1963 Futura Build-up

Scuffed out the etching prime, and masked off the dash. I got it in second prime (the gray high build stuff), and started the block sanding with a guide coat spray. I didn't think the car would be smooth and straight enough to be black, but I was wrong. I found three high spots in the quarter I replaced, and I will be able to get rid of them with primer. I have a little touch up work to do in the way of pin holes, and a couple little low spots. So far, it's gonna be SWEET!!!!. My Gun Metal Gray Metallic should be here tomorrow, or the next day, so I should have this thing ready by then. I am going to finish boarding it out, and will be doing another round of the gray primer so I have a complete uniform, and smooth primed surface for the paint to go on. I am priming the parts individually, but will be putting color on as a whole. I will start with all the jams, and edges around the fenders and such, and then mask the under panels, and loosely assemble it for exterior color. There's more pics in my photobucket, but here are a couple more.

Yeah, once things start coming together, I can't stop. Every noticablt step forward, gets me anxious to see the noticable point forward after that. I like the way progress looks. It slows down during the week, but the pace quickens on the weekends. This week may yield numerous other advances, but I guess we'll all have to wait and see.

Yes Dave, it has. She's been doing some stomping about, but I tell her "hey, I could be out doing something, or someone else" and she gets a bit better after that. Anyhow, Those pictures were last weekend, and here's this weekends updates. You can see my make shift paint booth in the back ground. A good tarp, and a staple gun, along with a box fan, and a couple furnace filters, and you can turn any garage into a paint booth.

This morning:



This evening:






Just the shell made it into paint this weekend. Since it has a 48 hour recoat window, I got a plan for this week. If I don't reshot it within 48 hours, I have to wait until next weekend, so I am going to get the hood, trunk lid, doors, and fenders all shot on Friday, and get the car remasked Saturday, and then have everything on for another shoot Sunday. I figure if I get everything at least attached loosely, and cover all the jambs and interior stuff, then a good round of spraying the whole thing, will make sure the entire car is an even uniform color, and blending from one end to the next. Plus, this will let me wet sand out any blemishes before a one last final spray, then wet sand it out again for polishing. Anyhow, a few more pictures in the photobucket.

The dust aint too bad with the HVLP at all. The over spray danged near just blows off everything. Most of the hard part is over, and you're right, it is almost time for the funnest part. I have just about everything for it now, I just need to get the weatherstripping, and new dash knobs.

Ok, here's the latest. We're closing on the house. We're supposed to have keys before the end of the month. I had to list early on ebay, and got a buyer. Sold the car for $8000, and the buyer is sending a lot of the stuff I don't have yet, so I will be able to stay in my profit window. It's a good thing I didn't get the whole car painted, as he would prefer it white, so I ordered some Wimbledon White for it. I got him to agree earlier to an increase on the price, since he has a few things he wants changed up. He's got an aftermarket EFI he's sending, along with a set of BBK headers, and a few other things. I got the 8" swapped into it earlier, and the rear tires are in place. So far, so good. I'll come away with the ability to pay myself about $15-$20 hour tax free. If all goes well, he may have me pick up his Mustang Saleen, and redo it too. It's kind of cool, I am being payed to build a car for some one. Turns out, back in '93, he had gotten his '68 Mustang featured on the cover of Hot Rod. He lives just outside of LA, and sent me a deposit, so all is going to go well. I'm still updating the photo bucket, and will try and get some on here soon.

The whole house thing started moving too quickly. Had a flash of reality, the kind that says "hey pal, get reallistic here." Besides that, I'm worse than a woman, I can't make up my mind.....lol.

Well, been busy building. The color got changed to Wimbledon White, with the red interior. Buyer sent me the deposit, and some additional. It's getting a T-5, and he sent me a "Boss" efi set up for it. All the weatherstripping, and such arrived.

Figured I should throw out an update. Been sooooo damned busy. We got our house, and got the keys on the 4 year anniversary of mom getting killed....kind of bitter sweet, but a nice ending to a very painful journey. The car has been coming along great. I got the interior mostly together (drivers interior quarter trim not on yet for wiring purposes). Started in on installing the wiring, got the headliner in, and the sunvisors, and mirror.

Thanks Dave. That's at the new house. It's got enough room in the side yard area, that my Sprint, and '91 Dodge Cummins, and a 18' travel trailer are hidden behind the fence. The big rig has to be up front, but it doesn't look too bad.

wmjoe1953 wrote:Thanks Dave. That's at the new house. It's got enough room in the side yard area, that my Sprint, and '91 Dodge Cummins, and a 18' travel trailer are hidden behind the fence. The big rig has to be up front, but it doesn't look too bad.

Well it looks as though you made a fast move and you look to be right at home in the garage there as if you had been there for some time. Keep the pictures coming and we all want to see the finished product. That includes under the hood.

later Man...

VERY NICE. I like the trim on the side. It's a nice '62 that's for sure.

Well, I suppose it's time to post in here again. The car is more or less finished. Lots has happened since last I was on here. I had to leave my job three weeks ago. The environment had become so hostile with my employer always being angry, and never satisfied, that I stressed myself into a heart attack. I had two in one day, and it was really an eye opener. The local Ford garage offered me a couple days a week at $5.00 an hour more than I was making at the other place, and guaranteed a laid back no stress work environment. So, since I'm only 33, and too damned young to let stress kill me, I am doing everything in my control to change that. Here are a couple pictures of the car to date. It should be leaving in the next couple of weeks by way of an enclosed transport company. There's a few more pictures I need to upload, so these are just a couple of them. I have driven it, and it is a tire frying little SOB. And it has a rocking stereo too.

looking really good!!! 2heart attacks,wow!!! geez take her easy man!! hope your new job is better on you!

A buddy of mine back in high school in '78 had a '63 falcon 2 door sedan with a 260 V/8 and a 3 on the tree. As far as we could tell it was original, and there were no indications or it being a sprint. beimg in Minnesota it was a biy of a rust bucket, but having seen yours nearly complete makes me wish someone had saved it, rather than just run it into the ground. It was actually kinda quick on our little illegal drag strip down behind the school. My nephew teaches at that school now.... My how time changes everything! I could never bring myself to sell your project if I had one turn out that nice.

Thanks Bogart. Yeah, the Futura Sedan was available with the 260. Wierd as a 3 on the tree though, as that, to the best of my understanding, was not an option. But, oh well, anythings possible. I do have a 63 Sprint in the back yard. It's next, if I don't sell it too. These cars make great 1/4 mile cars. They were amongst the lightest of the American cars of their day, as well as the front engine rear drive cars in general. The heaviest version (V-8, automatic, with a/c, etc., etc.) was 2400lbs. Shave off the heavy front suspension (as I did), and change to a 80lb T-5 5 speed (as I did), and right there is a 2000 lb car. Then, ad a 300-330 horse roller 5.0, and you got a car that will make one hell of a street/strip toy. The Sprint, if I choose to keep it, is going to go a different route......full tube frame, with front and rear independent suspension, as well as a 331 stroker, and 5 speed.

Can I have it for Christmas? sounds like just enough for me to abandon my love of all things Oldsmobile...well maybe.

Well, it leaves today. The truck will be here any time to load it up, and take it to California. She's a pretty little thing. This project was a test of my abilities. While it's NOT a museum piece, I think I nailed the "showable daily driver" on the head. That little 5.0, makes for a nice power plant in a 2000 pound car. The aftermarket front end really makes for a comfortable, and responsive driving experience. And the full Alpine sound system, ROCKS THE HOUSE!!!.