Next it was time to cover up the chassis and switch gears to the biggest polishing
job. An evening was spent finishing up the welding then putting a shine on our
exhaust system. First all the pieces were sanded using 120 then 220 grit sand
paper to remove all the heavy scratches and imperfections, then it was on to the
buffer. The use of special compounds will make your life much easier when you're
polishing stainless steel, trying to use the old standard soft compounds will just
prolong your agony. We loaded up our machine with a sisal wheel with some
aggressive black compound for some fast cutting action on one side and a spiral
sewn cotton wheel with some green finish compound on the other. We then donned
our junk cloths for an afternoon of dirty work. Some internet research uncovered
Caswell Plating as a resource for all of our buffing needs and information. It has
everything you need to do your own anodizing, plating, powder coating or polishing.
I've enclosed a link on this page if you want to check them out.
job. An evening was spent finishing up the welding then putting a shine on our
exhaust system. First all the pieces were sanded using 120 then 220 grit sand
paper to remove all the heavy scratches and imperfections, then it was on to the
buffer. The use of special compounds will make your life much easier when you're
polishing stainless steel, trying to use the old standard soft compounds will just
prolong your agony. We loaded up our machine with a sisal wheel with some
aggressive black compound for some fast cutting action on one side and a spiral
sewn cotton wheel with some green finish compound on the other. We then donned
our junk cloths for an afternoon of dirty work. Some internet research uncovered
Caswell Plating as a resource for all of our buffing needs and information. It has
everything you need to do your own anodizing, plating, powder coating or polishing.
I've enclosed a link on this page if you want to check them out.
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With parts now starting to come back from the painter it was time to clean up the
shop and get ready for some long awaited final assembly. The task of being careful
now became paramount and with black as our final color it was like moving
grandma's fine china around except much heavier. Just the thought of getting back
some much needed space that had been dedicated to storing every piece of a car
(and there are lots) was a big excitement. We planted the Chassis back on jack
stands and surrounded the area in parts needed to get started. Day 1 would be
dedicated to getting the front end back on the chassis. Taking the extra time to rub
down each piece with a polish cloth made sure nothing would go back on the car
over looked. If we found scratches they were polished out before we moved on.
This slowed things down a bit but the final result was worth the extra time. As each
piece went back on it was like the start of a good book, you just had to keep going.
The anticipation kept us rolling right to the rear end.
shop and get ready for some long awaited final assembly. The task of being careful
now became paramount and with black as our final color it was like moving
grandma's fine china around except much heavier. Just the thought of getting back
some much needed space that had been dedicated to storing every piece of a car
(and there are lots) was a big excitement. We planted the Chassis back on jack
stands and surrounded the area in parts needed to get started. Day 1 would be
dedicated to getting the front end back on the chassis. Taking the extra time to rub
down each piece with a polish cloth made sure nothing would go back on the car
over looked. If we found scratches they were polished out before we moved on.
This slowed things down a bit but the final result was worth the extra time. As each
piece went back on it was like the start of a good book, you just had to keep going.
The anticipation kept us rolling right to the rear end.
| Back In Black |
After the exhaust was polished and hung we moved on to some smaller detail work
still left on the chassis. Fuel lines, the brake system, transmission cooler and E
brake cables where all projects still in need of completion. The Aeromotive
platinum pump and filters were mounted on the chassis. Then a 37º flaring tool was
used to flare our 1/2" stainless tubing to fit the special AN o-ring adapters. Time
was spent fitting rubber shock pads behind each clamping point to eliminate any
metal to metal contact and unwanted vibration. Once each tube was flared & fitted
it was polished and clamped in place. The freshly polished Peterson Fluid
Systems shut off valves were then fitted and capped off until we finished the
braided hose work. The brake lines were re-assembled, each run was polished and
then new fittings replaced the fittings used during mock up. Each clamp was
polished then the runs were mounted back on the chassis. A last minute decision to
add a Wilwood proportioning valve had us changing things around. We started by
making two small spacers to hold the valve off the chassis to assure the knob
would not hit when being adjusted. Then the chassis was drilled & tapped so the
valve could be bolted in place. Some minor refitting to our lines completed the
change. Each caliper was fitted with a new -3 fitting and a small amount of Teflon
tape to assure a good seal. Then each flexible line was polished and re-assembled
back on their caliper. The master cylinder and pedal assembly was bolted up and
the backup light switch & residual valves were re-fitted making the brake system
complete. Bleeding the system would be done a bit later. The transmission cooler
was fitted with two -6 AN fittings and then bolted in place on the passenger side
cross member awaiting the transmission. Last to find home was the emergency
brake cables. These just needed some polishing before they were fitted to the
caliper and clamped to the chassis along side the drive shaft loop. Our chassis is
coming to life but it looks naked without a power plant so our focus is heading to
our engine build; stay tuned!
still left on the chassis. Fuel lines, the brake system, transmission cooler and E
brake cables where all projects still in need of completion. The Aeromotive
platinum pump and filters were mounted on the chassis. Then a 37º flaring tool was
used to flare our 1/2" stainless tubing to fit the special AN o-ring adapters. Time
was spent fitting rubber shock pads behind each clamping point to eliminate any
metal to metal contact and unwanted vibration. Once each tube was flared & fitted
it was polished and clamped in place. The freshly polished Peterson Fluid
Systems shut off valves were then fitted and capped off until we finished the
braided hose work. The brake lines were re-assembled, each run was polished and
then new fittings replaced the fittings used during mock up. Each clamp was
polished then the runs were mounted back on the chassis. A last minute decision to
add a Wilwood proportioning valve had us changing things around. We started by
making two small spacers to hold the valve off the chassis to assure the knob
would not hit when being adjusted. Then the chassis was drilled & tapped so the
valve could be bolted in place. Some minor refitting to our lines completed the
change. Each caliper was fitted with a new -3 fitting and a small amount of Teflon
tape to assure a good seal. Then each flexible line was polished and re-assembled
back on their caliper. The master cylinder and pedal assembly was bolted up and
the backup light switch & residual valves were re-fitted making the brake system
complete. Bleeding the system would be done a bit later. The transmission cooler
was fitted with two -6 AN fittings and then bolted in place on the passenger side
cross member awaiting the transmission. Last to find home was the emergency
brake cables. These just needed some polishing before they were fitted to the
caliper and clamped to the chassis along side the drive shaft loop. Our chassis is
coming to life but it looks naked without a power plant so our focus is heading to
our engine build; stay tuned!
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