Projects 32 Vicky ~ The rise from the ashes

I'm starting this thread for my buddy Tingeezer. It starts when I saw the post by Chalkboard http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=537460&highlight=crankyape

I called John on Dec 7 and told him about the auction.
We were leaving to deliver some 32 stuff to Ca. on Wensday Dec.8. We stopped in Kingman Az to check the vicky out on Thursday the day the auction ended. It didn't look to bad so he was satisfied with the bid he'd placed.
By the time we got to Barstow he was the winner.
We made our deliveries on thursday and friday morning and we're back in Kingman to pick the car up on Saterday morning.
I'll use his pix and emails as he has progressed. When he finds out I started post he can carry on from there.

 

Saterday Dec 11th the pickup

 

Sunday , I helped unload and headed back to Kansas. When I got home these pix were in my email

If you look on the HAMB under burning 32 there is a video of it when it got hit and the story. It looks bad but is really an easy fix, the frame will need to be stripped and put in a jig to get every thing back in alignment, needs new rear coilovers. gas tank and frame horn covers. Bumpers,spreader bar,and a bunch of misc stuff. The inside door handles didn't even melt.

 

Good score,
Glad to see it being put back on the road,

 

that looks like the Vicky that was posted here several months ago that was hit in the rear and caught fire,,seems there was a you tube video of the wreck. HRP

 

Dec 14
This is one day of pushing and pulling.

 

Dec 15
It's kicking my ass but I'm going to get it, When I stripped the burnt bondo off of the door, there was still a few spots of DP90 under it. It sure has a lot of bondo on it, but that is probably what minimized the damage.

 

Dec.24

I finally got the wiring figured out yesterday,bought a fuel pump and fired it up, man was I a happy camper, Everything checked out fine, engine check lite went out just like it is supposed to. Today I pulled the body off the wrecked frame and put it on a new straight one, it's off about a quarter inch out of square and kicked up on the pass side about an inch and a half. I welded the new frame to my lift, so I can force the body around. I hope it goes as good as the rest of the project has.

 

That thing's gonna be completely buffed-out in another couple o' days. Really great to see it comin' back like this. Please keep the progress coming. Good luck! DD

 

Dec 28

It's getting there

 

There is something extra cool about this car due to the circumstances. Great thread!

 

Jan 2

The body is back on the repaired original frame, shimmed so the doors line up and close nice. All of the body mount bolts are in and line up. I tried to straighten out the pass side frame horn cover, but its still junk. I will buy new, the fender is going to save. I need to replace the ladder mount cross member and then I can take it apart, paint and reassemble.

 

OK Tingeezer you can take it from here!!!

 

I knew that car was worth saving, but you make it look easy.

 

Great save, what would you be able to do with a pile of rust?

 

Thanks, Gary. Just got back from Pueblo, got the straightened Billit 17 inch wheel back, looks pretty good. Tomorrow its back to the shop to repair the crossmember and then strip it down again for frame paint. Don't know what color to paint the car, I like black, but then I would have to put A/C in it. I will keep the updates coming.

 

nice save, is paint going to stick to the burned steel ?

 

Great job. You make it look to easy,but i know better.

 

I have worked with burn jobs in the past. Make sure that the metal is really clean. I used a "wash primer" as the first primer on the metal. I don't like NAPA paint but this stuff was one of their products and stuck unbelieveable. It was PEA GREEN. For some reason, the metal, once burned, doesn't like to have anything adhere to it properly. This wash primer stuff worked great. Not sure if NAPA still even has this stuff. I believe that PPG also has a wash primer - part # DX 1791. Once wash primed ( you only need a very light coat of this stuff) you proceed with 2 coats of Epoxy and then either Bondo over the Epoxy or start spraying the high build primer on. There is some sort of etching acid in this stuff and once applied properly, and with a top coat of Epoxy, you won't have any problems associated with burnt metal. Good luck with the rebuild.
I love Vicky's.

VR&C.

 

Um, did you read the first or third posts in this thread?

This re-build is really turning out nice, I wish I had the skills to work at the pace displayed here. Nice job!

 

Awesome to hear she's gonna be saved!!

nice work

 

Thanks for sarting this Gary! Dad never would have!

 

Is this vicky being returned to it's streetrod form? Or will it be hotrodded some? A mild chop and a wheel change would do that car wonders in my opinion

 

Good job Gary !!

 

Man, you make it look easy!! That bustle came out nice. Great save.

 

nice save ! so other than different paint color is this Vicky going back to it's street rod roots or a Hot Rod rebirth ? either way my hats off to you for putting it back together. I still gasp at the video footage on that car being hit then catching fire. I hope the first owner is doing well.

 

First question, how is the former owner doing? That looks like a great save, thought it was burn a lot worse. Look forward to more progress reports and photos.

 

A typical day in the life of a bodyman

 

Man that is so cool that you guys got the car .It wasn't the cars fault this happened to it.It was just in the wrong place at the right time to become a victim.You guys are kicking ass on her ( VICKY ). She will shine again. I am glad to see it saved instead of parted out. Good going!

 

i dont care if it becomes a bling bling street rod or not it is awesome that this car is being saved. good job man