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Re: To strip or not to strip... that is the ?

To: TheSkinny@aol.com
Subject: Re: To strip or not to strip... that is the ?
From: "Christopher M. Delling" <cdelling@ic.net>
Date: Wed, 23 Oct 1996 13:19:17 -0400
TheSkinny@aol.com wrote:
> 
> On 10/22/96 you wrote:
> I'm struggling with a decision and I'd like your input.
> 
> Background:
>   I purchased a '66B in July of this year.  The motor was toast and has
> been removed and is at the local specialist being rebuilt ($1,800)  So I
> started out stripping the engine bay to repaint it (color change).
> 
> Dilemma:
>   The car does need to be painted.  I was originally planning on
> finishing all the mechanicals and then having it painted and put in a new
> interior.  But a little voice is saying to me "Strip everything off the
> car, paint it, and then re-assemble it.  C'mon Doug, let's do it the
> 'RIGHT' way!"
> <<snip>>
> 
> Doug :
> 
> When I was first initiated into the wonders of LCB's, I did as you first
> proposed.  Mechanicals first, and as you, while I had the engine out, I had
> the engine compartment painted...ORANGE.
> 
> I was young, and I thought that all sports cars needed to be bright colors.
>  Everybody had a red car, so I picked Super Beetle Orange.
> 
> Trying to keep things simple, I asked the painter to mask off as much of the
> engine compartment do-dahs (brake lines, etc.) as possible.
> 
> (year 3) Well by the time I got around to painting the rest of the car, the
> color choice had changed from Orange to Black.  But because the engine was
> running fine, we skipped the engine compartment. (are you picturing this?  I
> would be a 1st choice candidate for VDPO-very dumb prior owner)
> 
> (year 5)British cars being how they are, the clutch went out..Perfect
> opportunity to strip and refinish the engine compartment the right
> way..Removed front clip.  Orange paint on everything.  Had to hand clean
> brake lines, fuse box, you name it, wiring harness..everything had catalized
> orange acrylic enamel on it.  What a Mess.  While the finished job looked
> good, it would not have cost any more to do it right the first time, although
> the whole car would probably ended up Orange :O
> 
> (year 8)  Found a friend who mid-project split up with his SO, and I got a
> great deal on a near-perfect body shell.  Stripped and painted it the right
> way, and it only took one winter.  Kept driving the first car while the
> second body was being completed. (3rd color:  Metalic Black Cherry) Since I
> had the mechanicals just the way I wanted them on the first car, I simply
> took them out one at a time, cleaned and put them on the new car.
> 
> (year 12)  Still making little changes here and there.  Probably always will.
> 
> David Riker
> 69 Midget--ongoing restoration--Orange? What was I thinking?

Well Dave,

My Vermillion MGB and I won't consider your comments regarding orange 
car too offensive.  After all, A Midget?  What WERE you thinking?

Best Regards,

Chris (Nomex Undershorts) Delling

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