1970 L-78 Nova Restoration; Saga of The Green Bastard

[L78_Nova]

Being that the paint was fairly fresh (only three months since sprayed), I worked the sanding around the entire body for each grit allowing further time for the paint to gas off (evaporating out the solvents). As you get to the finer grits some shine begins to come back.





As I began to coarse polish, the Green Bastard reared it's ugly head again. For starters this paint was a Bear to bring up (get the shine back) and work out the stray scratches (I believe that was mostly resultant from the additive but this is a production type paint so not specifically formulated for polishing) I was working my way around the body and I noticed when I looked back at the first area completed it seemed to be not as nice as when first finished.
Note the "bumpy" look of the light reflection. (the reflection doesn't lie!)

So I went back and resanded an area that was first completed.
Back to the drawing board... The best we can figure (along with the paintshop guys) is the paint was not yet fully cured. Due to the heavy application we think the drying process (cross linking) was actually still moving the surface around. This panel had been fully sanded out flat and polished out about 3 weeks earlier.




So... change in plan back to MY "normal" routine. Firstly start with 800 grit ! So I picked one area and re-worked it until I was satisfied.
The reflection doesn't lie !!

[L78_Nova]

Around this same time I was helping out a friend with his 70 SS 454 Chevelle.
The car had previous damage on one door that was poorly repaired.... and it bugged him bad. I stripped and bodyworked a (very solid) door for him which he sent out for paint and returned to me for polishing

Sanding and Polishing time start to finish for this door was about 8-10 hours.

By comparison, a Green Bastard door probably took me 30+ hours !!







Only mistake... Forgot to screw in a mirror base for final blocking... when we attached the mirror it made a slight wiggle in the area directly below the base

[67since67]

Originally Posted by L78_Nova

Around this same time I was helping out a friend with his 70 SS 454 Chevelle.
The car had previous damage on one door that was poorly repaired.... and it bugged him bad. I stripped and bodyworked a (very solid) door for him which he sent out for paint and returned to me for polishing

Sanding and Polishing time start to finish for this door was about 8-10 hours.

By comparison, a Green Bastard door probably took me 30+ hours !![
Only mistake... Forgot to screw in a mirror base for final blocking... when we attached the mirror it made a slight wiggle in the area directly below the base

Good grief, you could use that mirror for shaving!

[Darth]

I think you need to go for counseling Gary. No individual in his right mind would be so fussy. You won't want to drive it. Another trailer queen.

[L78_Nova]

Originally Posted by Darth

I think you need to go for counseling Gary. No individual in his right mind would be so fussy. You won't want to drive it. Another trailer queen.

C'mon.. You know I'll drive it... the convertible gets driven !!
But I probably do need counseling.

[L78_Nova]

Miscellaneous parts cleanup and detail painting

Re-sprayed firewall (was not happy with the sheen)




Dash Top




Rear Parcel ledge




Rear Parcel Corners


Windshield pillars

[L78_Nova]

Finished up polishing the body (fenders-hood-1/4 WNDO moldings-cowl; will be later)... clearly I need a break !

[chevyman0429]

Outstanding work. Cars gonna be amazing

[Too Many Projects]

Incredible !!

As for counseling, I think many of the people on this forum who strive for perfection and date coded/NOS parts need counseling..
I know a guy who has driven around this country, chasing NOS body panels for a 1967 Camaro..
MCACN 2023...you definitely have my vote.

[L78_Nova]

Finding... Sorting... and Cleaning parts