Saturn Renovation/Redo (It's not black either)

[AllBlkdOut07]

Now?

Looking good Umberto, you ever thought about investing in a powder coat setup for your own use?

I haven't given that much thought. You can only bake so many things size wise in a small oven, I don't have the room. Rich has a 6foot walk in oven. Plus you would have to have a bead blast set up..it's too much stuff. It would be fun though. Maybe in my next home, because I want a gargage that will fit my truck and have some type of floor lift installed.

Nope. Workin toward it just like you are.

 

[Bigredmariner]

Yeah I guess the big oven would be a sticking point, not to mention the cost of electricity to run the damn thing.

 

[AllBlkdOut07]

Yeah, and my lack of knowledge of powdercoating, prepping the metal is key. I'd learn I guess, everyone started out that way.

Oh, and the powdercoat gun isn't cheap either.

 

[Black02Silverado]

For the small parts you can get an oven off craigs list, electric or gas, you could use a small grill tank even.

Prep isn't to bad, but from most places I talked to they bead blast everything. Otherwise it isn't to bad a procedure.

That is going to be one bad Saturn when you are done.

 

[Black02Silverado]

I like Saturn cars I wouldn't mind one for the gas mileage. I want my older brother to buy a Saturn Sky im thinking there going to be worth some mula in years to come. I had a 84 626 which in 1985 it was called the MX6 or the two doors cars were well I loved the car the thing would give me super gas mileage I once let my buddy take it on a trip well he called me at work and said say Rolie does the gas gauge work it hasn't moved I said it sure does well he got back and was amazed with how good it was on gas. Good luck on your Saturn if your ever looking for a part there is ton's of junk yards over here in Houston PM me I will see what I can do.

There are a ton of Saturn's on the Raleigh NC Craig's list. I guess people are wanting to dump them because they think they can't get them serviced anymore. Thing is they are easy to work on and not expensive at all.

 

[AllBlkdOut07]

Yes, for small parts a small oven would work fine. Rich blasts everything prior to pcoating, even new bare metal supposedly.

Saturns are CAKE to work on, I'm learning as I go along with Dans help. There are still a couple online Saturn parts companes for new parts I've used. I think you can get parts through any GM dealer too. For anything you can't buy new, there is no shortage of salvage parts.

 

[AllBlkdOut07]

Little more progress from last week, nothing exciting though. Swapped out the inner bumper for a 95-96 nose. From time to time I see few people ask what's needed for a 91-94 nose swap to a 95-96 nose.

Many years of dirt build up

Old plastic off

Cleaned up

New smaller foam cleaned up (I have an extra of the foam piece if anyone needs one)

Installed

Sanded off the rust and painted the outer tie rod/shaft, Moog tie rod which was bare metal and was already showing spots of rust, and the CV shaft. Small details make a difference.

Tomorrow, the plan is to wire my stereo, install the new carpeting and put back some or most of my interior.

Over Christmas break, the entire suspension and brakes should be close to completion.

 

[Zembonez]

At least you are renovating the best looking Saturn!

 

[AllBlkdOut07]

Tonight it was time for plastic black soup. In a pot of boiling water I added dye and broiught it to a roling boil, turned down the heat and dropped in some light grey plastic that would look out of place.

Put the smaller pieces in some panty hose, tied a knot, dropped them in the pot, waited a about 10 min then went fishing with a coat hanger. Some of the plastics took the dye faster than others, the sunroof switch had to stay in longer, as did the spare tire nut which was white. I even was able to dye the light grey rubber sunroof trim. The color is black, not a perfect match to the charcoal material I used, but it'll certainly looks better than the light grey, and it won't scratch off like paint would. I included the visors for color comparison.

 

[AllBlkdOut07]

Also got around to sanding, brushing on rust reformer, taping off, and painting the gas support satin black(short of dropping it, this was the next best fix)