Hello All

[camstuart52]

Hi all,

My name is Cam and I`m a newbie from Tasmania!!! Just bought myself a new (Old) Project in the form of an EK Holden Ute!!! Unfinished Project was the description........



As you can see it needs a bit of work, ok maybe a lot, but its straight and has minimal rust from what i can see!!! Not really sure which way i want to go with it yet as I LOVE mat paint but not sure of the cost and durability, so if any one has any info, please help!!!

Running an HR Front end, 3 speed but might change to 5 speed and it will have a 202, but is currently running a 173!!!

Please any advice, opinions or questions would be fantastic!!!

Thanks Cam

[thropzed]

Hey Cam, Welcome to the asylum!!lol.
Nice project to start with.
Keep us posted on your progress and plans
Don't forget to ask plenty of questions
Lots of help here.
Cheers Theo Z............

[mattymartin]

hey cam,

welcome mate, good to see another project on the way...

re, matt paint, mate i love it... but i'm starting to steer away from it as i had some peolpe asvise me that the water doesnt run off it as easy as gloss therefore rust would prevale in the end...

as mine is goind to be a daily driver, parked outside & i surf every morning i think i'll be going for a gloss as the forces are against me...

BUT I THINK MATT STILL LOOKS BEST...

but i cant afford to keep repairing the rust that WILL appear sooner rather than later with a matt finish...

hope this helps your decision...

matty martin

[captainbill]

Welcome abored cam,sounds like you already have some mods done to your car and if theres not much rust it should be smooth sailing.Well done.

[camstuart52]

Yeah i`m quite happy with finding it and I think i paid a pretty good price for it as it has come with some new tail lights from rare spares and so forth!!!

But the otherside is that it is missing parts and I know that these are getting harder to find.......

Will be painting it in the factory colour which appears to be a light aqua/green colour, sorry not real familiar with the name!!!

Mat paint is so nice, but I was worried about the same issue, even though its not going to be a daily driver, still worried about the rust mattymartin!!! Plus i dont know anyone that can help me with paint and bodywork down here so in that sense i think i`m screwed So if anyone knows some decent and not TO expensive, because i know this will be the killer in the budget, i know mechanics and so forth!!!

So any help would be FANTASTIC!!!

[parisian62]

Welcome aboard Cam...but you know that already from me...(read between the lines...another stuff up with activating accounts)!!!

regards
Stewart

[Devilrod]

Welcome Cam, looks like a real good start there...

As for matt paint, I think a few things need to be said. If normal acrylic or 2 pak for that matter has flattening agent added it should be fine although will deteriate over time due to the lack of extra protection added from polishing. If tinted primer is used then rust will reappear alot quicker as from what I have been told is that primer is porous.

Personally I'll stick with shiny paint, its just as easy as flat paint to maintain and will outlast a flat paint job no end. Not too mention cost difference is minimal as paint costs will be the same, just a little extra costs spent cutting and buffing.... plus flat paint does not hide poor bodywork!

[camstuart52]

Hey thanks for the welcome Everyone and Stewart for your extra help!!!

Also thanks for all the advice so far and the support so far!!!

So I know most people on here will not be from Tassie and may not be able to help, but if anyone can help me with information where i can get parts, and also some one who might be able to help with body work, as I`m unable to Weld .........always been my weakness, so if i can get someone else to do the ody work it would be good!!!

As you can see i`m missing the front panel which sits beside the front bumper, and one didnt come with the parts for the car, so i will need to get this, and the crome work around the front windscreen, so as you can see I will need parts hahahahahahahahaha - rubber kit and the likes!!!

Really cant wait to get started!!!

[ekv8ute]

Welcome to the forum Cam.

Go with gloss paint.I did the strip/paint thing in 2003 and painted mine gloss 2 pack.My car sits outside all day mon to fri about 60 metres from the beach and I live about 100 metres from the water.The car is often covered with a fine mist spray from prevailing winds which means I have to polish/wax often (the car that is) but still no rust showing.

Don't forget the rust will always be there but if it is eating from inside to out it'll take longer to show!Repair then prepare properly and all will be good!

Regards Mark.

[camstuart52]

Well there is the other issue, do i paint using 2 Pac or Acrylic??? what is easier (Cheaper ) though in saying that i dont want to have to repaint in 2 years or even 10 years!!!

Come on Tassie people please help me with someone who can do body work and paint WELL!!! I think i`m going to lose this battle with the body work!!!

HELP

[Devilrod]

Acrylic is probably more labour intensive in upkeep, but well worth it as it does get better with age (my opinion). It does require regular polishing.

2 pak requires less maintenance from my experience. If a car is left outside and not polished for 3-4 years it still doesn't look too bad
Don't ask me how I know....

But in the end if you are doing it at home as a first attempt acrylic is more forgiving. If you are having trouble finding someone, try logging on to OZ Rodders Forum and ask there.

[captainbill]

2 pak is by far the better paint but not the easiest to use to the begginer.If your going to outsource the job run with 2pak.If you have a go yourself acrylic will look after you.Besides after a good buff up,the untrained eye probable wouldnt be able to tell the difference.

[camstuart52]

Well it sounds like it will be getting 2 pac because i dont think i have the skill to do the body work and the paint myself, to scared to try because i do want a good paint job that will last!!!

What is the easiest way to lower the car itself also, not wanting to go uber low, but i want it to be a nice level like this:

This is my old FB ute...........WHY DID I SELL IT!!!

Also will it scrape??? You all must hate me already....all these questions!!!

[MINT62]

welcome cam

yea why did you sell it???
the easiest way to lower your ride is to put lowering blocks in the rear, and cut a coil out of the front springs
im running h/duty lowered springs in the front - a much safer alternative
good luck with your project

regards ray

[camstuart52]

I have no idea why i sold it!!! Just young and dumb at the time, but hey as long as you learn from the mistake then your fine!!!

Well lowering doesnt sound like it will be 2 expensive or hard, not really into chopping springs so i think i'll do it the right way

Really wanted to get something started on the body, but couldnt get the OZ Rodders forum to work and really need to find someone who isnt going to over charge me and do a shit job....tough task i know as body work is so bloody expensive....anyone? any ideas? please!!!

Also how hard is it to change to a rack and pinion and whats the best/cheapest/easiest way to go....commodore??? I hate having a budget

Cheers