We're embarking on a restoration here to restore a Candyapple Red '69 Boss 429, KK1792 for a customer. This started out as an engine bay tidy up and the customer wanted touch up's to every panel on the whole car, which essentially meant an entire repaint. In doing so, we stripped the car down and then the customer insisted on the car being chemically dipped, a process we really don't like, but we headed in that direction as requested.
The first week was spent tearing it down to a shell and then everything from the body is sent to the dippers to strip it all back to bare metal. Then we can come up with the plan to repair what we get back from the dippers.
We've scanned the original paint from a location on the car where it was protected from the elements, after stripping it down, so that we can absolutely certain that we'll get the colour 'spot on' correct, as the removal of the lead from today's paint, means that the colours aren't always as they were via the old formulas. It's essential to check the formulas against original paint, if you're lucky enough to find some. We also spent many hours cleaning every piece of the suspension and body, studying them for original paint markings, or other markings, for the concours restoration of the vehicle. We found many and will duplicate them exactly.
The numbers matching engine for the car, came with it, so that is being rebuilt to then be fitted with the smog and correct pieces, to bring this Boss 429 back to how Kar Kraft presented it back in '69
The first week was spent tearing it down to a shell and then everything from the body is sent to the dippers to strip it all back to bare metal. Then we can come up with the plan to repair what we get back from the dippers.
We've scanned the original paint from a location on the car where it was protected from the elements, after stripping it down, so that we can absolutely certain that we'll get the colour 'spot on' correct, as the removal of the lead from today's paint, means that the colours aren't always as they were via the old formulas. It's essential to check the formulas against original paint, if you're lucky enough to find some. We also spent many hours cleaning every piece of the suspension and body, studying them for original paint markings, or other markings, for the concours restoration of the vehicle. We found many and will duplicate them exactly.
The numbers matching engine for the car, came with it, so that is being rebuilt to then be fitted with the smog and correct pieces, to bring this Boss 429 back to how Kar Kraft presented it back in '69
As you can see below, KK1792 returned from the chemical dippers and it was evident, that it was extensively rusty; a prime example of why you should always have a prospective purchase of a muscle car like this, inspected by us prior to buying it, as this will far exceed the customer's original 'hopes and dreams' for a 'quick paint job'.
Below, we converted the existing original '70 model hood that had found its way onto KK1792, into a '69 hood. Little bit of work, but worth the effort.
KK1792 moves into primer and sealers, below.
KK1792 now moves from the primer stages, to the paint stages. Factory runs, drips and over-spray details are replicated on the underside and engine bay.
Now starts the assembly of KK1792
KK1792 continued to be assembled, until budgetary constraints prevented it moving any further along the restoration path, so it was returned to it's home, where hopefully the owner will continue to assemble it and maintain the standard we've set for him!