man you should get axle and boys behind the "history of customs" at the GNRS this year to let you debut your kaiser there. I believe it will fit right it as a modern custom with traditional styling. And the fact that Gene did the fade seems like it should help.
They look so good on there...a work of art in the making. That's the first time I saw the grill bar in chrome. I finally finished copper buffing it to my liking, and my dad plated it the next day when I was gone. When I came back the day after it was bundled up already so I let be. I'm glad it's nice!
I just spent 3 hours of my life reading this thread. its almost 2am here now. and im pretty sure that was the best 3 hours I had this week. your build is amazing. thats all there is to say.
Subscribed. My God. What a car. Just saw one like it on c-list about a week ago. Nice car for 500.00 if I remember right. Thought nobody but me would ever see anything to be made out of an ugly old 4 door Kaiser. I guess you showed 'em didn't you. Can't wait to see the end of this build. Love this car. Thanks for sharing your story with the rest of us.
Spent most of the weekend putting the front end back together with the end goal of installing the main grill bar and ends. I ended up taking everything apart, stripping, painting and installing new hardware because everything is covered in paint and primer. These are the filler panels I made for the front fenders. This piece of sheetmetal floats inside the grille end (Kaiser guys call them bananas). It's one of those original parts that is worth restoring rather than replacing because it still performs its intended function. I stripped the sheetmetal part with a wire wheel on a bench grinder and I got a vibrating tumbler to clean up the screw clips. Next I punched holes through the .060 neoprene and sandwiched it between the grill end and the fender so I could trace the outline of the gasket. I just used scissors to carefully cut on the line and it came out pretty nice. Note the hole punch tool I made, it sure beats trying to cut circles with a razor blade. Here's a shot of the grill and everything associated with it installed. I love the symmetry and the lines when you look at the car straight on. Take a good look at how many things line up to each other. This is the original Kaiser design! As requested, a full side shot. One more of the rear. I still need to tighten up the rear apron to the body.
Probably some 22" Boyds. No really I'm planning on running the ones that are on there now. I would like to repaint them using the technique that Gene used on the rocker panels - black base with a cobalt blue candy over the top. They would look black but would tie in with the car. I'm holding off so I can paint them when I get some respectable tires. From there I might consider a chrome trim ring or spider cap, but nothing beyond that.
Whoa, My heart stopped there for half a second lol. That would be cool If they were the same color as the rockers. I really think a nice Art Deco cap goes right in with the look. The bright chrome to contrast the dark colors down around the wheel well. I know it will be killer though. You have been truly impressive in your build this far...
I have no idea what they are, but man they are cool saw them in the classifieds here. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=519033&highlight=hubcaps ...... maybe someone will chime in with some other suggestions,
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