1969 Dodge Charger Gets Sheet Metal Wrapped Up

(NARRATOR)>> TODAY ON DETROIT MUSCLE TOMMY GOES ON A MAGICAL JOURNEY THROUGH NORTHERN ALABAMA TO FIND SEATS FOR HIS BUICK PROJECT. THEN WE FINISH THE CHARGER'S SHEET METAL.

(TOMMY)>> HEY FOLKS, THANKS FOR JOINING US. IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED, I'M ON A BIT OF A ROAD TRIP. [ horn honking ]

(TOMMY)>> WE'VE GOT A FEW STOPS TO MAKE TODAY BECAUSE I'M ON THE HUNT FOR SOME SEAT UPGRADES FOR MY MID '80'S BUICK REGAL PROJECT. ALL THREE PLACES WE NEED TO GO ARE HERE IN NORTHERN ALABAMA. SO THAT'S GONNA MAKE IT PRETTY EASY. THE FIRST STOP WE'VE GOT TO MAKE WE FOUND WHENEVER WE WERE COMING BACK FROM THE STREET ROD GARAGE GUYS, AND IT'S WHAT'S CALLED THE FIERO FACTORY. NOW THEY HAD THOSE LITTLE CARS SITTING AROUND FOR DAYS, AND I'M HOPING THEY HAVE JUST WHAT WE NEED.

YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING, WHY GO TO A FIERO GRAVEYARD WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING A BUICK? WELL HERE'S THE SHORT VERSION. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT FIERO SEATS WILL BOLT RIGHT ONTO THE TRACKS THAT GO INTO ONE OF THOSE MID '80'S BUICKS, AND THESE SEATS ARE MUCH SPORTIER THAN THE FACTORY ONES WE HAVE.

[ horn honking ]

(TOMMY)>> WELL WITH THAT DONE WE'RE PRETTY MUCH READY TO MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT STOP, AND THAT'S GONNA BE STREET ROD GARAGE. WE'RE GONNA SEE WHAT THE STATUS OF THE BUICK AND HOW MUCH PROGRESS THEY'VE MADE, AND WHILE WE'RE THERE WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND PULL OUT THE BUICK SEATS. THAT WAY, YOU KNOW, WE CAN START MAKING PROGRESS WITH THE INTERIOR ON IT. FROM HERE IT'S A PRETTY SHORT HOP DOWN TO GRANT, ALABAMA, WHERE OUR BUICK IS.

WE'LL GET TO WORK GETTING THESE SEATS OUT, AND THAT INCLUDES THE BACK ONES AS WELL.

NOW WHILE I'M HERE I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND GRAB THE DOOR PANELS AND THE REAR PANEL BECAUSE I WANT TO UPGRADE IT AS WELL AS THE SEATS. THIS WOOD GRAIN IS IN REALLY NICE SHAPE, BUT IT KIND OF HAS THAT OLD PERSON FEEL TO IT. WE CAN DO SOMETHING THERE I'M SURE.

WELL MAN I APPRECIATE YOU HELPING US GET THIS STUFF OUT. WE'LL COME BACK AND SEE YOU WHENEVER THE CHASSIS IS DONE, IF YOU'LL GIVE US A CALL? ( )>> ALL RIGHT, NO PROBLEM.

(TOMMY)>> ALL RIGHT BUD, SEE YA!

[ horn honking ]

(TOMMY)>> WELL WE'RE MAKING SOME PRETTY GOOD TIME, AND SINCE WE'RE IN THE AREA WE'RE GONNA STOP BY AND SEE SOME FRIENDS OF MINE. WAYNE AND PAMELA FROM M&M INTERIORS. THESE GUYS DO SOME SPECTACULAR WORK. SO LET'S JUST CHECK THEM OUT AND SEE WHAT COOL STUFF THEY'VE GOT GOING ON. [ horn honking ]

(TOMMY)>> HEY Y'ALL, HOW YOU DOING?

(WAYNE)>> WHAT ARE YOU DOING WAY OFF DOWN HERE?

(TOMMY)>> WELL WE SLIPPED OUT FOR A LITTLE BIT, BUT I'VE GOT SOME INTERIOR STUFF THAT I'M NEEDED, I GUESS, ADDRESSED, AND DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS MIGHT COULD HELP ME OUT WITH IT?

(WAYNE)>> WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SEE WHAT YOU GOT.

(TOMMY)>> ALL RIGHT, I'LL BRING IT IN THEN. I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU OUT TOO MUCH.

(WAYNE)>> IT SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.

(TOMMY)>> WELL HERE'S THE DOOR PANELS, AND I WAS HOPING WE COULD DO SOMETHING TO KIND OF GET RID OF THIS MAWMAW WOOD GRAIN IF YOU WILL.

(WAYNE)>> OH YEAH, THAT'S NOT ANY PROBLEM TO DO AWAY WITH THAT. JUST GOT SOME NUTS ON THE BACK SIDE, AND KIND OF, YEAH, MODERN IT UP A LITTLE BIT?

(TOMMY)>> YEAH, WE'RE KIND OF GOING WITH LIKE A PRO TOURING KIND OF FEEL TO IT. NOW IT'S NOT GONNA BE LIKE A MACHINED OUT CAR. KIND OF A STREET DRIVEN TYPE DEAL, BUT YOU KNOW, I WANT IT TO HAVE THAT VIBE IF YOU WILL.

(WAYNE)>> YEAH, THE KIND OF MORE PERFORMANCE ORIENTED VIBE THAN THE GRANDMA WOOD GRAIN. NOT A PROBLEM!

(TOMMY)>> CAN WE GET RID OF THIS CHIAPET STUFF DOWN HERE AT THE BOTTOM?

(WAYNE)>> YEAH, THE FAKE FUR'S GOT TO GO. WE CAN JUST PULL THAT STUFF RIGHT OFF AND MAKE SOME KIND OF COOL INSERT TO FIT IN THERE TO TIE EVERYTHING TOGETHER. A LITTLE BIT OF WORK, IT'LL MAKE IT LOOK REAL GOOD.

(TOMMY)>> ALL RIGHT, WELL LET ME GRAB THE SEATS AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT.

(WAYNE)>> ALL RIGHT, SOUNDS GOOD!

(TOMMY)>> M&M HOT ROD INTERIORS IS A GREAT PLACE TO GO IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO GET EITHER AN INTERIOR RESTORATION DONE OR TO GET ONE CUSTOMIZED LIKE WE ARE. NOW YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS LITTLE JEWEL HERE AND YOU CAN TELL THAT IT'S A PRODUCT OF THE '80'S WITH THAT BIG PILLOW TOP SEAT.

(WAYNE)>> OH YEAH!

(TOMMY)>> AND I'M NOT REALLY A BIG FAN OF IT. SO IF WE COULD GET AWAY FROM THAT IT'D BE A GOOD THING.

(WAYNE)>> YEAH, I THINK SO. YOU'VE GOT TO GET AWAY FROM GRANDMA'S SEAT FOR A PRO TOURING CAR.

(TOMMY)>> NOW THIS SEAT HERE COME OUT OF A FIERO. DO YOU THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WORK WITH?

(WAYNE)>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. WE'VE DONE THESE FOR YEARS IN STREET RODS AND MUSCLE CARS. THEY FIT GOOD, THEY LOOK GOOD, THEY HAVE THE LOOK OF A HIGH END AFTERMARKET SEAT AT A FRACTION OF THE COST.

(TOMMY)>> NOW WITH THE PRO TOURING THINGS OFTEN TIMES YOU SEE IT'S GOT A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT COLORS, AND TEXTURES, AND MATERIALS. IS THAT SOMETHING YOU CAN HANDLE?

(WAYNE)>> YEAH, I THINK SO. WE CAN PROBABLY DO SOME HEAVY CONTRAST STITCHING ON THE SIDES, AND MAYBE SOME KIND OF COOL CLOTH INSERT TO GIVE IT THAT MORE MODERN MUSCLE CAR LOOK. SO YEAH, NOT A PROBLEM.

(TOMMY)>> NOW ON SOME OF THE RESEARCH THAT I'VE SEE THAT YOU CAN TAKE THE SEAT TRACKS OFF OF THIS ONE AND BOLT IT TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT AND IT'S PRACTICALLY A BOLT IN SWAP. DO YOU MIND IF WE TRY THAT?

(WAYNE)>> YEAH, JUST THROW IT UP HERE TOMMY. WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET THOSE TRACKS OFF.

(TOMMY)>> I THINK IT'LL WORK.

(WAYNE)>> I BELIEVE IT'LL WORK.

(TOMMY)>> WELL I'M ACTUALLY SURPRISED THAT THIS WORKED AS EASY AS IT DID.

(WAYNE)>> I AM TOO. USUALLY IT NEVER DOES, BUT THIS IS GONNA BE A LOT BETTER THAN WORKING ON GRANDMA'S SEATS.

(TOMMY)>> SO CAN I COME BACK AND SEE YOU IN A FEW WEEKS OR SO?

(WAYNE)>> ABSOLUTELY, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.

(TOMMY)>> ALL RIGHT THEN.

(NARRATOR)>> UP NEXT, PLUGGING UP THE HOLES IN OUR '69 CHARGER'S DOORS.

(MARC)>> HEY EVERYBODY, WELCOME BACK. WELL WE'RE GONNA SWITCH GEARS AND GET BACK ONTO OUR '69 DODGE CHARGER HERE. WE'VE GOT SOME NEW SHEET METAL FOR THE FRONT BUT WE CAN'T GET TO THAT JUST YET. HEY SNOWMAN, WHERE YOU BEEN?

(TOMMY)>> WELL I'VE BEEN OUT ON A SCAVENGER HUNT TRYING TO FIND SOME GOODIES FOR THAT BUICK I'M PUTTING TOGETHER BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I CAN'T REALLY BUILD IT BY A CATALOG LIKE YOU CAN WITH THAT MUSTANG.

(MARC)>> AS FAR AS I CAN SEE YOU CAN'T BUILD IT IF IT AIN'T HERE.

(TOMMY)>> WELL ANYHOW, WHAT'S UP WITH THE CHARGER? I THOUGHT WE WERE WORKING ON A MUSTANG?

(MARC)>> WELL WE'RE GETTING REAL CLOSE TO GETTING THIS THING OFF TO THE BLASTER. WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS FRONT SHEET METAL FIT FIRST, AND I THOUGHT WE HAD ALL THE METAL WORK DONE BUT THERE'S ONE PANEL THAT STILL NEEDS SOME LOVE. COME ON OVER HERE, LET ME SHOW YOU. WITH ALL THAT SHEET METAL WORK WE WERE DOING ON THE FLOORS AND THE QUARTERS WE ALMOST FORGOT ABOUT THE DOORS.

(TOMMY)>> YEAH, I KNEW IT HAD SOME BACK HERE ON THE BOTTOM IN THE BACK, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IT HAD SOME UP FRONT.

(MARC)>> YEAH, IT'S NOT THAT BAD ACTUALLY. I GROUND IT DOWN JUST TO SEE. I THOUGHT WE'D HAVE TO PUT DOOR SKINS ON THEM BUT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE FINE.

(TOMMY)>> LOOKS LIKE YOU COULD JUST PUT A PATCH ON THE FRONT AND BACK AND BE ALL RIGHT.

(MARC)>> YEP, I'M GONNA DO THAT, GET BUSY.

(TOMMY)>> I'M GONNA LET YOU AT IT.

(MARC)>> WE'LL START BY GRABBING A GRINDER TO KNOCK THE REST OF THE PAINT OFF HERE WHERE WE'LL BE WORKING. NOW I AM GONNA CUT A PIECE OF METAL OUT HERE AND PATCH IT IN, BUT BEFORE I DO THAT I'M GONNA WELD THIS PIECE IN HERE ACROSS. THAT WAY WHEN I DO CUT THE METAL OUT THIS PART DOESN'T RELAX AND FALL DOWN INTO A DIP. [ welder crackling ] [ saw spinning ]

(MARC)>> WITH THAT PLATE TACKED ON WE CAN GET THE CUTTING WHEEL AND START SLICING OUT THE RUSTED AREA. NO NEED TO CUT VERY DEEP. WE'RE JUST REMOVING THE SKIN METAL HERE.

WELL THIS IS THE PIECE WE CUT OUT AND AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, IT'S RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT, AND THERE'S EVEN SOME SPOTS LIKE THIS ONE RIGHT HERE THAT HAVEN'T RUSTED THROUGH YET BUT IT DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE RUSTED THERE. SO WE KNOW WE'RE GOOD BECAUSE THE AREA OF THE SCAB IS CONTAINED IN THIS PIECE WE CUT OUT. A METAL BLASTER IS A GOOD WAY TO REMOVE THE REST OF THE RUST THAT'S UNDER WHERE OUR REPLACEMENT METAL WILL GO. WE'LL GRAB A CAN OF DUPLICOLOR RUST FIX TO DEACTIVATE ANY REMAINING OXIDATION. IT WORKS BY USING A CHEMICAL REACTION TO PREVENT THE RUST FROM SPREADING ANY FURTHER. WELL NOW THAT THAT'S CURED I'M GONNA SPRAY SOME DUPLICOLOR WELD THROUGH PRIMER. [ spray gun hissing ]

(MARC)>> WELL HERE'S THE PIECE I MADE, AND AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, WHEN I LAY THE PIECE ON TOP OF IT HERE THAT I HAD CUT OUT IT'S GOT THESE EXTRA TABS HERE AND HERE. NOW THE REASON I DID THAT IS BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET A GOOD WELD ALL THE WAY AROUND, AND ON THIS SIDE AND THIS SIDE WE'VE GOT THE BACKING OF THE INNER STRUCTURE, AND NOW THESE TABS ARE ACTUALLY GONNA PROVIDE BACKING FOR THE WELDS ON THIS SIDE AND THIS SIDE. SO WE JUST NEED TO GET IT FIT IN HERE AND WELDED UP. [ welder crackling ]

(MARC)>> ONCE SHE'S WELDED UP WE'LL GRAB A GRINDER AND SMOOTH IT OUT. THEN ONTO THE OTHER PATCH.

NOW WE ALL KNOW IF YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING THAT MOVES AND SHOULDN'T YOU NEED DUCT TAPE, AND IF YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T MOVE AND SHOULD, WELL YOU NEED WD 40, AND SOMETIMES YOU EVEN NEED A HAMMER. NOW A LOT OF TIMES YOU'LL JUST GRAB THE THING THAT'S CLOSEST, LIKE A WRENCH SAY, BUT IF YOU ARE SMART ENOUGH TO GRAB A HAMMER MAKE SURE YOU GRAB THE RIGHT ONE. THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT HAMMERS THAT DO DIFFERENT JOBS. SO YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE YOU'VE GOT THE RIGHT HAMMER FOR THE RIGHT JOB. SO TODAY WE'RE GONNA GO OVER THEM. WE'RE GONNA START OVER HERE ON THE SOFTER SIDE. WE'VE GOT A RUBBER MALLET AND A BRASS HAMMER. NOW A RUBBER MALLET'S GOOD FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO MARR UP OR SCRATCH, LIKE A PAINTED SURFACE OR SOMETHING THAT MAYBE IT'S CHROME, OR POLISHED ALUMINUM, AND THEN IF YOU WANT TO PUT MAYBE SAY A GEAR ONTO A CRANK SHAFT FOR A TIMING SET THAT'S WHERE YOU'D USE THE BRASS HAMMER BECAUSE IT FOCUSES YOUR SWING A LITTLE MORE TENSE HERE ON THE HAMMER HEAD INSTEAD OF DISTRIBUTING IT OVER A LARGE AREA LIKE THE RUBBER MALLET. THE NEXT TYPE OF HAMMER WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT IS THE DEAD BLOW. THIS IS A VERY COMMON HAMMER IN THE SHOP BECAUSE IT'S NOT ACTUALLY MADE OF METAL. IT'S MADE OF A HARD PLASTIC BUT IT DOES FLEX. THE HANDLE FLEXES AND THE HAMMER HEAD ITSELF FLEXES, AND INSTEAD OF IT BEING SOLID METAL IT ACTUALLY HAS METAL SHOT INSIDE, AND WHEN YOU SWING IT THAT METAL SHOT MOVES TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE HAMMER, AND THAT HELPS MOVE WHATEVER OBJECT IT IS YOU'RE TRYING TO MOVE. NOW WE'VE GOT ALL DIFFERENT SIZES HERE ON UP TO ABOUT 58 OUNCES, AND WE EVEN HAVE THIS UNIQUE DEAD BLOW HERE THAT HAS A LONGER REACH, AND THIS IS FOR DRIVING PISTONS DOWN INTO A CYLINDER BLOCK. THE NEXT TYPE OF HAMMER WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT IS THE BALL PEEN HAMMER, AND I KNOW MOST OF YOU HAVE SEEN THESE. THEY'RE VERY COMMON IN THE SHOP, ESPECIALLY FOR METAL WORKING, AND THEY CALL THEM A BALL PEEN BECAUSE THEY HAVE THIS BALL ON ONE END AND OF COURSE THE OTHER SIDE HAS A REGULAR HAMMER HEAD, BUT THESE DO HAVE A STEEL HEAD AND THEY COME IN A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT SIZES DEPENDING ON WHAT JOB YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, BUT THERE'S ONE TYPE OF BALL PEEN THAT'S KIND OF UNIQUE AND THAT IS THIS, WHICH IS KIND OF A HYBRID BETWEEN A DEAD BLOW AND A BALL PEEN. THEY ACTUALLY CALL IT A DEAD BLOW BALL PEEN. IT DOES HAVE A MORE FLEXIBLE HANDLE, AND IT'S GOT THE SHOT BUILT INTO THE HEAD AS WELL AS THE STEEL ENDS. BUT IF YOU REALLY NEED TO GET SOMETHING MOVING OF COURSE YOU'RE GONNA GRAB THE OLD SLEDGE HAMMER. WE'VE GOT A FOUR POUND SHOP HAMMER HERE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A SLEDGE, AND THEN WE HAVE THIS GUY HERE, WHICH IS CALLED A CLUB HAMMER. WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT THESE OTHER THAN THEM BEING HEAVY IS THAT THE HANDLES ARE REINFORCED. SO IF YOU OVER STRIKE, WHICH IS COMMON WHEN YOU'RE SWINGING REAL HARD, IT KEEPS THE HANDLE FROM BREAKING AND INJURING THE USER. IF YOU JUST WANT TO GET SOMETHING MOVING THAT NONE OF THOSE HAMMERS WILL DO, OF COURSE YOU'VE GOT YOUR 16 POUND SLEDGE RIGHT HERE. THIS THING WILL MOVE JUST ABOUT ANYTHING BUT IT TAKES QUITE A BIT OF MUSCLE TO GET IT MOVING.

(NARRATOR)>> NEXT UP, BOLTING ON THE SHEET METAL.

(MARC)>> HEY EVERYBODY, WELCOME BACK. WELL I GOT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR ALL PATCHED UP, AND WE WENT AHEAD AND HUNG IT AND GOT IT ADJUSTED SO WE CAN START FITTING THIS FRONT SHEET METAL, BUT FIRST WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS PASSENGER DOOR ADJUSTED.

(TOMMY)>> WHENEVER YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS, WELL IT CAN BE RATHER TEDIOUS BUT WE'RE GONNA SHOW YOU GUYS WHAT IT TAKES TO LINE UP THE PANELS JUST IN CASE YOU'RE WORKING ON SOMETHING AT HOME. NOW WHENEVER YOU'RE ADJUSTING A DOOR YOU'VE GOT SEVERAL GOALS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. YOU'VE GOT THE TOP EDGE, THE OUTSIDE EDGE, BODY LINES YOU'VE GOT TO LINE UP. PLUS THE GAP BETWEEN THE QUARTER AND THE DOOR. ALL THESE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER, AND IT TAKES QUITE A BIT OF ADJUSTMENT TO GET THEM JUST RIGHT, BUT WE'LL GET THERE EVENTUALLY.

(MARC)>> WITH THE BOLTS LOOSENED UP A BIT, THE DOOR CAN BE MANIPULATED. A PAINT STIRRING STICK IS A GOOD GAUGE TO TELL HOW NICE YOUR GAPS ARE. TIGHTENING THE BOLTS ONCE YOUR CLOSE CAN LOCK THE ADJUSTMENTS YOU'VE MADE. ALL RIGHT.

(TOMMY)>> BROTHER WE NEED TO SCOOT THE DOOR FORWARD SOME. YOU GOT ANY MORE?

(MARC)>> MAYBE A LITTLE ON THE BOTTOM BUT THE TOP ONE'S MAXED OUT. NOTHING A LITTLE DIE GRINDER CAN'T FIX THOUGH. WE'VE GOT TO GET THE HINGE OFF THOUGH. [ drill spinning ]

(TOMMY)>> A DIE GRINDER WILL LET US EXTEND THE SIZE OF THIS HOLE SO THAT WE CAN MOVE THE DOOR JUST A LITTLE BIT FURTHER TO GET IT STRAIGHT. WITH THE HINGE DONE WE'LL REPEAT THAT PROCEDURE ON THESE TWO HOLES IN THE JAM. THEN WE CAN REATTACH THE HINGE TO BOTH THE BODY AND THE DOOR.

ALL RIGHT, CINCH IT DOWN.

(MARC)>> ALL RIGHT.

(TOMMY)>> YEAH THAT GAP RIGHT THERE'S A WHOLE LOT BETTER. IT'S FAR MORE CONSISTENT, AND NOW WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE FRONT SHEET METAL.

(MARC)>> AFTER THE DOORS YOU ALWAYS DO THE FENDERS NEXT SINCE YOU GAPPED THEM OFF OF THE DOORS.

(TOMMY)>> OUR FENDER'S A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE COWL BUT ADDING A SHIM WILL PUT IT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.

WELL WE'RE PRETTY MUCH READY TO GO AHEAD AND START INSTALLING THIS HOOD, AND I HAVE TO SAY THIS HAS TO BE ONE OF THE TALLEST ONES OR LONGEST ONES I'VE PUT ON. YOU READY BIG MAN?

(MARC)>> YEAH, I GUESS.

(TOMMY)>> YOU GET THE BOTTOM.

LET'S SEE WHERE WE'RE AT.

WIDE OVER HERE. WE'RE ACTUALLY HANGING OVER. THIS ONE IS EASY. LOOSEN THESE TWO BOLTS. THEN SLIDE THIS SIDE FORWARD A BIT.

(MARC)>> LOOKS BETTER HERE. LOOKS LIKE SHE LINES UP REAL NICE. THAT GOOD?

WE ALL HATE IT WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUR RIDE CLEAN AND CAN'T GET THE STREAKS OFF THE GLASS OR CHROME SURFACES. WELL THERE'S GOOD NEWS. YOU CAN GET A STREAK FREE FINISH WITH SCOTT GLASS TOWELS. THESE TOWELS ARE DESIGNED FOR POLISHING AND WIPING GLASS, CHROME, AND MIRRORS. THEY CONTAIN NO BINDERS OR GLUES, WHICH MEANS THEY'RE LOW LINT AND LOW STREAKING. SO GET YOURSELF SOME OF THESE AND GET RID OF THOSE STREAKS.

(NARRATOR)>> STILL AHEAD, THE CHARGER GOES TO THE BLASTER!

(TOMMY)>> OKAY, TIME FOR THE FUN PART. NOW THAT WE'VE GOT ALL OF OUR PANELS LINED UP WE GET TO TAKE THEM BACK OFF, ALONG WITH THE SUSPENSION, IN PREPARATION TO TAKE THIS CAR TO THE BLASTER. I'LL GET THE ROTISSERIE ATTACHED WHILE SOME OTHER PEOPLE ARE MESSING AROUND.

(MARC)>> WELL THERE'S ONE MORE THING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE OFF HERE BEFORE WE CAN SEND THIS CAR OFF TO THE BLASTER AND THAT'S OUR HORNS UP HERE.

[ horn honking ]

(MARC)>> WELL WE MADE IT TO THE BLASTER. SO WE'LL GET HER UNLOADED AND SHOVED INSIDE BLAST FROM THE PAST IN LEBANON, TENNESSEE. WE TRUST THESE GUYS TO DO MOST OF OUR BLASTING.

(TOMMY)>> WELL WE JUST DROPPED OUR CAR OFF HERE AT BLAST FROM THE PAST, AND WE'RE GONNA GET THIS THING STRIPPED DOWN. NOW A COUPLE OF YOU GUYS MAY BE WONDERING WHY YOU WOULD WANT TO DO THIS. WELL HERE'S WHY.

NOW HE HAD TO STOP JUST FOR A FEW MINUTES TO REFILL THE HOPPER, BUT THIS GIVES US A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW YOU GUYS SOME OF THE ADVANTAGES OF DOING IT THIS WAY. NOW THE UNDERSIDE OF THIS CAR HAD A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF UNDER COATING ON IT, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE. NOW SOME OF IT CAN BE ABOUT A HALF INCH THICK, AND TRYING TO REMOVE THIS STUFF WITH PUTTY KNIVES, SCRAPERS, AND A WIRE WHEEL, WELL THAT CAN TAKE YOU HOURS AND HOURS TO GET IT REMOTELY THIS CLEAN. SO DOING IT THIS WAY CAN SAVE YOU A WHOLE LOT OF TIME.

(MARC)>> THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS I WANT TO POINT OUT HERE TOO. A LOT OF THESE AREAS ARE REALLY DIFFICULT TO SAND, LIKE TOMMY WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, UNDERNEATH. DOWN IN THIS DRIP RAIL HERE, A LOT OF TIMES THESE CARS HAVE SEAM SEALER DOWN IN THERE AND THAT'S HARD TO GET OUT. I MEAN YOU CAN CHISEL IT OUT OF THERE, BUT THE BLASTER WILL GET IT ALL OUT. ANOTHER THING TOO IS AS THE SEAM SEALER GETS OLD IT'LL CRACK, AND THAT'LL ALLOW WATER TO GET IN THERE AND RUST. CAN'T REALLY SEE IT UNTIL YOU CLEAN IT OUT REAL GOOD. SO SAND BLASTING WILL GET ALL OF THAT OUT OF THERE. ANOTHER THING TOO, ON LARGE PANELS LIKE THIS ROOF, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND YOU JUST HIT THIS THING WITH A BLASTER, IT CAN CAUSE THE METAL TO HEAT UP TOO MUCH AND IT'LL CAUSE IT TO WARP. SO THAT'S WHY YOU ALWAYS WANT TO TAKE IT TO A PROFESSIONAL THAT KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

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