1962 Chevrolet Impala SS Hard Top

Kayo
Project started 10.25.21

Kayo
Started test fitting the suspension components to see how the stance will look.

Kayo
Stance looks ok, started sanding all pieces

Kayo
All parts have been sanded, will start mounting the pieces for priming. All chrome parts are now soaking in bleach to remove chrome.

Kayo
All parts have been mounted ready for priming. I might have to buy bleach because the bleach I have in a container is struggling to remove the chrome paint from the parts.

Kayo
Need to go to Autozone and purchase the Chevy Engine orange.

Kayo
All chrome parts have been stripped and mounted for painting.

Kayo
When I began this project I decided I was going to build it custom but I have decided now to build it completely stock. The chrome parts such as the bumpers that are for the stock version are now being soaked in bleach to strip the chrome paint.

After a bit of research, I found that MCWfinishes sells the chevy engine red paint for the engine. Also, I have decided to paint the car in a two tone color scheme, laurel green metallic and ermine white, both sold by MCWfinishes.

For the chrome parts, I am going to switch to Alclad II chrome paint instead of the Spaz Stix paint because it is cheaper.

Also purchased from Hobbylinc Tamiya aluminum, flat black, semi gloss black, thinner, and primer, in order to start using the airbrush.

Kayo
Intake manifold, left exhaust, right exhaust, and radiator have been painted aluminum.
Oil filter and rear shocks have been painted blue.
Starter, distirbutor, ignition coil, fan, generator, oil filler tube, air cleaner, front suspension, chassis, right upper A-arm, left upper A-ram, rear axle, differential, jack up blocks, rear control arm, rear stabilizer arm, interior bottom, radiator wall, battery, fan shroud, fan shroud ring top, and fan shroud rind bottom have been painted semi gloss black
Driveshaft, steering gearbox, inner wheels, right exhaust manifold, and left exhaust manifold have been painted steel.

Kayo
Fan belt, lower radiator hose, and upper radiator hose have been painted flat black.
I ordered the Tamiya liquid surface primer and the lacquer thinner and primed the washer bottle, sun visors, brake master cylinder, left hood hinge, right hood hinge, and fuel pump. I gotta say, I'm impressed with the primer, lays smooth and flat.

I forgot to add a comment on the purchases I have made for this project, I'll post them below,

From hobbylinc.com,
~Tamiya XF-16 Aluminum
~Tamiya CF-1 Flat Black
~Tamiya X-18 Semi Gloss Black
~Tamiya X-20A Thinner
~Tamiya Liquid Surface Primer Gray
~Tamiya Lacquer Thinner

From MCWfinishes.com
~1401 Chevy Engine Red Lacquer
~Primer

From amazon.com
~200ct pipettes
~100ct measuring cups

Upcoming purchases for this project,

From MCWfinishes.com
~6204 Laurel Green Metallic Lacquer
~6002 Ermine White Lacquer
~1017 Gloss Clear Lacquer
~1200 Semi-Gloss Clear Lacquer

From hobbylinc.com,
~Alclad II 1oz Bottle Chrome Lacquer
~Alclad II 4oz Gloss Black Base

Kayo
The washer bottle and sun visors have been painted flat white. All parts that will be chromed have been primed. All interior and exterior parts are ready to prime once I receive the primer from MCWfinishes.

I am still thinking of how to paint the hood hinges, they are originally gold but I don't know if I can match the color. Still thinking on how to paint them.

Kayo
I received the Chevy engine red lacquer and primer from MCWfinishes today. All exterior and interior parts have been primed. The engine was primed as well and painted with the Chevy engine red lacquer, I will start assembling it once the paint has fully cured.

I am pending priming the body and hood, I need to wash it to get rid of any dirt and oil, I also need to order the laurel green metallic lacquer, ermine white lacquer, and gloss clear lacquer. I am unsure about doing a two tone paint job, I am still learning how to use the airbrush and trying to do a two tone might be more than what I can do. Still thinking about it...

Also, after researching Alclad paints, I need to buy their aqua gloss clear, this seals in the chrome paint because anything can rub off the chrome paint if not sealed in with the clear.

Kayo
The body and hood have been primed, will need to sand it as there were some specks of dirt that got stuck to the body. Engine is halfway completed, only pending thing is to glue the carburetor but I can't do that until I chrome the carburetor.

Kayo
Engine has been completed and attached to the chassis. The chassis has been fully assembled only pending the wheels. All interior parts have been painted laurel green metallic, working on filling the details on doors, seats, and dashboard.

Kayo
All the details on the interior of the car have been painted, and the roof of the interior has been painted white as well.

Also I have already chromed the chrome pieces using the Alclad system and are ready to be assembled.

I am only pending painting the body and hood.

Kayo
The interior has been completed and joined to the chassis with the engine, I am pending detailing the engine bay and adding last finishes. I will paint the body and the hood tonight in order to let it cure and apply the BMF to the body, clear it and apply the polishing compounds. Lastly add all remaining parts and call this project done.

Additional purchases I have made,

From MCW Finishes,
~6204 Laurel Green Metallic Lacquer
~1017 Gloss Clear Lacquer

From hobbylinc.com,
~1 oz. Alclad II Chrome Lacquer
~4 oz. Alclad II Gloss Black Base
~4 oz. Alclad II Aqua Gloss

Kayo
The hood and the body have been painted, need to inspect it to see if there is any orange peel, and still pending detailing the engine bay.

Weird thing, when using the MCW paints, I started airbrushing "spider webs" that you can see on the painted model, I spoke with the manufacturer and it could be PSI is too high for the paint. I might end ordering another bottle of the laurel green metallic lacquer depending on how much orange peel I have and how much I have to sand the model.

On a different note, I'm going to buy the airbrush from Harbor Freight, I have seen a lot of good reviews and I was thinking I could use this airbrush for priming parts.

Kayo
Ended up having to sand the body as the paint had orange peel on the surface, due to the renovation being done on the house, I will have to postpone clearing the body until the dust settles in the house. This might take about two weeks give or take depending on how much dust there is.

Will complete all other parts to have them ready for final assembly, i.e. bumpers, windows, and tires.

Kayo
Had to order another bottle of Laurel Green Metallic lacquer as I forgot to paint one part. Might recoat the parts I have already painted and sanded due to sanding some of the metal flakes off the body. One month has passed since the renovation of the house, the dust has settled I can airbrush again.