Customs by Flash

01/10/2026

Small job, but time consuming. The GTO had a vinyl top. Lots of staple holes where they attached it, inside the window channel. Had to weld up each hole, and also had to weld on the little nibs that the molding clips snap on to. Not so easy, when the nibs want to fall out of the welding attachment, due to the angle of the sheet metal!

01/04/2026

So, after an overnight soak with Rust remover, the hood looks really bad. But that's OK. Part of the process! A run over with a buffer mounted Scotch Brite pad, takes off 95% of the rust, and residue. A few stubborn spots get some extra acid soaking, and a good wash, and light DA sanding and we're ready for primer. Clean metal, even in the pits.

01/04/2026

Well, as usual, a perfect hood turned out to have surface rust hiding under the primer. Not a big deal, but after stripping it, I wire brush the pits as good as I can, put some phosphoric acid solution on it, cover with plastic wrap, and wait until the next day to clean it up.
A perfect example why you don't trust a primered part, you must strip it to bare, to be sure!

12/02/2025

After a "short" vacation (cough, cough), back on the GTO! Stripped the trunk lid, top and bottom, fitted it up, and then primered it.

10/09/2025

As for the GTO project, it's coming along slowly. I got the other fender, and it's rust free, but was damaged and repaired sometime in the past. The repair looks worse than the damage must have been!!!!!
So to start, I cut out the back brace, and started hammer and dolly work on the damage. Then planished it. It came out pretty nice, but I also had to cut out the trailing edge of the fender, as it was banged and welded really poorly. So I made a new piece, and TIGed it in, and planished it afterwards. Now it looks like only a thin skim coat will fix it. It had some very aggressive grinder marks and lots of pick dents as well. Couldn't get them all out, it would thin the metal too much. So a bit of filler will have to do! Still have to address the perimeter of the dented area, and the other dings and dents on the fender.

10/09/2025

On my other projects, the Z-28 is on hold for a while, until we can settle the issue of the interior color. The owner bought new seat covers, door panels ( which my friend Jim at J & S upholstery revamped to original fabric), headliner, armrests, console lid, etc.
Well, looks like just about everything but the seats and door panels, seems to be different colors. Some are 'off' a bit, others aren even close. And compared to the original colors on the console and dash, they also don't match.
Now I'm painting all the metal parts with a lacquer paint I got mixed at TCP Global. It seems a pretty good match to the Seats and doors. But a locally mixed vinyl dye I got, is WAYYYY off, and doesn't match much of anything. Even when I tried tinting it to match, I didn't have the right materials to do so. But the owner is now consulting with another paint mixer to try and find a good match, so I can spray all the plastic pieces, and vinyl to match.

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10/09/2025

Wasn't happy with the proportions of the flames to the ribbon, on the Ferris Wheel project. i had to do some touch up on the one part of the lace, and one on the flames, anyway, so I re-taped and shot the flames again. I like them much better now. A bit fatter, and some longer licks.

10/04/2025

Worked on the sides of the Ferris Wheel this week. Did the Gold flake flames, then some lace ribbons wrapping around them. Decided to make a "vase" for them to come out of. I had a couple spots peel, as I removed the masking tape, though. So I put a couple coats of clear on them, so I can touch them up. But I think I might want to make the flames a bit wider, maybe longer?
What do you think? Looking for opinions.

09/21/2025

FUN weekend at work! I have the privilege of doing the paint job on a Kiddy Ferris Wheel, for Jersey Mike. AND... he gave me free reign to do whatever I like! WOW!
First, I just cleaned and sanded the new metal skins Mike made for it. Then applied epoxy primer. Mixed up some light blue pearl, from leftovers I had in the shop. I think all of the paint will be stuff I have on hand, except maybe the final clear.
I did the center circle first, just to get the creative juices flowing. Simple, and keep the center clear, as Mike is getting Hot Rod Jen to paint a Rat Fink there. Just an outline stripe, with points towards the center. Done with acetylene smoke, covered with some Candy Wild Cherry.
Next, an outline around the circle, on the surrounding metal. This time, an orange-y beige cobwebbing job. (Had to use the beige base, as it is one of the few lacquers I had laying around, with orange pearl to tint it.)
Then the pinstriping with fogged colors all around it, in various pastel pearls. And surrounding that, some wave-stripes, in electric blue.
The sides are a bit more difficult to handle, and I haven't decided on what techniques to use on them! Thinking gold flake flames, as one part.

09/17/2025

GTO progress. Fender bodywork done, and put in black epoxy. Floors and trunk had rust preventative paint applied, then put in Zolatone.

09/06/2025

Starting on the fender of the GTO. Someone had cut off the bottom of the lip on this one. Can't imagine why, it wasn't a case of rust. Mangled other end of the fender lip. and a weird sunken in fiberglassed mess on the top of the fender! Stripping it all to bare reveals a lot of sins!

08/25/2025

Got the other door welded and ground, on the GTO. But had a nice visit today. TWO chopped, primered Fords! My old F1 Now being enjoyed by Larry Scanniello), and Kenny's Shoebox. Kenny's is for sale, and going to Deadman's Curve this Saturday.