Sanded out the runs on the driver door skin. I will paint it first thing in the morning. I had installed the passenger door skin on my car. I had to remove it to replace the little retainer clip on the locks arm. I wasn't able to get it on the arm while mounted on the door frame. The heat is crazy out there this evening.

Driver side door is painted. I will let it cure until Monday to add the decal and door handle.

Humidity is a killer in my garage already this morning. I'll put up a picture later in the afternoon of the door skin. Finished for the day.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 05-06-2012).]

Got this on E Bay last night. NOS .I plan on replacing the Fiero emblem on the nose with this if it turns out to be the right size. Was made for a 1982 J2000:


The studs on the rear:


Drivers door from yesterday:


I installed teh passenger side door skin, and front fender back on the car. Looks pretty good!!!!

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 05-06-2012).]

Drivers door skin got it's decal after work today. A new door handle and the small trim piece tomorrow. Maybe back on the door tomorrow, depending on the weather after work.

Looking good. What kind of paint are you using?

quote Originally posted by Rick 88: Looking good. What kind of paint are you using?

Single stage Kirker Acrylic Urethane. I got it threw WWW.AutoBodyToolMart.com I used their Perfect Prime two part primer. Easy to sand, and has great filler properties. I found it necessary to use a cap full of reducer with one cup of mixed paint to stop orange peal. I had to buff some of the first pieces I painted. But after the reducer arrived, I am shooting good smooth top coat with a $40.00 Harbor Freight HVLP paint gun.

Direct link
http://www.autobodytoolmart...el-paints-c-895.aspx

quote Originally posted by josef644: Single stage Kirker Acrylic Urethane. I got it threw WWW.AutoBodyToolMart.com I used their Perfect Prime two part primer. Easy to sand, and has great filler properties. I found it necessary to use a cap full of reducer with one cup of mixed paint to stop orange peal. I had to buff some of the first pieces I painted. But after the reducer arrived, I am shooting good smooth top coat with a $40.00 Harbor Freight HVLP paint gun. Direct link http://www.autobodytoolmart...el-paints-c-895.aspx

Thanks for the info. The single stage paint appears very glossy. I am reluctant to respray my car using clear coat because of what the sun here does to the clear. Being acrylic urethane, I imagine the paint will be very durable and chip resistant. Did you have to use a flex agent with the plastic panels?

I don't remember who told me that it wasn't needed when using this type of enamel.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 05-08-2012).]

Door and front fender added today. I am gonna have to remove the door moulding and adjust the front edge where it is straight with the fender moulding. Door skin needs to come up around 1/8".


Also added the little silver GM square emblems:

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 05-09-2012).]

Painted the outside mirrors housings and the engine vent grates gloss black this morning. I will put the glass parts back in the housings tomorrow, and put them back on the doors. One day out in the Texas sunshine for a good drying. They came out pretty darn good

I'll put up a picture later today.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 05-13-2012).]

I dropped one of the mirror housings yesterday and ruined the paint job. Sanded and re painted it after work today.

I hooked up my vacuum pump to the AC and attempted to pull a vacuum. No deal. I remembered later that I had added the new under car AC lines, and did not replace one O ring. Removed the line and sure enough, no O ring there. I will replace it and try it again tomorrow.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 05-14-2012).]

I was able to get the drivers side door put back together yesterday including re aligning the door skin. Looks real nice when I was finished. I installed the right side out side mirror before knocking off for the day. Gonna finish up the passengers side door tomorow.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 05-16-2012).]

I have a leak still. I am gonna get involved with trying to locate a leak here pretty quickly

Sanded both rocker panels, drip rails and engine vent screen thingy. I also did the windshield wiper cover. All pieces primed. I will hit all pieces with a 3M gray scuff pad after around 3-4 hours of sitting out in the Texas sun. All will get 2 good coats of gloss black tomorrow morning before the heat arrives.

I was looking for problems with my AC system and found loose connections where the hoses thread onto the gage set, and the 134A connectors connect to the hoses. All tightened down and a nice vacuum pulling down in the garage right now. I'll check it in an hour.

When I moved my 88 out of the garage to prime the parts it was the first time I had ever driven the car with a complete interior. It was a lot quieter than I had been used to .

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 05-18-2012).]

Busy morning here. I scuffed the rocker panels, and the other small parts I primed yesterday. Washed all with 'JOY' dish soap and water. Painted all pieces gloss black.

All pieces out in the Texas sun baking until 5pm. Back on the car tomorrow.

Added the drip moldings to the forward roof section. Buffed out both quarter panels so I wouldn't get any thing on the newly painted rockers.

Added the driver side rocker panel on the car after work today. It was 99 in teh garage. One was all I wanted to mess with. Humidity is around 90%. One added and I was soaking wet with sweat. I am gonna do the passenger side tomorrow AM. Add the tail lights back on the car also so we can take a little ride with the interior all intact. . Might be able to see how quiet is is with the windows all up.

It looks sweet in the garage wit the rockers back on!

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 05-25-2012).]

I got up early and put the right side rocker back on the car, I assembled the right side tail light , and started to install it. Noticed that the black paint was pretty thin Decided to repaint the blacked out parts on both rear tail lights. Back on the car tomorrow AM.

Installed and polished the two tail lights this morning. The 3M polishing kit for doing headlights works great on tail lights also.

Before:

After

And

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 05-27-2012).]

Wow Joe, finally finished this thread. The car looks great and you have me thinking of a 3.4 for one of my cars. Whenever I get a garage I will probably pick your brain on how you did some of this stuff.

Ben

Ben I located a box about the right size today for your 120 Speedometer. I will take it to the post office tomorrow.

I am pretty happy with the 3.4. I am thinking about a 4T60 overdrive for an over the winter project. I am turning 3000 rpm at 70 MPH. Our Malibu is only running around 1800 rpm for the same speed. I think you will be happy with the 3.4.
Joe

I plan to swap the engine and trans out at the same time. I think a 3.4 would be good for Becca's car because she likes the look of the stock 2.8 and was fine with the power her auto had. I figure a 3.4 and newer auto trans would work will for her 84.

quote Originally posted by Marine1981: I plan to swap the engine and trans out at the same time. I think a 3.4 would be good for Becca's car because she likes the look of the stock 2.8 and was fine with the power her auto had. I figure a 3.4 and newer auto trans would work will for her 84.

Best that you locate a parts car for the swap. One you can keep near. You can't remember how stuff was installed or indexed until it is crunch time. You will discover a thousand things and fasteners you need when you get to installing it back in the car. Poe has been my best friend for the last year and a half. Take lot and lots pictures of everything before you remove them.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 05-29-2012).]

Not sure if I can afford or store a whole parts car. Who knows, maybe when I get around to it I will be able to.

I put the side marker lights back on teh car this morning. I am gonna go for a nice ride tomorrow AM before I start removing the rack to replace all four tie rods.

Not gonna get much done this week as I have the grandchildren here until next weekend.

As it sits today:


I'll take a good picture of it outside the garage tomorrowr.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 06-03-2012).]

Took me a nice 50 mile ride around Lake Livingston today. Car runs great. No AC yet

Looking good Joe, can't wait to see it at the next meeting we go to!

Tip: Add some oil with dye in it to the AC system and a use UV flashlight to find leaks.

quote Originally posted by 30+mpg: Tip: Add some oil with dye in it to the AC system and a use UV flashlight to find leaks.

This is on my 'To Do' list. I have a friend who does this for a living. I am gonna take it to him and let him put in the UV dye. I purchased me a good 51 bulb UV flashlight for $13.00 at Amazon.com.

I ordered me a new 3 row Champion radiator today after work.

I am not sure the factory cooling system is 100 % right now. I did notice the cooling temperature was running around 208 * Sunday while cruising. This was my first time to drive it with the complete interior in the car. Ambient temperature was around 96-97* I had never driven the car with it this hot outside.

I'll post a picture of the new radiator when it gets here one day next week.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 06-14-2012).]

I was up early and got the rac removed from the car. I will start on replacing the parts tomorrow AM .

Installed the new inner and outer tie rods from Rodney Dickman. I will install it back onto the car Tuesday morning. We are off of work for June Tenth celebrations.

Got this off of the FedEx truck today


Prettiest radiator I have ever seen! Well packaged.

That ought to help with cooling. I like shinny parts

quote Originally posted by Marine1981: That ought to help with cooling. I like shinny parts

Here is the engine vent grill I finished up thanks to you and MstangBware. Painted in Gloss Black:

Back on the car.

Gonna try to get the steering rack back on the car Saturday morning. Supposed to be 102* here both days this weekend.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 06-21-2012).]

I was up at 7:00 am on my day off. I installed the rack back in the car. It was sweat city outside by 9:00 am. I am at a good point to stop for today and will re attach all the tie rods and such tomorrow morning at 7.

When I got home from work yesterday it was 110* in the garage. To hot to try to get anything done week days.

I haven't done any work on the Coupe this week. I torqued and lubed the outer tie rods this morning, and put both front wheels back on the car. I will try to get the front end aligned this week.

I will change the oil and filter for the 500 mile after engine overhaul Saturday morning. I am gonna replace one AC seal where the hoses connect to the two long lines behind the drivers seat while I have it up in the air for the oil change.

For a good seal, use Nylog on the O-rings.

http://www.ackits.com/c/Nyl...ing+Lubrication.html