Got a little more done during the week, finished off the door shut on the L/H side cowl, tacked up the L/H door skin, going to finish up welding the top of the cowl and vent this weekend and then finish up the door. That will just about finish the major fabrications, until I build the roof.
Couple of photos of the painted wheel to show the final colour. Fell in love with the green on the Sam Barris Merc when I seen it in the Rodders Journal. Went looking for a standard factory colour as close as I could find based on the photos. Really happy with this colour, should look fantastic against wide whites and should make the chrome and stainless pop.
Thanks nostalgia59, can't believe the progress you have made on yours. I am glad some one is following the inspiration of the social plating truck, I really love the style of that car, but not a practical look for me with a couple of kids. Plus I really want to keep the 36 grill on mine, they are my favorite ford front end. Can't wait to see yours finished.
Got back in the shed this afternoon, decided to fit the dash up as I have never actually had it all together or properly bolted in. Needed to fit up guages etc as I want to put some bracing behind dash (to support the cowl, as well as giving me something to mount fuse box, vents etc) and wanted to make sure it didn't foul on anything. The brace will also give me a frame to mount a cover under the dash to hide the wiring. Whilst I had it on there I modified the original Customline dash moulds and trial fitted them. I will continue the moulds around onto the doors. Made the section of mould for the door and mounted only to discover I am not happy with how the mould lines up on the door. Now need to recut the door and modify so that the mould sits right at the bottom of the door. Glad I tried this before finishing the L/H front door. Will also now definately move the Clock in the dash to the centre of the dash in line with the centre post on the windscreen. Now I know what this weeks projects are, but I must say I am really excited about how the dash looks in the car.
The whole project looks fantastic... the dash looks very nice as ... very stylish.. despite the many years between the body and the dash it works really well.
I really like your project, X 2 on the dash!A side note tho.....a trick my dad taught me before you install the dash, paint it bright gloss white on the backside. It really makes it easier to work behind it when you are on your back and trying to focus a light on the work area...also a little extra wire back there makes your gauges easier to work on/replace.
I would agree with Rik the dash really works with the car...even though the steering wheel is on the wrong side
Mate just had to go back to my RJ and check the colour out. Your bang on with that choice and that chrome/stainless is going to sparkle. What are your roof plans?
Thanks kiwi88, at this stage I am planning to build a lift off roof, not 100percent sure on the final shape, will have to design as I go as I have not seen to many 35,36 phaetons with roofs that I like. Dave Martinez did a liftoff roof for a 36 roadster a while back with a real simple frame, I am going to build mine a similar way. I have some photos somewhere, I will post them up when I find them.
Decided to change the dash around a bit. Although I love this dash in this car I couldn't live with the clock not being lined up with the centre bar in the windscreen. Just centering the clock would have looked weird because the radio and ash tray would still have been off centre. Had a spare left hand drive cusso dash from a previous project, cut the centre out of that and relocated everything. I only have it tacked in but I think it looks much better now. Put in a photo of previous as a comparison.
Looks good - nice work on the tub. I agree about centring the clock, it looks better there. The cusso dashends are a nice touch too.
Good idea to move the clock to center...it would have driven you crazy. Great job on your build. It's going to be awesome!!
Getting a bit done whilst on a couple of weeks holiday. Finished cleaning up the inside of the cowl and welding in the braces. This is were the plans with the dash changed. Decided to weld the dash into the car as I do not like all the lines where the door, dash and cowl meet. So the dash is now welded in. I originally wanted to bolt the dash in so that it would be easier to fit up, however there is so much room behind the dash this won't be an issue. I will be painting the back of the dash white as previously suggested. Also started stripping and cleaning the cowl, hope to finish all this and dss up ready for epoxy primer tomorrow.
I never even noticed it ! Guess I am getting old haha , good call on welding it in nows the time to do it !
Blackroad you're getting a lot done, nice work. I haven't been able to get anything done on mine with the cold weather and holidays. Oh yeah it's summer for you guys down under...
Mate I'm comin over your way late FEb/early March 2012, anychnace we could hook up? Would love to see this car in the flesh.
Got the rest of the cowl cleaned up yesterday. Also refitted the R/H front door and finalised hinge bolt up and gaps. Really happy with gaps between door and cowl, especially were it fits up against dash. Didn't get a photo but ill take one tomorrow and post. Fitted up unfinished L/H front door. Again had to finalise plates to bolt hinges in pillar, then realised the top hinge I had used previously was different to the R/H side. Luckily I had a spare upper hinge still attached on an old door so managed to salvage this one as a replacement. Need to get back to finishing up the L/H door tomorrow.
Blackroad. FYI I've attached a couple of pics of the roof structure on my '36 roadster. I didn't build it, but it looks like mostly marine hardware and steel tubing. It's light, but not the quickest thing to remove. I sure like what you're doing on that car! View attachment 1524122 View attachment 1524123
Hi Ralph, thanks for the photos, I rely like the simplicity of that frame and also like the fact that it resembles original hood irons. Was looking at a thread on your car the other day. Love the look.
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