I've been following this build since nearly the beginning. I can't begin to tell you how impressed I am with what you've done in a one-car garage with a $150 car! Great work man, hope to see it at Goodguys in Scottsdale this year!
I'm posting here on occasion to have proof that I was here when this thread is part of the movie. Looks amazing!
Thanks! I see it as I did the easy part. You must have many more hours into it than I do. The chrome is the jewelry for the already existing masterpiece. And I don't mind playing myself in the movie.
Only problem is you won't have any lines, it will just be you wearing a mask and the sound of a grinder running.
I saw a '51 Kaiser on a trailer at the recent Hudson Nationals in OKC. Looking at the four-door this guy had, and the two-door you created from one, the work on your car is just amazing. I can't wait to see the finished product. You have one of the coolest build threads on the HAMB, no doubt. Great job!!!
So sweet, she has just the right amount of chrome on her to set her off, she's like a classy prom queen.
I've got a dilemma on the upholstery now. I had bought a bunch of pre-pleated (using a heated roller) and plain white vinyl with the intention of learning to sew and doing it all myself, but I'm now really wanting to get this car done by the end of the year so I'm thinking about farming it out. You can get pre-made Thunderbird seat covers for $450 but who knows what the quality is like. I've also gotten a few local quotes for $500-600 to stitch up the seats using my material. I made the mistake of going into a high end shop today where it would be closer to $1500 to stitch the seats using a nice pearl white vinyl with french pleats, new foam, powdercoated frames and nice tight fitting covers. Now I'm really questioning the whole thing. Bottom line is I need to get the car done and don't want to drop thousands more into interior at this point. I had planned to do it all myself, and can handle everything but the sewing at this point. Then again, I don't want to skimp at the end and have a sub-par interior. So what do you guys think?
Contact da34guy here on the HAMB. He recently moved from Prescott to Oklahoma, but had a hispanic kid in Phoenix that did AWESOME upholstery work for cheap. Although Ron Mangus did the majority of Don's builds, this Phoenix kid was perfect for those "quickie" jobs that didn't need the super high end stuff that Mangus is famous for. I've seen several of his interiors and I wouldn't hesitate to have him do one of my cars! And he'd probably be willing to use your materials too.
Thanks for the tip, that sounds like the kind of shop I'm after. I'm not building a Ridler award winner here, I just don't want to be disappointed when I look at the interior.
Well with the way this car has come together it really deserves a high-end interior. From what I've seen of this guy's work you WON'T be disappointed. His headliners are a work of art in themselves, and you know how hard headliners are to do? Most upholstery guys HATE doing them!
Still shopping the upholstery job around. I found a boat shop that has a good balance of price and quality, and the guys are actually willing to let me watch so I can learn something too. They were pretty enthusiastic about me learning, so I think that's the shop I'll use. Hoping to get some work done this weekend.
Of all places to do upholstery, you found a boat shop in AZ? Just kidding. If they are even the least bit interested in cars, they will love working on the Kaiser. So close to finish now...
That's funny. You must think we ride horses to work and wear cowboy hats. There are actually a lot of lakes here and boating is a big industry.
I got the rest of the clips I needed to install the stainless around the back windows. I also made a sill for the back windows to sit on. I stuck the potmetal window surrounds together with some long strand fiberglass bondo. We'll see if it holds up. Gene welded these with some goofy, welds anything welding rod and it did not stick at all. It just globbed on the surface and once it was ground down they just fell apart. He said he has never had so much trouble welding something. The back corners of the seats needed to be extended to fill a gap before they are reupholstered. And a final test fit before the seats are redone. I will probably use the Thunderbird armrests on the door panels I am going to make.
I've got T-Bird seats in my 54 Chevy but I don't have the divider and I haven't found one yet. I reckon I'll just make something. It's looking good man.
Fresh Interior might be the greatest thing since the invention of the wheel. Look forward to seeing it in this beauty.
I was planning on using blue Trinadad (sic) carpet from ACC, the showy stuff with the silver strands in it, but they no longer stock it. Does anyone know where to find something similar?
Thanks. You mean the package tray that goes behind the seats? I think HAMBer Earl Scheib might have one. I ended up only using the front edge of mine and made the main part of it and welded them together. It's in the thread somewhere....
They discontinued ALL carpet colors with the silver strands in it. I bought mine when I heard they stopped making it. You will have to find someone who still has a stockpile of it. Try calling Dean at Sunbelt Fabrics in Dallas, TX. Maybe he can find you some???
You mean you don't? I know AZ has all the lakes and mountains and other fun stuff. I just found it humorous given the stereotype that AZ is simply a desert with the Grand Canyon. Indiana, IMHO, is actually kinda boring as far as outdoor activities, especially comapared to my first 23 years spent in MI. Unless you really enjoy farming, I guess. You know I could have hooked you up with the pot metal welding. All it needs is a thin plating of copper, and it can be soldered easily. I hope the fiberglass holds. Pot metal is pretty porous, so you may be just fine.
That did cross my mind, but it's so much easier to be able to adjust the fit with the car here. If I sent them to you for welding I would have to somehow hold all the pieces together and then hope they fit when I get them back. I originally had Gene weld them on the car, before paint. Now it's a little more difficult. There is a guy in town who claims he can weld them, so I might still consider that. Also if I sent them to you I might as well have them chromed.
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