Just started the tear down on my new project, a '56 Pontiac Pathfinder 2dr coupe. Confidence is high, but I'm quickly realizing I need a bigger garage (and a bigger wallet)!
All the best! If you hit a road block just walk away ... but not for too long!
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
This is exciting stuff ,always nice to see a cool project get underway. The key with a resto is organization, been there with the smaller space challenges. Good luck and keep the pics coming.
I'll try and post some update pictures from time to time. It's going to take a while to complete (refer to "bigger wallet" statement), but that's ok as I'm in no hurry.
You definitely hit the nail on the head, unburt. I need to keep everything labelled and organized, otherwise re-assembly will be a nightmare. Zip-Lock bags to the rescue! :)
First order of business is to get the front end rebuilt. I'll be doing a disc brake and power steering upgrade. For lowering the front I'm trying to decide between dropped spindles versus lowering springs and have heard pros and cons for both. If anyone has tried either option, I would greatly appreciate comments on your experience.
First order of business is to get the front end rebuilt. I'll be doing a disc brake and power steering upgrade. For lowering the front I'm trying to decide between dropped spindles versus lowering springs and have heard pros and cons for both. If anyone has tried either option, I would greatly appreciate comments on your experience.
I went with dropped spindles which worked out very well (complete disk brake kit). I chose them because (1) upgrade from the original ball bearings to superior tapered roller bearings, (2) caliper bltes directly to spindle instead of using an adaptor plate, and (3) front end geometry is not affected like shorter springs would do.
Dave
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1956 Pontiac Pathfinder 2dr sedan, 496 - dyno'd 545 hp, stick shift, 4.11 posi - Hot Rod
First order of business is to get the front end rebuilt. I'll be doing a disc brake and power steering upgrade. For lowering the front I'm trying to decide between dropped spindles versus lowering springs and have heard pros and cons for both. If anyone has tried either option, I would greatly appreciate comments on your experience.
I went with dropped spindles which worked out very well (complete disk brake kit). I chose them because (1) upgrade from the original ball bearings to superior tapered roller bearings, (2) caliper bltes directly to spindle instead of using an adaptor plate, and (3) front end geometry is not affected like shorter springs would do.
Dave
Good points, Dave. I hadn't considered the added benefits of the updated bearings and caliper mounting. Cheers!
I'm still looking at options for painting the frame, but at the moment I'm leaning towards POR-15.
That's what I'm going to use on mine. Just glove-up with long sleeves/pant legs when you do it ... It will stick to you for weeks!
-- Edited by Pontiacanada on Monday 29th of July 2013 06:01:33 PM
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Ya, POR (Paint Over Rust) is just that, "paint over rust". It bonds with rust and not with clean steel. Just wire brush the loose rust, dirt and then paint.
It also reacts with the sun's UV rays ... it eventually goes "milky". Red POR will go pinkish, black POR will go greyish. If you plan on using it on a sun-exposed surface, you must top coat it with a non-translucent finish (rattle can red or black for instance).
This is as far as I'm going with rust removal and tear-down for now, it's ready for painting. I'll paint the remainder later:
-- Edited by Pontiacanada on Monday 29th of July 2013 06:01:04 PM
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
I love that car and the build is neat to watch,many hard hours inviloved. I must chime in about Por-15 and its qualitys. I painted my subframe and the entire underside of my car. The prep work i did was very involved and i basically used a 3M Roloc wheel on a air die grinder. I had everything very clean and degreased every square inch that was getting a coat. Bottom line is i can in many places peel the stuff off. I had a product tech guy say to me ...you had it to clean and rust free. This stuff does bond better to a light rust surface. This seems to be the commmon factor when using this stuff. Just wanted to give you my experience and i have couple other friends with the same result. There is some info out there about the problems with the product. Other guys have had good success so its a decision. I belong to some other forums and there are views on other products that seem to be very good. Do some research and good luck ,keep the pics coming.
Thanks for the good tips. The POR-15 website says that their product works "great" on rusted surfaces and is also "good" on seasoned or sandblasted metal, which would indicate it can be applied to a sandblasted surface but probably doesn't adhere as well as on a rusted surface. I never thought I'd live to see the day where a paint works better on a rusty surface. :)
and is also "good" on seasoned or sandblasted metal, which would indicate it can be applied to a sandblasted surface but probably doesn't adhere as well as on a rusted surface.
I think in conjunction with a "primer" coat.
__________________
Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
1956 Pontiac Pathfinder 2dr sedan, 496 - dyno'd 545 hp, stick shift, 4.11 posi - Hot Rod
I love that car and the build is neat to watch,many hard hours inviloved. I must chime in about Por-15 and its qualitys. I painted my subframe and the entire underside of my car.
