1985 CHP #E408383 SMPV

[MOstang]

Hang in there....will all be worth it in the end.

[kapracing]

X's 2

[28HopUp]

Thanks guys. It will certainly be worth the effort.

[mac88chp]

Originally Posted by John10608

Congrats Bill !

I am sure it will all be done correctly and the right way.
Once this stuff is done, it's a lot easier and will look better faster.

I bet it feels good to be starting on it !
Keep the pictures coming !
Thanks !

x2

This is an important addition to the preservation of CHP vehicle heritage...keep it coming Bill!

[Mustang Kid]

Looks good!
I personally would still put in on a frame rack, unless the measurements that were taken were to the standards of a body shop with a frame rack. With that many problem areas I would think the front end would be a tad tweaked. My 85 was off by over an inch down and to the side, but it didn't look very noticible other than the front end was a tad slanted to one side.

Are you still going to paint it black and white first, Bill? Again if it were my car I would do that, since most likely when it was repainted white the new shade would have been a bit off from the doors and the paint break on the C pillar probably would have been visible. Most people probably wouldn't notice though, it's up to you

[E435300_SMPV]

Everything shown can be fixed, obviously taking more time and work, but the final product I can't wait to see. I also would put it up on a fame rack. So much of a car depends on the frame being staight, steering, tire wear, body alignment, ect.. Glad to see this car is on the right path. Good job Bill!!

[28HopUp]

Originally Posted by Mustang Kid

Are you still going to paint it black and white first, Bill? Again if it were my car I would do that, since most likely when it was repainted white the new shade would have been a bit off from the doors and the paint break on the C pillar probably would have been visible. Most people probably wouldn't notice though, it's up to you

That will be the plan eventually, Sam. The first pass on the car will be single-stage white, just like Ford applied the paint. Then certain areas will be painted black, like the undersides of the hood and decklid, and the trunk area. This will be the base for a future full-blown restoration in the correct layers of paint.

Originally Posted by E435300_SMPV

Everything shown can be fixed, obviously taking more time and work, but the final product I can't wait to see. I also would put it up on a fame rack. So much of a car depends on the frame being staight, steering, tire wear, body alignment, ect.. Glad to see this car is on the right path. Good job Bill!!

Ken, I owe you a phone call. My apologies! I just got caught up in getting ready for my trip to the MCA Show in Beaumont. I think a visit to a frame machine would be a very good idea too.

Here is a quick picture showing some of the CHP parts I picked up from Mike. Since I brought along an extra full-size spare for the long trip, I had to fold the rear seats down. Thanks Mike!

[NoDrama43]

Bill,

they all crack bro....especially when driven hard, jumped over crap in the median, etc. My 92 CHP car had so many stress cracks in the floor, trans tunnel, firewall, torque boxes and core support that I thought we would never get them all welded. After welding it all up and grinding it plus epoxy primer you couldn't even tell. Hell I had to torch off the most God aweful set of aftermarket frame rails you have ever seen in your life.

it can all be fixed and bringing one back that is in that condition is well worth the effort.

just think of Mikes 85 FHP and realize how lucky you really are. lol

[mac88chp]

Originally Posted by NoDrama43

Bill,

they all crack bro....especially when driven hard, jumped over crap in the median, etc. My 92 CHP car had so many stress cracks in the floor, trans tunnel, firewall, torque boxes and core support that I thought we would never get them all welded. After welding it all up and grinding it plus epoxy primer you couldn't even tell. Hell I had to torch off the most God aweful set of aftermarket frame rails you have ever seen in your life.

it can all be fixed and bringing one back that is in that condition is well worth the effort.

just think of Mikes 85 FHP and realize how lucky you really are. lol

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones too. Even though my car endured 10 years of Academy use on top of 2 years of patrol work, the bottom of it is just as clean as a whistle with no cracks or other related damage. The guys at the Mustang shop I took it to when I first bought it were absolutely amazed at the great condition of the unit body.

[28HopUp]

Although the car is farther along than the attached picture indicates, I thought it was worth sharing. This is the cowl with it sanded to show the number of paint layers.