My Farm Find 84 Grand National Restoration and Custom Build

ProLaser · Feb 16, 2016

Hello all, this thread will follow the restoration and customization of my 1984 Buick Grand National. I rescued this GN from a farm house in Wisconsin, it was literally on a dirt road. The car ran but very poorly and the interior was an absolute mess.

After fixing a few small things and getting the car to run and drive it was time to address the body. The paint that was on the car was applied very poorly and was peeling and chipping all over the place. I called my body guy Jason and it was time to access the damage. Enough talking, pics are next!

Bumpers, grill, lights, quarter windows removed...

Loaded up and ready to head to Jason's for auto body!!

Accessing the damage! Check out all of the marked areas!

ProLaser · Feb 17, 2016

Time to shave the bumpers and start smoothing out this rough jem.

The bolt holes need to go but we need to have the threaded studs in order to mount the bumpers back to the car.

These are the OEM bumper bolts, the heads will be cut off and the studs attached to the bumper.

ProLaser · Feb 17, 2016

Now it's time to address the body.

The antenna hole is shaved and as a behind the dash antenna will be used.

Doors are off, the bottoms are rusted and need to be handled. Header panel is off and getting some love.

ProLaser · Feb 17, 2016

More body action!!

Header panel

This is how bad the paint was! This is the passenger door.

The door bottoms!!! Typical G Body cancer but the doors are the only part of the car like this. My guess is that these are not the original doors.

Chuck Leeper · Feb 18, 2016

Rust only in the doors?
What do the body mounts look like?

ProLaser · Feb 26, 2016

Chuck Leeper said:
Rust only in the doors?
What do the body mounts look like?

Yes, these doors do not belong to this car. Rest of the car is clean. No accidents or evidence of. Not sure why only the doors got swapped.

Steve V · Feb 26, 2016

You really should strip that paint all off and start with bare metal. It will only be a matter of time before lacquer checks reappear under your pretty paint. Nice work so far!

ProLaser · Feb 26, 2016

Steve V said:
You really should strip that paint all off and start with bare metal. It will only be a matter of time before lacquer checks reappear under your pretty paint. Nice work so far!

The doors are the only panels that have that crazy cracking and they have been media blasted bare. My auto body guy is doing all of the work and is very knowledgable. I believe that he is doing it correctly as he has to warranty it. I will still bring your idea up to him.

skidlid · Feb 26, 2016

I second the opinion on removing all the laquer paint . Laquer is an un catilyzed paint. It will contract and expand causing problems over time in most climates. It does look good though. It's just lots of good work gambling on old product underneath.

ProLaser · Apr 7, 2016

Thanks for the input. All of the lacquer paint was successfully removed and the car is out of primer, sprayed, cut and buffed! I will load the pics tonight. It is currently getting the doors and trunk installed. It will be back at my shop on Saturday for the final assembly and high quality pics.