Still a great thread. I grew up in Modesto. Cabong I am only 20 miles away from you, do you accept visits? Jack
I believe the steering wheel is from a '57 Pontiac, and probably the cheaper model, like the Star Chief. It does look good , and takes a little attention away from the column. I'm trying to concentrate on finishing the exterior, then ry to peel some years off the interior. The kruizer is all ready for the body shop, and should make the trec in about a week. It's amazing how long that seems after busting butt for a couple months to get this far. I mentioned before that when I was visiting Leland and Margene a while back, a fellow blasts up to us, in a wheelchair in the lunchroom, and starts talking to Leland. Turns out they have been friends for years, and his son has a restoration shop near here. I know him pretty well myself. But, his son has a shop in Caldwell, right near me, and is tickled burple to do the job. And, he would work with Gene Winfield when the time comes. His name is Travis Chandler, and the shop is Combined Metals. I will do lots of updates while the work is being done. I'm excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Travis says he will start immediately,and not pull off 'till it's done. I like that........ Visits......ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!! Anyone that would like to visit, just lemme know so that I can let Leland know when.
The steering wheel pops but the capper is the vice grip door handle. Reminded me of but don't want to get in to the story of my brother in law and a handle just like that one.
Hey Mike, funny thing happened on the way home from the shop........Actually, there was a vice grip on the door when Nick and I picked up the fuchia funster, and I was told the drivers door would not open. We worked around this issue for at least a week. Leland told me the "shop" had stripped the gears on the mechanism, and the door was jammed. Sooooo, I finally decided to look at it. It was not stripped, and neither was the handle. But, remember the door jam problem. It was simply hard to open. That's now fixed, and we leave the vice grip on just for a laugh. But speaking of handles, with the addition of the Ford dash, the space is limited for the window crank. So, a smaller crank is in order. I asked Leland, and he said they were there, and they are. He simply used wing window handles, and the windows work easy enough that the wee handles work just fine... NOW, about the brother-in-law.............
Lets just say I saw him grab the only handle he saw on his way out the door, it was on his lunch pale.
Well, we've had a few days off, but now it's time to rock'n roll once again.. Leland's lavender lowster is get'n a new set of duds. Nick and I are taking the critter to Travis Chandler's shop, Combined Metals in Caldwell on Monday. For those who haven't read the story, Travis is the son of Joe Chandler, who I bought a really bitch'n 235 (wish I had it now) from a few years back, and Joe is the son of Jim Chandler. Joe and Jim have restored cars as an occupation for their entire careers, and Jim is now in the same care center as Leland and Margene. I had connected with Travis for the paint in the morning, and met Jim that same afternoon, not knowing they were related. I have a good feeling about this, as Leland, Joe, and Jim have been good friends for many years. The circle keeps git'n smaller. The chrome is in a heap, waiting for the trek to Ogden. We are just waiting to make sure the grille ends will still fit the fenders.
Cabong, incredible story. It's great that you and Nick are doing this for Leland. Years of good karma are headed your way. Keep the videos coming. CTJ
Cabong, I've been following the story and enjoying the ride. I have a link that may help to identify the steering wheel. I think it's a Chevy wheel. I just picked up a what was said to be a 59 Impala wheel. It's the one in photo #6. The wheel in Lelands' cars might be in photo 2 & 3? Dom http://www.southeastchevyparts.com/1958-1964-Steering-Wheel-Identification_b_20.html
Hey 52 and Rob...Thanks for the info and question. First, if I had that '52 hdtp and you had the proverbial feather, we'd both be tickled burple. The steering wheel is identical to the ones mentioned, but the horn ring is a tad different. Lee's covers the wheel hub, and yet the bars are a bit smaller. I think it's the same situation with Pontiac, where the top of the line is fancier than this one. I could be wrong. Gauges, what gauges, I don't need no stink'n gauges!!!!! This San Francisco Treat had a great set of Stewarts, but lost them in previous work, in favor of these white things. If I have the oppornokity I will change them during the paint process. This Burple People Eater goes to the paint monster today....Yahooooo!!!!!!!
So it's off to the paint shop, and naturally, it rains. But that's okay, it's a convertible, right? I still wish this puppy still had it's original mill...Maybe down the road, so to speak. Travis Chandler, shown with the purple puddle jumper, is the owner of Combined Metals in Caldwell, a body and metal fabrication shop. Travis is the continuation of the circle which I mentioned earlier, that includes Travis' Father Joe, and his Grandfather Jim, both of whom are old friends of Leland. Jim is actually living in the same facility as Leland and Margene. Are you following this???? Travis is confident that the paint work will take about three weeks, so be prepaired for lots of updates. I'm excited!!!!! Another item that requires input from all the kempers out there. Notice the blue masking tape on the quarter, and the three short lines going forward. Nick is thinking that small spears in that area would break up the lower fender buldge, which is part of the '53 Olds quarter. The Olds had a large trim piece that led into the skirt, but that would be too much, and wouldn't fit well. Please throw some suggestions at us. I agree with Nick, it needs something there. Leland and Margene, along with their daughters, that you guys for all the kind words.
I like what nitro did here, but thought that if you were to add "teeth" that perhaps they belong in the scoop rather than on the "hump" at the bottom of the quarter panel: Does Gene have any suggestions? -Dave
^^^ the teeth in the scoop above look great! And they help break up the quarters. The scallops look like they're fighting with the quarters. Maybe those teeth and a simple stainless trim on the front fenders and through the center of the door, like the popular Packard trim.
yeah im thinking incorporating a small trim spear somewhere on the side, maybe running from around the headlight back somewhere. it really sort of breaks up the enormous sea of lacquer. most 'normal' people wont notice it but us 'crazy' ones will.
I have these spears that you can have, if you will use them on this wonderful car. I only have 4 though, and you need 6.
Don't know how I've missed this thread until today, but I've got to say that it's the most fantastic one I've read in a long, long time!!! Looking forward to keeping up with every post!
While the paintbrush was still warm I added some cobalt blue and some trim rings on the wheels.. I just can't leave things alone! -Dave
I agree that the teeth look great in the scoop. I have asked Dave to do another one of those cool photoshops with the same color, but with the Olds side trim added back on. That will tell the story about having the high spears or low spears. Merc units would work grat for the scoop, but I suspect we'd have to make the spears for the "buldge". GREAT IDEAS COME FROM GREASER MINDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Merc teeth would look great down low, how about '52 Chevy grill teeth if you go in the scoop like on the Hirohata Merc!
*believe that I'd mentioned the lack of a door gap between the drivers door and the quarter. Well, I finally grabbed a grinder and whittled down the door edge 'till the gap was okay I dont mean to be a dick so please dont take this the wrong way, but did you attempt to ajust the door before going to this extreme? The 1/4's are the guide which the doors are aligned to, which then the fenders are aligned to. The hinges have massive ajustment to them , can be opened up at the bolt holes if more is needed. You can even bend them some a bit if needed. Ive seen cars that need a little shaving for perfect lines , but its a big pet peeve of mine when I see this technique used as the first option. Ive cussed jared on spike t.v. for even showing this to be proper.
The problem here is the fenders were already welded/moulded to the body, so the only choice is to rework the door edges....
Why is everyone so hard on the door edges getting ground and welded. This has to be the easiest area to grind and build up. I have done trunk edges and ground through the lap and sheet metal the lap wraps around (3 pieces of sheet metal) and you just clamp and spot till all is welded solid. Then grind with a flapper wheel. It took me all of about 15 minutes to do 14" of a trunk lid and about 30 minutes on a door. I like nice gaps and it is well worth spending the few minutes to do this. The edge doesn't warp like a center of a panel where you have to go very slow.
Correctomundo guys, the body at this point is one piece. Somehow, when the quarters were welded together, the rear jam post was a tad to far forward. Leland says he had a problem since the build with the latch pin hitting the striker plate. We thought we had the problem solved, by modifying the plate, but the more room we gave the pin, the more the door relaxed rearward, till it hit the outside edge of the jam. The edge of the jam is metal, no lead here, so the only alternative was the grab the grinder, and watch Nick cringe (I enjoy making him do that). Soooo, as you can see, it was not a quick decision to go for the grind, but had to be. We're looking at spears and teeth, and will update on what we can find, to see what you all think. Then I'll pass it all by Leland and Gene.
The Jalopy Journal
