My Rusty 81 Berlinetta

[Ratty_81]

Got my headers back today. Hoping to get everything back together this weekend.
If you’re in Michigan and need powder coat, check out Dunrite QC coatings. They do nice work.

 

[MP81]

Got my headers back today. Hoping to get everything back together this weekend.
If you’re in Michigan and need powder coat, check out Dunrite QC coatings. They do nice work.

That they do - they've done the header in my Cobalt (as well as powdercoating the strut tower brace) and the longtubes in my Camaro. Absolutely fantastic work.

 

[Charles Roseberry]

What does it cost there to do that powder coat and how does that hold up to heat? They look great

 

[Ratty_81]

What does it cost there to do that powder coat and how does that hold up to heat? They look great

Thanks. It was $265 for the high luster ceramic, and they claim 1600 deg for this coating. They’re pretty much the only ones in the Detroit area doing it, and all they have been around a long time. I have no doubt it will be durable.

 

[Ratty_81]

Threw in a Pro 5.0 shifter today. Swapping the stick for a chrome Hurst unit.

 

[Ratty_81]

Cut and buffed the whole car this weekend. Sanded to 3000 grit but still shows lots of scratches in fluorescent light. I think a lot of them might be under the paint, though. Oh well, it gives it a "patina" look...
Took it to the local Sunday show and got compliments, so it must look good enough,

Also bought a set of Welds to change up the look once in a while.

 

[MP81]

Thanks. It was $265 for the high luster ceramic, and they claim 1600 deg for this coating. They’re pretty much the only ones in the Detroit area doing it, and all they have been around a long time. I have no doubt it will be durable.

I do find that mine have dulled a bit in terms of shine - though I believe there are ways to easily bring that appearance back. To me, I'm okay with the slightly duller silver look they have now in the car, mainly because I have no interest in trying to clean them in a way that probably will take forever. Plus, I don't really have much, if any, shine on the car by design.

Cut and buffed the whole car this weekend. Sanded to 3000 grit but still shows lots of scratches in fluorescent light. I think a lot of them might be under the paint, though. Oh well, it gives it a "patina" look...
Took it to the local Sunday show and got compliments, so it must look good enough,

Also bought a set of Welds to change up the look once in a while.

Man that car just looks...night and day (and that is an understatement) compared to where you started. Fantastic work.

 

[Bandit723]

I too chicken to try and cut and buff my car - That is because i have no idea how to do it.

 

[MP81]

I too chicken to try and cut and buff my car - That is because i have no idea how to do it.

My car is an example of what happens if you do it wrong. My uncle got too excited with a buffer decades ago - luckily the newer buffers tend to be a little easier not to do that with.

 

[Ratty_81]

My car is an example of what happens if you do it wrong. My uncle got too excited with a buffer decades ago - luckily the newer buffers tend to be a little easier not to do that with.

Yep, my 60k mile survivor 94 Silverado has burned through spots on the cab and bed edges thanks to an inexperienced “detailer”.
Variable speed buffer with soft start is essential. Foam pads seem to be more forgiving than wool, but don’t cut as well.