Fixing up a '71 Grand Safari

Great work and photos. That is going to be a gorgeous wagon inside, underneath and outside.

I'm sure you get a look or two buying that nail polish

 

Thanks everyone.

That ground strap sounds like something I would forget.

The lady at the register did look at me a bit strange when I bought the nail polish.

I'm still having trouble locating the trim pieces I need that go around the woodgrain.

Brandon

 

Progressing very nicely. Good on you for supporting local business and it's neat that it's one of your Dad's freinds. I'm sure your Dad is enjoying helping you with this project. Keep up the good work.

 

darn Brandon...your kickin butt !

you didnt get overspary on the Camaro did ya ???

 

The wind was blowing away from the Camaro, but if you could see the Camaro up close you'd see that overspray could only help that poor camaro. It's a new kind of rough.

Brandon

 

I came in to sit down and rest and as a joke I was going to turn one panel green in MSPaint. As usual, next thing I know 30 minutes later I ended up with this. It's a lot easier to finish on the computer, I should have done that to begin with. After spending that much time on it when it was done I wish I had used a real program and actually tried and I might could have gotten a real result..haha.

 

I have been busy the last few days but I don't have many pictures to show for it. I cleaned out the barn stall and got it set up as the make-shift bodyshop where I'll be doing all the block sanding. It would be much easier if I could have compressed air to use while block sanding because it helps keep the dust from clogging up in the sandpaper but as I mentioned before if I try to use the compressor at the barn it throws breakers. It would also be too difficult to do the block sanding at my house because I would have to set up a table outside each day and then move the parts in and out which would undoubtedly lead to scratches and scuffs, not to mention that if it rained I couldn't work on them. The doors are so heavy and awkward there is no way to move them without rubbing them against you. I also cleaned out one side of my garage. I hauled off a lot of stuff and stored a bunch of stuff. I had to clear room to have a safe place to store the panels as I finished sanding each one. Once they have been sanded it is very important they don't get any scratches or nicks. Also, this weekend is Christmas and it will be much nicer to eat dinner at the dinning room table rather than cram around the kitchen table.

I hated to get rid of them, but I had to take the quarter panel and fender off to the scrapyard. I tried to get rid of them locally, and I could have sold them if I had the time to advertise them, but I ended up stripping them of all trim and useable parts. I got $10 for them at the scrapyard and I have already tripled the money I paid for both of them by selling a piece of trim from the quarter panel. I still have some pieces to sell. If I had the time and space to store them I would have liked to have cut the quarter, done some body work and practiced painting it and then I would have liked to have hung it on the wall. The fender was rusted too badly as wasn't useful. All the panels were curved so I couldn't use it for scrap metal.

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After raining on and off the last couple of days, today was the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, and the weather has turned painfully cold, but at least finally dry. The last two days have had wind so powerful that it has torn the cover off our gazebo behind the house, blown some shingles off dad's house and one tree down in the back of his yard. I couldn't even leave the barn door slightly open today because it kept blowing debris inside while I was trying to work.

I went to the Goodwill store and bought a couple of cheap blankets to lay the parts on to prevent scratches and dents. After hitting the doorjambs with some 320 grit sandpaper I followed them up with some Scotchbrite pads, then flipped the door over and hit it with some guide coat. Guide coat is a thin layer of black powder or paint that covers the work area. It gets into the divots, holes and scratches in the paint. When you begin sanding you sand until all the black is gone and that is when you know the area is sufficiently smooth.

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After applying a layer of guide coat I begin with some 180 grit sandpaper wrapped around a foam soft block pad from the 3M company. The bodyshop recommended soft blocking this car. They said in this particular instance it would result in a better job than using a hardblock, or non-flexible sanding block. After removing all the guide coat with 180 grit sandpaper I apply another layer of guide coat and then come back with the same process, this time using 320 grit sandpaper. It is a time consuming process, but it is not as physically demanding as stripping the paint. For that reason, I actually find this step somewhat enjoyable. It's nice to actually see progress being made, to see the finish become smooth and to actually reach the end of a goal as each panel is finished and set aside. I finished this door today which means I won't have to do any work with it until it comes back from being painted.

One thing about this project: The little tabs that stick up from the side panels and hold the clips for the woodgrain molding have been a massive pain this entire project. They make each and every step of bodywork quite literally 4 times more difficult and time consuming. This last step would almost seem easy compared to having to sand around them, making sure to blend the sanding out evenly in all directions to maintain smooth bodywork. I really, really, really hate these tabs.

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I don't know if it is as much of a concern where you are, but here the salt in the winter has a nasty way of getting behind the trim and causing all sorts of problems. I found a way around it, and it also makes the sanding around all those tabs a lot easier. I outline the trim, mask off the area around the trim, and spray on the rubberized stone guard. It prevents the electrolytic reaction of dissimilar metals, too, so you don't end up with rust under the trim. Any minor sanding marks in that area get filled by the stone guard, so they don't show, either.

 

Looks like a nice resto project. I restored a 71 Grand Safari (3-seater) 455 325h.p. in 2005. Took me 2 years to find enough NOS woodgrain vinyl. I restored it myself. I sold it in 2010 to buy a 68 Tempest Safari wagon IHRA, AHRA national record holder Super Stocker. I am currently restoring it but I do miss the clamshell wagon. My 4 kids loved it. Good luck.

 

Well, I have the Flu. It's been going around here like wild fire. Since April is pregnant and is very important she not have the flu while pregnant she's gone over to stay with my parents until it passes.

Salt isn't really an issue here. Maybe one week a year.

Do you have any pictures of your '71 Safari restoration? I'd love to see any you have.

Brandon

 

Feel better, Brandon. That comes first. The wagon can wait. That car is going to be spectacular when you are done!

 

Your health is the most important thing you have. I have been down with a virus the past week so I know what you mean. Take care of yourself first. Everything else can wait.

 

I do have lots of resto pics and have tried to upload. Everytime I do, my computer says there has been a fatal error and won't upload. This is why I don't have any pictures of my wagons in the garage area also. I'm not very computer savy, so I don't know why it is doing this. I will try to fix the problem and get some uploaded soon. Jeff.

 

WOW, I cant believe the progress! Moving right along!

I am sending you my '72 Kingswood Estate to restore for me when you finish with this Grand Safari... better yet we can just trade and I will throw in my near mint '93 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham. '71 Grand Safari is my dream wagon!

Keep up the great progress!