I just was sharing the pattern, since he's considering something inside the side spears. Didn't mean to get ya riled!
Not bad, I guess. I can't believe you've already had it a decade. Or that that means you've had the wagon 14 years. We were in our 20's, for gods sake...
Wasn't just a "1957 cars" problem. The government got on Chrysler's tail after all the problems with rust in the Volare line, 20 years later.....we all know that the reason why we see so few "classic era" Chrysler product is because MoPar just didn't bother with even the vestigal rustproofing GM did.
So how did you figure out the insert materials? I have been trying to figure out a cloth insert for the 55, but I haven't had any luck searching SMS website. Trying to search Google for material samples is a lost cause.
Just email SMS with any build info you have on your car's OEM configuration. They returned samples of my car's materials very quickly. I bought the "black jacquard mosaic" fabric from them, but went with a local vendor for the silver vinyl. Its not as "accurate" but I like the silver.
Totally true. But the 1957 cars were a huge departure from the quality cars that Chrysler had been known for from before the war up to 1954. For '55 and '56, the quality was down generally but still about industry standard. For 1957, the cars were just junk. It ruined Chrysler's quality reputation for... well, forever, I guess. They were a mess. But I still love 'em. Have fun reading... http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=51824&start=1
My dad texted me today to remind me that it's been a year since I started this thread (thanks, dad ) so it must be time to get out a status update. 2018 was a hell of a lot of fun! Building and driving this old thing with all my friends was great. It runs and drives awesome, doesn't do anything scary or weird (you know how old cars can be), and it gets a lot of attention everywhere it goes. But now that it is proven to be a good car, it's time to make it a good looking car! So it all had to come back apart for paint, chrome, and interior. After stripping all the chrome and stainless off, we were happy to see that there really is almost no rust on the entire car - quarters, rockers, trunk extensions, wheel openings, trunk and window channels, rocker drains, body mounts, and all the other usual suspects are just about perfect. There was some old collision damage on the driver's quarter that dad is working out, but overall it's the most solid example of a '50s Mopar that you could ever hope to find. lower quarters rockers trunk channel and tail light areas The back half of the car is in first prime. Nice to see the car in one color! Not a lot to report besides that! Once the car is painted we'll work with an upholsterer friend to get the seats redone, and possibly have him do the entire interior if we can work out a budget. I've been making some minor mechanical changes and repairs to get it ready for 2019, but mostly the focus is on the cosmetics. Thanks for checking in!
We painted one of those once.... We buffed and rubbed that sucker for a month! Lots of sheet metal area on those buggers! Yours is beautiful!
Hey Dan, thanks man. I've been enjoying all your progress too! Thank you sir! Mine too Much appreciated! Thanks Jon! I know, the green one, I was sick with envy when you scored that car! You may already know, but the guy you sold it to is doing a great job with it. Thanks Phil, that means a lot. Start planning a trip to TX to check it out! Thanks!! Thanks, I do too!
Fantastic! Amazing to see one of those with no rust. Can't wait to see it in paint! Gonna look awesome!
Yeah, Gene would have been better off starting with a Mopar instead of making one out of a Mercury LOL
Gotgas: Thanks Phil, that means a lot. Start planning a trip to TX to check it out! That's a fine road car, Danny. You should hit the West Coast Kustoms gig, in Santa Maria. You'd be the King!
I figured that once the mechanical part was done, you guys would tackle those Looong sides, getting ready for Black. Since you hadn't posted in a while, the guess was sore fingers from sanding kept you from typing! Great to see progress and hope it doesn't fight you too much. From the sound of it, this one will be pretty easy to get nice, but they all are a b(%$& to get really straight for black.
Car is completely primed. It is such a good, solid body. Didn't take much filler at all. Time to block!
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