72 GSX Stage1 4 Speed

Discussion in 'Projects' started by Smartin, May 30, 2018.

  1. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    The photos really don't do this one justice..

    I finished the buffing today. Didn't take me 80 hours like I thought it would...just about 40 with the color sanding included. Now it's on to the hood and trunk lid. Once those are done and installed, it will be time for stripes. Not gonna lie, I've got a little anxiety about that. I had a batch of orange paint mixed the other day for the pinstripe, and I checked the color yesterday compared to the old one. NOT even close. So I cut out a piece of the old quarter with the stripe on it and we matched it like that. Hopefully the repainted stripe was close to the original...because I don't think there are any Fire Red 72 X's left to compare to.

    I rolled the car outside in the sun today after the buffing was done to see if I could get a better shot of the paint. Failed...so back in it goes. Shoved it to the back as far as I could go with room to walk around it...plenty of room for the hood and trunk. Tomorrow I'll get those cut and hopefully buffed. Maybe stripes this weekend if all goes smoothly. Still have to cut and buff the quarter extensions and spoiler.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Sep 20, 2018
    stump puller455 and BYoung like this.
  2. Doo Wop

    Doo Wop Where were you in '62?

    Very cool and an outstanding example of GSX History.
     
  3. 71GSX455-4SPD

    71GSX455-4SPD Nick Serwo Magic Car

    Between this Rare Red X and the Motion Resto, there's some really cool stuff going on right now!
     
    docgsx, BYoung, Taulbee2277 and 2 others like this.
  4. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    Lots of progress today, even though I started at 1pm. I had to go pick up my truck from the dealer due to a broken wire at the fuel level sensor. Grrrr. They did give me a nice new 2018 Silverado as a loaner, though!

    Ok...hood, trunk lid, and quarter extensions are all buffed. Trunk and quarter extensions are installed. I installed the spoiler too, so I could keep it steady while I cut and buff it. It's not done yet, which is why it looks like a different color. Once I polish the clear, it will blend with the rest of the car.

    I installed the headlight doors too, but I think I goofed by doing so. Looks like the grille goes on first...no biggie, it's just 8 screws. I wanted to get them on the car so they're out of the way. Going to do the same thing with the hood lip molding...I need to get that on for the black paint. Depending on how much of a PITA laying out those graphics is, I may or may not get to striping the car this weekend. I'll see how my time goes.

    The hood looks like it is painted pink where the black goes in the photo, but that is where I left the clear scuffed for the black paint. Hey, new GSX paint scheme!!
     

    Attached Files:

    docgsx, BYoung and sriley531 like this.
  5. pbr400

    pbr400 68GS400

    That’s such nice work. It’s going to be stunning when it’s done.
    Patrick
     
  6. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    Thanks! I hope so...

    I had a company golf tournament that went most of the day (that I won, btw! :D ) so I didn't get started on the car until about 3:30pm.

    Since the striping project is imminently close, I decided to whip out the stencil kit. I'll be reaching out to some key players who I know have done this, asking what the process/order is to getting this done successfully...since I only have one shot at it. I did stick the GSX decals on, just to make it feel like I got something done.

    I also installed the outer window sweeps from ss396.com ...they fit pretty darn well. I had to massage the rear ones a little to get the corners to sit right. Same issue as I had on the Skylark 2 years ago when I was slapping that thing together.

    I went to the junkyards around town yesterday to see if there were any new bones to pick...didn't find much, but I did fine a 73 Centurion convertible that was in rough shape and was picked over pretty well. Most of what was left was cut up or garbage. I pulled the dash bezels and a couple other trinkets. I did find my coveted voltage regulator bolts that I've been looking for. Cleaned those up and installed it this evening. It's been sitting on top of the cowl since I realized I didn't have bolts a month ago.

    Next week I have to go back to work...so this project will slow back down. But I think I'm on the downhill slope. 7 weeks left! I took the week off prior to the event, so I will be married to the car at that point.
     

    Attached Files:

  7. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    Well this was fun...masking the GSX stripes.

    I used the Phoenix Graphix stencil kit (not knowing there are a handful of other "kits" around that might be better or worse...) and it had issues.

    I first tackled the spoiler. The rear facing stencils went on just fine. The tops are totally worthless. They don't have any curve to them, so it's nearly impossible to get them to lay right. I tossed them in the trash and free handed it.

    Next was the drivers side. I started at the quarter and worked my way forward. Once I got the quarter piece "hockey stick" lined up at the spoiler, I went toward the front, using some measurements I was given from the assembly manual. I also kept in mind where the stripe was going through the door handle as I lined up the front edge of the quarter stencil. So I moved on to the door and that was easy. The fender was an oddball. The stripe didn't have enough downward curve toward the front, and as a result, I ended up sticking the top half of the stencil 100%, but left the bottom half wrinkly in a bind. Once it was dry enough to pull the backing tape off, I cut the bottom half of the stripe off at the front, and re-stuck it by hand...allowing for the curve it needed to make.

    So as I started on the passenger side quarter, it started looking like the back edge of the hockey stick was too fat (the horizontal portion). I started blasting through photos on the internet trying to find good examples and came up with the conclusion that I was right about the thickness. I finally was able to get a hold of actual measurements in detail from Duane (thank you, you're a God-send) and started to get it right. I ended up cutting about a half inch out of the center of the rear stripe to shrink it a bit. So to do that, I cut the entire center section out of the backing tape and made the bottom line of the stencil completely independent of the top, so I could put it where I wanted it.

    On to the hood. I had cut up the stencil and made it so each of the edges were independent. I had it set in place and realized that there was no way for the backing tape to allow the decal to adhere to the curves in the hood. So I ripped them off and did the entire hood by hand. The paperwork that was given to me was extremely valuable in this task. I was able to nail the dimensions and git it right after about an hour.

    Just took me another hour to complete the masking process on the entire car....hopefully tomorrow is orange pinstripe...then I can mask it off and paint the black another day.

    Major props to Nick Serwo and Duane Heckman for the help today...this was not getting done without you!
     

    Attached Files:

  8. pbr400

    pbr400 68GS400

    I posted on the wrong ‘red GSX’ thread-my bad.
    Check this out-I found my binder of Martin Senour Paint codes and chips. They lump ‘72 and ‘73 together, and list stripe colors for ‘73. Check out code 29–
     
  9. pbr400

    pbr400 68GS400

  10. pbr400

    pbr400 68GS400

  11. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    Cool. That orange looks a lot like the one I had mixed up. I just matched what was on the car before. I really don't think it's a huge deal, as long as the hue isn't wait off in neverland.
     
  12. bignastyGS

    bignastyGS Maggot pilot

    Did you do the mismatch of the striping on the 1/4 panels like was common??
     
    71GSX455-4SPD likes this.
  13. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    No. Duane’s the only one crazy enough for that
     
    BYoung likes this.
  14. bignastyGS

    bignastyGS Maggot pilot

    yes he is...lol
     
  15. Brad Conley

    Brad Conley RIP Staff Member

    Duane and I were talking the other day about the stagger...told me he threatened to throw lacquer thinner on the paint if he got there and the stagger was missing...:)
     
    71GSX455-4SPD, 71GSX and BYoung like this.
  16. Duane

    Duane Member

    Adam,
    No problem with the help today, least I could do. It's just part of being in the Family.
    Crazy Duane
     
    71GSX likes this.
  17. 72STAGE1

    72STAGE1 STAGE 1 & 2

    No stagger, no Bueno.....lol. I wouldn't reproduce that flaw either, besides was it on all GSX's or just the 70??
     
  18. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    :cool::cool::cool:
     
  19. 71GSX455-4SPD

    71GSX455-4SPD Nick Serwo Magic Car

    I know of at least one other staggered resto out there... LOL
     
  20. Duane

    Duane Member

    Yours?
     

Share This Page