Well, the weather warmed up, the snow has melted, buds are swelling, and like bears, DeSoto's are waking up and shedding their winter slumber. Yeah, it's a cheesy metaphor, but I'm super happy to have this thing FINALLY out of the garage. First time since October! And, the brakes work (if anybody remembers my struggle to get the four wheel disk brakes working properly). The bodywork is DONE. It's nosed, decked, smooth as a baby's bottom. The primer is blocked, re-primed, guide coat and blocked again. By the time the gr*** in the lawn greens up, this thing will be in color.
Right? It's always good to pull a car outside, stand back and look at it in daylight. I wet it down with the hose, it looks laser straight wet. I did find a couple of pinholes the FeatherFill didn't get and a tiny, tiny dimple in the left front fender behind the headlight. That had guide coat in it, but it did not show up in the (rather poorly lit) shop.
You have been very busy. I have spent the winter working on my truck but still have a lot more to do than you do. How many hours per day are you in the shop?
Man, it is definitely looking good. I can’t wait to see it in paint! And, you make me feel like a slacker since I didn’t accomplish near as much over the winter...
The weathers nice here too.. I just finished my el Camino yesterday. I changed the gas tank and no leaks!! I do want to switch thermostats to the 160 for hot weather, I have a 180 in it now.. When I have the 160 in I can give my big block a few more degrees advance..
Without being sappy, I have to say that building this car, and the roadster that I'm wrapping it's original hemi engine in has been great therapy this year. It's been good to have a goal, and something to do. My wife and both are newly retired, me in November 2019, she in March '20, and we've thrown ourselves into projects to keep occupied. It's been a good year for us, I realize we're very fortunate, and I'm ready to get out of the shop on the road again.
A dark garnet metallic below the belt line, and white pearl over that. I'm using Kirker paint, it's cheap I know, but I've had really good luck with it, and I like, especially now, the convenience of having it delivered to my doorstep overnight. 8 years ago I shot my '76 GMC "Big Dually" with it, that thing has set outside, everyday, since then and it's as shiny as the day I did it. I'm kind of excited to try the pearl, I've always wanted to try some.
You're right down the road Brian. I get to Kalamazoo in the shoebox now and then. We should cruise for some coffee next time I'm in town man. My uncle lives on portage lake, good cruising over there....
I still have to wait till all the Snow Melts there is about 1 1/2' of Snow in front of My Garage, now the Temp has going from warm to Cold so I guess a couple more Weeks before it come's out. than you have put up with the Mud & Than it Will come Out. Just my 3.5 cents Live Learn & Die a Fool
The temp here hit 60 yesterday. Still snow in the shaded areas. Pulled the coupe out yesterday and drove into town just because I could.
New hot rods. New life. Ahhh... the smell of the earth... ... and fresh paint... and leather and wax and tire smoke and hot dogs and racing gas exhaust... And the sound of singing birds... ... and hemis and nail heads and Oldsmobiles and flatheads and small blocks and Big Blocks... ... and laughter.
Brian, you have been working like a mad man, the wagon is looking great and I am looking forward to seeing it in color. HRP
Now we need two or three days of rain to rinse everything away.. But I had my car out the other day staying on the small side roads. They don't get sprayed with that Calcium chloride stuff or what ever it is. The sound my big blocks pipes echoing off the stone walls of the Wetzel hollow are what I needed..
The waking continues. Today should be a BIG step forward, the upholstery guy is coming down with the seats and all the door panels and miscellaneous stuff, and putting headliner and carpet in. I've got seatbelts and some other stuff to get done, and the gl*** guy is coming to finish up the repair of the torn w/s gasket the first guy F'd up, and I've got a replacement die cast center divider bar. It's coming along.
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