My 1970 dart swinger restoration

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QWKSLVR,
I hope to be able to take it to the nat's this year but there has been a problem with the paint.When the painter painted it the first time he did not use the clear that was supposed to be used with the base,It looked good when it was sprayed,but went flat after drying.Then he decided he was going to sand that clear down with 2000 grit paper and respray with the proper clear and when he did that the two different clears reacted and the whole car bubbled (solvent pop) now he has taken aircraft stripper and stripped the entire car to bare metal.The whole process has really slowed down the finish date.Very dissapointed!!!!!!! But he assures me that he will get it right.Paying the money I am paying to get it painted I sure thought It would have been done right the first time.The color I chose is not the original color.It is called Millenium yellow.
 
Hi. Too bad your painter is having problems, I'm sure it will turn out great next time.If we don't see you at the nats I'm sure we'll meet up sometime this summer maybe Memramcook or the balloon festival. Good luck Bobby
 
Sorry to hear that Gary. I must have seen it right after it was sprayed because it still had a nice gloss at that time. I sure hope it turns out right this time.

Jack
 
Well now I am really screwed!The guy that was painting my Dart Quit working for the guy who owns the shop.The car is down to 90% bare metal!!!!Over the past two weeks he has not done much to the car,and now he Quit.When he stripped the car he used aircraft stripper and even though he was asked,he did not remove the chrome around the windshield,and got stripper and paint chunks all over it.My engine bay had been previously painted,and was perfect.The stripper ran down from the top of the fenders into the engine bay ruining what was done.All he had to do was mask off the engine bay first.I am pissed,and dont know what to do.The owner of the shop is a friend of mine,and is willing to get it right,but I wonder if it will ever be right.He has another fellow working for him now and promises he will finish it.We agreed on 3000 dollars for the job,he has 1500 tied up in it now,in the mess it is in.Where is CHIP FOOSE when you need him,Not really sure what I am going to end up with now.I have put my heart & soul into this build for three years,and now I am just devastated.WHAT A NIGHTMARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
that is terrible about your paint guy. dont give up now, this will probably just cause u to do an even better job than before. i once made a friendly deal with my neighbor to paint my truck. he screwed me big time. took 4 ever and did a terrible job. i ended up re doing everything he did. its not the best lookin truck, but im happy because i didnt pay someone else to 1/2 A$$ it.
 
Well there is some progress on the car although,I am not sure of how it is going to turn out.The guy who is painting it thinks that to get it right i will have to get new fenders,doors,and quarters and spend 10000 dollars.I think he is crazy,I had 4 painters look at it( All who did not have the time to commit to it ),and all told me that for 3000 dollars they could get it pretty straight.The front fenders on my car are fiberglass and the doors and quarters do not have a hole in them.IS 3000 dollars a reasonable price for this car?????Then,after the first painter painted the car and it was f@#ked up,the owner of the shop and myself went over the car and used a paint marker to mark the areas that could use more work,as the car was being stripped anyway,this new painter asks me ARE YOU THE GUY WHO WENT AROUND THE CAR WITH A MARKER!There was a dent in the front valance about 3 inches in diameter,I said yes I am the one who put the paint marker around the dent with an arrow pointing at it that said DENT.The guy then says "Your some fussy are'nt ya"."You had to get down on your hands and knees to see that."Am I crazy or what,would anybody not want that fixed or be puzzled as to why it was not done the first time.Now the owner tells me this new painter does not work well when customers are around and to come back when he is done working on it for the day?????TO make everything worse I noticed a hole in my dashpad.It was a perfect original piece,I do not know what to do,should they replace it???? If your reading this what would you do.Through all of this I have not flipped out,but I do not know how much more I can take.Anyway it feels better to get it off my chest to some people who know what it is like to put so much into something.I have also added some pics of the car in it's current state.

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I would get that car out of there yesterday. I dont trust anyone who wont work without me looking over his shoulder, I just think its fair to watch someone work. They sound like a couple of jack legs to me. If your the least bit uncomfortable, do something about it now before it gets worse. Just my $.02
 
Gcrow, I agree with 71Dartguy, I get suspicious when someone tells me that they have a problem with me being around when they are doing anything to any of my cars. Which is why I try to do everything myself and why we are doing my sons Dart at our house. As far as the damage that has been done to your car since it has been there (dashpad for instance) they are and should be responsible for correcting it. As I looked at your progress on your Dart, I noticed the perfect dash pad and I cannot believe that this "friend" didn't ensure that all the necessary precautions were being taken. I understand your disappointment and really hope that you don't throw in the towel. I don't know what other options you have if any but at the very least, I would have a sit down with the bodyshop "friend" and explain the journey you have been on with this labor of love and get him to see the BIG PICTURE if you know what I mean. I wish you the best and take it from me, I had my Duster 16 years before I drove it for the first time and 7 more to get it to where it is now (26 years total). Believe me, you have accomplished alot, It will be worth it when it is done. Hang in there!!
 
I have had a little sit down with the fellow who owns the shop that my car is at.We discussed how my car has got to be in the state that it is in.We both agreed that the mess that was made was the result of a poor craftsman(the idiot who first painted my car).We have decided to move onward,the fellow who is now painting my car has been painting for many years,and although is a little coo key,he assures me he will get it right.The owner of the shop is going to come good for any damage that was caused by the first guy.I am starting to feel some relief from my frustration.The car is now primed with high solids,or high build primer and is in the process of being blocked out and finally painted.I have included pics of the car in primer and will continue to post pics of the progress.

Primer Dart.jpg


Primer Dart 2.jpg
 
Well - guess what - in the paint shop again! [Should] turn out right this time (yeasureright - will believe it when I SEE it, will post more pictures on its progress. Will try to get video running soon.
 
Well first off Gcrow,welcome to FABO!Any friend of Jacks,is a friend ours).Sorry to hear your painstaking problems with your car,but it looks like your shop friend is coming forth with finishing your car.(Which will look great when it,s done)If your having trouble locating any parts?(as in a new dash)check the for sale forums here,always great deals and people to deal with.Hope you get your car done by Christmas!Good Luck!:cheers:
 
I'm sorry for all the trouble you have gone through. I'm working on my 70 Dart, and it will be ready for paint in a couple of months...I'm TERRIFIED on having someone else work on my car to do good paint and body work. I still have to find a good shop in the bay area, ca...

But good luck with your car... keep your head up!
 
sounds good.. what headers are you using? do you like them? do they hit or scrape on the ground? what clearance issues have you had?
 
This car has Spitfire headers,they fit very well .The only clearance issue was the steering coupler rubs against the headder knocking the metal clip off of the seal on the coupler.They are hand made by a gentleman somewhere in Georgia.You should be able to GOOGLE SPITFIRE HEADERS and find more info.BEST FITTING HEADERS I HAVE EVER INSTALLED!!!!!!!!!!
 
Hey Jack,
The fellow painting my car this time is Scott Trites of Scott's Autobody.We made a deal to get it done last year.It is finally in his shop (the old DOUG'S AUTOBODY SHOP ),he worked at Downey's for 20 years and has a really good reputation.I feel confident it will be right this time.I a looking forward to posting some pic's when she is painted.See you later.

Gary.
 
gcrow said:
This car has Spitfire headers,they fit very well .The only clearance issue was the steering coupler rubs against the headder knocking the metal clip off of the seal on the coupler.They are hand made by a gentleman somewhere in Georgia.You should be able to GOOGLE SPITFIRE HEADERS and find more info.BEST FITTING HEADERS I HAVE EVER INSTALLED!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Actually, Spitfire headers are made by Harold Johnson in Arkansas, but that is all of the info I will put out because this guy is not a gentleman, as you state, but as close to being a crook as you can get, NEVER PAY HIM FIRST!!! And before paying your C.O.D. to him, make damned sure EVERYTHING eh promised is in the box, as if it isn't you WILL NEVER SEE IT!!! I have been dealing with this turd for some time now trying to get something he promised, but shorted me, and getting him to return phone calls is virtually impossible, and when he does, there's always a boo-freakin-hoo story that he's hurt, or his son in law was supposed to send it ou, or he has to order some for stock, blah blah blah.

BUYER BEWARE!!!

FF
 
Sorry you had such sh#$@y luck.I ordered mine and sent the money first and he sent them to me within two weeks.He seemed legit when I dealt with him.Again sorry to hear about your luck.
I think I paid around $200 dollars and I had them ceramic coated buy Stew's buffing and polishing for $300.I think they sound great.Obviously the guy who runs Spitfire Hedders is not very consistent.
 
:cheers:Hey Folks,
I finally got my old Dart back from paint!!!! There were no issues this time around, this guy did a good job, it's not perfect, but it looks much better than it did last time.After all i went through with getting this car painted, i am just glad that it is finally home in my garage.I still have a long way to go to get it where it has to be but i can't wait until i can take it down the road for the first time.Anyway i have sent pic's of my new summer toy.Hope you like it.Careful though IT'S BRIGHT, BUT I LOVE THE COLOR.

Gary.

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