other things! I can't work him each day; he'd get burned out, Monday we'll hit it hard to get most of the Challenger done while I'll be next door working on the GTX! :)
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DAMN!! Looks like she's coming along great! Keep up the great work!

I'm going thru the gallon of Epoxy pretty quickly! Today I finished the car shell, did the inside and edges of the doors, the floor pans, the trunk pans, cowel, radiator grill support device (the one that bolts off); all in epoxy primer as my helper was blasting away at the 70 B5 Blue /6 Challenger!

Here's the car with the cowel 'on' it loosely, not welded or affixed yet, just sitting there...kind of gets me excited!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/GTXCowel.jpg

You know, I have been reading your thread off and on from the start and I don't think I ever commented on how totally impressive your work has been. I know I have said it out loud, but my monitor never translated it. Hell, I am not even sure you need to here it, but I, for one, got a lot of respect for you.

Thanks Rev! Not too sure if I am insane for taking on such a total rust heap, but, the good thing is there ain't no more rust on this sucka!

Well, if you are insane, at least you picked the right way to be nutz Donny.

Totally Prop! Hiring the fellow to do some Media Blasting for me for the past few days has freed up A LOT of time for me to fiddle with the GTX! While the customers car is getting done, I've been making lots of progress on mine! The spring mount thingy's you sent my way, well, I removed the old ones, going to finish prepping the frame rails, then weld the new ones on, Epoxy Prime the frame rails -- all aiming to assemble the GTX into a chassis sooner vs. later! Now that I got the RR job, and it looks like the guy I hired to come in here and there is going to work out; I'll now have money to do things; just no time. It's been the opposite the past 3 yrs! I smell a big sheet metal order coming, and I think I'll go with the 6.1 as the motor. Or, maybe an Indy 440 based on the new HEMI engines, a 440 Hemi, yeah, sounds nice!

Got the whole car in Epoxy, working on the doors, deck lid, fenders, aforementioned frame rails.

Tomorrow delivering the Challenger B5 (used to be) /6 to www.paintshop101.com and picking up a 69 Barracuda for Media Blasting.

Good to hear Donny! You've had one heck of a crazy busy road to travel here in the past.

good that you have somebody helping you donny,maybe that will generate more customers for you.nice work on the gtx.won't be long now and you'll be hanging fenders and doors.

awesome donny

Thanks! Hope to get a little more done on it this week...we'll see????

In my 'Been Busy' thread I almost started say what's next about this car, but caught myself and figured I better go dig this thread up from the dust bin!

Today I was studying my 'frame/dolly/jig' roll around thingy that the Satellite sits on, it's set to receive the GTX, or so I thought! I'm going to have to make another support mechanism that goes under the rocker panels b/c the GTX has no rear support, so, when I affix the front end to the dolly, it will float in the middle, the frame will be set correctly in relation to where it needs to be, but, lining 'em up with the front clip may be a bit of a pita. Just thinking ahead...you know so when I do the deed, I have minimal obstacles.

I see the GTX coming together quickly; frame rails, then wheelhouses, trunk pan, middle pan, left and right floor pan, center part (from the original floor), screw 'em all together, hang the doors, screw the (as yet sourced) quarter panels on, measure x300 times, start welding...

Going to start this process this weekend!

Good to see ya back Donny!!

Good luck with the work this weekend!

In my 'Been Busy' thread I almost started say what's next about this car, but caught myself and figured I better go dig this thread up from the dust bin!

Today I was studying my 'frame/dolly/jig' roll around thingy that the Satellite sits on, it's set to receive the GTX, or so I thought! I'm going to have to make another support mechanism that goes under the rocker panels b/c the GTX has no rear support, so, when I affix the front end to the dolly, it will float in the middle, the frame will be set correctly in relation to where it needs to be, but, lining 'em up with the front clip may be a bit of a pita. Just thinking ahead...you know so when I do the deed, I have minimal obstacles.

I see the GTX coming together quickly; frame rails, then wheelhouses, trunk pan, middle pan, left and right floor pan, center part (from the original floor), screw 'em all together, hang the doors, screw the (as yet sourced) quarter panels on, measure x300 times, start welding...

Going to start this process this weekend!

cant wait to see progress

I'll take some pics tomorrow, but, here's the narrative.

I put the GTX on the aforementioned Dolly, put the rear frame rail 'on' it, started to hang new tin! I actually got some metal screwed together a bit today; nothing permanent b/c I have the floor, underseat floor, foot floors (l&r), inner wheelehouses all to go in 'together' along with the frame rails!

Pics coming tomorrow.

Im a quiet follower but i wish you luck, It sure will be a great car when your done.

Took some pics today, here's the run down on what you will see in a moment or two until I can get them posted.

I got the left and right floor fitted in, punched the holes for plug welding 'em onto the top of the rocker panels.

I got the frame rails lined up (I hope) according the the dimensions from Chrysler Corp (old drawings). Removed the back rest support webbing as I had to remove several times the rear seat floor pan and that thing was just in the way. Got the pan mocked up, painted the outline for drilling holes, popped it out again after cutting and trimming it to fit, drilled the holes, set it in place and set some 3/4 sheet metal screws in -- securing it in place, then a few into the leading parts of the frame rails -- the car is a solid piece now -- for the first time in years, it's 'connected'!

Glad I have the Satellite as a template for measuring and comparing!

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It is amazing to see a new car being born! Are you keeping it 100 % stock or will you do some changes?
Spotwelds like the original or full seam on the floor?
Keep up the good work!

Back in action!!! You will be happy to have that satellite in close proximity through the rest of the assembly process. I lost track of how many times I wished I had one sitting next to me. On a couple of occasions I even jumped in my car and drove accross town to take some reference marks off of other cars.

Hi I'm Joe, and I am addicted to this thread. I have done lots of panel replacement in my time, but this beats anything I have ever even attempted. Nice work!!

I will do plug welds on the floor pans. Having that other car nearby is a god send! This is always a learning process -- I am no 'expert' per se at all, just tackled this head on and got a far worse car than I anticipated. A little talent, a few more tools, and a lot more ambition and stubbornness and I ended up here!

As far as which way I will go with this car; it will be Q5 in color, I will likely 'widen' it a bit in the qtrs and front fenders much or sort of like musclerodshop has done on their Viper Bee project car. As far as engine goes; I will likely yank the new 440 HP out of my 300 and install it in this car, and put another engine in it's place; like a 383 or something. I'm not at all concerned with the dash and 150 mph speedo, in fact, I am more inclined to resto-modding the inside, and updating the suspension with better upper control arms, and something better out back; maybe a 4 link rear end setup?

It's the 4th today, and happy 4th to ya'll, as for me, I am headed to my shop soon, gotta put a few more screws in, move the car assembly out, and take in a 65 Chevy Truck for Media Blasting which type of work pays the bills and hopefully gives me some $$ to sink into the GTX, haha!

Thanks for the comments!

Got the entire floor pans except the trunk pan screwed in place and screwed into the frame rails! Got to do the console area with the original piece salvaged from the original car (one of the few parts remaining that are original). Got that done, then removed the cab and engine/tranny from a 65 Chevy Truck, took just under 3 hours, sure is easy with a car lift!

Looking good Donny! I like your frame roll around thing. You mentioned checking frame rail dimensions from old Chrysler drawings. How does one get their hands on those puppies? Sine it looks like my car was in an accident at some point, I'd like to at least double check a few dims.

Nice to see some fresh tin on your GTX Donny. Nice work! Keep'er rolling...

Yuppers! Gonna blast the roof skin this week, then epoxy prime/seal it and weld it back on after I rebuild some of the underneath structure that rotted away near the inner C Pillars.

Amazing!!!!

Hey SGT Paul, I will copy and post here later today the drawing/schematic I am referring to.

Man, I keep forgetting to post this reference chart, I will do so ASAP!

I spent all day building the prop shaft tunnel, fabricating the bellhousing end, the old area was too badly rusted to be of any use. However, the crown of the tunnel is original GTX metal! The entire thing is going to be butt-welded into place on the new floor pans, no other type of weld will be allowed. Butt welds take longer, are more difficult, but when done right it's all just one piece of continuous metal.

For one picture right now of today's tasks, go here https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=2182685375784&set=a.1209475726151.2032796.1506474455&type=1&theater otherwise I will post some up perhaps tomorrow?

I was thinking wtf have I done? I mean I am insane to tackle this project! However, I have another one in the works; a customers 65 Chevy Truck; rusty, pretty bad too! Lucky he found another bed I will use as donor. I am not sure I will start a thread here on this vehicle, most likely keep any interested folks up to date on that vehicle thru my media blasting facebook page which is linked in on my home page.

Cheers all!

Here ya go!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG-20110712-00338.jpg

Thanks a lot Donny! This will help a lot. I just need to construct a baseline.

NP SGTPaul!

I media blasted (finally) the outer roof skin of the GTX yesterday. I had extra plastic in my hopper after my Asteroids video game frame/structure (remember that game) got blasted, so, I did the skin. Man, this thing has no holes (surprising) but there's rust in there under the paint (no surprise) and the plastic did nothing to the roof rust (never does). So, tomorrow I'm hitting it with a more aggressive mixture to kill that rust. Gotta say over and over again that the Q5 Seafoam Metallic color that this car came in from the Los Angeles factory is way too beautiful to NOT paint it back in that color.

I can't wait to get to the point where I can finally see that color go back on! Getting there slowly, but surely. In between paying jobs and when I have the time and materials I do my own stuff.

I'll take some pics of the roof skin in the next day or two and post 'em here, just to keep this thread from dying! lol!

After this roof outer skin, there is no more stuff to media blast on this GTX, in fact, just assembly from here on out, no more rust, all's been fixed, most all of it (except the roof) has been painted in epoxy primer. The next 'biggie' for me is acquiring full qtrs, and associated stuff with them; hang 'em, and put this car together!

Bet your glad all thats over with.. assembling it should be exciting getting it to a finished deal, Good luck Donny, You've really done a job on this.. cant wait to see it!

Here's perhaps some pics that are recently posted in this thread, but, if so, at least you'll have some cool Satriani to jam to as you listen! There is new pics in this video, I promise. This video is a tangible measuring stick for where I am right now on this car, as I get 'there' in chunks where clear and measurable progress is made, a video will be created! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2pVyMVbfRs

Looks like it will be a beautiful car when finished, keep up the good work on it.

aren't you dont yet LOL

A rare side by side shot of both cars!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG-20110813-00019.jpg

nice stuff Donny. kool video!

Donny, nice work! I had my RR in the same shape (metal removed) as your GTX about 10 yr ago, except for the floor pans & roof skin. Nice work on your body jig to keep alignment. I also butt welded sheet metal instead of lap joints. Takes more time but, like you said, leaves you w/ a flat piece of metal.

Great video! I'll have to get my daughter to educate me on "how-to" with putting such a video together! Neat!

Yes. You got me to thinking about my next car project. I want to make myself a 69 RR A12/six-bbl clone in Orange, that was similar to my old high school car (except it was 383, not A12). A couple of trips to San Antonio to get Dr. Blast to handle the dirty chore of grit blasting would be in the cards!

Anyway, you've done a hell of a job w/ your car & keep up the good work!

Greg68RR

Thanks Greg, appreciate it, you do great work too my friend. Media blasting beats sanding discs and grinders on all fronts, media blasting will find the bad metal whereas the other way won't, and getting in tight corners, forget it. However, it's always a toss up; the cost for media blasting vs. the time to do it yourself, then, wonder what your time is worth? I know, I've been down that road myself, but, respect anyone doing this insane work! At least I have some sanity; I went out and bought a new Challenger RT, the old cars never ever can compete with the new stuff.

Finally got the roof skin completely blasted, painted in self etch, and tomorrow will get it in Epoxy Primer, along with the 65 Chevy Truck bed I shortened from 8ft to 6 ft, and a few other small parts from the same truck. Got to weigh the paying jobs with the personal fun stuff!

I will post pics later this weekend. Small progress is what it's all about, but, regular progress is what I've been lacking! What I need to get and acquire is a copper strip to install on the bottom of my shift tunnel to complete the Butt weld joints -because the gaps in a few areas are rather large.

hey donny,good to see you get a little time to work on your own car.have to ask this question cause sometimes i'm not the brightest bulb in the box(and that flickers on/off sometimes) but what/where is your datum line?Was looking over your chart.

Good question, Datum line; Floor, but better being the work table the car's on.

thanks donny.

Hit an impasse today on my customer's 65 Chevy Truck, he needs to buy a new cab as his is totally garbage. So, while I wait for this newer cab to be found and bought, I got busy on my GTX! I managed to weld in the entire transmission tunnel; butt weld the entire thing, talk about time consuming! Jeesh, I have my hands full! I started to plug weld my floors down, took my finished and media blasted hood in epoxy primer and layed it down on the roof webbing, also the cowel layed it in there, both need to be set in better; i.e. lots of vise grips and sheet metal screws to re-attach these items. Glad to get back busy on my GTX!

Here's the VIN, need some help figuring if it's an early 69 or late 69, RS23L9E121020

I've decided to take this to as close OEM as I can, and not get too anal or crazy about what's OEM. I will paint the underside, I won't have overspray on the negative battery cable, etc.

So, my question is this; I'm on the lookout for a 69 440 HP, I'd LOVE to find the original engine for this car, but I have about a snowballs chance on the sun finding that! And, based on early/late model, what color was this engine? It's an A/C car from the factory, something is telling me it was a light blue engine, not sure why, but in all my research I learn this is a L.A. produced car, and something tells me it's an early one too. Any ideas?

You should find a date code stamped on the front of the engine k-frame, provided it is original to the car, this will tell you an accurate date for the build. It'll be a 4 digit code like this, 2658, or the 265th day of `68. Pretty sure about that but if not it can be decoded using the 10,000 day calender.

Got any pics of where to look? Interesting!!! I will have to blast the K member to see the numbers then.

Yep, if it were installed on the car it would be front facing directly under the crank pulley and the stamp is no bigger then what is on the engine id pad and just as deep of an impression. You will have to get it clean to see it.

If I can only remember where I put that K member? Jeesh! Got the center tunnel welded in, the newly refurbished roof is on, as is the cowel, both are 'on', going to weld them on this week. Pics will be coming! The trunk supports I scored (THANKS) I welded up, and epoxy primed, they look sweet; far better condition than when they were new!

Glad to hear Donny.

Glad to see your back at-er Donny, good luck, looking forward to the pics!

Sounds good!

I just saw this thread for the first time and have been scanning thru from the start for an hour or so totally in utter amazement. Thank God for people like you, that although 99% of us pale in comparison of intestinal fortitude, can draw inspiration.
Bet you where a hell of soldier Donny.

Haha, thanks TN66Satellite! I liked to soldier, it was fun, too often there's dooshbags up top. It was a whole lot of BS too. But, thanks for the compliments on this GTX thread. I attribute my success so far towards this build to being stubborn, and the "I can do that" attitude, and if I can't then I will learn. I have two cars before this one that I cut my teeth on, the 300 first, the Satellite next, now this one. When I look back at the 300 I cringe when I see the work I did then...not to mention that poor guys Mercedes floors I welded in when I was a young welder in the Army; some diamond plate action!

A big DOH to me, 609 = June 9 1969 my car build date, right in front of me all this time! Also, that is my birthday! And, my Avalanche was born on the same day; June 9 2001! What are the chances of this happening!???

sounds like karma is at work again on the build date and your birthday donny.

Update: Nothing! I WISH I had an update, but, I've been SO busy with work, this self-employment stuff is for me, totally would do NOTHING else, this is so rewarding, but, takes so much of what used to be 'free' time, hahaha. Currently, I am working on a 71 Mini, for Blasting, and metal repair surgery on the floors, fenders, patch up here and there, modified my rotisserie to handle such a small car! Going to have this car wrapped up in about 10 days, then, I physically have a 65 Mustang waiting at the door to come in next, literally, it's on my trailer right now! Also, a 93 Dodge Ram 250 Diesel awaits a Media blast, floor replacement, rocker panel replacement, and I will facilitate a paint job for the guy as he's overseas with the Army. I need to clone myself!

But, on a specific related note GTX wise; and what I've been tossing in my head all day is the specific lines of the 68-70 Chager C Pillar back...how it makes the trunk look smaller and the rear window is set in a bit, well, I'm going to emulate that a bit on my GTX, thus making the trunk area look smaller, and make people go "What's different about this car", I already have it in my head how it's going to be; much like my other projects start; this will get done.

Hope to have some progress pics soon; roof welded on, and cowel welded on; this is what's next!

Here's a CRUDE mock up, I need some good photo editing software, this was done with MSPaint. You get the idea...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/GTXSide1_mod2.jpg

Original pic, page 1, first pic.

Here's what has been taking my time lately, this car, and others before, and another is coming in as soon as this Mini goes away next week. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150345908131666.345291.138109071665&type=3&saved#!/pages/DRB-Plastic-Media-Blasting/138109071665

Oh yeah, if you have not, 'Like' this page there.

I found my K member, put it in the blast bay -- will get to it after I finish the 65 Mustang, 74 Duster, and the 71 Mini! I've been BUSY!!! But, I've been able to get SOMETHING on my GTX done; it's small, but, worth it! The donor door I scored off Craigslist, the b5 68 GTX door, well, the bottom had some rust holes on it, and I used the original GTX door bottom as a donor to donate to the donor door that goes on the original GTX! Note to self has payed off; NEVER THROW ANY OLD METAL AWAY! I have been salvaging the crap out of my old crappy GTX original doors, cut out a large lower piece and now gotta weld it in.

Wow you are a total mad man! Amazing work! I'm doing a 69rr right now and a 70rr. I thought i had alot of work to do. Keep up the great work brother.

Never throw any old metal away. Golden words to live by. A bracket I need I accidentally tossed by not removing it from something I took to the scrap yard is probably a toaster by now... Doh!!!

I wish I had more time to do some work on my GTX, but, I've been SO busy with other cars! Man...it's a good sort of problem to have though when lots of people are out of work!

never complain about to much work. next thing you know you don't have any at all

Wasn't complaining, just updating why there is no update to the GTX thread.

I want to comend you for your effort to save the car. Most people would find another project.

Are we just going to talk about your car or are we going to see so you working on your car. Donny go work on your car, J/K no really go work on your car J/K no I mean really really go work on your car. Holy shit did I say go work on your car........ if I forgot to mention then go work on your car.

I wish I could! Been busy with customers cars! I could start a nice 1971 Mini thread; media blast, new floors, fenders, inner fenders, modify it to fit the VTEC engine, epoxy prime, modify the rear end to accept the new sub frame out back...but, it ain't a MOPAR!

So what happened with you being a train engineer, thought you were going to ride in the cabouse. ( spelling )

Long story short on that one; they fired me and another dude with no reason as we were in our 90 day probationary period, well, they came up with some lame excuse for firing me, but, it's all for the good b/c my heart was in working for myself, not riding in some train somewhere!

Sorry to hear that Donny, I guess we all have a path that needs be to followed.

Robert

and follow it we do.............

Did I mention that donor GTX door had rust in the bottom, but the original GTX door bottom was good, but the skin was shot? Got a better door now, just got to weld the donor piece in!

Is there a part on that car you won't have to weld up? You must love a challenge!

Good question Iraqivet01, so far, nope, well, the front frame rails are good, but, the entire clip is from another car, does that count? Prolly not! :eek:

Ok, dusting off this thread! Got some progress made today, measured by the following pics! Here's the deal, had a little lul in my 2 ongoing paying projects, the 93 Ram 250 and 49 Chevy, couldn't really get much done on either today due to the weather and the need to move the 93 Bed into my welding bay, and move the GTX into the other bay, so, instead of looking at my donor door from the 68 GTX with a wound in the bottom, I decided I'm going to install that original door lower panel from the GTX into the donor door, odd how the 'junk' gets reutilized in a donor piece; so the original DNA is still there! As I got the door on my table, and literally dusted it off, a few more pin-holes came to my attention, so, no more putting this door off! I welded in the original piece, fixed 5 pin hole areas, and one MAJOR rusty area, lower seam crease, see the pics. All is fixed, door will need blocking (like my fenders, and everything else) (normal) but these are butt welds, took a bit longer, and the pin holes are nearly impossible to fix with no backing copper plate to prevent burn-thru, so, the fix is (some of you may know this) take a cutting wheel and open up the pin-holes into a line, a cut perhaps 2-4 inches long, then, weld it up, I must have made about 7 of these cuts all over the lower section of the door today. But, it's a done-deal now!

Tomorrow, I'm back at it on the 49 Chevy, this time I told the owner we can't realistically fix his rotted body (these damn Chevy's -- the 3rd one that is toast) and we need to find a newer/better one with 4 good doors! Found one on CL about 1 1/2 hrs away, went and looked at it, and it's gold fella's, 4 good doors, much better body, and for $750.00 the owner will have lots of spare stuff; fenders, hood, and all the glass is good and not broken, didn't have much trim on it, nor any interior, engine is locked up, but, who cares, we need it for the doors, and deck lid and glass, and better body (with a good firewall) and far better frame that has not been hacked up (literally) with a blow torch on the A Arms to fit air bags into them. I told him if we go back with the air bags this new frame will be disassembled correctly, blasted, then powder coated, bags installed, then A arms installed. Some things just line up and seem to work! I asked the owner flat out if his wife was on board with this project as we are about to head into an expensive part; sourcing new metal, then the installation! Don't really want to encounter another Chevy project where the wife nags her husband and then he bails; remember the 65 Chevy truck last year, and the 70 Chevelle SS from 2 yrs ago? See why I'm NOT making any more Chevy threads? Hahahaha!!

Well, here's some pics!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_1473.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_1479.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_1475.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_1483.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_1491.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_1494.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_1493.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_1495.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_1496.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_1498.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_1497.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_1499.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_1500.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/SanAntonio-20120215-00003.jpg

Looking good Donny! Great to see the GTX getting some lovin.

Glad to hear you are making progress Donny! If I could shake this cold I’d like to get back at my R/T….

Yeah Buddy! nice work.

Where did the weekend take you?

it's good to see you get some work done on the "x" donny,even if it is just one item.that door looks good.

Thanks all, appreciate it! Got good problems to have; no time to tend to my own stuff!

Let's see, got an update! Business has been good, very good, that finding the time to work on this car has been challenging. But, since I'm applying Epoxy Primer to two paying customers' jobs, I bought a little extra paint for my stuff! I had a box full of little stuff to media blast, did that a few months ago; engine mounts, valve covers, torque rods for the trunk lid, trunk lid support structure arms, rear seat window trim tins, fan blade, and I was able to get one GTX and one Satellite fender in epoxy! The white is for the Satellite, black color is GTX stuff.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_1833.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_1837.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_1808.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_1800.jpg

Good to see you are able to make progress Donny. Day job has been keping me away form my R/T.