We are still asking: What did you get done on your Bolt today ????
The question, initially posted May 23, 2005, was:
"Whatcha do on your Bolt this weekend?"
After 51,906,997 views, 7378 replies over 185 pages, this thread in General Truck Talk is a happening! And it's not just weekends anymore.
Back in 2006, I picked up some steelies for this thing. They came primer, so I had some left over Ferd red that was a match for the Schwinn Phantom's from the 1950's. I had just finish restoring said Phantom. So, I used up the quart for these wheels. This was kinda in the middle of that rat rod craze where everyone was doing red wheels with a primered vehicle. I didn't intentionally mean to copy that fad, but money was tight and I didn't want to waste paint. I kinda don't care about the colors of these wheels. I don't give it much thought. However, for the past few years, I have noticed that on one or two of the rims, there are some unburst rust bubbles. Hard to see unless you are down there drying the water off the wheels after a wash. The tires also have enough age on them and the left front did a lot of rubbing on the fender before I narrowed the front end. The right front is starting to show some sidewall cracking and I never did like the Wrangler tread pattern. I got them for a steal, though, so I lived with them. So, time for new tires. Might as well blast the rims and give them a new color. I think the color will go well with the exterior color I plan to use and matches some of the interior trim which will tie the inside with the outside. Now all I need is a bit of warmer weather. The rainy days stuff around here will never do!!
Tamco DTA epoxy followed by Tamco 5311, which is a bit of a high fill primer just to make it super smooth, then color. Same stuff I used on the C3500 and the Model A. I love this stuff, price is right and it ships to me, across country, pretty fast!
The black stuff on the Burb is SPI, which I don't use anymore. Too tough to get and a lot of waste because of my spraying procedures. Which is, spray now, wait a few months, spray something else. By then the activator is ruined by the atmosphere, even when I store it in the fridge. Tamco has an extremely long shelf life! Even stored at room temp. I'm still using the DTA (Direct To Anything epoxy) that I bought at the beginning of summer! With no ill effects.
It's been a while. Primer in the sun is not good for it. Makes it all chalky. I need to stop messing around and get to painting this thing. Until then, the grill looked sad and I had some "underhood" paint left over from other projects. So the running boards got a coat of "underhood" or semi-gloss paint. I decided I'm going to rechrome the grill bars. Until I do, I got the finest Taiwanese after market grill they make. It was everything I expected it to be. Crappy chrome, grill bars shaped nothing like the originals, and as poor fitting as anything out there. Chroming the grill will cost a pretty penny, but it'll be worth it! Where is the front apron, you ask? Thought I'd try the color I'm going to paint this thing, on it. 1951 Seacrest Green. I think I like it! I'll post the pics later on. I have an event I need to attend in two weeks. So that will be all for now. Time to do some maintenance and clean this thing up!
The show was fun. What made it even more fun is my wife went with me. BOTH DAYS! That's not normal for her and she did great! I was supposed to be the push truck for a nice couple from Texas. For those that follow along, the car I was dedicated to, the one I restored, was given back to its owners and my partner went racing while I went back to building hot rods. So, I volunteered to help this nice couple from Texas. Unfortunately, they had engine issues. So I ended up helping these fine folks from Northern California. A lot of work, a lot of fun, and my wife was a trooper!
So, now I wait for warm weather so I can paint this thing. Plus, I have to find a spot for my friend's '40 Ford Coupe that is taking up space in the paint booth. Maybe while I wait, I'll design and build a cold air intake that'll come in from behind the grill?
Yeah, I'm that thing BEHIND the shiny eye candy thing.
A couple more pics from the event. Pete Jenson standing next to the car, Al Segrini in the seat. Al is a 5 time National Championship funny car driver. He drove the Super Brut car.
So, here's what I'm thinking. Make a tube that snakes from the MAF, over the AC, under the brace, to the indent. From there I have plenty of room in the fender well for a sealed intake box, with drain, then run an intake tube towards the front and through the apron, behind the grill. I can't go drivers side. Even though there is a bit more room, the radiator hose kinda messes all that up. Thoughts?
