Hot Rods No paint and run this summer or wait?

<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com<img src=" images="" smilies="" redface.gif="" border="0" alt="" title="Embarrassment" smilieid="2" class="inlineimg"></o:smarttagtype> I am still in sheet metal repair land with my build and it seems to be taking ages.
I still have a door to repair and the rear quarter panels to finish then weld it all up.
The plan was to then ship the body off to my buddy for finish weld block and paint
And I would finish the rolling chassis (brakes, steering and wiring left to do)
I know it will take about 6 months at my buddies (or more)and I would lose the summer.
Do I leave the body bare metal and get it running for the summer and give the body to my buddy in the winter for prep and paint or wait until I can have a finished paint job?
Remember this is rainy <st1:city w:st="on"><st1>Seattle</st1> </st1:city>but I don’t intend to run in the rain only a handful of the cool shows (Billetproof, hotrodarama)

I am thinking run it and forget fixing the rot in the door a replacement might show up between then and now I just don’t know if I can handle the “nice rat rod” or the “be cool if it was finished” quips I am going to get from idiots

 

Drive it.
Its perfect to try your chassie one summer and if you wanna do some changes you can do them when the body is at your friend.
Theres no better insperation than a drive with your car.

Great lookin Hot Rod by the way,looks "real".

 

Till it's neater, call it a beater. Seems to be a lost term for cars that were being driven while being finished. Doesn't mean it's going to be a permanent rat..............

 

Wait , it will take forever to sand the rust off later.

 

Just throw a coat of black gloss on it to get the bugs worked out. Then paint it for real this winter.

 

I'm no fan of the bare metal thing except to take it out to the Unfinished Nationals or another event for a "here it is" first time showing before taking it back to the garage for the finish work.
That said, there is a lot to be said for putting some miles on it and getting things sorted out before doing the final finish work and paint. It's a little bit easier to feel like diving into it an fixing or changing something before it has the finish coat of paint an the upholstery done.

 

Prime it or roll it like it is... My 41 Plymouth is getting her chop done before Paso Maria and then fender moloding and etc after...so all the shows this summer, it will be in varying states of dissaray... I just tell 'em its a Cadi motor and a beater body, if they dont like it, fuck off...

 

I plan on putting a quick coat on mine for the summer so i can do the body work slowly but still drive to work the bugs out then when the body is done blow it completely apart and finish everything.
later
mike
btw that thing looks like lots of fun
oh yeah if people dont like my car they can buy it give me the money to finish it or shut the hell up

 

I agree, quick coat of something to protect the metal and run it. Get the bugs out, see what needs to be changed, perfect chance for all that is now.

 

Rattle can it quick and run it like that, or get a cheapy hvlp and roll it outside one day and bomb it with rustolium.

I ran my car for a summer with rattle can before i painted it.

Hell, i ran it like this to its first show!

 

keep it bare and roll out ,,,,its ready to go ...

 

x2!

 

protect it and run it for the summer.

 

A quick once over with the color du jour just to keep the rust and "comments" to a minimum. Details may change after you drive it awhile, if you slammed it out they may never get changed.

 

So I am going to order 8 cans of spraymax 2k epoxy in a can
not cheap ($17 a can) but better than store rattle can primer
U break a valve in the base then shake too mix the 2 parts and wear
breathing gear.
http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd_2_part.cfm
I used there 2k clear coat for the paint job on the Schwinn I got for my daughters xmas present and it turned out great

 

When I get mine running/driving, you can bet your sweet ass I'll be dring it unfinished for at least a little while. I do applaud your decision to protect it until it's final finish.

 

That's what Gibbs oil is for! Rub it down and party on! After a whole summer driving it you'll be bound to find something you want to change any way... As far as the quips... I find the term "blow me" works pretty well, or "Thanks, where's yours?".

 

I would seal it with a catalized sealer and get the bugs worked out of it before you paint it!

 

Primer shoots fast and is cheap plus it will protect the metal from RUST !

Now go out , drive it and have some FUN !

Retro Jim

 

no way the rust dog will bite you in the ass where you dont expect it.

 

hit it with metal prep(sorry im a ppg guy)and roll it. itll be protected and then you can still finish it w/o having to deal with rust or unwanted paint/primer later....as for the nice ratrod or whens it gonna be done comments....thats what your middle fingers for

 

Drive it. Why spend $300 on a paint job when it can be used for beer.

 

I would say run it the way it is for the summer, but protect the metal with the waterproof primer or it will just rust over again. You can work out any bugs or make any changes and then detail it out for next year.
I'm using the time honored, broke guys method with a spray bomb primer coat.I just want a consistent color while i shake down my Riv, hopefully for Santa Maria.

 

As wet as it is there I would not run it bare. I'd also be paranoid of oiling it if you plan on putting a decent paint job on it down the road. I'd put a temp coating on it and drive it while you work on. You can blow it apart and do it right next winter.

I liked using the old alkyd (synthetic) enamel primer-sealer for a temporary coating. It was cheap. It comes off easy for doing your metalwork as you work your way around the vehicle. The primer-sealer was a hair more rust resistant than the primer-only version and you could get one season out of it. It was also a semi-gloss finish and looked better. I did a quick web search and it looks like it still available.

 

Your car looks great. I would put the PPG wash primer on it. It has a cool green color and when your ready for prime you just scuff and shoot Dp.

 

Since you live in WA , I'd use the warm summer months to do all the paint work since it'll take a while to do a nice job . Then use those cold wet months to take your time doing the re-assembly and be ready to do the big debut next year .

 

PRIME IT and DRIVE IT.....

 

Rattle can drive it have fun

 

Yup and that snowboard hanging on the wall tells me you have other things to do next winter. A T is not that big, I was at this point about 5 years ago and took an extra couple months and got everything in paint..

 

I had the roof of my 64 in bare metal for last years Billetproof. I was going to get around to throwin some paint on it, but one show ran into another, and guess what....
It still isn't painted.

Throw something on there to protect it and drive the shit out of it!!