Projects A late introduction-Junior Conway coupe build

OK, just got in. We celebrated by going out to dinner. I got second place in the postwar custom class. First place went to an immaculate '51 Chev. fastback with modern drive train. Definitley not a custom. It still had all the emblems and hood ornaments. This kind of thing is very common at car shows. Trying to make everybody happy and be fair. At the end of the awards ceremony there were the big ones left. I got the outstanding custom award. It's called a "willy" because the show is at the Will Rogers memorial center. A fantastic art deco complex that was built in 1935. A real mind blow for people that like that sort of thing.

All in all a good weekend. Thanks for being a part of this.

 

Great showing and congratulations on the wins. Now, are you gonna take a break and enjoy yourselves with the car more? I think y'all deserve a break for enjoyment. Congratulations on the whole project.

I'll be looking for the book and video........

 

Congratulations Jerry... very well deserved.

And I agree on the black Chevy that won Custom class.... not a Custom at al.

 

OK, I was going to post some pics of the car at the local Sonic drive-in. After going around the block I came home to hear the ele. Fuel pump clicking and the engine starting to stumble. This means it's dry, out of fuel. It looks like I need to deal with a little rust residue in the gas tank. It's not too bad. I'm going to see if I can get it boiled out at a radiator shop first thing in the morning. Salina is calling.
Think good thoughts for us please.

 

Jerry, the display looks great ! way to go !

 

Good thing it happened close to home. That should be about all that is left to do on the car, right? One day I hope to see this car in person. Good thought coming your way.

 

Well my computer crashed on Friday and I've just now got it up and goin'. It was decided that this car deserves a new tank. So for the sake of reliability and value a new tank is now installed. Still gettin' ready for Salina. We sure hope Salina is a little cooler than Texas. On my list is two hand held battery powered fans for cruisin in the car. With the new radiator there hasn't been a hint of overheating. Gonna still try for Sonic this week.

 

Finally an appraiser that knows what he's doing. Rick Mc Lash from American Auto Appraisers out of Phoenix.

 

Good deal. I guess it is harder to find these guys than you would think. Nice looking fuel tank too.....and the custom work on the tips of the exhaust pipes.

 

Those exhaust tips are just startin' to come around and look right.

 

i just found this thread yesterday. 62 pages later, i am astonished by this car.
the craftsmanship, and attention to detail...on your part and jr's doing it the first time..
i am just blown away..thank you for sharing this journey, and i look forward to seeing it in person..

 

This is with the air shocks at there most extended limit. An AWFUL lot of white wall if you ask me.

 

Those are great pictures Jer. I still like your avatar though.

 

We're headin' for Salina tomorrow. Will be in town Wed..

 

There is something that I have noticed and wanted to comment on for awhile. The H.A.M.B. provides us a place to communicate our affinity for this thing that's become a large part of our lives. It enables us to express those things that draw us together more than what separates us. I appreciate more than words can say the response to this car as well as the accolades that you've expressed towards me and my sons. Like you, as much as I am captured by the cars and the personalities, more often than not I walk by rather than introducing myself. In my case I'm just not comfortable with the idea. It's something that I have always had to work at. You see this in my reluctance to engage in the banter and respond to the compliments on this thread. I'm saying this because I would like to meet you. You know me (through this thread), I don't know you. Since this car has debuted you've been just like me. Look, sometimes smile, walk by. If by chance we can get on the other side of this and we do meet, I'd like to know your H.A.M.B. name.

 

Good luck in Salina. And you can bet if I ever am at an event where I see this car, I will definitely stop by and introduce myself. You guys deserve all of the attention you get for doing Jr.'s car.

 

Hey, we just got in. We need to unpack and regroup. Will post shortly.

 

Well we had computor problems when we left and we've got em' now that we're home. I can't post any pics. We're working on it. There were tremendous highs and lows this last weekend. I'll post as soon as I can get some pics posted.

 

The absolute highlight of the weekend was meeting and talking to all the HAMBERS. There was the old guard who wanted to stop by and say hi. There was also the young guns that will be the future of this thing that has us in its clutches.
This is Nick (fatkoop) from Colorado. He was a kid in Pueblo when the Zupan brothers moved into town from California. They had a Conoco station in Pueblo and they would buy cool California Kustoms and line them up in front of that gas station. He remembers Jr's car as well as the Betancourt Merc. And many others that were part of his early exposure to cool Kustoms.
We had a great time talking about being kids around this stuff and Jr's car in particular.
Thanks Nick you're a good friend.

 

This is Yaril (tylerdurben). He drove his new Shoebox build up from Florida ("1950 Ford Carson Top"). He sought me out and we had a good time talking about this "thing" that we have in common. He definatley has the "sickness".

 

This is Nick (fatkoop) from Colorado. He was a kid in Pueblo when the Zupan brothers moved into town from California. They had a Conoco station in Pueblo and they would buy cool California Kustoms and line them up in front of that gas station. He remembers Jr’s car as well as the Betancourt Merc. And many others that were part of his early exposure to cool Kustoms.
We had a great time talking about being kids around this stuff and Jr’s car in particular.
Thanks Nick you’re a good friend.[/QUOTE]

Good to meet you too. I really enjoyed yakin' about old times and your beautiful car, and if it was only about 25 degrees cooler, I would have stayed longer. I am really a geek about Jr's shoebox and all the other great customs from the '50s. Hope to see you again in the future. Thanks for the hospitality!

 

Jer, I finally got through this entire thread. All I can say is INCREDABLE! I surely wish I had found this thread before Salina where I met you, because now I feel I really know you. My end of our short conversation would have been more interesting had I read this before. Hope to meet you again, and best of luck to you and yours. Harry and Louise.

 

As has been stated much earlier in this thread. Jr is a working man. He'll be the first to tell you that. He's the big horse that pulls the wagon that is House of Color.
He told me months ago that he was going to be the Grand Marshall of this fracas. He asked if I could have the car there. My reply was if you want it there it will be there.
It was about a month ago that he told me that he had just gotten a restoration job in the shop on a vehicle thats valued at 7 million dollars. My reply was well, this is the kind of job that youve been looking for.
So when Jerry Titus emailed me with the news that Jr couldnt come because of business concerns I knew exactly what was going on. This is Jrs chance to make some money.
I had initially asked Jerry if there was any gas money available and he said that he would pay for my gas, registration, membership and $100.00 fun money. He said that it was still available if I would come. I accepted.
Heres a look at some lookers.

 

We arrived late Wednesday. We checked into the hotel, unhooked the trailer, and took a cruise down to the park to see where it was and check it out. There were a cluster of guys just inside the entrance. We stopped and Jerry introduced himself and commented "we're all family here, we're not about competition." It was said with a smile and I took it to be an inclusionary statement.
More lookers.

 

Hey i just saw this thread and i got to say the car is awesome,wouldnt change a thing.It makes me want to build my 50 box next instead of anything else.Awesome Job!

 

Thursday we went antiqueing and checked out the museum in town. Both are worthwhile. We also spent some time driving the various routes to the park to see what will work best for Jrs severely lowered car.

Friday we took the car out of the trailer and got ready to go to the park. This is the first time with mom in the car. I felt so comfortable and confident that I filled the tank with 97 octane (what the hell). We planned to do a lot of cruising. We got just outside the park when the car acted like it was out of gas and quit running. We were able to just pull into a parking spot on the perimeter of the park and started the process of trying to find out whats wrong.

About this time moms starting to not feel so good. Yeah, its hot (104) but thats not whats wrong. As were sitting there in the shade a 50 Chev 2 door rolls up . Its Harry and Louise (wizzard23) and they ask whats up?. I tell them I have a fuel problem of some sort and ask if they would take me to the hotel to get my truck. They reply sure, hop in.

My first car was a 50 Chev 2 door. Harry has done the outside and Louise has done interior. All very nice with sbc power. Along about now Im appreciating a modern drive train. It was a lot of fun talking to them on the way to the hotel. They come to Salina every year and both are equally devoted to the scene. Very cool. Thanks Harry and Louise, your life savers.

I get back with the truck and mom says shes gotta go back to the hotel. This is early afternoon. I need to see whats wrong with the fuel system. Ive installed an electric fuel pump on the left frame rail just in front of the rear wheel. I go across the street and knock on the door of Darrels house. He answers and I ask him if he might have some 2X4s or 2X6s that I might use. He says lets look. With these tools Im able to roll the car up on them and get access to the fuel pump. Theres no blockage from the tank to the pump. No blockage at the carb side of the pump. No blockage at the fuel block. I hook every thing up and it starts. At this point I need to say that this is my first summer with my first flathead.

I get into the park and down the side by the water to the turnaround and it stops again. By this time its late afternoon. I call Jerry and tell him my problem. We talk about it for a while. No solutions. I say youve got to have somebody on your crew that can tell me what might be wrong. He agrees to see what he can do.

About this time Rick Mc Lash ( the appraiser from Phoenix) calls and says that he almost has my appraisal done and asks hows it going in Salina? I tell him whats going on and he puts his buddy Ron Minor on the line. Ron explains exactly whats happening (the gas is boiling in the carbs) and why (the heat). Im in vapor lock college for the rest of the weekend. A lowered car traps heat. The gas tank picks up the heat off of the pavement. The oil filter housing keeps the engine compartment hot along with the trombone dual exhaust pipe thats on top of the left exhaust manifold. A perfect storm.

I get mom to come down with the truck and stay with the car while I go get the trailer. Ive got my plan mapped out for the morning regarding the few things that are doable away from home.

The stalled car early afternoon. Darrel gives me the lumber. Thanks Darrel, your a good guy.

 

Wow, even with an electric fuel pump. I don’t own a flat head ( at least a running one ) but I was under the impression that an electric pump took care of the vapor lock problem. Go to show what I know.

 

On Saturday morning early I went to Lowe's and got some thin reflective insulation material. I got some reflective fuel line insulation tape and water wetter from O'Reilly Auto Parts. I put the insulation from Lowe's on the bottom side of the gas tank to try and shield it from the heat and wrapped it several times around the oil filter housing. I put the fuel line tape on the metal fuel line that was accessible. I put the water wetter in the radiator as instructed. I also went to Dillon's and got some wooden clothes pins for the fuel line.

So I'm ready to give it another shot. Mom is in bed and will stay there most of the day. I felt obligated to Jerry to stay and at least have the car at the park. I had heard that it had been used to promote this event.

The car starts up (this thing does run great) and I head for the park. I'm watching the temp gauge all the way. It does fine in moving traffic but wants to peg when stopped. I actually got into the park and right across from the Night Prowlers booth before it quit this time. I got some help and maneuvered the car into a parking spot that would work. Later in the day I checked out their booth to find a magazine rack with several Kustoms Illustrated issues on it. Sure enough they had the issue with the car on the cover. They were looking at that mag and pointing across at the car all day long.

Jerry did drive by several times during the day on his golf cart. He gave me a look but, I never did get that phone call (after several call backs with no pick up) regarding the mechanical problems.

In going back and forth I make contact and meet Ron and Jill Springer the new owners of Night Prowlers. I explain my problems and they volunteer to protect the car if I'll bring it over to their booth. It sounds good to me. They'll let me park the trailer with the car in it overnight behind their booth on the grass. It'll be their mascot.

During the afternoon one of the visitors that looked at the car was Mark Moriarity. A very nice guy that I don't know. We go over some of the things on the car and someone mentions that he's a hall of famer. He leaves and mentions that this is his pick.???

Mom gets out of bed and comes down with the truck. I go get the trailer and we load it up for the night.

This is Ron steering the car over to the trailer.

 

On Sunday while at the Night Prowler location Bo Huff came by in his cool chopped Ranchero. Bo is one year younger than I am so we had a lot in common regarding our early years around this custom stuff. It was great meeting him and talking about how this car influenced us. Bo is looking and sounding great.

 

This is Ron talkin' about his quest to bring "ripple pipe" lakers to market.