Back into the garage...
Yes it's true. The temps in Phoenix have dropped a bit recently and I have been able to spend some time back in the garage.
I chatted with Spike and got a few tips for addressing my remaining problem areas (Thanks Spike). These were various small areas of the rear clip behind the scoop and in front of the wheel arches. I needed a different touch to the sanding I was doing and I finally turned the corner on it. I have seen enough 40's though that I wanted to be sure, so I grabbed a rattle can with a shiny dark blue in it and sprayed a bit through this area to check the reflections (I am using as light a primer as possible due to the white color). I was more than pleased with the result!
Next up was the front clip. When I hinged it originally, I didn't have it squared properly and as Tom noted in one of the earlier posts, it was subtly higher on one side. It became even more distracting when I put a bar across the grille for a tow eye- it looked like it was slanting across the opening. I straightened this out and got things leveled.
But nothing is ever simple. Upon doing this, I noticed that the right front fender over hung the tire considerably more than the left one. Remarkably, it was by about the same amount which I cut the fender apart and widened it by last year. After spending the time to get the nose level and all the gaps even I wasn't in the mood to just leave one side hanging out that much more than the other. So you guessed it, I went back at it with the saw and took out the mod that I put in. All you guys with RCR's at home who ran to check out your clips with tape measures can rest easy. I've put it back to where I got it.
After all this went down, I also needed some positive reinforcement so I started working on some brake ducts for the rear. I know Bill Hough does them but I am interested in my own. I modeled the shape in foam, sealed it with a layer of glass and then pulled a part off it. I know it's not the original configuration but I will connect it to the caliper with a bit of hose later on. I just realized I only have pics of the pattern under construction. Use your imagination and you'll figure out what it will look like...
Lastly for now, I made the driver's side cover plate for the headlight compartment. I had some alu laying around, trimmed out the shape, bent it for the tab at the top and then put in a winged Dzus fastner to hold it in. I will put some of the self adhesive foam on it to keep out the water from the backside but want to powder coat it first. I thought it was a pretty good and simple design though. The passenger side will follow in time.
That's about all for now. I "only" have the sill panels left to sand down (already started on one) and prep, then with a little more finish prep I will be ready to spray primer again. As I sand, I am still smelling the solvents being released from under the sealer coat. As big of a pain as this is, I am glad that I didn't spray the white as well. I am glad this final coat will be starting from scratch.