Donny's 1969 Satellite

Since I have two concurrent B Body restorations going on, this is a perfect place to differentiate between them!

Me, digging in literally with primitive tools, didn't know I was in over my head at that time and place.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/img0041.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/satellite.jpg

The 318 is coming out, the estate I bought it from said it was a rebuild, and with a nice cam and hardened valve seats, I can confirm the cam part!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/DSC00019.jpg

Now, it looks like this, ready to plop back in.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/DSC00040.jpg

This was a definite 'over my head, but stubbornly determined' job!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/DSC00072.jpg

But, the door hangs the way it's supposed to, and with a near close gap (will adjust later).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/DSC00016.jpg

Putting new trunk pans in.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/nt4.jpg

The dashboard is crap.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/SatelliteDashCrap1.jpg

Looking better I must admit!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_0014.jpg

Current status:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_0861.jpg

Donny, great pics so far. Looking forward to seeing more.

More will be coming! I am also posting a 300 thread to!

Looks good so far!

Goal for this weekend is cutting out the upper cowl (via drilling all the spotwelds) and
cutting out the rotted air ducts, and putting in some better ones. Then, early in the week
paint the inside of the cowl, and the upper firewall (where the cowl resides) and re-weld it
in place. Will post pics.

Inner fenders (outer) after Media Blasting when I did a job last week for a customer.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_0912.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_0911.jpg

I did get the upper cowl off as per my goal, will cut out the air intakes
this week sometime and weld in the re-built ones.

You're a busy lil boy lol

Yeah...but, I don't have a job per se, I am retired Army, and 70% disabled, and going to
school near full time to get my B.S., and do Media Blasting when I have customers. Just
got to convince people that having a car/part Media Blasted is the ONLY way to know what
they are dealing with. Too often, people just D/A the fender or car, spend 50 hrs doing that, and have a job that is about 65% done, and a trash can full of about 200 bucks at least in spent sandpaper!

Heard you on the DA thing, Donny. Check the pic of the '57 Bel Air on the paint thread. Wasn't gonna stand there feeling the vibration of the DA on my bad elbow all day. Frame and body were media blasted.

I'm not discarding the D/A and the benefits of using one,
just that I believe in using the right tool, for the right job.
D/A has it's uses, as does Media Blasting, etc.

I agree with you. The DA has it's uses, but standing there hour after hour waiting for repetitive motion to set in...there are quicker, easier, more thorough ways to get the job done. In the case of stripping completely to bare, media blasting is my preferred method, so you're hearing it from the choir, preacher! :grin:

For Project Satellite today, or this weekend; not much is happening on it. The next move I need to do on it is finish Media Blasting the car, inside and outside. There is still lots of metal work to do, but no where near the amount as required on the GTX. The Satellite is still ahead.

Great work so far!
Is that the correct color for a 69 318?
Just wondering because mine looks like at used to be red and someone painted it blue.

Man, I've got the slowest restoration in history!! You'll probably have this one done and wore out before I get mine running!!

Oh No, Meep-Meep, you see the date code on the pics? I
can't believe I am 10 yrs in to this car!!! I need help!!!

And, the original color for this Satellite was T-5. I am painting
it almost near identical, but with a slight bit more metallic in the
color...looky here...below, close up of the modified T-5 color.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_0353.jpg

Looks really tedious Donny, My 66 Satellite was the same gold color. It is amazing how many 60's era cars were painted this color, with gold interiors also. I am changing mine to a burgundy with gold metallic to go with the gold interior 'cause I purchased my project off of someone who had already spent money with Year One on seatcovers and carpet, so I do not want to waste more by replacing it. Keep up the good work, I guess I should consider myself lucky that my project is a rust free desert car with burnt original paint so I can DA it, I know what is underneath. Your 69 will be a nice ride, just be sure to upgrade the brakes. Willwood sells a nice system that goes on to stock drum spindles for a reasonable price. It comes with 4 piston aluminum calipers to help it stop better. Looking forward to seeing it finished!

Yeah, thanks, been thinking the best immediate mods are Brakes, then suspension, then engine/tranny, then interior. Alot of what I have learned on this car is being applied to the really challenging car; the GTX. When I go back over this Satellite, I find areas I never would have done it that way now. I want to go in and un-do/re-do them, but say nope...drive on, and finish it. This gold color is very close to the original T5 (I think), but has more metallic in it than original.

The cars that didn't see salt did pretty well in their life. Man, the northern salt on the roads should be criminalized!

Donny,

Man your insane:tongueflap: And I thought I was the only one crazy enough to have multiple restos going! Looks good and good luck.

I got some work done today, was working the 4 fenders today; the Satellite and GTX ones. Here's some pics of the Satellite ones, I cut out some rusted areas that were rusted thru, welded in some new patch panel pieces, then all 4 of 'em lined up on the 300, nice shot! Hey, can anyone spot the MOPAR stuff besides the 300 and 4 B Body fenders?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_1458.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_1461.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_1471.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_1476.jpg

In case I get the case of forgetting where things are, and what things are, as these have taken me 10 yrs (so far). Hopefully, now that I'm retired from the Army, I can get some stuff done! LOL

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

Well, last week, (or was it this week...I can't remember as I've been flat out super busy with Media Blasting, school, and seeing my marriage fall apart) I Media Blasted my Satellite rear qtr panel, the opposite one from my video showing me blasting the left rear http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB318hvRHZQ Well, the right rear qtr I thought was 'good' for all these years. Boy was I wrong! It had about 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch of Bondo down the whole thing, with about 15 holes in the side for the bondo to attach to. Looks like someone swiped the side against something in the past. And, the rear trunk extension area was opened up by my Media whereas I thought the metal to be 'good'. Looks like I will get a qtr skin, but may just say F it and get a full qtr on both sides for this car, and full qtrs for the GTX. But, I look at the cost, and say OUCH!

Great job!! Cant wait to see more! Keep at it man you are doing a great job. I am restoring a 1967 Coronet, cant wait to finish mine.

PS when I re-watch that video, I cringe! Why? Because the pressure is a bit too high, I am destroying my Plastic Media, and the nozzle was too big. One of these days I will do a new one to post and direct people to see the new-improved scene, but nearly 7K hits on this video, don't think I'll touch it.

Donny does the plastic media do any damage to the body?

great work , hope all is well with your marriage ?

No on damage to body. UNLESS there is rust and crud to get rid of, and then it takes care of that. The media is softer than the metal, harder than the paint, and at about 18 psi out of the nozzle no chance of messing anything up, I've taken the paint off a coke can! Thanks on the marriage mention...yeah, it blows to hit the skids, but, oh well...

I had my old 68 Mustang GT media blasted and it looked like brand new sheet metal. Not a mark anywhere. I actually had to rough it up with a DA to give it some tooth for the primer and bondo. Best wishes on your marriage situation.

Hey Meep, this is why I put a slight mixture of Alum Oxide in the mix to make a surface for the paint to stick to so you don't have to scuff up -- that's too much work, the Media Blaster should have found out what your next step is; usually with my customers it's always next step is primer, then body work. So, having a profile for the primer is perfect. However, pure/straight Plastic Media will leave it smooth, and semi-polished. Great for 'Vettes, and or whatever.

Hard good work!

Hey Meep, this is why I put a slight mixture of Alum Oxide in the mix to make a surface for the paint to stick to so you don't have to scuff up -- that's too much work, the Media Blaster should have found out what your next step is; usually with my customers it's always next step is primer, then body work. So, having a profile for the primer is perfect. However, pure/straight Plastic Media will leave it smooth, and semi-polished. Great for 'Vettes, and or whatever.

WOW ! Donny , I had no idea plastic Media Blasting slicked them up that good, What about pitted metal where Heavy Rust had been, How would you remedy that ?

Plastic Blasting Media needs a bit of help to cut down the rust/crud, small surface rust it will take it down, but, scaled salt on the roads rust needs a bit of help; I sprinkle some Alum Oxide in the mix; takes care of business! Pitted metal: no solution except some good high-build primers.

Well, back at it in TX. Looks like I will try to keep the marriage together, it's worth it!

I cut out the right rear qtr, just the rear lower area as it's swiss cheese after Media Blasting it, that area between the trunk extensions and lower qtr panel are a moisture and rust trap.

Also, I pulled the cowel off a few months ago, not a quick task! The intakes under that thing are rotted to high heaven! So, I took some donor ones and will weld them in, cut out one (the other one is salvageable).

I will be Media Blasting what little remains to be Media Blasted on this car this weekend. Also, I went thru every piece of scrap metal that's been kicking around my shop for years, and evaluated the worth, salvagability of the piece(s), and replacement availability. Needless to say, I trashed a LOT of metal, cut off the things like rear seat mounting areas, spare tire mounting brackets, etc., and saving them for future installations.

Yeah, this weekend is going to be a grind! Media Blasting a MGB, my Satellite, my GTX, lots of small parts, perhaps a frame from another customer, two repeat customers...they are GOLD!!! I don't think I will get 'em all done, will get too tired! Unless I hire a helper...yeah, good idea Donny!!!

welcome back , hope all works out with the little woman .

thanks dude! Let's hope! Can't really decide which I love more; her, or my MOPARS???? Hummm...this is likely a situation many of us face daily? Right? This sounds like a good thread idea!

Great. Glad to see you back Donny,I can't wait to see new pictures.

Ok, the other night, as I was finishing up a customers job, I knew I was running low on media (meaning I needed to sweep it up and push into the collection port) I worked for about 15 mins more on the right rear qtr on the Satellite. Man, this sucker was also hit, more holes down the entire side where the bondo was oozing thru to 'attach' itself to the car. I think I will just get a skin for this side, don't know yet.

Also, I'm wondering about the 5.7 w a carb, and 727 or 904 tranny; this way to keep the costs down. I know there are lots of skilled and experienced folks here that have done that with the F.I. system, anyone done this with the carb?

Ok, the other night, as I was finishing up a customers job, I knew I was running low on media (meaning I needed to sweep it up and push into the collection port) I worked for about 15 mins more on the right rear qtr on the Satellite. Man, this sucker was also hit, more holes down the entire side where the bondo was oozing thru to 'attach' itself to the car. I think I will just get a skin for this side, don't know yet.

Also, I'm wondering about the 5.7 w a carb, and 727 or 904 tranny; this way to keep the costs down. I know there are lots of skilled and experienced folks here that have done that with the F.I. system, anyone done this with the carb?

here is how my buddy is doing it on the cheap for his daytona race car clone .
5.7 and a carb . http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,62589.0.html

Thanks man! Good info, bookmarking it!! :)

Ok, I have a problem! I am running out of space! I took in a 70 Challenger to Media Blast, currently it's on my lift, will be mounting it to my rotisserie this weekend. However, my Satellite is on a rather tall carriage on wheels -- and it won't fit under a car on the lift whereas the GTX does.

So, I swapped cars; GTX out of blast bay into garage under Challenger, Satellite into blast bay for some touch-up blasting. Well, I admit, I was a fool years ago using that POR-15!

Now, anyone that currently uses it, I mean you no harm, or besmirch your intentions in using this god-awful crap. You see, years ago I used it to 'preserve' the metal, plus I was headed out the door to Iraq and needed to have something covering it up as it was outside. Well, I lathered it on the inside of the car, the inside of the roof, etc. I did mention this before in this thread, but, wanted to update you all. POR-15 (in my experience) does not stick well, this stuff blows off in chunks, it's thick and would not be a good base (again, in my opinion) to any kind of paint.

So, I was a happy blaster today getting some of my Satellite done after I did 2 'Cuda 70 fenders, doors, and deck lid, and Header panel, also 2 67 Mustang doors. Man, the rust on the 'Cuda fenders was insane!!!!

Although I see areas to 'fix' on the Satellite, I am deliberately plowing thru it, cutting a few corners here and there b/c I want to get it on the road! A little more Media Blasting, some metal work, prime it, Paint in final T5 variant engine bay, interior, put it together; engine, tranny, rear end, a seat, dashboard, doors, wiring.

Then, get it inspected and drive it! 318 2bbl, Magnum 500s, in primer -- a work in progress, but, with a plate on it! Yeah! My goal is to get this done by July 1. Pics will come...soon! New ones!

Ok, I have a problem! I am running out of space! I took in a 70 Challenger to Media Blast, currently it's on my lift, will be mounting it to my rotisserie this weekend. However, my Satellite is on a rather tall carriage on wheels -- and it won't fit under a car on the lift whereas the GTX does.

So, I swapped cars; GTX out of blast bay into garage under Challenger, Satellite into blast bay for some touch-up blasting. Well, I admit, I was a fool years ago using that POR-15!

Now, anyone that currently uses it, I mean you no harm, or besmirch your intentions in using this god-awful crap. You see, years ago I used it to 'preserve' the metal, plus I was headed out the door to Iraq and needed to have something covering it up as it was outside. Well, I lathered it on the inside of the car, the inside of the roof, etc. I did mention this before in this thread, but, wanted to update you all. POR-15 (in my experience) does not stick well, this stuff blows off in chunks, it's thick and would not be a good base (again, in my opinion) to any kind of paint.

So, I was a happy blaster today getting some of my Satellite done after I did 2 'Cuda 70 fenders, doors, and deck lid, and Header panel, also 2 67 Mustang doors. Man, the rust on the 'Cuda fenders was insane!!!!

Although I see areas to 'fix' on the Satellite, I am deliberately plowing thru it, cutting a few corners here and there b/c I want to get it on the road! A little more Media Blasting, some metal work, prime it, Paint in final T5 variant engine bay, interior, put it together; engine, tranny, rear end, a seat, dashboard, doors, wiring.

Then, get it inspected and drive it! 318 2bbl, Magnum 500s, in primer -- a work in progress, but, with a plate on it! Yeah! My goal is to get this done by July 1. Pics will come...soon! New ones!

i had my first body shop that worked on the birdible sware by por-15 . it sucks peeled off in stripes when we got it to the second real body shop to finish the resto .

it was a real rust bucket before

I think it best to use POR-15 for where it is intended; a ship at sea. Never use this on our precious MOPARS!!! NEVER! However, I do understand the economics, situation, lack of a Media Blaster, or lack of $$ and a plan for your car post Media Blasting, and, sadly POR-15 is sold as the be all/fix all, I bit that fish hook back in 2001! Never again.

I agree with you on the POR-15, used it before on one of my cars( followed ALL of the instructions). Never again, it doesn't last. I wish I was closer, I would have you blast my Roadrunner! Also, great work on the Satellite!!

BLUF: It's better to have your car media blasted -- you can't do everything yourself.

Yeah, at $150.00 a gallon for that slop, and for about 900 bucks more I can do the entire car (sans doors, fenders, hoods) and have it on my rotisserie -- then you can put it in self-etching primer, and then commence your build!

All anybody has to do is ask a bodyshop what they would use...Por 15 should not come up in the conversation...nothing better than Epoxy, with a trip to Donnys media blasting first! (shameless plug to get him to come to the great white north and do my car)

Can't make it that far north 66! Haha, too cold!!!

Ok, here's some recent pics, taken today.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_2018.jpg
The tail light/qtr panel extensions/housing that holds the tail lights in. Recently Media Blasted, in self etching primer.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_2004.jpg
Floor pans cleaned of that POR-15 stuff.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_2003.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_2002.jpg
Qtr panel nearly all cleaned up, I do a bit here and there between/during/after paying jobs.

I have to say its a different car than before. Great work Donny!

Don't get 'em confused, this is the Satellite, not the GTX. This thread has received little attention, however, it's going to get more ASAP as I want to get this thing DONE!!

Don't get 'em confused, this is the Satellite, not the GTX. This thread has received little attention, however, it's going to get more ASAP as I want to get this thing DONE!!

Understood. But you have to admit it has come a long way.

Nice body-work!!!

Vielen Dank mein Herrn!

I put the car on the lift today, took off the undercarriage dolly off it as it's not what I want, it needs to be modified - like everything else; always got to make something better. But, after taking a closer look at the front drivers floor pan -- a pan I've modified heavily many years ago with assiduous welding this and that piece; fabricating a pan. Well, today, with improved eyes I've decided to rip it out, and weld in the white donor pan from the GTX donor piece...remember that pic, if not, go to my GTX thread. I'm going to cut it out along the frame rails.

But, first I have a 67 Mustang Fastback ready to Media Blast this weekend, along with some old steel furniture my antique hunting friend brings to me every couple of weeks to blow off the loose crud, he likes the rust, he wire wheel grinds it in, then waxes them up, they look gorgeous! I never would have thought this old junk would command such respect when they are completed! I can post some pics of the Mustang, and the furniture in a day or two. I need more hours in a day!

looks good man. im 2 hours south of you by the way.

Good job Donny...nothing but time money and a little insanity!

Lightning; you can't be much further than 2 hrs south of me, it's all ocean after that! lol, Corpus? What I need more of 66 is time, I can deal with insanity, and lack of $$, but time, that is all too precious.

no laredo. i wish i could learn to do this kind of body work. now a days all they teach you is replacing pieces. awesome work donny, cant wait to see her finished.

Thanks Lightning, so true!

Keeping them coming good inspiration and well informed insight for me . Got something like this coming my way soon .

Thanks Shorty, glad to help out! More pics will be coming!

Well, this afternoon late, after I finished sweeping up my Blast bay, and prepping the 70 Barracuda fenders, doors, hood and deck lid for Media Blasting next week, I dug into my Satellite. The left front driver's side (redundant aye) floor that I assiduously welded in piece by salvaged piece making a floor I decided to rip out, and put in a new piece. I don't like the bulbous welds that back a few years ago were 'acceptable'. But, with new metal available, why fook with old crap? Plus, I'm stubborn, and want to make something better today than I did/was yesterday. I'll take some pics tomorrow.

A little "OCD" is not always a bad thing! It makes me a better tradesman.

No kidding! The OCD is a devil to deal with at times!!!

Ok, remember how I said that horrid POR-15 I was media blasting off after my earnest attempt to 'restore' this car many years ago, and being sold that this stuff was the 'best', no need to remove the rust, just lather over it, and bingo; you're good to go! Well, this pic clearly shows the cleaned metal vs. the POR-15 metal.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/SatelliteWork009.jpg

Today, I did some analyzing and acted. Ok, some of you may think WTF, but, I cut out both qtrs (skins) and weighed all the work to do, repairing the dents, dings, rust holes, gutter rust, my 'hacking' over the years before new AMD stuff was made.

I figure that all I'll need to do is cough up the cash for the stuff, found a pair of FULL AMD qtrs on Ebay for $1319.00 plus $145.00 shipping. This is cheaper than my 'discount' I get being in this or that MOPAR club. Plus, it's far less welding involved for a new full qtr vs. a skin, plus the other hack repairs I mentioned would not be covered with just a skin replacement. So, I'm stepping up and will do these qtrs before I do the GTX ones. And, the tail light qtr housing for the lamp assy is just $69.00 per side, there is no way I'm going to re-use the repaired/rusty/welded up/hacked up old units when they are new for that cheap! Sometimes, the new metal is the way to go vs. fixing/repairing the old stuff.

Oh well.

I had some time today, and got busy with my saw. I cut off the remaining sections of the qtrs, and the tail light housings.

Its new full qtrs, trunk extensions, tail light panels, trunk gutters for me. Next up is Media Blast the roof, the inside, and some touch up here and there. I said screw it, all the work I did years ago, I undid in about an hour today. I just don't want to deal will all the welding crap work I did years ago, then, unlike today there was no new metal available for the areas I admittedly 'hacked' yrs ago, and today I would not want to showcase that work for anyone to see, but, I will share with you all! :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_2290.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_2287.jpg
Notice the rust on the outer fender, not seen until the qtr came off!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_2276.jpg
This is the slop I refer to, not nearly up to my standards of today! I guess part of my obsession is perfection?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_2279.jpg

...Ok, I'm assuming you are picking up here from my GTX thread where I mentioned I went from the GTX to the Satellite while Media Blasting them both.

I blasted the inner wheel well cavity area by the left rear qtr glass, and the outer wheelhouse. I didn't really hit it all, or all areas that need it, but I was doing this after (or was it before) my paying job?

I'm glad I yanked the qtrs off, the rust under 'em would never have been seen until it ate it's way thru, the wheelhouse has some areas that are bad, plus, I've learned how critical the qtr panel is to vehicle integrity and strength. How it ties into the outer wheelhouse I was always sort of fuzzy on until I drilled out, and then hammered out the remaining sections of qtr panels, I'm glad I did this as it's getting done right now, vs. not too right as before. Plus, the thought of welding in a skin on an already shabby qtr was not something I wanted to entertain.

So, now I need to get some more high-paying jobs/cars so I can buy 'em!

What do you all think about AMD left and right full qtr for 1318.00 plus 145.00 delivery charge? I think that is a darn good deal! On Ebay, there's a seller there that has a huge store, anyone buy sheetmetal off Ebay? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390178367445&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

Here's some pics of removing the last qtr off the wheel well, amazing how it all fits together, simply elegant! Welded to the wheel house, tail light panel, roof, and door jam, this is all, the only places where the qtr is mounted, also along the bottom of the qtr window too.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_2329.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_2328.jpg

What kind of bit are you using to drill out the spot welds?:edgy: Not that I have any to do.......just curious. :grin:

I use a 7/64 pilot drill bit, then a spot weld cutting bit. It looks like a mini hole saw on a shaft with a 7/64 pilot to guide it down the appropriate thickness of the sheet metal you are attempting to remove. You can now get these bits at Harbor Freight much cheaper than the ones NAPA has; they are the same bit too!

Hey Donny.
When you get to the drip rails (if you have to) there are 80+or- spot welds in EACH side :yes:
Darius

Nah, not going to take them off.

I may use some of the newly acquired metal for the GTX on the Satellite as that car I HAVE to get done and back out on the road, it's killing me to be marking time on not one, but THREE cars! But, with the juggling act of Marraige (FAIL), full time School (A's), and Media Blasting for $$, at times, little time is left over for some Me blasting time. But, this weekend I will have some Me Blast time on the GTX and or Satellite.

Hey Donny, you're doing a great job!
I read, your from Texas, San Antonio!
Could you do a favor for me?
Could you check the name "Prilop" in San Antonio?
I've heard there are some relativies of me in San Antonio.
Thank you in advance.
Please contact me via PM!!!

Flo

Did some serious work on this car today. I decided, since new metal is available, I'm not fixing anything anymore, I'm cutting out the old crappy stuff, and welding in new AMD metal. Today, I took off the trunk tail panel thingy, as I said, I was going to fix it; nope! Also, all the remaining qtr panel trim areas I removed; from the door jams, roof, etc. and put the car in the blast bay, with the GTX for some blasting perhaps this coming week? But, I will be picking up a 69 Dart on Monday for a complete media blast, I'll get my stuff done before the paying customer.

Here's some current, taken today car porn!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_2572.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_2582.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_2574.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_2577.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_2592.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_2598.jpg

donny,i'm really enjoying watching you and all the other members working on their cars,so i know what to look for.been wondering where you've been hiding lately.

Haha, it looks like Matt's car! No hiding roadrunnerman, just busy with life brudda, wish all I had to do was MOPARS, but, with family, house, lawn, school, Ducati Streetfighter S lusting after, and Media Blasting, getting the time to screw around with my MOPARS is a rarity. When I graduate college with my B.A. in Dec, I will have more time, as also Katie will be in college then, so, all my extra cash will likely end up in her bank account! :)

...I still want a Challenger B5 R/T, 6 speed, w/ Nav and Sunroof with Classic badging and Black strips, yeah, someday....!!!!!!

yea,someday i'll rescue a princess and her father will make me very ,very rich.:rolling::rolling::rolling:

yea,someday i'll rescue a princess and her father will make me very ,very rich.:rolling::rolling::rolling:

Sounds like the odds are better than hitting power ball. :grin:

I media blasted much of the back end of this car yesterday, that POR 15 is pretty stout stuff to get off. Nothing like undoing some good work from years ago that isn't good enough, and or up to snuff per se.

if i was doing what you're doing donny,i think i would have pulled all my hair out by now working on two projects plus the customers that come in.I can't even start on mine yet until i can get the parts ordered and get some family issues resolved.Make room to put a car into storage from my garage,then i can begin the teardown process,but i have been watching and learning alot from you.

Oh yeah, top off that the marriage thing is falling apart; this time it's going down the drain despite my best-efforts to salvage it. Oh well, more on that at another time! Got some qtrs coming in soon.

Oh yeah, top off that the marriage thing is falling apart; this time it's going down the drain despite my best-efforts to salvage it. Oh well, more on that at another time! Got some qtrs coming in soon.

hand in there buddy your doing a great job on the cars :yes::yes::yes:

too bad about the marriage.Some things are just inevitable.hope that works out for the best.i've been thru 2 divorces and they said it was them and not me.....ok,the first one said it was my fault.:rolling::rolling::rolling:

I was able to get some serious Media Blasting in today again on this car! I cleaned up the wheelhouses, and, they will be tossed in the trashcan. I'll be using the GTX parts; wheelhouses, and trunk drop offs on this car. I'm not going to fix these wheelhouses, even thought they could be, I just don't want to fix 'em when new stuff is available! Yeah, yeah, kind of contrary to what I normally do, but, I'm stepping up this game, and want to get some traction, and get it done.

Just so you all know, Epoxy Primer is GOOD Stuff, it is hard, and it sticks to the metal, along with that POR 15 stuff...yeah, it's all mixed in and melded together somehow. Looking back, lessons learned; don't half ass something. Qtrs usually are not worth fixing when new stuff is around. Also, if the qtr is bad, the wheelhouse is likely bad too.

Here's a few new pics taken yesterday. Most wouldn't clean up the inside of the qtrs like this, but, we do!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_2611.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_2612.jpg

Oh yeah, I also had my daughter come 'volunteer' to help me prep the Dart for Media Blasting, here she is, (notice her car in the background) helping me out, only to ask me to go to Wal Mart with her later! There's always something in the works they want -- they never do anything for free!!! :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_2605.jpg

well,you know how it is with kids.yours are at least helping do something with the car.mine just want ME to do all the work and then give it to them when i'm done.AIN"T GONNA HAPPEN.how bad were the wheelhouses donny?if you weren't going to fix them,they must 've been really bad.

The right wheelhouse is fixable, but, with new stuff upstairs, why do it?

The right wheelhouse is fixable, but, with new stuff upstairs, why do it?

that's true,just wondering.i like to keep original as much as possible.I'll spend $100 on fixing original parts even though a brand new will only cost $50.:grin: Are we taking a break from the GTX now for awhile?

For a bit...not too long, for me, I just got to get something done, on one of my cars. The Satellite will be the focus for a few months, as will the GTX, but, with the GTX I need to media blast what's left of it, then prime it, and start putting it back together. The Satellite I thought I was at my end-point whereas I could start putting it back together, but, getting away with just qtr skins was not going to happen, so, I ripped 'em out, and got a little carried away; just doing it, or, rather TRYING to do it correct! I may still fix the wheelhouse with some old 300 wheelhouses I have kicking around, my old-man is in town for a few days now, he's going to help me, perhaps I can teach him how to weld?

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!

do what you gotta do donny on the cust cars.we will sit back and wait however long it takes,then when it is done we can pop the champagne and toast one in your honor.

Finished all his furniture a couple of days ago...

Chevelle is on the Rotisserie, did that today, man, GM stuff is different in some ways than the MOPAR stuff!

Still tracking the weekend blast on both of my B Bodies, and the Chevelle's doors and deck lid.

Now, let the Dogs of war out!

Here's a pic, the only one I can find that shows the original T5 paint! The T5 is the door jam area, when I look back on these old pic, man, I cringe, how I did things back then, vs. now!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/DSC00064.jpg

if we only knew back then what we know now alot of things would be different(not sure if that would be good or bad).

This car has gotten some neglect for a while, it's on my lift right now, took a survey of it, what I thought was great years ago, I think looks like SHIT now!

Sounds like my buddy when he talks about his wife...........

Sounds like my buddy when he talks about his wife........... :rolling::rolling::rolling: Thats great! Cant wait to see your satellite and Gtx make some more progress!

lookin forward to finally seeing some more progress

...Here you go, finally, taken yesterday. What this is is this; the stand/dolly I built to accommodate the Chevelle is now in use (as I planned for) on the Satellite. It's serving two purposes; 1. To be a better more stable platform to hang qtrs on and 2. Serve as a template for use on the GTX when I put the new rear frame assembly on the GTX as both cars are identical, and, the mounting areas on one car can be mimicked on the GTX!

As you see here, the middle support mechanism is supporting the high-arch of the Satellite frame and the rear support mechanism supports the rear frame area assembly, the front mounting assembly is bolted through the frame rails up front one hole up from the crossmember; all the cars have this!

I love it when plans come together and things go easy...the only way this happens is to plan it out, and be patient! It was dark, my flash didn't get good penetration of light everywhere I wanted, oh well...there will be MORE pics I assure you!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_3682.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_3680.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_3679.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_3678.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_3676.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG_3673.jpg

Got some work done today, haha, well, not really, but, this is a step! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/Schertz-Cibolo-20110125-00166.jpg

Got some more done today! Not much, but, it's a little! Got the interior almost completely blasted from when the car got wet -- when I had too many cars and mine bit the bullet, could not push a customers car outside! I'm mainly getting surface rust off it, and the last remnants of that POR-15 crap off the car. I'll be putting this car in self etch before long!

Hey Ya'll, putting it out there, I've decided to sell this car/project with all the parts that belong to it, much of it is 'done', much of it needs still to be 'done'. Realistically, with a new job, new car, and an azimuth check, and it's just a Satellite...I've decided to let it go; $2500.00. I'm going to focus on the GTX.

Wow, really sorry to see you let it go man..

Thanks man, reality...bites! Oh well, gotta sell it now, that's the hard thing!

good luck donny,i hope you get it sold.i know somebody will get a good project.

No bites on buying it, but, I have not be advertising it either!!! So, here we go! I built a dolly for that Chevelle I was working on, I told the owner I'd buy it back from him -- which I've done, and yesterday finished modifying it to be a close clone to the above seen dolly. This one is much lower, but equally adjustable. So, I will have a 'high dolly' which is adjustable, and a 'low dolly' which is equally adjustable, one for doing work underneath, the other for doing work from above! I had the Satellite sitting on top of the unmodified dolly, but, after it almost fell off in moving it around I said enough, fix this and make it right -- which I will post pics of soon here in this thread, perhaps with both cars next to one another for comparison! The real comparison is whether or not I am 'sane'???

The real-deal is that this is FAR more enjoyable than sitting in the locomotive bouncing around for 12 hours. Working for yourself is by far the best thing invented since Chocolate Chip Ice Cream!

See them both, one is a lot lower than the other!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/IMG-20110813-00025.jpg

Donny, nice work on the body jigs! I like the idea of the caster wheels. When I did mine ~10 years ago, I had no wheels. The frame rested on the concrete floor of the shop. Car was not movable until metal work was done. Next one I do will have caster wheels & will be semi adjustable. Good design!

Good luck getting your Satellite sold! I know the GTX project can use the cash infusion! It may be hard to move it, though, if you're selling it w/o all the metal installed. Reckon?

Again, you're doing great work!

Greg

That Satellite won't sell, I know it, and so does the world! But, when I get it done, and put it together, who knows? The Satellite was going to be the donor for the GTX, but, I got ambitious and decided to replace all the GTX metal as it is now made whereas in 2001 it wasn't when I pulled it all apart. Sad thing is (was) I was in the Army and could not get shit done as I was being deployed all over the place all the time for years at a time!

it will be good to see them sit side by side when they are done.we know it might take a bit with your media blasting jobs,but we'll wait.

Haha, it ain't gone...yet, in fact, it may not go anywhere! Today, I started a massive shop clean up, shelving units filled with B Body parts, GTX and Satellite stuff all mixed in with 300 parts. Total confusion plus a lot of dust! Well, the elusive Fender tag I finally found today! This thing has been MIA since around 2004!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lordenki/FenderTag.jpg

And I went out and bought like 30 totes at Wal Mart (ouch) and they were the cheaper ones, sorting them '300', and 'B Body'. Its good to make the room b/c I certainly need it, space maximization is the key word these days!