It's been a few weeks in "real time" since the first installment of my King T build, and I'm happy to report I've made quite a bit of headway. At this point, the chassis is complete and the drivetrain installed, but you'll have to be patient, because the kit goes together a heck of a lot faster than STREET RODDER makes it to the newsstand each month. That said, let's review what transpired last issue and then move on to what's happened since.
The build began with two important steps that hold true in any similar situation; the first being matching the parts received to the packing list, so you're sure you have everything you're supposed to, and the second is assembling those components to ensure everything fits the way it should. In my case, everything that was supposed to be there was, not that I had any doubts, and it all went together without a hitch.
At this point, I just want to take a second to reflect on the reasons I chose to attempt the Total Performance King T build. Like I said in the first installment, Jim has pretty much spent the majority of his free time out in the garage since we were married back in 1978, and being a "car gal" at heart, I really did enjoy riding in them when they were complete. I was just ready for one of my own and hoped that if I did build one, he might take some time off from building stuff to cruise with me and enjoy 'em (you listening, Jim?).
The assembly is for good this time around, so the first thing I needed to do was get the frame and suspension parts painted to protect them from rusting. Jim swears by this stuff called RustSeal made by KBS Coatings. RustSeal is a one-part (no catalysts or hardeners), ready-to-use, high-solids, rust-preventive coating that, according to Jim, is actually strengthened by exposure to moisture. Plus, it's unharmed by most every chemical and flows out to a beautiful, rock-hard, tough coating that isn't easy to chip or scratch-whether you spray or brush it on.
Though I've watched and helped out in the garage all these years, I knew the fabrication factor had to be minor-or, better yet, nil-in order for me to build a project on my own. If not, Jim would have had to do the fabrication, which would lead to assembly, which in turn would lead to him building the car for me-not what I wanted. So, during those lonely times sitting in the family room by myself (while Jim was in the garage, of course), I thumbed through some of the catalogs he has piled all over his home office (another topic he and I will have to address ... yet again).
One of them was the '08 Total Performance catalog, and that's where I saw the King T kit and what it consisted of. The fact that the vast majority of parts came all together from one source was an idea I liked, and the fact that the kit was designed and built by professionals to be a bolt-together project made it perfect for a beginner like me to get into the hobby as a participant, rather than a spectator or a tagalong.
Let's take a look at the final chassis painting and assembly that has taken place since the last installment. Let me stress that, for those who want to become a part of the hot rod hobby but think the lack of big bucks or vast mechanical skills preclude it, I implore you to take a look at what Total Performance has to offer-you'll be impressed, surprised, and then on the road in no time!
Proper prep is the key, as is the case with any coating or paint. Jim had me check out the KBS Web site to read up on the stuff, so I'd know why we were using it in the first place, and to see that there is a correct way to prep the metal to get all of the coating's advantages. There's a three-step process to do it right: cleaning the surface, using AquaKlean; surface rust removal, using RustBlast; and then coating the surface with RustSeal, the colored rust-preventing coating. Though most of you will more than likely spray the stuff, I opted to brush on the coating-after following the first two cleaning and de-rusting steps, of course. It went on easily, covered in one coat, and flowed out nicely. |  | 
While I was busy brushing the frame, Jim cleaned, prepped, and sprayed the loose parts for me. He did end up spraying a couple of coats of regular paint over the RustSeal, because the coating is for protecting the steel only and doesn't contain UV screeners, so direct sunlight will cause it to fade. The frame on my King T is completely covered by the body, so only the parts that hang out required additional painting. |
I had to pay more attention during final assembly, especially when it came to the suspension parts. I had to make sure all the rod ends were adjusted the same amount to keep everything square. If not, the rearend would end up out of square, and the car would track cockeyed. I used Jim's caliper to double check everything, and it was sure faster and easier than counting threads! | 
Just like the first time, I started at the rear and worked my way forward. The rearend assembly went in nice and square with the four-bar bars all adjusted to the same length. | 
I went ahead and installed the front shocks this time. The King T uses old-timey friction units, so it's no wonder I couldn't find 'em when Jim told me to grab 'em outta the box-they sure as heck didn't look like any shocks I'd ever seen before, but they're cool. |