Repainting a 1973 GMC Photo Log

K

ken wolkens

New member
Apr 12, 2010
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Update....

I've been wetsanding again. I should be ready to spray the final paint colors in the next week or so.

I'm going to build a "paint booth" in my driveway and get this beast sprayed now that the weather is starting to cool off. The only thing I'm waiting on is for the average daytime temps to get down below 80. :d


--
1973 GMC 23'
All Birch and Maple Interior Cabinetry. TZE033V100221
"The Honeycomb Hideout"
 
Forgot to mention that I've crossed the 100 hour mark on this project. I figure another 20 and I'll be done.

This is rolling up to be about 3x the work of the typical car I've done in the past.
--
1973 GMC 23'
All Birch and Maple Interior Cabinetry. TZE033V100221
"The Honeycomb Hideout"
 
Please keep posting pictures, it does help those of us that are hoping to do similar things in the future. With the mix of aluminum and SMC on various body parts, do you have to use different primers? I assume that if you are not sanding down to the bare surface, the same primer should suffice as you're really just covering a coat of Imron.

Thanks for any advice and enjoy your project in good health. Sorry about the windshield, but they can be replaced without that much trouble (only $$$)!
--
George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach
 
I'm using a 2K urethane primer on everything. I'll post more pics soon.
--
1973 GMC 23'
All Birch and Maple Interior Cabinetry. TZE033V100221
"The Honeycomb Hideout"
 
Ken,
It would help a lot if you would put your state that you live in to
better help you. I do have a passenger side glass that came out of
our 77.

J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
78 Buskirk 30' Stretch
1975 Avion (Under Reconstruction)
Michigan

>
>
> I'm using a 2K urethane primer on everything. I'll post more pics
> soon.
> --
> 1973 GMC 23'
> All Birch and Maple Interior Cabinetry. TZE033V100221
> "The Honeycomb Hideout"
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
 
Dr Detroit

I know what you are going through. What a job it is for someone with just knowledge and paint skill are so os..

I have a project going that had the belt line also. This particular project belt line was just looks, no opening under it. My original beltline was maked or chrome look vinyl and it was deteriorated. I found some aluminum strip at the MENARDS that are about 2.5" wide and about 1/8" deep that will be the replacement. I can glue these back on easily.

I know the weather problem as well. I might suggest doing sections if it came to that. Tape the far side of the seams of what ever section you are painting. It is a much smaller area and you have time to do a good job and don't have to worry so much about weather or wind. Strangely, I never saw a big problem with bugs hitting the paint.

Every section you do will paint over the seam of the previous. The tape seam will be hidden by the seam edge. It really gives you a chance to take a breath if you have to. If you had a warehouse you could go after the entire project at once.

Wait till you do the roof! It is huge!!!!

My po painted the sides of the roof from the rain gutter to the crest of the roof and stopped. He only painted what was visible, but up top you could see the old color.

Do a good job fixing the holes too. PO used duct tape...EEEOOOoooowoowwwwwww.

Looking good, good luck, hope you can finish this year and enjoy it.


My thoughts
--
Gatsbys' CRUISER :d
74 GLACIER X, 260
455/APC/4 bagg'r(ver3)
Remflex Manifold gaskets
_______________________________________________
Purchased 08-18-04

_


 
> Ken,
> It would help a lot if you would put your state that you live in to
> better help you. I do have a passenger side glass that came out of
> our 77.
>
> J.R. Wright
> GMC GreatLaker
> 78 Buskirk 30' Stretch
> 1975 Avion (Under Reconstruction)
> Michigan


JR, I'm in Novi, MI.

I sent you a PM with my telephone number. Give me a call when you have a chance.

Regards, Ken
--
1973 GMC 23'
All Birch and Maple Interior Cabinetry. TZE033V100221
"The Honeycomb Hideout"
 
Finally all of the block sanding is done! Things went a little quicker with a helper. My six year old daughter got in on the fun yesterday. Here's a pic.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=40042&title=dad-27s-little-helper&cat=5618

I think she got more water on me than the area I was sanding but we had fun. Nothing like working in swim trunks on an 80 degree day and having a constant spray of water to keep you cool.
--
1973 GMC 23'
All Birch and Maple Interior Cabinetry. TZE033V100221
"The Honeycomb Hideout"
 
That looks like you gus had fun my daughters used to help me like that, We painted 2 corvettes and a mustang and the blocking was the best part, Like you i always ended up weter than the vehicle, Wouldnt trade those times for gold
--
75 Avion-----

75 cosworth Vega Toad
 
Here's a few tips for others that I've learned over the years:

1. When wetsanding hook up the hose to warm water. That way when you get sprayed or it runs down your arm, you don't get the chills. Even on hot summer days getting hit with cold tap water can be a bit much.

2. When sanding with folded paper use rubber gloves on your hands so the abrasive does not wear through your finger tips.

3. After the final block sanding reprime the areas where different colors are showing through. Having a solid and consistent base color will allow you use less topcoat paint and get a consistent final color.

4. Nothing with silicone anywhere near the project. Tire protectant and lubricants are the biggest offenders. Avoid them like the plague during the paint prep process. Another place that silicone can be hidden is in fabric softeners and the dryer sheet softeners. Make sure to wash any towels you plan to use without these offenders.

5. Prior to any sanding at all on the old paint give the surfaces a bath with ammonia and then rinse well with water. After the surface is dry use a prep-sol wax and grease remover. If you skip this and go right to sanding you will push the waxes and silicone down into the sand grooves.
--
1973 GMC 23'
All Birch and Maple Interior Cabinetry. TZE033V100221
"The Honeycomb Hideout"
 
> Wouldnt trade those times for gold


Me neither. The cool thing is she likes being involved in the projects. Over the winter we did a frame off restoration of our toad. Here's a pic of her after we decked the body back to the frame. She got all of the hardware together for the body mounts and was in charge of alignment. And yes, she did do the work in the pink tu-tu. :lol:

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=40043&title=dad-27s-little-helper&cat=5627



--
1973 GMC 23'
All Birch and Maple Interior Cabinetry. TZE033V100221
"The Honeycomb Hideout"
 
Our daughter was the best wrench I had.
She now teaches folks how to drive anything that has wheels for Clark County
Schools "Las Vegas" one of the largest fleet of school bus's in the nation.
Pickups to 18 wheelers.
Primarily school bus drivers.
On any given school day Clark County has about 1,200 buses on the road.
Howard
Alpine Ca

>
>

>> Wouldnt trade those times for gold
>
>
> Me neither. The cool thing is she likes being involved in the projects.
> Over the winter we did a frame off restoration of our toad. Here's a pic
> of her after we decked the body back to the frame. She got all of the
> hardware together for the body mounts and was in charge of alignment. And
> yes, she did do the work in the pink tu-tu. :lol:
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=40043&title=dad-27s-little-helper&cat=5627
>
>
>
> --
> 1973 GMC 23'
> All Birch and Maple Interior Cabinetry. TZE033V100221
> "The Honeycomb Hideout"
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
 
Please can you answer this question - will this work on the aluminum parts of the body? 
 
Regards,

From: Ken Wolkens
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Repainting a 1973 GMC Photo Log
To: gmclist
Date: Saturday, August 6, 2011, 1:10 AM

Here's the exact primer I'm using.  I've used it on numerous substrates (boat outdrives, corvettes, carbon fiber, fiberglass, kevlar) with out an adhesion failure.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Cubitron-II/Home/Products/Catalog/~/Mar-Hyde-4-4-Ultimate-2K-Primer-Gallon-5553-1-Gallon-4-per-case?N=4294934008+5002385&Nr=AND(hrcy_id%3ACWGNZQJ6JKgs_D9FMM41FZT_N2RL3FHWVK_GPD0K8BC31gv)&rt=d
--
1973 GMC 23'
All Birch and Maple Interior Cabinetry.  TZE033V100221
"The Honeycomb Hideout"
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GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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If you remove the paint down to the bare aluminum it is wise to coat first with an epoxy sealer as a foundation. Then you can topcoat however you like. If you clean and then scuff or scratch the existing paint well you can prime directly over it but a good epoxy sealer will give you a good bonding layer as well as lock down the old paint to keep it from swelling with the application of topcoats. Primer surfacers are porous and solvents from the top coat system can migrate through the primer layer and swell the paint underneath which can cheat you out of all your hard prep work

Sully
77 royale
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

-----Original Message-----
From: D Harbison
Sender: gmclist-bounces
Date: Sun, 7 Aug 2011 20:25:42
To:
Reply-To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Repainting a 1973 GMC Photo Log

Please can you answer this question - will this work on the aluminum parts of the body? 
 
Regards,

From: Ken Wolkens
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Repainting a 1973 GMC Photo Log
To: gmclist
Date: Saturday, August 6, 2011, 1:10 AM

Here's the exact primer I'm using.  I've used it on numerous substrates (boat outdrives, corvettes, carbon fiber, fiberglass, kevlar) with out an adhesion failure.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Cubitron-II/Home/Products/Catalog/~/Mar-Hyde-4-4-Ultimate-2K-Primer-Gallon-5553-1-Gallon-4-per-case?N=4294934008+5002385&Nr=AND(hrcy_id%3ACWGNZQJ6JKgs_D9FMM41FZT_N2RL3FHWVK_GPD0K8BC31gv)&rt=d
--
1973 GMC 23'
All Birch and Maple Interior Cabinetry.  TZE033V100221
"The Honeycomb Hideout"
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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G'day,

Aircraft that are going be painted are primed with Zinc Chromate.

Regards,
Rob M.
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion-The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion-Double Trouble TZE365V100426


-----Original Message-----
From: D Harbison

Please can you answer this question - will this work on the aluminum parts
of the body? 

Regards,
 
For small areas of bare aluminum I've always prepped with a metal prep acid wash then shot the urethane primer. I've done numerous lower units on boat racing (100 mph+) engines this way and have never had an adhesion related failure. I've also painted entire aluminum body panels this way ( Jaguars). Years later the paint is still sticking.

I've found the key to successful aluminum adhesion is a finish of 400 grit and the removal of the layer of oxidation on it's surface. Without the etch, no primer in the world will stick.

Since 99% of the aluminum on my coach is still covered by the original primer and paint I'm not worried.

As far as urethane primer allowing a lift, it's highly unlikely. That problem is usually only an issue with laquer and enamel primers like the ones in a spray can. The way to test for this potential issue is to take a cloth and soak it with laquer thinner and wipe your primer. If you can wipe off the primer then you have a problem. Since the urethane primer is a catalyzed polymer, the solvents won't touch it. As far as permeation goes, if the solvents are on the primer long enough to get through, then you will have plenty of runs and sags to worry about anyhow. FWIW, I've sprayed numerous full vehicles with every type of old paint below this primer without one lift issue.

With regard to adhesion properties (at the polymer level) the list from lowest to highest are:

Polyester
Epoxy
Urethane

Urethane always wins.

I have used many gallons this primer for over 10 years without failure on every type of substrate that I can imagine like:

2x2 twill Carbon Fiber
Kevlar
Steel
Cast Iron
Machined aluminum
Cast aluminum
Fiber glass panel
Various flexible plastics (with an adhesion promoter)

So with all of this said, that's why I chose to use a 2k Urethane Primer.

--
1973 GMC 23'
All Birch and Maple Interior Cabinetry. TZE033V100221
"The Honeycomb Hideout"
 
When I worked for the gent who rebuilt planes in the late 60s, we sprayed them in Alumigrip, the US Paint and Lacquer predecessor to Imron.  Alumigrip supplies a wash primer which is heavy in chromate.  Note that neither Alumigrip or Imron will stick to bare aluminum worth a damn... but the wash primer does, and the Alumigrip sticks to it quite nicely.
Note, I was only allowed to shoot horizontal surfaces - I lweft too many 'trademarks' in the vertical ones.
 
--johnny

From: Rob Mueller
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Repainting a 1973 GMC Photo Log
To: gmclist
Date: Monday, August 8, 2011, 7:52 AM

G'day,

Aircraft that are going be painted are primed with Zinc Chromate.

Regards,
Rob M.
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion-The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion-Double Trouble TZE365V100426

-----Original Message-----
From: D Harbison

Please can you answer this question - will this work on the aluminum parts
of the body? 

Regards,

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
 
We need a name for us GMCers who are restoring these coaches with young
families. Our kids just love the GMC and the trips we take.

Speaking of little helpers... http://teamteets.com/gmc/DSC03996.JPG That
was 8 years ago and she was out helping me last night with the upholstery
install. She mostly helps by entertaining me... She has labeled the various
adhesives with names like "squirrel pee" and "baby puke". She likes pushing
her mom's buttons by playing the part working in the shop.

>
>
> Finally all of the block sanding is done! Things went a little quicker
> with a helper. My six year old daughter got in on the fun yesterday.
> Here's a pic.
>
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=40042&title=dad-27s-little-helper&cat=5618
>
> I think she got more water on me than the area I was sanding but we had
> fun. Nothing like working in swim trunks on an 80 degree day and having a
> constant spray of water to keep you cool.
> --
> 1973 GMC 23'
> All Birch and Maple Interior Cabinetry. TZE033V100221
> "The Honeycomb Hideout"
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
 
Nice pic Mike. I wish I had thought of getting one like that when Jessica was a baby.
--
1973 GMC 23'
All Birch and Maple Interior Cabinetry. TZE033V100221
"The Honeycomb Hideout"
 
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