Lovely Rita
  • Home
  • Gallery
    • Hemmings Classic Car
    • The Start
    • On the Road
    • Back in the Day
    • Before and After
  • Restoration Part 1
    • Tear Down Day 1
    • Tear Down Day 2
    • Taking Stock
    • Interior
    • Engine and Transmission
    • Tailgate and AM/FM Radio - Nov 2009
    • Floor
    • Engine Compartment - Dec 2009
    • Engine Compartment - February 2010
  • Restoration Part 2
    • Update - August 2010
    • Sept. 2010 -THE ENGINE IS IN!!!!
    • Steering Column and Wheel - March 2010
    • Stripping and Console - December 2010
    • Stripping and Paint - Jan 2011
    • Feb 2011 - Paint and Upholstery
    • Badging - March 2011
    • Interior - April 2011
    • June 2011- DONE
    • New Roof 2012
  • Car Shows
    • Cactus Cruiser Show 2010
    • July 2011 - AMO International Convention
    • Nov 2011 - Las Vegas AMC Reunion
    • AMCRC National - June 2012
    • Flagstaff Route 66 Days Show
  • Other Cars
    • 1973 Ambassador
    • 1972 Wagoneer
    • 1966 Marlin "Arlin"
    • The New 1966 Marlin
  • Grand Canyon AMCRC Chapter
  • Thanks

New Year....New Car?

So much is getting done, yet I am getting impatient to have this car DONE.   It's as if every new little thing is a tease for what the finished project will be.  After waiting over 20 years to get this car going, I think it's funny that I am now so impatient.

 There have been a couple of leaks we've been chasing down this month - I think we have them stopped. Of course, working on them gives us reasons to fire up the engine and listen to it - which is always fun.  The painting process is up next. The "plan" is to leave the roof as is, and paint the body.  We were actually thinking of painting ourselves.  Obviously, this was insanity.  It's going to a paint shop that does quality work, and to save money (which allows us to go to a higher end shop), we're doing most of the prep work ourselves. Sanding and Stripping 101.

We aren't taking it completely apart as some window gaskets are not available, plus we are doing it in pieces. The front fenders, hood and tailgate went first.  They have the preliminary color coat on.  We put them on to check the fit, then off they came again - except for the tailgate.  The only thing harder than taking a tailgate off is putting it back on. The rest of the car goes in next, and it will get the same - then it's reassembled a final time and everything gets another color coat so everything matches.  This will be followed by clear to protect it all.  We opted to use modern paint - it holds up better than the original stuff, and I am not doing a 100% like original resto anyway - why not have it pretty, shiny and durable?

It will be the original color - Barcelona Taupe Poly (which meant metallic in the day).  It's a beautiful color, and the white roof sets it off well.

I've been working on the bumpers - the rear bumper had some stickers that needed to be removed.  I put them on - it's fair I got to peel, scrape and soak them off.  FYI - they are easier to put on than take off.

Lots still to do - the interior should be ready in a month or two, and I have cargo sides to repair and hubcaps to paint.

OK...pictures.....the last one shows the Rambler down to bare metal.  I call it the Ramblorean.





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