Your right about the fit on these cars. Some are better than others and you really do have to make them fit. Have you noticed if you eye ball the lower windshield frame and line it up with the back window frame, how far out of square these cars are. I noticed this on others cars as well when i was chopping a few of them. So when i chopped i wasn't concerned about bracing the bodys so much. I could square them off better as i went to make the panels fit. I have a bit of a gap fetish and welding door edges and filing to fit is a lot of work. I'm not going down that road on mine this time around but there are some spots that will get it. What bugs me thou is the panel to panel where some have a severe 'bird wing' and shows bad after paint. Shoeboxes seem to be notorious for that. My 1/4's where curled in at the door on mine so i made a drift to get around the post inside to knock out the edge straighter to flow with the door. Some fill the edges with bondo but i like a metal edge.
Nice job on the door skin Antti. I know how difficult it is to get everything lined up properly. Looks like your well on the way to get it perfect!
Well I am some glad to have read that tedley . I thought that I was alone in this here alignment issue . These cars didnt have much in regaurds to quality controll back then and it shows when you really start to look at a unmolested one . Finn the car is coming along for sure . Seeing that you cut your door apart like that gets a guy to thinking . I am losing the beltline on mine anyway so the door will be easy to finish off on the side s for removal . What to do what to do ???
Thank you guys. I am not into that bondo filling thing either.I think its for finishing purposes,its not supposed be an alternative body material. I have filled by welding 2 gap spots from the door so far,it takes some time but its worth to do.I havent noticed that windshield and back window lining,but i guess its not a big surpise with older cars. I picked up this 49' Mercury grille surround from the truckcargo terminal at last friday,so my birthday present came right on time My plan was to give some mild kustom touch for the grille area,but i guess things just go out of my hands now and then. So the plan at the moment is to use the Merc grille surround and fabricate a floating grille.I guess that makes it more closer to full kustom then..
nice score on the merc grill surround! yeah, you'll be happier with a custom grill bar. makes it that much more original. look good, keep chuggin along.
I've never had a merc surround to try but i do have a meteor. Does the merc line up to the hood line? I know it's a popular mod. Interesting to see what the difference is. I'm assuming you have to modify to fit? Meteor was a bolt in basicly. Merc looks beefier and might look better as well. Here's a pic to compare for shits n giggles
Well,i guess i am getting closer to get the bodywork done,there is still lot to do after that. I havent checked it yet,but i think it doesnt line up with the shoebox hood.The merc surround looks like it has a bit sharper curve on the middle.I think its not a problem,because i think i have to narrow it a bit. And yes,it was a good score.The classifieds section is a helluva place in here That Meteror surround looks pretty cool,too bad they are more harder to find than Merc surrounds,specially in here..
Well,now you have seen.I sold it to fellow hamber at last week,no need for that anymore because i got the Maverick rear.
your car will be a very nice custom when it's finished, Antti, you've got good ideas and nice skills! i'm watching! but for today, as soon as i get home after work, i'm gonna pick me a cold beer, raise it to you and yell: Happy birthday, dude! Cheers, Carsten
Looking great Anti, keep up the good work. I noticed the door fit when I got the new drivers door, fits alot different then my old one. I havent fully fit it yet. Working on the hood and grill is a good idea, gives you sometime to step away from the door and get your mind straight with it.
Thanks Matthew. Well,i guess it could be cool to skip the boring part for a change and start tinkering with the cool stuff.But i guess that doesnt lead to anywhere,except back to the boring crap. I am pretty sure that there will be some fitting problems with fender/door gaps,because those new fenders are not from this car originally.I have a strange feeling that you can hear a lot of finnish f- and c-words from the garage,when i am assembling the front fenders... And my plan is still to lift the body off from the frame,i think its just better to deal with the front end stuff after the body is mounted back on the frame again.
Thanks Stefan! I got the twisted door issue solved.The door was ok,but it was the lower door hinge that needed some adjusting.Piece of wood between the hinge,few pushes from quarter side of the door and voilà. It isnt always so difficult that you think,it just can take time figure it out what the hell is wrong.
I did the same thing the other week . Almost lifted the car clear of the grond jacking on the door but it is in alignment now, I screwed with it a few days on and off before that .
This is a fascinating build, between the temperatures and parts availability, you just don't get it easy. Having just found this thread, I've now subscribed. Well done Antti, you make it look so easy with your talent
Thanks! Well,i dont mind about the parts availability.If i cant find some part from here,i search it from the otherside of the pond.The weather makes this a bit harder.This winter has been warmer than usual so far,but i guess personal temperature limit is betweeen -12 to -15 celsius(around 10 in fahrenheits).I have a heater in garage,but its not fun when the weather gets colder. I read from the newspaper at last week that there is an emergency in UK,because the weather will be -9 in celsius.And the newsbroadcast said that the bravest can go outside if they dare,it's -1 celsius.. Well,i guess you guys in scotland got a bit thicker skin than guys in the south.
Your temps are about the same as mine here....just throw another log on the fire and work harder......good job your doing......
Thanks man! Here is a little update with a kustom twist: I fixed the door/quarter gap by welding a tig welding rod on the door edge. My plan was to use 3.2mm rod,but the local welding supply didnt have any,so i did it with 2.4mm rod.I need to do same thing for passengers side too.I also mounted a Lincoln pushbutton on the door.I had to do a slight modification for the door latch and remove the return spring from the button. It was too stiff with the button spring,but after removing that its better. But it still needs the door popper,which i havent received yet. I think i'll start working with the quarter panel at next..
Nice work there on the gaps Antti, very professional stuff. Looks like I'm going to be in Helsinki for the show! Are you going?
Thanks Eric! Yeah,my plan is still to go there with my bro.Actually i am going to Helsinki at tomorrow too.There is a show called Petrol Circus.There is a motorcycle expo with brand new bikes at same time,but i guess i'll pass them,check the chopper/bobber department and bullshit with people if i see any familiar faces there.
Thanks Eric! Yeah,my plan is still to go there with my bro.Actually i am going to Helsinki at tomorrow too.There is a show called Petrol Circus.There is a motorcycle expo with brand new bikes at same time,but i guess i'll pass them,check the chopper/bobber department and bullshit with people if i see any familiar faces there.
Nope I dont know is it my browser or some other software failure,but some reason those double posts keep on popping now and then. See ya at Helsinki!
Thanks man! Yeah,thats my another hobby.I got 73' Shovelhead,which has been in my possession over 10 yrs now.There is a pic of it on page 20 of this thread.Just dont want to repost same pics to this thread.. I dont see myself as a brand maniac,but i guess pre-84' Harleys are closest what i can call "my thing". Here is a small update too: I decided to shave the gas door hole before installing the quarter patch,it was just easier to do it at this point.I also welded the trimholes and bumped few dents out.Its a "new" panel,but i guess long term storing can cause small dents by accident.There are few low spots,but i think i can deal with them when the panel is welded on the body.
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