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Donny's 1969 Satellite

Donny

Donny

Well-Known Member
Local time
4:49 AM
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
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Location
North East San Antonio TX
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.


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!



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



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



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



Putting new trunk pans in.



The dashboard is crap.



Looking better I must admit!



Current status:

 
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.
 
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.
 
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.

IMG_0353.jpg
[/IMG]
 
body work

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.
 
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