Customs Traditional Custom work in progress

I am a huge advocate for traditionally built kustom cars. When I was building my shoebox, I went out of my way to try and make the car appear as close to the 1959-60 era as possible..it took me a long time and some luck to collect all the parts I wanted on the car..I agree with a lot of the things you guys are saying here, but the comments by Pimpin Paint and others about era correct welders, tools etc, are just stupid...like jeff sled said, let's see what pimpin paint has built, its got to be mind blowing, like a trip back to 1955....

And, yes, I used base/clear on my car and I'm not ashamed to admit it..

 

that 50 shubox is wicked neat

 

Guys, Thanks alot.


I have to say that I'm surprised at the outcome of this thread. I kind of thought it would be one of the best threads on the HAMB.

I really try to stay as true to an era as I can with all my cars. Sometimes you may be forced by one thing or another to slide off course but at least attempt to get back on track.

I'm not opposed to disc brakes, bags or small blocks. They just won't be found on the cars I build. Which doesn't mean I'm a god or a snob, it's just that those aren't what I need to accomplish what I set my mind to do.

I find many traditionally inspired customs to be very, very tastefully done but are just a few items off from being dialed in. Whether that's their choice on engines, trans, pedals, tires, guages or even the shifter.

Let's keep the hating to a minimum and focus on some true traditional customs in progress.


Great thread idea by the way.



BloodyKnuckles

 

I liked the stance of that one. It came from the east coast. I had it only for a few month, because I was too deep into my 41 Plymouth project, so it went to Europe.

 

By the way , guys started painting candys and pearls around 1957, but the clear coats back then yellowed and cracked if you left them out in the sun, and base coats faded right away.
I like lacquers a lot, especially the mirror image you get with them , but you have to have a garage, other wise they won't hold up, early enamels did'nt have much shine but I have never figured out why guys paint their car flat colors.

 

That is a damn nice Chevy!

 

You're definitely not the only one!!

Very few are gas-welding and slinging lead (which does rule), and yet those aren't the guys talking shit on MIG welders, polyester filler, etc.....bunch of hypocrites.....

The cars speak louder than some bullshit parroted on the internet anyways....and BMC's Chevy is speaking loudest right now. DAMN!! So sick...

Later!!

 

Oh no! tell us it ain't so Ian! I for one really enjoy your builds

 

Rusk... Ian... It's all true in so many ways, I've been doin this shit along time. Notice all the GUYS that do build shit, or that do, do good work have split? We are out numbered and out ruled by , politics, bandwagoners, wanna b's whatever. Guys on this is just like Facebook, it's become a network for circle jerk & it's not the punk band! It's become about who's got the most posts & who's smokin who's pole!
Later






















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How did this thread take a turn for the worst ? One post changed the tide ? I thought this thread was going pretty good.The guy who started the thread stated the kind of stuff he wanted so I dont see how this got off track.

Bmc........your Chevy is lookin killer.

 

Pimpin Paint.....we are still waiting to see some of your Customs.

 

I'm with you, Jeff...not sure why Ian or "bigguylittleroof" are taking this post offensively...

Where is pimpin' paint? Show us some of your customs...

 

How about no more haters.

Most guys posted cool cars.

Everybody who has something productive to post should go for.
I know there some cool builds out there and in 10 years from know, most customs gonna be trad. It's the same like it was with hotrods 10 years ago. My opinion, don't quote...



That one is from San Diego and I personally like the tall stance.

 

Ian, that's a shame, but I know exactly what brings you up. it is and was my daily programm to look what your Cad is about. a lot of people coming in (i know i'm new here too) don't even take the time to read the sticky and what are the several forum functions for.real bad manners seem to be common today..i admire absolutely what your doing on your car and hope to see it someday.. Greets and btt, Carsten

Spoggie, love your concept, exactly what i'm thinking about to do with my car, low bucks except the big issues, you can't make your own tires. looking forward to what your car is coming out! nice one! 'improved stock' is a good term.

btw, this thread should continue in a decent way, fun to look & read!

 

Well '39 Buicks have them, so they must be trad.

 

WOW. BMC and Jerseymike....those things are just perfect.
At times i wonder... why cant we all get along?
who cares if i like 3wheeling and laying frame and you guys like the speedboat stance? I can see myself respectin all of them and ownin diffrent style rides, its just a matter of funds, y'kno can only afford to build one at a time.
As long as it doesnt look like a puzzle of everything or its built w/ so much bad taste it hurts your eyes, i think if a car is well done and it makes sense its cool by me.
At times they are ok even if they dont make any sense actually, but they just scream kool.
I guess im just super tolerant coming from a diffrent background. Just felt like sayin it.

 

I hope this puts an end to the argument so we can get on with the thread.

Gas welding vs mig welding.
Gas welding ; Gas welding has more penetration, you can fill larger gaps between the two pieces you are welding and you can hammer weld.
the disadvantages are ; you can only weld small sections at a time because you are useing more heat and you want to avoid warpedge and you better know what you are doing, it takes years to master this skill and is very time consuming, so if you are paying a profesional to do it, you better have a large wallet.

Mig welding
With a good mig welder, you can adjust the speed, and the heat to whatever thickness of metal you are usesing, with some practice , you can almost teach your self and warpage is minimal , the gaps between the metal should be more precise and after you are done , you should go back and weld any spots you miss on the inside of the pieces you welded.

Lead vs bondo
Lead has the advantage that you can layer it on thicker with out the worry of it chipping or cracking. I was fornunate to be able to see a couple of cars that Sam Barris did back in the day, one of them was a 38 coupe that Alex and Marky Izardi's parents own, the paint had fallen off were the lead had been aplied, there was sections were the lead was three quarters of an inch thick and yet had not cracked after all those years, andyou could tell how they used the lead to sculpt what ever form they needed.
the disadvantages are many, lead bars are expensive, basicley , you have to melt the bars and paddle it on in small sections and aply a tinning agent so the lead will flow and stick, this is very time consuming and lead is hard and you have to file off the excess you don't need. It takes years to master this skill and the lead and the tinning agent have lots of chemicals that don't like humans or modern paints.

Bondo
The only real problem with bondo is that you should only apply as a thin skin coat to correct any inperfections on your body work, if you need to sculpt a section ,form a new piece of metal that has the shape you need, instead of stuffing it full of bondo.
In the end , nobody is bringing x-ray machines or stripping the paint off our cars at car shows to see what mediums we used to achieve the body work on our cars. What matters is the skill and stlye we used.

 

I agree, backside...I'm still trying to figure out how those two got their feathers ruffled...

Keep us posted on your kustom Ford!

 

Here are some pics of my 41 Plymouth when I got from the 'Trailer Park Boys' in 2002.
It was 1600 bucks.

And some years later when Aussie Pete chopped it in my yard and gas welded it. Crazy

Can't believe it has been soooo long.

 

Bad ass plymouth!

 

Here are some old pics of my 51 Chevy(she's been on hold for about a year). Chopped 4 inches, step notched rear rails with de-arched leafs/blocks, cut coils/stepped lower control arms, stock drivetrain, 52 Olds bumper/grill,.........soon to have molded merc style grill shell, slightly stretched quarters(not sure on the tail lights yet), 52 olds rear bumper, shaved handles, some sort of side trim, etc..........trying to keep all major components pre 55.

 

MORE PLEASE......

 

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Ya stephan, it's been 7 years since Pete chopped our cars

 

This is just stunning right here,I love this car from what I can see of the pictures.Any rear shots of this one ? So it went to Europe?? The car just flat out has the look.

 

Bloodyknuckles.....I dig your Plymouth a lot,very cool cruiser.

 

I think this chop is as good as it gets.Not many getting done these days with this look......so gorgeous.What is the history of this car,when was it built?

 

My friend Trader Joe here in San Diego bought it from a guy at the eastcoast.I only know the seller put a lot of time and love into that 47. It had an early 283 small block with manual trans. It had some parts like the alternator that were not really all the way trad., but overall the car had soul and went the right direction. Fun to drive while looking through the chopped windshield. It had working wipers, you wouldn't find that here in So Cal...
I'm not the biggest fan of the 50 Lincoln taillights on that specific car, not too bad tho. I reupholstered the seats in Tijuana, hard to see in the pics.
After it got to Germany the buyer went broke, put it on Ebay without reserve and had to let it go for like nothing... A friend from Germany mailed me a pic. It's flat black... I don't know... anyway, I think its in good hands.
That red paintjob was kinda cool, it was single stage with just a few fine metallics in it, weird, but neat. Maybe the seller is on the Hamb and can tell more.

 

What pissing contest, and who was "dropping names?"

Please....elaborate, will you?

I didn't drop any names, and if you're referring to my friend Jeff and his Merc when he showed a pic of the master Dick Dean, well that is not name dropping. This isn't Hollywood...and to be able to say Dick Dean chopped your Merc is an honor, not "name dropping." Besides, what about your post on here about your Chevy receiving an award from Rick Dore- that's not name dropping now, is it?

 

I love that chop...who did it?