Projects 59 El Camino.. Build Pics

I welded the rear bullet hole closed..



This is the reason, I haven't thrown away some of the remnants I see fit for future use.





I am satisfied with the direction this is taking on.. not bad for an ex limo driver!



Then I headed to the chrome shop..



Had the radio faceplate & the t/gate handle done..



I didn't study the handle assy, before he cut it apart to plate the handle..


Would somebody be able to post a pic on here for me, of this handle assembly.. and how the spring goes back together?!? I need help!!

Please post picture here, for others to see & future build references. A PM only helps me.. Sanks!

 

I figured it out..

 

Getting there Jay. Those valence panels are so flimsy right from the factory, and they didn't fit when new.

I sanded some more on my roof last night, I got an LED strip to put behind my roof scoop for a third brakelight, it's gonna look good. I hope I don't lose my enthusiasm but this heat is killing me, I know it's less humid in Cali but it's even hotter than Florida.

 

The heat is not my friend, but a reminder I'm alive. I feel ya! The next 3.5 monthes are going to test me. Now I have to get up early, cos it's always 10 degrees hotter here . Truthfully, the humidity steers me away from even wanting to visit FLA. Maybe in the winter.. Keep, keepin on..

 

Keep on it Jay, all of the pics you are taking are appreciated. The detail shots will definitely help me with my new project.

Looking forward to more updates.

Apparently there are a bunch of Impala trim pieces mixed in with the stuff I bought, is there anything you are still looking for? I am a couple of weeks away from getting the stuff home but I will be doing an inventory when I do. I like the stock spear better than the Impala trim so I will be willing to sell/trade any Impala stuff I have.

 

I just picked up the last Impala piece I needed, which was the psngr door molding. It was on sale for $40 (grin) I appreciate it though..
When I bought the Impala molding set, I was fortunate enough to get a pair of paint dividers included. Now I just need a picture of the clips that hold 'em on. I'm not going to two-tone it, I just want to add them on. 10 years ago my Uncle had a 59 Nomad that he ended up selling to friend of mine(Cos' I was going to make it into a 2dr) So I guess I'm trying to some what relive those times. Look forward to seeing your 59, post some pics here when you get it home! Jay

 

Those dividers are damn hard to find, I ended up buying a pair of cast brass ones off ebay, not very good quality and expensive to boot, but they'll work, I suppose.

 

I'll be interested how you do the whole dividers, thing. I look forward to the pics! I was wondering about the ones on eBay. I've heard of people making complete body moldings from brass. The Brown & White 54 HT Foose built, with the sectioned roof.. those are chromed brass also

 

They came with a mounting template, I can fax or mail you a copy. Are yours original stainless steel ones with three pins on the back? You have to get those blind nut thingys, I've seen them on ebay, I don't what they're called but you drill a hole and put them in, the trim pins then go into the holes and stay there, they're used in applications where no access is available from the other side.

 

I have seen those things your talking about. Yeah, my dividers are stainless. I will probably put them on where I'm most happy.

 

I stripped the lower valance today, front & back. I used the small anvil, to hammer out the two dents it did have.. past tense! Nice piece, no holes or cancer. Just some minor pitting.



Fit is nice, too!



I painted the rear frame piece, I installed early in the thread. Also the backside of this center valance. Nothing really exciting..

 

I was getting the left corner bed panel ready for repair, an I get a phone call from Gazelle Machining.. ' I'm working on your hinges! ' .. I was there a half hour, later




I just got back from the machine shop, an I want to cut the cancer off the lower portion of the panel. But I hesitate to make noise this late..





from this..



to that..





This picture shows how little material, is actually in the vise..







Here's a picture of the hinges, reverse engineered..

 

thoes look expensive !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!but way cool

 

Eric (Gazelle Machining) does beautiful work. I'm fortunate to have met up with him. Were selling them for $350 a pair, but out of steel. These first ones will be aluminum, for mock up reasons.

 

Great build!!!!!

 

Thanks for the kind words!

 

Just wanted to jump in and give you a pat on the back. Great work Jay.
Have you already mentioned a color choice?
(I'll admit that I'm a picture whore and I may have missed it in on of you non-picture posts.)

Jeff

 

post #216 & 226 show the interior colors.. while the exterior will be Wimbelton White (Off-White)

 

A friend of mine glanced at these moldings & two seconds later he mentions.. ' You should get rid of the Impala.' I guess it surprised me, since he's not too much into old cars. So I gave it a shot. Now, I have to have the top hole, welded closed.



But now the whole thing isn't really centered on the molding.. I have thought about making something to replace the Impala, too..



Then I got back to the inner panel bed panel.











I enjoyed fixing this piece.. I guess all this is getting a little easier. I asked my Dad about the clips to hold on the paint dividers. We looked to see if we had any, we didn't.. but he told me I can buy 'em from Smittys Paint Supplies. Kewl!

 

Jay, why not remove the flags as well, fill holes with stainless rod, then polish? It would be a nice smooth look. JMO. It's really coming along well. Keep up the good work.
Mine is almost ready to install the new glass next week. That will be the last of many changes i've made in the past several weeks...Mike

 

That would save me a lot, too! I wouldn't have to replate & repaint the flags. That's a good idea.. Thanks, I'm glad I thought of that! (Grin) J/K

 

Today, I finished up what I said I was going to do, tomorrow.. about 2 or 3 weeks ago. Welding upside down, means your back's lying on the ground with the rest of the hot metal. I wasn't about to to put on the leather welding jacket, with todays temperatures. It's funny, the welding jacket looks brand new.. cos' nobody wears it!









I've been looking for some decent hood opening moldings, I can have restored. I have some, but they require welding. Welded aluminum will always show up like a scar once anodized. I bought new park light bezels and they're anodized, so I can't just polish a set of hood opening moldings..

I'm looking for somebody local to the Inland Empire, who can weld up the holes in my stainless moldings.. Thanks, Jay

 

call my friend max fish hes the one that made my exhaust on my roadster its all stainless. 1-951-654-3195. billy

 

Gracias Hombre.. If my friend Andy isn't comfortable doing it, I will give Max a call.

 

So today, I was at Gazelle Machining, all day.. I haven't ordered the aluminum stock, for the two bottom hinge pieces. So instead, Eric felt he was up for the task of machining the holes needed to attach the center cap. My battery died the second after I tried to shoot the otherside. It's countersunk, for the bolt to be flush against the brakes mating surface. I tapped the holes in the back of the center cap with a 1/4 20 starter tap. But, now I need a bottom tap to so the threads reach all the way down in the holes of the cap.



Then I seen he finished the two top hinge pieces. I finished tapping the bolt holes in the hinge tops, too. I didn't take any pics, of what I'm talking about. I forgot to. More later on that.





It's funny, I am going to paint the hinges. Nobody will even notice them.. A shame, but totally cool since they're so original looking. Effin' light, too. Both of those finished aluminum pieces, do not weigh what one steel piece does.





Eric was telling me about a past employee he had. Guy brought his dremel tool from home, to speed up the polishing process on the 10K mold. They went backwards.. Long story short, nothing beats elbow grease & hand sanding.

 

One down..
Now that everything is all set up, the second wheel just has to be clamped & indexed in. This is the picture I tried to take when my battery died on my phone.

 

Looking at my rear bumper guards, I started sorting them out a little. I'll weld them up when I pull out the welder for the lower driverside rocker.



The porta-power came in handy, once again.. Opened up the gap, so I could manipulate it a little easier, with the pry bar.



Nads, has some pics on "severe bondo abuse" I seem to remember, with him repairing his rear bumper guards. I need to check that out again!



After I paint all the inner guts with Chassis Saver, I will weld the new rocker on! Okay, lunch breaks over.. back to work! (an I lovin' it)

 

Jay your doing great, I've been by mill st a couple of times lately, once with watson looking for a place to eat, then I went to the lowrider show a couple of weeks ago, mean to check you out but I'm usually burnedout, and in a rush to get home. Someday Roger.

 

Definetly, you're always welcome to stop by. Lots of good places to eat around here, that's for sure. I went to the lowrider show elevan years ago. Haven't been since.. I'd rather walk by the bombs at Pomona Swap Meet. Look forward to meeting you, Jay

 

These rockers are the only thing I've wasted money on so far. I should have bought a new piece of sheetmetal, and just used my break. The small amount of material I used from these replacements wasn't worth it.



So far it looks like my rust repair is coming to a slow halt.. Cos' rust don't live here anymore! B)



Now, Imma be a sandin' fool.. Hot damn, I'm happy though. My beer is real good to me, right about now! I wanted to be done with this car by now, but I'm seeing how long it takes, doing everything yourself.