When I built my Studebaker, I wanted it LOW in the front. It sits this way all the time and there are no air bags or hydraulics to lift it up. (You haven't lived until you see a big bump coming at you at 65 MPH as you feel your *** hole puckering up) The stock rear view mirror was mounted on the dash. Because the car is lower in the front than the back, all I could see out of it was the back seat so I built this bracket to raise it up. I went to the local s**** metal yard and found a piece of BIG honkin aluminum I-beam. I cut it, built a mount for the stock mirror, sanded it and polished it and now I'm wondering if I should paint it because it looks too billet. What do you think?
be proud of your fine work!! If your asking that its too shiny, It might be. bead blast it and "dull" it up. Its never "too billet" when you do it yourself!!
Aluminum has a beauty all it's own and has a special place in the world of hot rods. Well crafted, owner built stuff is the coolest of cool. Screw the paint, leave it as is and enjoy the compliments.
Lemme go a little further on the aluminum bit. This is not a billet bashing opportunity and most on here know I like aluminum and use a lot of it. Maybe even too much. Whatever . . . I'd rather machine a block of aluminum for a job than knock one out of steel and paint it. Painted steel stuff has it's place, but a chunk of well-done and well thought out aluminum such as Bullet Nose shows above shows a high degree of workmanship. With aluminum, first time around is it. No bondo, no welding on additional material and no paint to disguise problems. Aluminum is out there in front of God and everybody and it is what it is. Screw up a piece and you either live with it or make another one. I ain't bashful about making additional pieces cuz the first one didn't work out like I wanted. The lesser quality pieces don't get tossed though. They go on a pegboard that I call, "The Wall of Shame." Gettin pretty full now, but that just shows I'm doing a lot of stuff. Machinists know and those who make aluminum goodies know as well that there is a "Moment of Truth" in machining as well as making aluminum goodies. Get to that point, screw up and you'll be hanging stuff on your own Wall of Shame. If God smiles on you, it will be a small wall. And if not, well . . . there's always another trip to the aluminum store.....
Cool bracket....don't paint it because it will look like your funky door mirrors. I'm not against billet stuff if you make it yourself even if it's a modern design. What I can't stand is all that aftermarket billet bolt on stuff, especially covers. If it's functional and looks good more power to you.
To my way of thinking; Take it for what it's worth. Billet is boughten m*** produced Aluminum products sold for profit. When you make it your self no matter what it is made of it is a work of art. Just my 2 cents. Gumpa
I say if you care what a bunch of guys on a message board care about your car, or that it has to have a "not this" kind of look, sell out now. That's a beautiful peice of work that didn't come from 1-800-Charge-Me-Big-Bucks. If I had a mill/lathe/etc... and could make stuff, who cares what it looks like? I think people get their shorts in a wad if they see a late model engine in a rod. Late model scrounged and put together for my tastes is fine . . . was there a difference between a guy with a Model A and a 409 back in 1966? I've seen some very cool looking four banger plants, racy looks, late model gear. Screw what people think . . . do it for yourself.
Now that you mention dulling it, I remember an article in one of the car magazines talking about using a ScotchBright pad to give parts a brushed aluminum look. I might try that and if I don't like it, I can always polish it again. Thanks for the suggestion.
Use 3M abrasive cloth. Maroon in color is the medium grade. I've got the other grades, but seldom use them. And like you say, if you don't like the brushed look, buff it. The 3M stuff is used as the last step before buffing anyway.
Dude, If it's a 1-800 thing...I't's too much. If you your carved it yourself....Screw everybody else. My 2c Pat
not to be a ****...but you have molded 80's mirrors and billet wheels....the mirror is awesome though!
I never considered my wheels to be billet. They have a cast aluminum center that's welded to a steel rim and the whole deal is chrome plated. The "hub caps" are plastic and I paid $350 for the set of 4 in 1994. Are these really "billet wheels" as you state? And yes, the car was done as a modern custom. I didn't think a '54 Chevy grille and '53 Buick side trim would look right on this car, but it has a few other body mods and yes, a 350 Chevy too.
like I said I wasn't trying to be a **** but sometimes I come off that way...OK the wheels aren't billet...don't get me wrong,I like your car and really like the mirror post you made....I just thought it was funny you asked about one of the coolest parts on your car??
I don't think you were being a "****" and appreciate that everyone has an opinion and cars they like and don't like. I wouldn't have been caught dead driving a Studebaker when I was in High School but thought this would be something different that I wouldn't see at every car show, and I haven't. I've been driving this car since 1994 but would rather be driving my high school car if I still had it....... . And it had 54 Chevy teeth and Buick side trim too.
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