The Goodguys '70 Chevelle - Bare-Naked Stripes

A year ago, Chip Foose designed the Goodguys Rod & Custom giveaway car, a '71 Dodge Challenger, and set the bar for this annual tradition higher than it has ever been. Some people just said that the car was too cool to give away. Who among you wouldn't say that deep down inside, they wanted that car? Others, like Bret Voelkel of Air Ride Technologies, saw this as an opportunity to set the bar even higher for some lucky winner-which is why he volunteered to build this '70 Chevelle. So Brett called on World Products for the 540-inch big-block, making 600 horses with 605 lb-ft of torque, Bowler Transmissions for the 4L80E tranny, Alston Chassisworks for the FAB 9 rearend, and Precision Coachworks to handle the bodywork and the stripes. Some of you guys and gals may not know the cast and crew of Precision Coachworks in person, but you know their work. These are the guys who do all of the bodywork for Air Ride. The reason for this is that Brett owns the shop. This car had to be different; something had to set this car apart from all the others. The idea for some really cool stripes was kicked around and it stuck.

The hood has been cleaned... 

   

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The hood has been cleaned and, as you can see, it was in really good shape.

Racing stripes have been around a while. Across the pond a few years back, stripes were used to let the rest of the racers in the field know who the rookies were. I personally think the Romans had them on their chariots. This was the first real left-turn racing. Then, stripes were adopted by car manufacturers because they were cool. That's where Precision Coachworks comes in, with bare-metal stripes. Hot Hues has developed a way to preserve your metalworking chops without covering it up with paint. And the Goodguys giveaway Chevelle is getting a set. (Thankfully, I'm not going to do the bodywork this time around!) John Hemmer, the manager of Precision, told us, "This job was fun! Just make sure that you have a lot of time to spend on it."

It all starts with a good foundation; namely, the right tools, the right supplies, and a cleanly work ethic from the word go. Also, the interior was taken out, which makes the job of painting the car much easier. Then, the Chevelle was media-blasted and blown apart. Both quarters were replaced and new doorskins were installed. In this story, I will tell everybody out there the secret for getting your stripes nice and straight. Some of the other trade secrets could be real tough to get out of these guys. Remember, these stripes are bare-metal, so the work has to be spot on. That's where the rubber meets the road, to turn a phrase. So let's get naked.

The bodywork is done and great...        read full caption The bodywork is done and great care was taken on any spot where bare metal will be seen. If you have any dents, they will be seen from a mile away.

Once the bodywork around the...        read full caption Once the bodywork around the edge of the hood is done, it is primed. Hot Prime 2K (PN HHU 3040) is the primer of choice.

Now the stripes need to be...        read full caption Now the stripes need to be planned, and this is where it gets tricky. Measure from the center of the hood, on the peak.

Tools YOU'LL Need:
*Body hammers
*Dollies
*Various sanding blocks
*Primer gun
*Paint gun

How They Did It
Whenever you're working with bare metal, it has to be clean. It is best to use etching primer, so the other chemicals have something to grab onto. If you don't, the paint will peel right off. The original decklid and hood were in really good condition, but a lot of time was still spent making sure the metal was flat and straight. When the clear is put on, the bare metal will make any imperfection really stand out. Pre-cleaner is used to thoroughly clean the metal, to make sure all contaminates are removed. Eighty-grit sandpaper is the paper of choice. "We tried a lot of different test panels before we were happy," says John Hemmer.

Straight-line sanding was done for the '70 Chevelle, but feel free to express yourself with other designs. A precise, repeated round swirl, for instance, will give your stripes an engine-turned look. The metal is then treated with DuPont MetaLok PN 230S, metal-etched, and immediately rinsed with de-ionized water. This will give the clear something to bite onto. The panels are cleared after the metal is completely dry. The panels are then sanded with 600-, then 800-grit sandpaper. Tape off the body, and it's paint time. After the base is dry, the complete panels are cleared with six coats of Hot Clear. The panels are wet-sanded, and all the tapelines are buried under the clear.

There you have it: bare-naked stripes. It is one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time. So if you decide to get naked anytime soon, get a hold of your local DuPont rep and start peeling off the painted stripes.

How To Win This Chevelle!
This Chevelle could be yours, which would save you a bunch of time doing your own stripes-among other things. We wondered what the deal was, so we took a peek at the Goodguys Web site to see how to win this bad boy. Here's what we found online: "There are two ways. First, become a Goodguys member (for $30 per year) and your name is automatically entered into the drawing. Second, participate in any of the Goodguys Show 'n' Shine events and place your Sunday Lucky Ticket in the blue barrel on Sunday after 1:30 p.m. At the end of the 2:22 p.m. awards ceremony, we will draw one lucky winner from that event to become a qualifier for the giveaway car. You must be present at the time of the drawing to qualify."

Use 80-grit sandpaper to sand...        read full caption Use 80-grit sandpaper to sand the stripes in a nice straight line. Make sure you sand an area slightly larger than the stripes you plan.	Time for those naked stripes,...        read full caption Time for those naked stripes, and yes, it's easier than you think. Working your way out from the center of the hood, use quarter-inch fine-line tape, and start laying the stripes down.	I know what you're thinking:...        read full caption I know what you're thinking: "I'm going to need rulers, tape measures, dial calipers, a jar of peanut butter, and one small farm animal to get this job done."
Now this baby is starting...        read full caption Now this baby is starting to take shape. A coat of sealer has been put on to seal the bare metal.	The same process is done on...        read full caption The same process is done on the trunk deck. A lot of guys mess up on this part. Because there are no stripes on the roof for visual reference, one must take great care to make sure everything lines up.	The fit of the trunk deck...        read full caption The fit of the trunk deck is checked one more time. It's just like makin' biscuits: You've got to follow the recipe.
Once primed and bodyworked,...        read full caption Once primed and bodyworked, a quick coat of sealer Hot Seal 2K (PN 4140) is laid down over the area to be painted normally.	The underside of the hood...        read full caption The underside of the hood and trunk are painted with Hot Hues Techno Blue (PN 745654).
All the Chevelle's panels...        read full caption All the Chevelle's panels were sanded with 600-, then 800-grit sandpaper, and the car was taped.	The trunk deck stripes were...        read full caption The trunk deck stripes were then masked off to protect the bare metal. The car is just about ready for paint.	The stripes are covered with...        read full caption The stripes are covered with painter's paper. This keeps the blue from getting on that naked steel.
Now the basecoat goes on the...        read full caption Now the basecoat goes on the car. Always wear the proper protective gear when you're doing any painting-this stuff is mean.	After the body is completely...        read full caption After the body is completely dry, the panels are cleared with six coats of Hot Clear.	Damn, that trunk looks as...        read full caption Damn, that trunk looks as smooth as a baby's bottom. If you look hard enough, the stripe looks like a piece of stainless steel.
The body gets the full wet-sanding...        read full caption The body gets the full wet-sanding treatment, and then it's buffed. The car starts to go back together once that is done.	There it is: one set of bare-naked...        read full caption There it is: one set of bare-naked stripes ready for your viewing pleasure. The Air Ride Chevelle will be at Goodguys events across the county in 2008.