I ran across this thread a couple years ago, and then saw the car in HotRod but hadn't been back to the thread in a while. Looking killer, NTAPHSE. Everything about this build is almost surreal, double so for you I imagine.
You know the build is not surreal at all because I am so involved in it. What's surreal is all of the comments on the HAMB and having guys who I look up to compliment my work. It makes for good motivation when you're six years into an endless build.
Jesus christ dude...that is one beautiful car! I can only begin to imagine how proud you must be to have created something like that....well done mate!
Few shots of the headlights, fluted vs non-fluted and if you look carefully flush vs frenched. I wanted them recessed but it just doesn't look right with these headlight rings. Here's how you paint a spring and not have it look like crap. Sandblasted, primed and painted while stretched. On my next build I am going to zinc all the parts like this but at this point its way too difficult to figure out which parts need plating then catalog them all and send them out. It's something you want to do in one shot because you usually just pay a batch fee. Next time... I made a tool to replicate the factory crimp on the stainless window trim. I bet they used a very similar process at the factory. This is the final fitment of stainless before it's sent to Josh for straightening and polishing or chrome. It's hard to find someone you can trust with the welding on such thin stainless parts, but Josh said he knows a guy. As you can see I made sure to buy the BLUE tape so it would match the car.
That tape DOES look pretty on that paint! I have been following this thread since you started it and I want to thank you again for showing the tools and techniques you're using for those little details. Your obsessiveness about all those little things is what most of us admire and what is going to make your car a true standout when it's finished. (It will be finished eventually, right??)
You should bring this thing to Lone Star Round up next year... I want to see it in person! The peaks in the headlights is a great touch.
Good idea. At least if the paint comes off when you pull the tape you can stick it back down again and no one will ever know!
Got the final fitment of window stainless finished over the weekend. Just need to weld a stainless screw to the inside of the rear trim to hold it down to the body. This will require drilling a hole in the body. Pics to come. I stopped by Stewart's Racing on Friday and had them TIG a couple of things for me. Snapped this pic of a fiberglass kit car they are working on. Pretty sweet for a fake right? I also got a new column from the junkyard, which I will modify and paint to match. Kaiser Larry found some cherry NOS tail light lenses for my car. They still had some scratches from being stored for 60 years, so I wet sanded them with 600 grit then buffed with plastic buffing compound and they look amazing. The fitment on the car is spot on too, I'm very pleased. Sorry, crappy cell phone pics. I think I have a few more on the camera that I'll upload later.
Zephyr headlight rings never looked so good! Mine never fitted that well on the car they actually came on, I should take to the grinder like you have. Looking real good!
I found this pic on my hard drive. I think it was from a post on Pirate 4X4. I think I saw a pic of it there just before the HotRod magazine deal. Man it's come a long way! I'd like to say keep up the good work, but it appears that you don't know how to do bad work.
You have definitely shot all to hell that old saying "You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear"!!!!! Eddie
Hey that's cool! See the ruler taped on the front fender? That was for reference when I was thinking about moving the front wheel-well back. My old long travelled Tacoma is the pic too.
Gene is amazing. He was a part of the Army occupational force in WWII. I think it's his vegetarian diet.
Happen to know who's kit that is? With a few minor changes that's exactly how I'd want to build one...
The stainless trim on the rear quarter was sticking up so I had Stewart's weld a machine screw to the backside so I could bolt it down. I found out later that Kaiser added a fastener in '54 or so. All the trim installed, no masking tape involved. Had to fill in this hole on both sides, hoping Josh will be able to grind and straighten it without resorting to nickel dipping and chroming the stainless. Some of the scratches on the NOS taillight lenses. Wetsanded with 600 grit and a 3M rubber squeegee.
The Jalopy Journal
