It was actually a compliment that started the gears turning. A woman I know effused about how nice my hands are, saying that I must not do any hard work. Now, first of all, I was thrilled that she was in a position to notice. But right on the heels of that, I was all but offended, and a little ashamed. I get plenty dirty and banged up in the line of duty. And that's manly, right?
Actually, the comment triggered a reaction set in place by events now far in the past. Some seven or eight years ago, I was working as a copy editor for another of Primedia's titles, but wanted to be a staffer. The editor of said mag was all for it, but the powers that be saw it differently. "He's not a car guy," was their verdict.
Now, just what the hell does that mean? I'm still not sure I understand that statement, which I think means I'm plenty car guy. My mentor figured that coming to work without a load of grease under my nails meant I wasn't a car guy. I disagreed, and still do. On the other hand, there is something about dirt, grime, rough skin, and busted knuckles. It shows a guy's been working, putting his sweat and even his blood into the task.
Working on Chevy High allows plenty of opportunity for getting dirty. If you don't believe me, come on a photo shoot sometime, especially during the summer. And then there's the all-to-few chances to get hands on and turn wrenches...that "Busted Knuckle Garage" sign must have been invented for me.
As for all the time spent in front of a computer, well, that gets plenty dirty as well. Science-fiction author Robert Heinlein put it better than I ever could: "Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards." Even outside the garage, there's plenty of dirty work going on around here.
Book Learnin'
Our friends at CarTech Books have a treatise on just about any automotive subject imaginable, and paint and body is no exception. How to Paint Your Car on a Budget, by Pat Ganahl, is a relatively new addition, and we found it to contain a wealth of practical, hands-on information for aspiring car painters
Ganahl has been around the block, as shown in the longish intro, but the payoff is substantial, and Ganahl's years of DIY experience show through. The first two chapters, "To Paint or Not to Paint" and "To Strip or Not to Strip," may carry Shakespearean titles, but they deal with important issues. Why do you want to paint this car? he asks, urging us aspiring painters to evaluate our projects and our goals before investing our time and money.
Ganahl advises project car seekers to buy something that's sound but needs paint, rather than buying an unwanted paint job that will have to be redone. And if you are repainting, how much prep is needed? Will sanding work, or do you have to take it to bare metal? The rest of the book follows this pattern: Practical tips combine with the voice of experience to provide real-world information.
"Bodywork 101" takes an extensive look at the prep work required before primer is sprayed, including a good explanation of "training" one's hand to find high and low spots that need work. "Equipment for Home Painting" is clearly aimed at the home enthusiast, rather than simply suggesting one buy lots of high-dollar equipment. And "Today's Paint Products" and "Prep, Sand, and Mask" are both in-depth and practical.
The remainder of Ganahl's tome shows the theory in action, from the "One-Day Wonder" to a show-quality paint job. But that's the theme throughout How to Paint Your Car on a Budget, light on the theory and heavy on the practical application of tried and tested paint and body techniques. The book (ISBN 1-932494-22-7) is available from CarTech Inc., 800.551.4754, cartechbooks.com. -JN
Stay Hinged
Keeping your musclecar on the road for decades requires maintenance above that of a standard commuter car. Over time, the door hinges take an exceptional amount of punishment each time one of the doors is opened and closed. To keep your door hinges operating properly, or to maintain reproduction hinges, lube the pivot points a few times a years with engine oil.