Re: Henry's 55 Constellation

Posted by HH56 On 2008/9/19 12:09:35

Excellent suggestion, and what the soda doesn't remove, a wire brush, solvent and labor will. Dipping claims to (and may) get everything pristine although I seem to recall one of the TV car fixit shows that promoted it saying there was still a lot of touch up labor required. $1600 would have to be awfully perfect though or I'd sure be cranky.

Invite your body lifting-off friends over, have a "lets clean the Packard day". Fire up the BBQ, supply a case or 2 of Texas's finest drinking brew, have the spray gun or rattle can's of primer or semi gloss black rustoleum or some such ready and have at. When you get around to changing the rubber, it will also be a lot easier to do or touch up.

I've seen lots of frames professionally sprayed or powder coated. My 56 was blasted, then sprayed with Imron catalyst type paint, and quite frankly, with semi gloss paint and the amount of frame clearly visible, I can't see enough difference from that pricy job vs conscientiously applied rattle cans to justify the expense again. Unless you're going for a 100pt restoration that never leaves a trailer, the pricy jobs get as dirty and scratch just as readily.

Look at the results Kev is getting with labor, rattle cans and spray on his 54. The 47 I occasionally work at/on now, is just going to be spray gun and cans. After seeing the results of a couple of people that took their cars to one of the chain paint shops, that is also looking good as well.

OK, enough and will fall off the soapbox now.