1952-59 Ford Kovid Kustomline build thread

Thanks! I was never a fan of the large front turn signals/parking lights on the 55 and this grill was one of the options that allowed for removing them. Its amazing to me how well the 55 Plymouth grill bolted right in without looking out of place.

 

I'd love to find one for my wagon.

 

Lookin' good, I've got to paint the inside of my hood, it's so ugly.

 

I will admit that painting the inside was the last thing on my mind when I took the hood off. However, it was easy to get to while it was propped against the wall so I figured why not. A quick hit with a wire wheel and a trip to the hardware store for some Barbecue paint and "Bob's your uncle".

 

Nice work, she's lookin' good! Like 56longroof, I'd love to find a Savoy grille for my '56.

 

Like all of our cars, mine had some rust in the lower rear quarters. My dad had already formed a replacement patch panel for the inner but had yet to welded it in. I started working on the outer and found the rust to be a bit larger than I had first thought. I know EMS panels are great but I was not ready to drop that kind of money on one of their panels and the repair was fairly small compared to the whole panel I would have had to purchase and replace.
Instead I was milling around in my local Goodwill store and happened to come across a rather heavy duty cookie sheet in their cooking section and thought that it would be the perfect size for my panel. For just under $3.00 I thought I would give it a shot. I knew if it didn't work out then my safety net would be the EMS panel.

Goodwill cookware by Dos Cincos posted May 19, 2021 at 10:19 AM

I formed it into the rough shape that I would need using the crude tools I have on hand here and later used some hammer and dollies to get it into a more refined shape before welding it and the inner panel into place.

GW Patch Panel by Dos Cincos posted May 19, 2021 at 10:22 AM

A little filler and a light coat of primer later, to see where I am at, and it is fairly close but still needs some work. I will most likely leave it like this for now so I can get it back on the road and to some local shows.

Getting closer by Dos Cincos posted May 19, 2021 at 10:27 AM

I also found this cool ad for the 55 Plymouth. I like the "Longer, Lower, Wider" line. My grill didn't have the black lines painted when I purchased it and I have grown used to it that way but now I'm not sure if they should be painted or not?

Longer, Lower, Wider by Dos Cincos posted May 19, 2021 at 10:11 AM

 

How wide are the black stripes? Could you use electrical tape for a temporary look-see to help you decide?
Nice work on the panel, Don, can't tell where it actually went.

 

Great idea on using electrical tape! I obviously had not thought about that as a temp option.

 

Then I stand corrected. I guess I should have said "Like a good many of our cars"

 

This has been posted ad nauseum before in other threads but ethanol in today's fuel really takes its toll on rubber fuel lines. I've recently been chasing a stumbling issue when the engine got to temperature. Long story short, it was one of the rubber fuel lines breaking down and getting past my Edelbrock fuel filter and into the carburetor. I replaced the lines with fuel injection rated lines so hopefully that will help then hold up better against the ethanol.

 

Hmm...timely reminder for me. I likely need to evaluate all my fuel lines on my daily related to this. My engine is injected, but was also installed prior to ethanol being as normal as it is today. Thankfully, I can still get “supposedly” 100% gas in my area. But, I have been running the 10% blend***** in my daily not really considering that some of my fuel lines may not be ethanol friendly.

 

I really like that grille. Looks great. I stripped and junked a 55 Plymouth and now wondering if I kept the grille along with hood, trunk lid and bumpers that are still*****tered around here.

 

Thanks! You'd be sitting on something if you still had that grille. Lots of folks looking for them.

 

Yeah, it's one of the grills on my part hunt list. I'd pay a good penny for one in decent shape.

 

Plans sometimes change once you get into a build. My original plans were to use Lincoln door*****ons in this car but after looking through thousands of pictures of old and new customs I made the decision to just shave the handles and go without. Here is the progress over the past few days worth of lunches and today's PTO day. Hopefully one day soon I'll have it back in one solid color so I can add the trim back and cruise it like that for awhile.

 

I like your decision to just shave them.

 

Looks good.

 

Thanks! Probably not much of an update to some but I'm still relatively wet behind the ears with all of this. Each update here is a new experience to me and is helping keep me motivated in moving this project forward towards completion.

 

I like it. I want to do the same to my car. Hopefully I can get it in a shop by next spring.

 

Was able to get the driver's side rear fender and rear cat walk area all into primer yesterday. That just leaves the passenger door and passenger side rear fender. Was also able to adjust the driver's door to line up better. I guess I should probably start polishing up the trim in preparation of putting it back on.

Drivers side now all in primer by Dos Cincos posted Jul 3, 2021 at 7:38 PM

20210703_180036 by Dos Cincos posted Jul 3, 2021 at 7:38 PM

20210703_180050 by Dos Cincos posted Jul 3, 2021 at 7:38 PM

 

How it started

1955LeftFront by Dos Cincos posted Oct 26, 2020 at 12:00 PM

How it's going

Drivers side now all in primer by Dos Cincos posted Jul 3, 2021 at 7:38 PM

 

I am really liking how your car is turning out!

 

Thank you sir! Lot's of blood, sweat, and tears to this point.

 

Great job!!!!

 

very clean, nice work, you're well on your way to a great ride, Congrats! Did you put in a manual pull cable, or?, in case of electrical malfunction, like your trunk latch?

 

Thanks!!
I have plans for a manual pull cable and possibly electricity at a later date. Right now I'll just leave the window down or vent window unlocked.

 

Swapped out the stock pulls for a chrome bullet style that I had been using on the turn signal and shifter. Hard to get a good picture of them but it is a small custom touch that made a big difference.

20210706_140342 by Dos Cincos posted Jul 6, 2021 at 2:10 PM

 

She's lookin' good!

 

your car has come a long way from it's first picture and looks really cool...well done

 

Driver's side trim has been polished and attached to the car. Now time to back the car in so I can finish the other side.