Firstgens.com

I decided to start a new post showing my rust repair efforts on both quarter panels. Check out this post to see where it all started.......http://firstgens.com/forum/projects/not ... -1685.html. This was supposed to be a relatively simple cut of the rust, repair it with new metal and repaint those area so I could get the Z back on the road for this season. It didn't quite work out that way. The work I was doing on the lower rear drivers quarter led me to fixing the crease up close top the mid panel body line left be a previous owner. Once I got going on that area I had to go over the body and said xcrew I'll just do the whole quarter and blend in to the roof. That decision led me to doing the whole roof because I would not have to worry about any blending going up to the bottom of the A-pillars. Of course no point in ignoring the passenger side upper quarter panel at this point. So in a nutshell I am basically do the entire roof and everything from the back edge of the doors rearward including the bumper cover and the new decklid I have.

Many have said why don't you just do the whole car and I would love to but I also want to drive it this season and doing the whole car will not allow that to happen so I will do it in stages. THe back half needed the most attention so that is where I started, the front half is ok and will suffice for a season or two. One of the reasons I elected to stopped at the doors is I had planned to pull the doors of my sons 79 Berlintts and would like to cut in some late model flush door handle so I can do that in the off season and have the prepped and ready when I get to the front half, I have already salvaged all of the window trim pieces that I plan to use on the Z after a coat of black epoxy, the headlight trim rings and a few other small items. At this point as soon as the Z is done the Berlinetta will be coming coming home to be completely stripped for all of its useable parts which will be sold. Here are a few more pictures of my progress so far....





Window trim pieces off the Berlinetta that are in much nicer shape than the original Z pieces.

Keep up the good work my friend, You
& Jim are the only 2 guys who show up for almost everything!

Thx Don......I try to be involved as much as I possibly can!

looking good there Tom.
keep it up!

Looking good Tom. I think I want to drive mine this year.

Don, you make it sound like I missed something....

Big mistake m8..you will regret it.
By the time u mess around blending, it would be quicker to block and do the whole car with no blending lines....no mater how good a blend is..u know its there, someone who knows this stuff will seeit (people who dont know..who cares what they think) and it can be seen and it will piss u of everytime you go out to the car.
I have done..well more..several times on my camaro over the last 30 yrs.Full extria rebuild...make patches, fenders, behind the front /rear glass, trunk seems etc...block out etc etc full time just under 2 weeks.
Have a look thru this link.. 3 pages, and doesnt show anyware all of it.

http://www.steptoe.sytes.net/around-home?page=1

I keep telling
Tom he won't be able to stop until he does the whole car
And Jeff I stand corrected, you also show up almost every time.

No blending to be done this time Steps and yes I will know where the old paint and new paint begin and end but I can live with that for now. I want to enjoy my car each and every season if I have anything to say about and being in paint jail ain't enjoyin her. So I'll complete what I can in a reasonable time window for this season and go after the rest in the next off season.

Yes I will be able to stop buddy, just watch me! I may bitch and moan about the finished product because I tend to be a perfectionist at everything I do and everyone will be able to say "I told you so" but I won't matter when I am rowin thru the gears on a sunny day........besides can't really see the paint from the inside

Then soon we'll be burning rubber together again my friend

Yes we will buddy!