Projects New Here and another Shoebox

New alliance member since LSRU this year . Long time lurker. I bought my 51 Ford 2 years ago and started buying parts and building some . So here is pics of when it came home.

 

That bondo looks like dessert dunes.....

 

Yes it was brutal but it’s the car I have wanted. Car had a 302 68 era and a C4 . Both are now fresh , upholstery redone in blue and white vinyl lots of other parts acquired . Now I’m going to learn body and paint . I figured a build thread as others have done will keep me moving I want to be driving it at LSRU next year .

 

Nice, another shoebox is always a welcome addition! What's the paint gonna look like?

 

My favorite car besides RB Falcons and you seem to have found a good project! NICE

 

Woa, so the previous builder was a Sculptor not a Body Man. That skip weld method under Body man in-a-can is the Curse for sure. Starting from there and you actually Learning has a tendency to drive a Man to drink. Best of luck to ya. Can't wait to see it done. Are you going to leave that Grill opening as is?

 

congrats on find and making progress with it. sometimes the learning curve is steeper than ever expected.

 

My comments were going to be similar.

Glad you are digging into what is there @Greengo 51. Assuming you know that you need to weld all that solid or it will come back to haunt you later since it can let moisture in from the backside.

Anyway, cool car and I will be following along as you get it in shape.

 

It did well under cover to not have rusted behind that putty. Dry climate car, it seems. Lucky to have something to work from besides wishful thinking and rust!

 

I once know a guy who could weld rust to air, or so it seemed. I sold him an XJ6 that had floors that were too rusty for me to even consider fixing. The next day, the car had decent floors. I don't know how he did it.

 

Interior

planning on a little different chrome bar grill, caddy taillights different from what I have seen and Buster Litton style with no B pillars . Oh and a 52 Packard rear bumper . I have had this car built in my mind for years and can finally execute. Paint will be a nice solid blue with flake interior paint , roof and lake pipes. Only way it will go beyond static suspension is if I can find old bomber landing gear hydraulics like the original low riders used back in the day. Thanks for all the comments . Really love this site. Finally posted to get the momentum going , I want to be cruising Austin next year

 

Did it have any glass?….. Like it.

 

I have two rear glass , all original chrome , spare rear seat springs botto and back ,extra front fenders two 49 grills and the bumpers . Amazingly the badging and chrome bezels were wrapped in foam and tie wired they look like the day they were made but all the flat glass will have to be made. Bought a four door for an original dash and unfrenched front fenders to start over with because they were done poorly and held another 15pounds of bondo . Yes previous owner should have been a sculptor when stripping the car I was blown away by the amount of bondo the dash was smoothed with bondo as well so I will be painting the donor dash this weekend and starting to put it back together. All the interior garnish moldings have been made to fit the chop and put back together nicely . Lots of work but it will be worth it . Anybody needing some of these parts let me know . Donor car was a four door I have all those garnish moldings , doors , hood and trunk as well sitting . Thanks for the replies

 

Kool project. Thanks for sharing the build of Your dream car

 

Just so you know, 49/50 dash are a bit different than 51. Steering column and E-Brake handle need a little messing with to bolt together. 51 heater stuff is also different. Nothing you can't make work but not Apples to Apples.

 

Great looking project -----will be following along

 

Welcome aboard! What a kool project, looking forward to your future progress.

 

Wow you are a confident brave man and clearly have the skills the PO did not. The PO is one of those guys that should not be allowed near old cars.

 

Hell of a bondo guy tho! Lmfao...

 

With that much bondo, I think that you should measure that body every which way to make sure that what else might be skewered.

 

It won’t be easy but I have spent my entire adult life building roads and running equipment now I’m going to learn a few things I’m passionate about . I have met a bunch of great hot rodders and builders to lean on for help but I want to make the chip mine and paint this car myself . After all it’s not entering shows it’s driving to them I intend to drive this thing like a 1950’s young man would have . As long as it looks good to me I will be happy . I have seen way worse rides by guys who claim to have never turned a wrench or laid down a bead on this site do some incredible things so off we go

 

Well getting to work removing more bondo , fitting different fenders . I’m going to recreate that grill opening and wondering what gauge sheet metal should I be using ?

 

Cool car and thank you for showing your build.

 

Go after it !!! It's going to be very cool !! I'm watching ......

 

Generally 18 guage should work for repairs. I am building a chopped 50 and have used all 18. Get a thickness gauge and check what was used by the previous owner.

 

When in doubt measure the metal you're working on and match gauge to gauge.

 

This little tool should be in everyone's toolbox that try's to do sheet metal metal work.

 

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