Ducati Monster Forum

This may cover multiple cars-I bounce back and forth between the two based on parts availability/funds.

First, some background.

My dad, being the ever loving cheapskate that he was, bought this car used in '65. It had a claimed original 300 miles on it, as rolling it back wasn't real uncommon then.

He then drove it until about '85, when he lost his job. Not knowing he'd have another one the following week and figuring he didn't need two cars, he pulled the insurance and let it sit.

Sometime around '93 my mother got sick of seeing it in the driveway rotting away. What are you gonna do about the car? What are you gonna do about the car?

Finally, in a moment of weakness he said alright, I'll sell it.

This turned into "when you gonna sell it? When you gonna sell it?".

I was 13 at the time, and wanted it. He sold it to me for a dollar.

She didn't talk to him for over a month. Not one word.

I was now 13 with my own car, which hadn't moved since I was about 5. Let's take it for a ride tonight, eh pops?

Calling upon my vast knowledge of absolutely nothing I jumped in with both feet, as only a 13 year old can.
Dragging my old man out (he was a radiologist, but had gone to trade school to be a mechanic) so he did have some pertinent knowledge.

I was told to swap out the battery, because of course it'd be dead. I managed this only to get a "click" when the key was turned.

I had bought a battery. We were committed at this point. In case you're unaware of the definition of "committed"-when you have ham and eggs in the morning-the chicken is involved. The pig is committed.

The starter was removed, and rebuilt and reinstalled (more knowledge for the car newb). "click" "click".
Apparently a rust prone car stored outside in New England for the better part of a decade is prone to rust. Including the engine. Frozen solid. That got pulled next, and taken to the machine shop.

the motor was being rebuilt at the machine shop. We figured we'd be smart and work on the other systems. The master cylinder was shot so that got replaced (a single at the time-we didn't know better), and the fluid promptly leaked out over a dozen different places. We redid the lines but achieved no pressure. Pulling off a drum the parts just fell down in a rusty pile.

They we so far gone we couldn't even identify what they were.

Many trips to a NAPA that was staffed by a guy with plenty of snow on the roof managed to set us to rights.

This inspired further concern for the rust-where, upon checking it was noticed there was no longer any trunk floor. No floor in the passenger compartment either-just structural rug. Fuel tank Rotted out, of course.

The square box frame that ran throughout the car? All that was left was the top .

But hell-we just paid to have the engine done, and we redid the brakes. The old man taught me how to weld doing those frame repairs.

Around this time we got the motor back and put it in (the old man refused to let me put a 440 in it-smart on his part). We had repaired the floors with some basic sheet metal work and the frame with some serious growing pains.

That SOB forced me to do all the sheet metal work with an oxy-acetylene because he wanted me to learn. The frame was done with a MIG.

We had brakes and a working motor! Lets go for a ride!

Hey guess who doesn't have a working transmission? Yeah, of course.

Like I said-we would've never started this if we had understood the extent of the work.

Given that we were doing this in our driveway, out came the motor again, this time with the transmission. We found some guy in his 70's willing to work on it and brought it to him.

We got the transmission back, and plopped it and the motor back in. Brakes are fixed, motor works, pushbutton transmission shifts-he we've solved all the problems right? Right?

To give you an idea of the timeline, I could drive at this point.

Did you know that a wiring harness makes an impressive mount of white smoke?

I didn't, until the car filled with it.

Pulling over, I quickly shut off the car and went for the fire extinguisher. Around that time the car began to crank by itself-I dropped the extinguisher and grabbed a wrench and disconnected the battery, and then doused the flames with that evil dry powder in the extinguisher. To this day-I can still smell that shit.

So next we tracked down a shop that could manufacture, from scratch, a wiring harness for a '61 Chrysler.

Keep in mind this is all before the internet-much time was spent on the phone. We found a place a couple states over that claimed they could do it-so we put a deposit down.

Six months later they had one. Know what those dumbmake the beast with two backss did? They bought a complete wiring harness out of a junked car (where they found one I don't know-I certainly looked), and replicated that. Reused the original connectors and the like so I didn't end up with a useful spare, but if I had known that I would've just wanted the original to install, and paid them a finders fee. . It took another month or so to install it correctly.

Fire it up and then move on to finishing off the body work and get it painted. New rims, tires, etc. This entire time I'm working a lot to fund the rented garage, and the parts.

Go for a cruise at cruise night with the other antique cars. (I'm about 18 at this point) Pull up to a light and figure I'd drag the guy next to me, and promptly snapped the driveshaft in two. Not the U-joint-the actual shaft. Down for another few weeks.

Get all the bugs sorted out as best we could. The turnsignal thing never worked right-you had to hold it over. Horn has never worked. radio is AM only and has one speaker, but man-is it sexy.

None of the interior parts were properly available and a custom job was more than I had, so it stayed both noisy and cold in the car.

I drove it through most of college and then my dad got real sick and I dropped out of college to help pay the bills. I have sold a number of the spare pieces I had for the car to keep afloat at points, but at some point I couldn't justify having a sweet looking gas guzzling antique for a toy. It got parked at the parents homestead for about five years (outside in New England) which took it's toll on it. The old guy died around then and I managed to get a good job in California, so I moved and left it behind.

Some of my fondest memories were working on it with my old man. As a baby, I came home from the hospital in this car.

She is my pride and joy and I long to have her back on the road.

As for the dollar my dad sold her to me for?






I never did pay him.

Well now. Let me try something.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcERrh8QljA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcERrh8QljA)

Go Betsy!  [clap]
What size donk is that?

Tri-Power!  [thumbsup]
Great story, good luck.

Great write up . . . Makes me wish I had gone thru with keeping my dad's Dodge Dart Swinger GT . . . 

Awwww yeah.  Now the obligatory:  This thread is worthless without pics.

(nice write-up...)

I can do pictures.

This is not-so-long-ago.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/normal_2013-09-06_00003.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/normal_2013-09-06_00005.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/normal_2013-09-06_00002.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/normal_2013-09-06_00014.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/normal_2013-09-06_00018.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/normal_2013-09-06_00020.jpg)

The original E-brake is on the back of the transmission and never was all that reliable. Given that this car was built before "Park" existed, an E-brake is needed.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/normal_2013-08-26_00055.jpg)

Some of you who've seen one before may notice it's missing a few things, like the adjuster.

With that in mind I've installed a disc brake conversion to the rear as it allows the install of an e-brake. It also gets rid of brakes that need adjusting.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/normal_2013-08-25_00051.jpg)

I bought some aftermarket cables and one of the new "E-Stopp" doohickeys to apply them, and mounted that in the trunk:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/normal_2013-08-25_00054.jpg)

Apparently it's got a nifty lock, stays on even with a loss of power, and pulls the cables until 600 lbs of force is met. Seems to work pretty well.

As a bonus I can hide the switch somewhere out of sight.

This brings us to the wiring being left.

Ew:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/normal_2013-08-25_00052.jpg)

 [bow_down]

The dash got pulled:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/normal_2013-09-06_00008.jpg)

The wiring is actually all done and working now, save for a few switches that are made of unobtanium that I'm tracking down.

Heater ducting got yanked too:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/normal_2013-09-08_00025.jpg)

It then got the POR-15 treatment:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/normal_2013-09-08_00029.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/normal_2013-09-08_00030.jpg)

The nice Cragars I had put on in '96 are much for worse for the wear:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/normal_2013-09-06_00015.jpg)

Looks pretty beat to me. Let me try and see what I can do:

Ah!

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/normal_2013-09-06_00016.jpg)


Much better-all it took was one application of Mastercard and they all look like new!

I bought five new ones (a spare even!)

Disaster has struck-the spring perches are utterly rotted out.

(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2209/12963960005_df6a323018.jpg)

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7422/12964390154_dae266789d.jpg)

This car needs a new rear clip.

This is beyond my ability.

Disclaimer: I have no idea what the make the beast with two backs I'm doing. But you know, it's already broken so, what the hell, right?

Trunk floor of donor car is shot. Frame is not.

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7314/12964140314_73c3f39145.jpg)

Hack hack!

(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2866/12964148304_9c8eaa1b27.jpg)

The further I got the worse it looked. Mental images of the cars you see crabbing down the road started haunting me. Will I get it on square? Will I cut it off right? It seemed the sort of thing you'd be better off doing right the first time. Arguably with some sort of clue as well.

I decided to call around. People do this work, right?

First...great thread.

Unfortunately this kind of stuff is only done by the high end guys today because there really isn't the kind of money in it that most shops need to make, and the people that know how are few and far between.

We used to do rear frame clips all the time on Chevys. Same kind of situation you're looking at.

Remember...pointy end up...nothing to it. ;)

 [thumbsup]

Measure ten times, cut once.

 ;)

I figured I would share the background and just how *long* this car has been in the family, and the most time the old man and I ever spent together was restoring it.

If nothing else, knowing the history would help explain what follows.

Cutting is not the issue, reassembly is.

Nate, I'll meet you up there. [thumbsup]


D,

Order up some copper weld thru primer.

I'll make some calls and see if I can scare up an old frame guide, that will give you measuring points and dimensions.

Stay tuned.

I'm sure he got his dollars worth. [thumbsup]

Lemme take a moment to savor this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOkPqr76OVU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOkPqr76OVU)

So, what we have is a car that has new, four wheel disc brakes (all converted from drum), a redone electrical harness, new ignition, new fueling system, and from the previous restoration, a rebuilt engine, transmission, and a new drive shaft. So there's a little rust out back? We can't let that stop us. Someone should be able to fix this, right?

I called http://www.jcauto.com/, (http://www.jcauto.com/,) specializing in restoring that era Chrysler. They were surprised to hear it was operable, as that's not what they normally get. They told me they farm their body work out to another shop-call these guys: http://fendersandfins.com/ (http://fendersandfins.com/)

Those guys happily explained some of the issues I was facing, such as there exists nothing aftermarket for this car suspension wise. Best bet was to find a 1960-1964 car (hence the '64 up above) and swap the frame and most of the body paneling over, as they'd expect the are surrounding the frame to be cancerous as well. They had apparently done this exact swap multiple times before and were familiar with it.

They also told me they had no inclination to do it again, please don't ask.

They recommended finding a different body and swapping the running gear.

Recognizing their greater experience and knowledge about what I was getting into I promptly ignored them.

So one of my buddies is on the board of directors for the Blackhawk Auto Museum. I enlisted his help. He knows all sorts of metal workers and has taken no end of classes because he's got money and it interests him. I ended up being sent to Gambino Kustoms.

This place is a hole in the wall. Typical back alley-can't-find-it-if-you've-never-been-there type place. Couple of pitbulls chained out front. No signs anywhere.

The shop and the work inside are beautiful.

http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?title=Gambino_Kustoms (http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?title=Gambino_Kustoms)

Here's the guys car (linked because it's huge)

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachments/img_5777-jpg.2666196/ (http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachments/img_5777-jpg.2666196/)

Alex, (the owner) came and poked at it and said he was willing to do the work. I had explained the backstory of it and I didn't have to tell him that it was just going back to stock. They normally only do custom work there, but I suppose my money is custom enough.

I brought them the parts car.

I brought them Betsy.

This was last April-they had no room in their shop or schedule, but I was moving way down South, and they figured they'd be nice and save me some driving. This was terribly helpful to me at the time.

Following my move I got the barn set up. http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=69311.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=69311.0)

So, no Chrysler-what should I work on now?

Maybe this neglected ole Falcon?

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0064.jpg)

Great thread  [thumbsup]

 [popcorn]

Hahaha...  So you tore the '62 down, eh?  Whatever will become of this now?

Oh, and this thread isn't helping my desire to own old American iron again.  Damn it.

Nah I was hoping to mess with you-that's the parts car.

Here it is when I got it:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/normal_falcon02.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/normal_falcon03.JPG)


It was daily driven for a number of years until kids and life got in the way. It was still driven regularly, but not too terribly much.

I was waffling on selling it but the wife claimed it as her own. She's of rather short height and likes the visibility that comes with all the glass of the mobile fishbowl. This'll probably mean different seats and pedals for her.

Let's pull it in:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0003.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0007.jpg)

My help turned up-he was curious to see himself on a computer.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0009.jpg)

He got to help with pulling the taillights-there's only so much a four year old can do. The little one wanted to help too.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0010.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0012.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0015.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/family2014/normal_2014-09-13_00078.jpg)

This is the first time I've removed a rug from a classic car and seen anything under it  [laugh]

(http://paularickert.net/albums/family2014/normal_2014-09-13_00079.jpg)

That's more like it:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/family2014/normal_2014-09-13_00082.jpg)

Hahaha...  It worked.  Good to see the ol' gal.  Even better to see that your wife claimed it!  [thumbsup]

Kids look healthy & inquisitive... 

Mmmm, early Falcon.  [drool]

'62, 2-door window-post car w/an early '90s 5.0 truck engine, T5 5-speed and an 3.00:1 geared 8" axle out back.  Or at least that's what it used to have when I owned it...

I love this thread. Makes me long for my '69 Camaro.

 [popcorn]

Same stuff in it.

Lowered the upper control arms and put a 1 1/4" sway bar up front. New rear springs, new shocks all around.

Parts car has a rear sway bar I'm going to steal.

The body work begins:

Let's be clear-I am bereft of any clue-Nate gets several dozen emails from me per hour and does his best to correct my ignorance.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0024.jpg)

The original fenders turned out to be mostly bondo. As in there was more filler than metal.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0025.jpg)

Given the cost of replacement fenders and the million parts I'll end up wanting, this happened:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0063.jpg)

Before anyone asks, yes I'm still married and yes, she's very tolerant.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0038.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0040.jpg)

My car is holey:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0046.jpg)

California cars aren't supposed to do that.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0049.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0050.jpg)

Fenders off parts car:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0064.jpg)

Fenders off legitimate car:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0066.jpg)

The new ones had trim, the old ones did not. I set the boy to unscrewing the pieces.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0079.jpg)

I welded up the holes and did a skim coat of filler.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0093.jpg)

I approve this message.  [thumbsup] [thumbsup]

I suppose I should do something:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0068.jpg)

Hog out the rsty bits:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0080.jpg)

Cut a patch:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0082.jpg)

Weld and clean it up, then take a photo so you don't have to admit to your welds.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0087.jpg)

The ass end of these cars always looked to busy to me.

(http://assets.blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads//2013/10/1962FordFalcon_02_700.jpg)

I figure all the other trim and emblems had been pulled (the only thing I'm leaving is the hood scoop and the door handles (I'm only leaving the handles because Paula is making me)).

I put the filler in the trunk to clean up the rear:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0081.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0083.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0088.jpg)

I cleaned the filler out of the "Falcon" letter holes and welded them up as well.

My welds are getting better.

My pictures, are not.

The custom shop called me about two months ago with some bad news-most of the entire back third of the car is basically rust/cancer (I guess they finally started on it).

I was unclear what the holdup is with the frame, as what they told me didn't add up properly, so I headed up early to take a look (~4 hours away). Luckily the wife knocked off work early so I could leave, and that these guys work very late into the night.

My initial theory is that them being Californians, they view rust the same way they do cold. They don't actually know anything about it but think they do.

They suggested stripping into the running gear and putting it into another body.  [thumbsdown]

The thought of that is distressing to me. I am not restoring A car to just have a car. I'm restoring THE car. If I were to pick a classic car to tool around in, it likely wouldn't be a '61 Chrysler-the history of this car makes it more important to me than just buying another.

But....there are times when one has to look at the costs, and that one could buy a complete one for less and just be on the road. These are things a reasonable man might do.


The truth is, I've never been a reasonable man.


They pointed out a number of issues that they were clear the best way to fix them would be to find the whole rear third of a non-rusty car and take what they needed.

This seemed unlikely to me so I told them that was no problem.

Two days later I found this:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal__61_Chrysler_rear_clip_001.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal__61_Chrysler_rear_clip_003.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal__61_Chrysler_rear_clip_002.jpg)

With the proper bracing....and infinite amounts of stubborn.....

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_chrysler_7_crop.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_chrysler_6_crop.jpg)

Dreams can come true.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_chrysler_5_crop.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_chrysler_4_crop.jpg)

 [beer]

Dude:  Bad-ass.  [beer] [drink] [wine] [shot]

What in the hell is a donk?

http://bit.ly/S52ryl (http://bit.ly/S52ryl)

Too late! I saw you *did* google that for me.

I'm special.

'Sides it's an American car thread on an American site-them there aussies can learn some english  [cheeky]

In a special kind of way...

pssst...they are too. ;D

The donk he is referring too is the engine

Ah-that's the little motor for that thing. 361 cubic inches.

Or roughly 5.9 liters.

That's a big enough donk to do the job.
Love this thread. You're doing a good thing. [beer]

Fun read!

'preciate all the kind words and Red Baron's willingness to help (I should've asked months ago).

We're up to date now-everything is as last posted until I make some progress.

Hopefully soon I can lay a coat of paint/primer on the Falcon and if it's any good, consider doing the Chrysler.

I do have to replace the quarter panels on the Falcon first-they're shot. I'm almost done with the fenders.

It's not helpful that I get time to do this work post kid-bedtime/chores, so about 8-10pm at night is what I get on a good night.

It's also why I'm content to have the custom shop do so much work for me-I don't think I would've finished anytime soon, and I figure 22 years might just be long enough to work on something.

Thank you for this thread.

It actually made me cry, thinking about working on various rusted hulks with my old man.

Again, thank you, and keep us informed! (pics and more pics)

Ripper thread!

How blessed to have been able to have worked on this car so much with your dad! Great stuff!

Many of us dream of having had time like that with their old man.

Looking forward to more progress.

+11tyb to the last four pages.

[clap]

A good read for sure. Will be following progress.  [thumbsup]

Loving this.  I need to find some money and time.  I still have my '78 280Z.  It runs but has a few issues.  Maybe I should properly mothball it and make it a project in a few years since I have a son coming soon.

JM

You should do it like Dave if you really want a project.

Park it outside in the tall grass. :P

Pretty good read. I just noticed the thread.

Threads like this + me just ordering a welder = eventual more threads like this just likely with scarier pictures, maybe even fire.

[evil] [popcorn]

More progress-they're almost done with the wheel wells. After that I have to pick it upa nd tackle the rocker panels myself.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_betsy_wheel_well_post4.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_betsy_wheel_well_post3.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_betsy_wheel_well_post2.jpeg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_betsy_wheel_well_post1.jpeg)

I find the aspect of doing the rockers intimidating.

At some point I lost all confidence in my own ability to accomplish anything. A mental block with no basis-I've built no end of things with no issues yet, here I am, scared to cut off a piece of sheet metal and weld an identical new one in it's place. I got nothing, really.

What are you scared of?

Kopfjager.

Then drink Jagermeister instead.

wise you are

Next up is working on the hood/cowl gap. Right now you could park a motorbike in that make the beast with two backsing thing it's so big. Baxley was probably inspired by the hood on this car.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0092.jpg)

Apparently the way to fix that was new hinges:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0101.jpg)

Work has only recently begun again because my thyroid meds were apparently made wrong and just stopped working. Took a while to figure out.

The real issue isn't so much that I end up tired-I'm always tired. If I have more energy one day I just do more until I end up worn out again. No, a mental fog envelops me and I can sort of...watch it happen. My ability to think beings to fail and it's absolutely horrifying to watch oneself lose their own brain. Hopefully this won't happen much, if ever again-it's downright depressing.

While in the throes of my weakness the shop with my Chrysler said "anything else?". I sold one of the vehicles here and told 'em to do the rockers. Not sure if it was the mental state or the 5 hours/week I manage (at best) to get things done in, but I want it done, and I know they'll knock it out properly.

Moving on.

The leading edge of the door is slightly fubar. The fender is too, but that's been replaced.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0050.jpg)

Building it up with weld:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0114.jpg)


Fender exteriors are done, might as well get the interiors cleaned up:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0102.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0104.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0108.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0105.jpg)

Trunk lid-outer skin is intact. Inner skin rotted away where they meet:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0111.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0116.jpg)

Better bust out the press brake

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0110.jpg)

Might work:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Picture0113.jpg)

Roll cage tubing in the back?!?  Hehehe...  Going racing?  [evil]

I don't trust the B-pillars to support a shoulder harness and I feel it should have 'em.

Decided against the roll bar and went with a bunch of seats that have the belts integrated.

Providing the floor can support such a load...   ;D

 [laugh]


Looking good Dave, glad you're feeling better. [thumbsup]

That's been accounted for  ;)

Some idiot came across an old straight 6 ford 200 with the right automatic transmission for the parts car. So of course I bought it, because why not build 2?

Especially when the motor is a whopping $100.  :P

You got taken.  ;D

Now you sound like the deal king.

Ew.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/driver_quarter_2.JPG)

Better?

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/driver_quarter_3.JPG)


What could go wrong?

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/engine.JPG)

 ;D
You're in deep, man.  [laugh] [thumbsup]

Chip would have been done by now.

I'm way more handsome.  :-*

...and never lifted a finger. ;D

Clean then POR-15. No pics of the undercoating-I'm sure you're all heartbroken.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_fender_5_21_15_1.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_fender_5_21_15_3.JPG)

Started getting the rear quarter cleaned up:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_quarter_5_21_15_1.JPG)

Fixed the cord on the (untested and untried) plasma cutter I had picked up some months ago and figured I'd see if I could manage anything workmanlike.

Cut out the piece I need from the replacement fender:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_quarter_5_21_15_2.JPG)


Well hell-almost like I know what I'm doing.  [laugh]

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_quarter_5_21_15_3.JPG)

Trimmed and tacked. Need to do the other side, too.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/quarter_5_25_15.JPG)

Motorbikes I can do.....

but this car bodywork cut 'n' pasting stuff is like magicians work to me.

Lookin good  [thumbsup]

Smoke and mirrors.

You say that like I have any clue what I'm doing. Look at the corner gap in the back-it's huge.

Stupid learning curve.

I've seen worse.

His crayons would have been worn down some.

I figure not terrible for a first time. It's almost like I can be taught.



The shop with my Chrysler called. They were aligning the doors prior to rocker replacement, as they told me this is the proper way to make sure everything is where it should be.

One of those doors lines up perfect.....if the car is in the air. The gap widens when it's back on the ground.

I guess the serious frame rot is also in the passenger side front. I'm hoping it's in the stub frame that protrudes from the unibody shell, as I have a spare. I wrote and asked for more info which I expect to see tomorrow.

In the meantime I'll expect the worst and continue to guzzle whiskey. Mostly, I'm ready for the day to be over.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXlzci1rKNM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXlzci1rKNM)

I've seen cars that weren't rotted move like that either when in the air or on the ground. I've seen doors that lined up and when the guy climbed in to start welding the car moved. We used to have to add a brace in the door opening when doing Porsches.

Without a rocker in place there's nothing to keep the car from bending.

Just sayin'.

It sounds like the shop has more experience with those old beasts than I do though. :-\

The old rockers haven't been removed yet.  :-\

Ahhhh...

Says something...not sure what.

I'd have to see how they were supporting the car to really see what was going on.

Yup-I lack sufficient info to really know. Those early unibody Chryslers were quite stout.

The guy who owns this shop teaches some car customizing courses with Gene Winfield. You may recognize the name.

He's pretty damn good and has been doing it for around 50 years now.




I wouldn't bring my prized car to just anyone.

Back then you could possibly tug open or slam closed a door when a car was on a lift if it was new.  Work well?  No way.  Some rot?  Could miss by a quarter of an inch or more.

if nothing else, it makes me glad they're doing the rockers-the whole scope of the project is beyond my ability. If I had known how bad it had gotten again....I would've done it anyway.


(http://i.imgur.com/HihNGnQ.jpg)

It slices! It dices!

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/6_1_15_pass_quarter_1.JPG)

The sword of Charlemagne The Just
Is Ferric Oxide, known as rust.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/6_1_15_pass_quarter_2.JPG)

Now to cut this one out to fit.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/6_1_15_pass_quarter_3.JPG)

There's a better way to cut the panel...

Cutting the new one out? Please to share.

Trim the old panel off the car. Clean all the edges of spot welds, bumps...like you would to get ready to mount the new panel.

Trim the new panel, but leave it long by several inches.

Mount the new panel...it will overlap the old.

Using a 3M cutoff wheel...the thinnest you can buy...cut through both panels. It will now fit the hole and have a very small gap, which is better than being screaming tight because you'll get less warpage when you weld.

If I were doing that job I'd go all the way to each end.

You're saying take off the entire old panel?

No...

It looks like you're high enough, but I'd go all the way to the ends.

It looks like the replacement panel has the flange inside the door opening and the joint to the rear body panel.

I'd use the new panel all the way to there.

If I'm seeing wrong then disregard and do it your way. :P

No door flange, the joint in the rear is not obvious to me.

Then don't worry about the ends but don't try to trim the new panel by the old scrap.

Leave the new long and cut everything at once,

Think I put it up whole and hack or maybe rough cut it, clamp it up, then cut?

I could move the wheel, clean the new panel and then use the old as a guide for the plasma cutter. Might be too fancy.  :P

I very much appreciate the input Nate-I don't actually know what I'm doing.


I won't let that stop me, though.  ;D

I never let it stop me either.

Figure a way to lay the new panel over the top of what you have left...fasten it with rivets...you can weld up the holes later.

I don't know how fine a cut you can make with a plasma cutter...I always used cut off wheels with masking tape as a guide.

I like this method. I think you would have finer control with the c/o wheel than a plasma.

If you're intent on the plasma I would suggest a test cut to prove it will do what you want before you take it to your car.

Great job BTW!

3+ for the cut-off wheel.

The kerf on the plasma will be too wide.

This is the wheel you want Dave...

http://3mcollision.com/products/abrasives/cut-off-wheels/3m-green-corps-cut-off-wheel-01989.html (http://3mcollision.com/products/abrasives/cut-off-wheels/3m-green-corps-cut-off-wheel-01989.html)

It's how I did the first side. I left a little extra and trimmed to fit with a wheel.

So due to the frame rot on the '61 Chrysler and the fact that on that car, the front frame unbolts, we figured a swap might be the most straightforward repair.

Doubly so as I was too lazy to sell the parts car (see mom? Laziness can totally pay off).

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/6_6_15_164_1.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_6_6_15_164_3.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_6_6_15_164_4.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_6_6_15_164_5.JPG)


I should have the front frame tomorrow. I like the seats I pulled out of this thing so I may put 'em in mine-they're nicer in every way.

Bing.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_6_7_15_1964_1.JPG)

Bang.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_6_7_15_1964_2.JPG)

Boom.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_6_7_15_1964_3.JPG)

Smart people would've backed the car in to make getting the frame out easier.

Do you have a forklift or skid steer or something?

How're you planning on moving the parts car now?

You could always bolt the sub-frame from the other car to and have four tires back on the ground.

Or you could cobble up a trailer tongue to bolt on in place of the sub-frame.

With the car being driven in, it would add a little difficulty to hooking up and pulling it out of the garage though.

Allow me to direct you to my avatar.  :D

There isn't anything left on it that you might need?

He has a welder. ;D

A bonfire has to start somewhere.  :-*

*Ahem*

The sawzall solves all

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/6_8_15_1964_1.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/6_8_15_1964_2.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/6_8_15_1964_3.JPG)

Couple more cuts and it'll be out of the way.

Yup, it's official. Yer nuts. ;D

I would've solved that Gordian knot.

Johnny Cash One Piece At A Time (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWHniL8MyMM#)


(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/6_11_15_1964_1.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/6_11_15_1964_2.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/6_11_15_1964_3.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/6_11_15_1964_4.JPG)

Looks rusty.

Buy a Kia Carnivore.

Cripes-even the cars are people eaters down under?

To find some matching rust?

My helper was showing me how to reinstall a front fender-I made him do all the ratcheting. He couldn't see or reach so I put him on my lift table as a giant stool.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/7_16_15_1.JPG)

He wanted to see how high it would go. The look on his face  [laugh]

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/7_16_15_3.JPG)

It took half an hour to convince him to come down.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/7_16_15_4.JPG)

I've been dealing with a sick spouse/family/self and finally started getting back out there.

I finished welding on the drivers quarter panel and got it ground down:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/7_16_15_2.JPG)

Skim coat of filler:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/7_16_15_5.JPG)

Continuing to bounce around....

Put frame on table

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/8_2_15_frame_1.jpg)

Clean it

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/8_2_15_frame_2.JPG)

Load it-that is a long bed pickup, which might serve to show how massive these cars were.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/8_2_15_frame_3.JPG)

Long as I had the welder out I figured I'd smooth where the rocker meets the quarter panel-I'm trying to get rid of all the seams I can.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/8_2_15_bodywork_1.JPG)

Passenger quarter panel hacked off per Nate's dandy suggestion.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/8_2_15_bodywork_2.JPG)

Test fit (I need more magnets).

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/8_2_15_bodywork_3.JPG)

I'm happy with this seam:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/8_2_15_bodywork_4.JPG)

Tacked up:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/8_2_15_bodywork_5.JPG)

Getting closer. The rear end is cleaned up, so are both fenders and doors and the driver's quarter. This is about it, then I attempt to prime.

Awesome...  [thumbsup]

Home!

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/1961_Chrysler_10_4_15.JPG)

OMG that thing's bad-ass ... Wow!!! [bow_down]

I bet you dont see many of those around, let alone over here. Well done, looking forward to seeing the finished job. [thumbsup]

This is the hoped for result:

(http://www.ottoscustomupholstering.ca/images/gallery/1961_Chrysler_Windsor/image29.jpg)

+1 Wow!
Remember the Fairlanes with either horizontal or vertical headlights? Well that car beats them both. Such a unique front end.

You're gonna turn it into a two door hardtop?  :D [evil]

Nah nah-I did debate the hardtop bit and some shaved handles but that's how these things never get finished. Stock will work.


So last I had heard from the shop was in June. The next time was Wednesday-the last day of September. Miffed I was-are you working on it? Do you want to work on it? Are you still in business? Did you die? make the beast with two backsing nothing.

I got an email asking me to call them-I was told they were at a standstill because they didn't have the other parts they needed, some floor bits and the new frame piece.

The ones that they haven't asked for or entirely verified were make the beast with two backsed up to begin with.

Then they went on to tell me they didn't have room or time to work on it, it's parked outside and the rainy season is coming. Kinda miffed. If you don't want to/can't work on it that's fine-tell me-I'll do something else.

Paula happened to be going past there the next day, so she got saddled with my truck and trailer. While she was at work another friend went and picked up/secured the car, brought the rig back to P's work and she brought it home. I have a fantastic wife-towing that rig 200 miles on no notice was sweet of her.

It's a relief to get it home. I still need to do the floor, the front crossmember, and the gauges. After that it's paint and interior. I suppose there's a falcon in there somewhere too. Here's what the crossmember looks like:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/Chrysler_frame_2.JPG)

The shop is too cluttered, so the spare room in the barn got turned into a warehouse for parts that are in the way:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/warehouse_1_10_4_15.JPG)


Me mother is coming to visit in December. The goal isn't to be finished by then, but able to pick her up from the airport would be ideal.

I've been rearranging the shop as one bay is shorter than the other, and one car is longer than the other, and true to form, the short car was in the long bay. That and I wasn't expecting the Chrysler back here so soon.

I did manage to locate an entire floor (with the crossmember no less!) in Arizona. One of the guys on my old car board just happens to be heading through the area on his way to California, so he's picking it up for me tomorrow and bringing it here. This is all sorts of wonderful as I didn't want to go get it.

My wonderful wife helped me stuff her into the shop.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/Chrysler_10_12_15_1.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/Chrysler_10_12_15_2.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/Chrysler_10_12_15_3.JPG)

Now we can get going again.

Soooo cool...

After much effort and scouring a floor has been located and picked up.

Supervisors have been appointed.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/10_15_2015_floor_1.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/10_15_2015_floor_2.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/10_15_2015_floor_3.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/10_15_2015_floor_4.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/10_15_2015_floor_5.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/10_15_2015_floor_6.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/10_15_2015_floor_7.JPG)

This thing is immaculate. I've never seen intact rocker panels on one of these.

Now to just...put it in.

So.  This 'floor pan thingy'.  It's gonna go into the Chrysler?

No wonder my internets is still slow. 

Is gonna remain slow.

For months to come.

With all these terrestrial distractions  >:(

The pointy end goes.....




....in the back  8)

That's the theory. What could go wrong?

Nothing.  Ever.  Sorry I asked.  [thumbsup]

Wanna come help?  :D

...tap, tap, tap...

Is this thing on?!?

I think this got in the way.

(http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/D395447F-E3FD-490D-A421-733B60740184.jpg) (http://s201.photobucket.com/user/chiflado/media/D395447F-E3FD-490D-A421-733B60740184.jpg.html)

Ah yes, updates. Lessee here. So at some point, I apparently did something to my spine. No one has been able to find anything specifically traumatic so I'll go ahead and assume it's from staring too close at Kopfjager's avatars. Anyway for about three-four months I lost most of the use of my hands. Couldn't grip anything to save my life-couldn't open a jar, couldn't cook, couldn't really do a damn thing.

All sorts of doctor visits and physical therapy has me sorted now. Hopefully I won't do this again. Maybe Kopf can put up a picture of a chicken wire car grille or a hideous VW bus to save my poor neck.

Moving on.....

There was a room set up to be a bathroom (no fixtures) in the barn. I didn't really need one, nor have a septic tank so I pulled out the sheetrock and added to my storage space.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/2015-10-20_00141.jpg)

Then the 120k Honda service got done:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/2015-11-01_00162.jpg)

Then this happened:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/2015-11-21_00180.jpg)

Gene Winfield was doing a weekend-long workshop on metal forming/welding/etc out at his shop in Mojave. How could I miss it?

Here were the topics:
gas welding - hammer welding - leading
FABRICATION OF
compound curves and complex shapes by using the following equipment
english wheel - sandbag - wood hammer forms - station bucks - sheet metal break - bead roller - stakes - shrinker & stretcher
OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE
basic metalurgy - strategy for metal repair - hammer & dolly theory and technique - shrinking - hole filling - metal finishing

That had to be pretty cool.

And then....?

For those of you not familiar with Gene Winfield....

Gene made the car the Shatner as Captain Kirk or some alien babe drove in one ST episode
(http://www.kustomrama.com/images/0/07/Gene-winfield-reactor.jpg)
(along with the shuttle craft), Blade Runner vehicles, and Back to the Future cop cars.

You won't actually learn any of the things listed because at 89, Gene goes so fast you can't intake and process it fast enough. What you do get is a couple of priceless nuggets, lightbulbs going on -it isn't rocket science by any means- and to see a master at work, but only if you have the ability to replay slow-mo brain videos.

Gene is driving the blue truck, he built both and they really did what happens - twice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcYJpjKuQ7g (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcYJpjKuQ7g)

He had a number of interesting vehicles on the property:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/2015-11-21_00181.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/2015-11-21_00178.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/2015-11-21_00182.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/2015-11-21_00188.jpg)

'Shasta...because it hasta'

Pretty damn epic.

I couldn't get a decent pic of the guy as he never slowed down.

English wheeling:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/2015-11-21_00177.jpg)

Leading:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/normal_2015-11-22_00254.jpg)

Gas welding Aluminum:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/gas~0.jpg)

I'm still clueless, but now I can get myself into even more trouble. I took this in November, and it was so helpful, that when another one came up at Gambino Kustom's, I went to that too.

I'm lucky I live close to these things-last couple of classes some guys had come from Arizona, Utah, and Canada.

While at the last class, I saw this up on a shelf and bought it for my daughter:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/12_27_15_pedalcar_1.JPG)

Cleaned it up:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/12_27_15_pedalcar_6.JPG)

Last night I ordered the paint for it, and in the meantime I'm powder coating all the bits that make it actually move.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/12_29_15_pedalcar_1.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/12_29_15_pedalcar_2.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/12_29_15_pedalcar_3.JPG)

I should finish the powder coating tomorrow night. Then when my supplies show up I can see what I can do with it. What could go wrong?

 [thumbsup]

Those old pedal cars command a good price when redone.

Awesome

(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t180/bobspapa/gasser-pedal-car-copy.jpg)



Daddy....please....

Epic working with Gene, I haven't seen him in years, good on you for taking the time to work with him. Great guys, generational guys like him and Barris are a disappearing breed.

Both legendary in their craft.

My little girl ain't drivin' no gasser, Joel.  >:(

This is more better (same car that I have, too).

(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/3b/af/95/3baf95f44f73cf7b8f4be2cdfea51e3e.jpg)


I'd say more like good on him for taking the time to work with me. He's a great teacher and happy to share his knowledge. I'm lucky to have made it-Joel put me up, the wife let me go, and there were about ten people there-got to cover a lot.

Gold teef optional.

Primed:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2_6_16_Pedalcar_3.JPG)

And basecoat:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2_7_16_Pedalcar_1.JPG)

Big thanks to Nate for continuing to answer my ceaseless barrage of stupid questions. I couldn't do this without his help.

Neato

Super neat-o

Well...less neat-o.

I clear coated it. That was alright.

Then I buffed it and promptly buffed through the compound in a couple places, and the paint in one of them. Oops.

I sprang into action and asked Nate where I went wrong.

"What compound were you using?"
"Compound?"

Yup. Go on-facepalm with me. To the uninformed, nothing is obvious.


Tonight I re-primed the whole mess so I can redo the next few steps, this time, with compound on the wool pad, and no holes in the clear coat.

Maybe.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2_22_16_pedalcar_1.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2_22_16_pedalcar_2.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2_22_16_pedalcar_3.JPG)

It's purple! ;D

Sure is!

Spare tire gets mounted on the back, continental style.

It needs to read something.

"Eat My Dust"  [evil]

Nope. "Deathmobile"

Only if she rides it down a really steep hill.

The car is really looking fie Dave!

Is that the same purple as in the other pics?

Perhaps it's just the lighting but it looks more plum crazy in the newest shots.

Digging it  [thumbsup]

Watch Animal House.

Same purple.

Once I get wheels on it I'll have the wife take some shots before I give it to the kids.

I'm a horrible photographer.

Again?

IIRC it's HOK KBC-10

Fine pavo purple was the name it had.

So I'm prepping the wheels-I have chrome hubcaps for the center-the whole mess looks like this.

(http://pedalcarplus.com/images/wheels450.jpg)

Silver for the wheels?

Make the windshield match silver? Purple?

Here's what the windshield looks like on a car:

(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/k5gAAOSwstxU5kYr/$_35.JPG)

Windshield needs to match your bumpers and grill. imho

OK...FBC-10...

If you want that color to be awesome...get some Blue Kandy. ;D

I agree with Kopf...find a chromer.

Wheels in silver will look like ass next to the chrome caps. Purple or black.

Sounds right to me.

Wheels will be purple, as I already have some.

Found a chromer, I'm dropping the windshield off today.

Purple.


(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2_24_16_pedalcar_1.JPG)

The internally combusted cars feel neglected.  I vote you start working on them again.  [thumbsup]

Next time I'm out there, Stu. Car is about done.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2_28_16_pedalcar_1.JPG)

 [thumbsup]

Nice!

Good call with the purple rims/chrome caps.

Loving the almost final look!

 [thumbsup]

Needs a ratfink on the hood.

Yes!

Here ya go, Stu.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/3_12_16_Honda.JPG)

A true classic, the modern Honda, with a broken A/C compressor.

Or if you prefer:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/3_12_16_Falcon_1.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/3_12_16_Falcon_2.JPG)

Nice!  Is just the primer green, or will that be the final color?

The primer is green.

The final color is a light blue that Paula picked out.

About like this:

(http://www.dhscs.com/falcon/wa/assy132.jpg)


She is forcing me to keep the door handles.


I'm not sure I'll ever forgive her.

That color is perfect !!

I really hope you're talking about the blue.

You will.  Nice color.  That car will really be nice when you're done with it!

Ahhh, KP2CF, middle finger Kalifornia!!!!

 [thumbsup] [thumbsup] [thumbsup] [thumbsup]

Ok, I hope this vid will link...

Guy is just dusting off the tires on his Falcon  ;D


https://www.facebook.com/gary.houghtaling.3/videos/1067781323294463/ (https://www.facebook.com/gary.houghtaling.3/videos/1067781323294463/)


 [evil] [evil] [evil]

make the beast with two backsing right!

Got the windshield back from the chromers and tossed it on.

Wifey and I found a fabric that matched the paint, and she made a nifty cushion for the car.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/2016-03-31_00002.jpg)

Mounted the spare, too.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/2016-03-31_00003.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/2016-03-31_00005.jpg)

Clean:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/2016-03-31_00009.jpg)

Mine?

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/2016-03-31_00014.jpg)

Yes, yours.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/2016-03-31_00019.jpg)

Sweet.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/2016-03-31_00020.jpg)

I spent the rest of my day as a hand model-she cant quite pedal it yet.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10001/2016-03-31_00030.jpg)

Love the purple shoes, and that little grin you can just barely see.

That's awesome man!!!!

 [thumbsup] 8)

Amazing man...

Flight Pedalcars  8)

Yeah.  About that...   [laugh]

Fantastic!

All my friends know the low rider......

Not bad for an amateur. ;D

 ;D

Now, in a complete surprise to no one at all, the boy wants one too.

Shocking I say.

Yes well....poking around online, I apparently managed to score a pretty decent deal with the first one and had no clue (also not shocking). Those little chrome headlight bits are apparently $75 new.

https://ventura.craigslist.org/atq/5473399913.html

My neighbor has one in his yard down the street.

Want me to inquire about it for you? 

It's not in pristine shape for sure, but not horrible, given the mild climate here in ColoRADo.

Yes please.

My four girls are all grown up now, but that brings back memories of when I was a superhero who could no wrong. Well done Dad. [thumbsup]

Bloody brilliant mate  [thumbsup]

Me brother dug this up somewhere and sent it to me. It's my dad with the same Chrysler-circa 1965 or so.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/Dad.jpeg)

 8)

Her smile in those photos says it all.

Well done!!!

So the Chrysler was brought to Winfield's Rod and Custom some time ago. Did I mention it was a clustermake the beast with two backs?

The trip to Winfield's Rod and Custom. The car loading went poorly. Winch broke. Come-a-long broke. Chain tightener broke. Bought five tires, same size as the original trailer tires. They rubbed on the trailer. Used spacers on them so they'd fit (why wouldn't they fit?), got a flat on the way. Joy.

Halfway there I got a call telling me they think the head honcho had a black widow bite, he was going to the hospital-can I make it before he goes?

It was a clustermake the beast with two backs.

Anyway, Gene finally got a chance to look at it-told me he couldn't do the rockers properly without doing the floor, then he quoted both. I told him to do it.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2016-11-17_00001.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2016-11-17_00002.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2016-11-17_00003.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2016-11-17_00004.jpg)

Not the first job like that they've done. [thumbsup]

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2016-11-17_00006.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2016-11-18_00009.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2016-11-18_00010.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2016-11-18_00011.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2016-11-18_00013.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2016-11-18_00014.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2016-11-18_00016.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2016-11-18_00017.jpg)

Nope.

Probably would've been my last.

Few people realize how much work it is.

I've had a few down that far...mostly foreign stuff that had no 'frame' to rely on.

I only miss it occaisionally. :P

I tend to pick my battles-I would've lopped a Falcon up without a second thought, but once it's tweaked, it's tweaked.

It isn't hard to tweak them.

I saw a guy climb in to a car that had the rockers cut off without any door opening braces installed.

It never was right again.

I don't envy those guys AT ALL.

Just the drilling of all those spot welds sucks enough, let alone the rest....  :P :P :P

I commend you for admitting it was over your head at some point and getting help. I did a '69 Camaro and kept telling myself I could do it. I was wrong. cost more to fix what I screwed up than it would have to have it done right up front.

keep the photos coming. I'm loving them. cheers

Picked up a pedal car for the boy.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2017-04-09_00002.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2017-04-09_00003.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2017-04-13_00004.jpg)

Brought it up to Nate's  ;D

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2017-04-15_00005.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2017-04-15_00001.jpg)

Sealer

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2017-05-06_00006.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2017-05-07_00007.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2017-05-07_00008.jpg)

I should be able to wrap it up soon.

A huge thanks to Nate for showing me all the shit I was doing wrong.

that is pretty sweet (Peddle car) I have the same one that somehow survived my and my brothers childhood sitting in my garage in very pore shape. Another project i have yet to get to.....

https://youtu.be/SDPLZhUAqV8


Well Dave???

Screaming for stripes that car is! [thumbsup]

Got some striping supplies you'd recommend, Steve?

Many adventures were had last summer:

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2017-05-27_00018.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2017-05-27_00015.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2017-05-27_00014.jpg)
Yes, he's too big for it.

He's even bigger this year but convinced he fits.

Back to the Falcon.

So the trunk lid had separated-the outer skin was no longer held in place by the inner bit. So none of it....lined up with the rest of the body. I welded a bunch of tabs that bridged the gap:

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20170929_105114.jpg)

and had a buddy hold one side where it should be and tacked the other end of the tab so it would line up with the body, and we worked our way over.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20170808_153757.jpg)

Fabbed up some brackets:

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20180216_125018.jpg)

Mounted the rear seats:

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20180327_210641.jpg)

Also:

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_6743~0.JPG)

Front seats need to be mounted next, then the new column/steering wheel etc.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2018-05-01_00002.jpg)

Hey, look at the shitty dash.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20180328_124018.jpg)

We'll come back to that. I'm as steady as an epileptic squirrel.

See that back there? Weld it. Don't set it on fire.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2018-04-25_00001.jpg)

Hey look. Safety all around.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/2018-05-01_00003.jpg)

Also ugly. make the beast with two backs me they kill the flow. But you know-not eating dashboard? Kinda cool. I don't even know.

In other news I'll never forgive my wife for wanting exterior door handles. Every other bit of trim and what not has been removed. Except for those.

It's the worst thing she's ever done, and she tossed my Ducati on the pavement.

Say hi to my buddy Pat, who just discovered there was no candy.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20180726_202935.jpg)

Hey look-a collapsible intermediate shaft. Now we can go from totally unsafe to less totally unsafe.

(https://advrider.com/f/attachments/20180812_204056-jpg.1313761/)

A tilt column and a smaller steering wheel means we both fit better.

Stu will object to the wheel change, but c'est la vie.

I need to cut off the old steering shaft next and I like to sleep on these things.

That and the shaft needs to get cut on the engine side of the firewall.

Which I can sorts of get my pneumatic cutting tool to reach, but I have to thread it way down and when I get it in the right spot....the button ends up on the passenger side of the firewall.  [bang]

So...I'll be waiting for help on that one.

Then I need to weld on the lower joint and figure out the height of the drops/install the column mounts and then I'm good to go.

The whole mess is too long but that intermediate shaft can be trimmed.
__________________

So anyway. Old shaft is ~33" and change.

New column, intermediate shaft, u-joints....is....42".

My math may have been off.

I can cut enough out of the intermediate shaft to make the existing stuff work, but that lessens the amount of collapsibility we're left with-I'd like to avoid that.

New column is 16", and they make a 12", so....one has been ordered.

I couldn't access the steering shaft to cut it so...pulled the pitman arm and the bolts that hold the box on.

It doesn't come out-not through the firewall, can't be dropped out or raised up through the engine compartment. Cut the shaft off and removed the valve cover and I could get it out the top and cut the shaft to the right length.

Next will be mockup when the new column comes, so I can orient the wheel to be centered when the wheels are.

Floor?

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20190312_133601.jpg)

Floor.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20190314_131940.jpg)

Explosion proof fan.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20190312_143900.jpg)

Sealer:

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20190603_135342.jpg)

Colour:

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20190603_145520.jpg)

Clear:

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20190603_183239.jpg)

That dash looks sweet.

Thanks Kopf.

I blame Nate  ;D

Looking good!

It's always my fault. ;D

 [thumbsup] ;D

Stu objects to nothing.  Except exterior door handles.  Those should have gone.  Sorry P.

Sealer:

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20190924_130322.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20190924_130348.jpg)

Colour:

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20190924_153804.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20190924_153824~0.jpg)

Clear:

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20190927_190417~0.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20190927_190505~0.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20190927_190510~0.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20190927_190519~0.jpg)

And in case it's not abundantly clear I don't know what the make the beast with two backs I'm doing....this paint job I managed to

Run the sealer.
Have to force dry the sealer, sand it, and respray that part.

Then I ran the colour coat.
Also force dried, sanded, and resprayed.

I ran the respray.
So again, dried, sanded, and resprayed.

During the second coat of basecoat the gun just....did it's best Peter North impression and started spewing white shit everywhere into the blue paint. Apparently my air drying system needs to be drained more often.


Keep in mind that almost every step of the above srewups involved a frantic call to Nate.

"What'd you make the beast with two backs up now?"  [laugh]

 [laugh] [clap] [thumbsup]

Yet it looks pretty sweet.  [thumbsup]

(You owe me a new keyboard after I sprayed it with a drink of water on the Peter North bit.)

If Dave has learned anything through this project...

it's why painters all drink...sometimes heavily. [evil]

Everyone thinks it's easy, it's just a little paint, but there are so many things that can go wrong it's inevitable that something will.

I used to work for a guy that liked to say...'It's not the make the beast with two backsup that matters...it's the recovery.

On one trip to my place for hands on lessons I showed Dave exactly how something could go wrong, and one method of bailing out. If you didn't see it happen you wouldn't believe it.  [laugh]

I believe you.
Local painter in my home town did show quality work, but couldn't paint shit when sober. Prepayment was bourbon, etc to steady his hand. ;)

Slightly different for me.

Never had to be drunk to paint.

Had to get drunk after.

 ;D

Painters stop at the liquor store on the way too work.  ;)

That paint job looks make the beast with two backsing awesome. That car is gonna pop!  8)

 :D [laugh] Until they can no longer keep their tab running.

Never seemed to be a problem. :-\

“Norm!”

Car is looking great Dave!  Can't wait to drive it :P

I've done enough body and paint work in my distant past to know quickly that it wasn't my career path.....

Agreed on the drunk part, although I've thought a lot of it might be fume-related.

I figured the recovery was a big part. And I wanted to learn from my mistakes.

I didn't really want to make every mistake possible on the same paint job, but here we are.  :P

Pulled the masking off the dash.

I think it looks pretty alright.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20190930_203757.jpg)

Look at that.

Dear lord-how did I not see a run that big? Apparently they hide when it's shiny.

It goes the whole length of the car.

I think it has a zip code.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191017_205438.jpg)

Nate got harassed about that one, too.

Sanded it out. Took forever.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191108_151949.jpg)

Glass!

The new wing window seals were labeled L and R.

This was apparently if you were facing the car. Not sitting in it.

This....caused me no end of issues. It's been installed and removed about eight times at this point.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191109_175139.jpg)

All those little indents were originally black. I decided I wanted them to match.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191112_132338.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191112_132313.jpg)

If it was easy...

everyone would do it. :-*

Those taillights are sick!  [evil]

 [thumbsup]

Period catalogue wheels?

They were on it when I got it.  :P

Glass!

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191115_160330.jpg)

Steering column and glass!

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191116_212553.jpg)

More glass!

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191117_210846.jpg)

make the beast with two backs!

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191115_151509.jpg)

World's worst custom fit carpet.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191117_210904.jpg)

Hrmmm.

Maybe if we turn it?

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191119_203221.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191119_210116.jpg)

I wonder why they called this carpet trimming tool a "bloody mary?"

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191119_143812.jpg)

Oh.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191119_143833.jpg)

14” Magnum 500’s.

Car is coming together nicely D!!!!!

Cheers

I forgot how cool the consoles were in those Falcons.  :)

Won’t the silver dash be too reflective?

Ain't my car  :P

Behold the window runs-new vs old.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191122_152618.jpg)

The windows used to rattle-hopefully this sorts it out a bit. Windows run on IZ_ and with the new runs we've improved the IZ_ ratio by 112%. I was amused to see the box these things were in said "Flight Cycles"....which tells me Stu didn't want to put them in, either   [laugh]

Installed, which meant the window came out for the 18th time.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191122_152633.jpg)


And a look down from the top-that's the glass between the two horizontal IZ_ channels me being a foot model, and my missing hat.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191122_152641.jpg)

New door gasket:

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191123_101757.jpg)

I didn't buy that, either, so, thanks, Stu.

Might even be quiet-I've never been in an old car with an intact one.

And a brandy new bolt in door handle!

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191123_101809.jpg)

Brand new, bolt in.

Which means it in no way bolted in and I dismantled it and transferred the internals from the old one.

Which didn't transfer either because the holes are different so I made new ones.

This took....a long time.

Looking good.  [thumbsup]

You know...

you're supposed to fit all this stuff before paint...right? :-*

Now you tell me?  :P  [laugh]

I'm not sure I could make it more clear I don't know what the hell I'm doing.

I don’t remember buying those...  [roll]

Looking good so far!

Be sure to spray trunk undercoating post paint, or else your chances of ruining the finish are nil.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191212_141400.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191212_164603.jpg)

But if I had done things in the right order, it'd still be in primer.

This is theoretically some sort of trunk liner. Covers as much as a bikini.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191213_151236.jpg)

And the mat that was bought sight unseen has been described as "speckled" which is apparently another word for "ugly."

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191213_151418.jpg)

I hate it.

Might as well fix that ugly vinyl trunk mat.

I bought some marine grade vinyl from the local fabric store. I needed two yards. They had two yards. I'll take it.

Lay it out.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191217_103357.jpg)

Put your ugly template over it.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191217_103554.jpg)

Steal your Paula's sewing supplies. Realize you messed up her current sewing project. Blame the cat.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191217_110013.jpg)

Pin both layers together. Learn to look at the pin you're picking up instead of blindly fumbling.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191217_105702.jpg)

Cut cut. Rotary cutters work awesome.

Voilà! C'est finis!

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191217_112615.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191220_152625.jpg)

Your wife needs to take all the sharp tools from the garage so you don't hurt yourself.

I think she upped my life insurance  :P

 ;D

Know those neat lights with the magnification built in?

I don't have one.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191219_143129.jpg)

I re-painted the bezel letters.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191219_143208.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20191219_152053.jpg)

I permanently installed the radio and the ignition switch. I had to make and install a bracket for each. I couldn't get access to the back of the ignition switch without removing the gauges.

The gauges are blocked by the steering column.

So.....much backwards progress was made.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200103_152216.jpg)

Worst area to work...on any car...under the dash.

I feel this comment.   I just stumbled across this thread. Nice work.

It's why I left the seats out. Still sucks.

I've amended that to include a recently painted dash as being slightly worse.

The wiper switch doesn't fit. I need to figure out what's up with that. Almost done with that then probably on to the heater box.

Is the wiper transmission internal, or external, on that car?

Internal.

It's not a stock switch as the old qiper motor was vacuum and I put a 'lectric one in.

The company claims it'll fit. I haven't tried since I took the gauges out.

Make sure it's in good shape. You don't want to change it after the car is completely assembled...trust me on this.

Old vertical window channel for the rear windows. It's where the glass slides and ideally, keeps it from rattling.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200109_150303.jpg)

I need the brackets from the back-apparently no one makes new stuff for the rears. If they do I couldn't find it.

If you find it don't tell me, it's too late.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200109_150310.jpg)

Pop the brackets out. Save the old piece-it's our template for the new holes.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200109_150323.jpg)

Comparison. No wonder it rattled.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200109_150333.jpg)

Put 'em back to back. Drill through all the old holes.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200109_152737.jpg)

Make sure brackets are going to face the right way, and that all the little tabs that held it in place are straightened and fit through the holes you just made.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200109_151449.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200108_144232.jpg)

Roll the window up and down smoothly a few dozen times and giggle.

The shit eating giggle makes it all worth while.  [thumbsup]

So....the gasket I put in originally was just...too big. The trunk would not close.

I pulled it off and put a new and smaller gasket on.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200124_143735.jpg)

The trunk lid now closes.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200124_143743.jpg)

I put some sound deadener down over the...other sound deadener because I really hate noisy cars. They take away from the sweet melody of my tinnitus.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200124_143629.jpg)

And then threw in the rear seats and carpet.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200124_125744.jpg)

These showed up today! Aluminum door panels!

Currently test installed with tape.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200127_144657.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200127_145129.jpg)

 [thumbsup]

Damn.......  [popcorn]

 [thumbsup]

Shaping up nicely.

You might have been surprised to see both the hole under the door panel and the unpainted bit. In which case you and I would be surprised together.

I could've sworn the door panel went all the way down.

I patched and filled and painted that bit. If I had known it was going to be visible it would have been silver, too. Black is easier right now.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200127_144657.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200206_125132.jpg)

I can't....quite manipulate the saw as tight as I 'd like and in this case it was easier to move the new door panel around so.....one power strip as a foot pedal and a proper "make the beast with two backs Osha" attitude and.....


(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200206_094616.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200203_140511.jpg)

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200207_153012.jpg)

And I pulled the plastic off the door panel so I can scratch it easier.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200207_153002.jpg)

Herrre birdy birdy birdy

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200219_194140.jpg)

I went with a painless harness. The old one was fresh out of smoke.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200219_194146.jpg)

Way more than the previous four fuses.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200225_150120.jpg)

Driver's side door has a shitty window regulator.

I have a new one that came with the car (Thanks Stu!) so it's safe to assume it's a high priority.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200225_143752.jpg)

I don't...have the right tool for rivets and if I did I wouldn't know how to use it. If anyone *cough* Nate *cough* knows a way to install those maybe they'll speak up  :D

Another part I don’t remember buying.  But hey! You’re welcome!  [drink]

You were clearly all ready to fix every little thing and then...sold it to me.

 [laugh]

Sure seems like it.  My world was imploding fast at that point.  That’s about all I remember really.  That and selling the Bobber.

Does that attach to the door, or the regulator arms?

Regulator arm. I have access to both sides-no rivet gun. Can I peen 'em over with a hammer and a dolly?

No...you have to do it like this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pbYYs3P91E

Seriously...that's exactly how I'd do it? :P

If you can clamp the two pieces together to fit tight before you start hammering, it will help.

Grind off the rivets from the olde shot regulator:

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200304_095749.jpg)

Remove it with a hammer. That's a very important part of car restoration. You need to hit all of the things with hammers.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200304_100257.jpg)

It's all shaped funny and impossible to grab in a vice so devise a complex method of keeping the regulator arm level, the back of the rivet supported, and whack the holy hell out of it.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200304_110921.jpg)

Pack it with grease, try it out, discover it doesn't work any better than the old one and order a whole new arm. Question what the make the beast with two backs is wrong with you and why you chose the dumbest make the beast with two backsing hobby.  [bang]

Get pissed and move on to simpler things. Door handles and a window crank handle.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200304_095742.jpg)

Maybe the dome light. That seems simple.

Discover you can't find it.

Too many uninstalled parts just everywhere.

Let's just install them until we find what we need.

Put the visors up.

Discover you can't find the colour matched screws you bought for the visor arms.

Search everywhere.

Find them, put the visors up.

Go to put the rear view mirror in place and spend an hour looking for the screws.

Finally find the screws but can't find the bracket I was holding.

Search for another hour.

Give up and call your asshole brother about getting lunch.

Reach into your pocket for your phone and find the missing bracket.

Leave the shop in disgust.

There we go.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200306_101208.jpg)

Got the new window arm in.

Wasn't that simpler?

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200317_203058.jpg)

I'm thinking spaghetti for dinner.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200325_161143.jpg)

Btw...the company that makes the steering column I have......Ididit.....says these pieces are the male and female sides of a connector.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200401_170027.jpg)

I didn't believe them. I googled it.

Sonofapregnant dog if they don't snap together perfectly.

Why do I have three front bumpers?

Where is the back bumper?

I'm going to invent a time machine just so I can go back and kick my own ass.

Crappy bumper.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200403_192115.jpg)

Nice grille.

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200403_192207.jpg)

Cleaned the engine compartment. See?

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200403_192158.jpg)

Oh...and.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQa7bXhg1uI

 [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap]

Bravo!

I wired something!  [laugh]

A few more things left but the end is in sight.

Sounding and looking good. 

Low voltage doesn't count. :P

You've clearly never put a wrench across a battery  :P

Actually, I got my wedding ring, when I wore one, caught between the negative terminal and the body on a positive ground MG.

I stopped wearing a wedding ring that day. ;)

I read of a guy who managed to lose a finger like that.

I don't wear jewelry for just those reasons.

I've done that trick with a wedding ring, can confirm they got hot right quick.

Great progress!  Great pics!

TIL: positive ground cars can turn a wedding ring into a furnace that can induction harden your finger.

It has returned to the land of the living!  (And much prettier now too)

Well...in honour of my recent birthday Paula let me send the gauges for my Chrysler out to have them redone.

Should look like this when complete:

(https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/jcauto/car_images/239/large/final1.jpg?1459550214)

(https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/jcauto/car_images/145/large/1961-Newport-TC-after-4.jpg?1455922070)

Hopefully I can get back to it.

That grille and hood look sweet. Car is coming together nicely. 👍🏼

I was not aware that there were any Juke Box restoration shops left.

That grille cost as much as the parts car.  :P


There are very few places left that work on electroluminescent gauges. That isn't backlit. It's a ceramic coating that vibrates at some ridiculous rate and causes it to glow like that. Even the needles glow.

really

Looking good, Dave!

 [thumbsup] [thumbsup]

No, it's just high voltage.

But...fancy for the time.

http://automotivemileposts.com/imperial1960panelescent.html

Very cool. It must look spectacular at night.
I think my dad's GMH FB Holden may have used something similar in copied the style only, but not the lighting method of some American dashboards of the time. It was dubbed the "Americana" style dash on a car that looked like a pigmy 57 Chev.
Looking forward to seeing night pics once it's done. [thumbsup]

So....column seal.

Some people would put this on....before the steering column was final mounted but....

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200421_160645.jpg)

Coat hooks. Not that it'll ever see a coat, but....shiny.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200421_160602.jpg)

Final install of radio, ignition switch, gauges, wiper switch completed.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200422_172851.jpg)

No idea where the ashtray is.

It'll turn up.

Maybe.

Stock '62 Ford Headlight switch. Theoretically.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200420_132223.jpg)

Like everything else, wired per the painless wiring instructions.

I had my choice of headlights or tail lights, but not both.

So I googled the switch terminals. Just "Headlight switch B1 B2 etc."

It perfectly matches a Mopar switch. Wire it up according to that and everything works perfectly.

Not sure what happened there-I have the switch out of the parts car and the original-they all match the new one. I'm going to assume Painless is confused somehow.

Just another thing that took way longer than it should have.

I try to share the candid approach. I'm currently five years into a six month project.

Heater out. Be sure to remove the lower heater hose first. It'll pop right off. That way the seemingly limitless amounts of coolant it contains can slosh out the entire time you work on the upper hose, which is somehow permanently welded to the heater core.

Really, the core is delicate and hoses are cheap so just cut the make the beast with two backsing hoses you should replace anyway like you knew you should have.


50 years of dirt removed along with all gaskets.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200427_152129.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200427_152148.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200427_152205.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200427_152213.jpg)

Rattlecanned, because it's going under the dash and I suffer from early onset lazy.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200427_171624.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200427_171632.jpg)

Foamy goodness that isn't beer. Who knew?

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200428_094909.jpg)

Stellar instructions:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200428_094913.jpg)

I fit checked everything in the seal kit (fancy name for a bunch of foam) and then stuck it on with glue. Such is the high standards I established when I worked in the ye olde aerospace industry.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200428_100243.jpg)

Potentially 17% less drafty.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200428_100252.jpg)

A tiny jump seat!

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200428_102720.jpg)

Rear seats...in for the 18th time. So....permanently for the 17th time.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200429_172647.jpg)

Rear carpet, too.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200429_172629.jpg)

On the driver's side I thought I'd be bold and install the lock cylinder before the door panel.....Unlike what I did on the passenger side. Foresight my friends. It's only taken 40 some years to get to this point.......the point at which my mental decline will offset the knowledge built up over decades. Time is a cruel mistress.


Apparently the bit that holds it in goes where the weatherstrip that I already installed is. I had to remove the weatherstrip and restick it, which is what the yellow tape is doing.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200430_174002.jpg)

And....door panel.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200505_180210.jpg)

Looking sweet. All kinds of goodness, but I’m digging the door lock.  8)

Yeah, a nice touch.

That’s OE.

Also: Dave, I remember putting a heater core in it while I owned it...  Weird how few years it lasted.

That's what I meant [thumbsup]. They really did nice aesthetic stuff back in the day. Maybe why we love Ducatis so much. I was just looking at the oem Brembo wheels on my 750 the other day and really liked the contours of the rim and hub.

Exactly!

The core looks good.

No seals in the heater box so it was drafty.

Replacement core didn’t come with seals...

 [thumbsup] Progress.

Isn't it fun how the holes for the heater hoses in the firewall are almost exactly the same diameter as the hoses you feed through them?  :P Gotta love '60s Fords.

I know, right? Ruined your seemingly endless streak of having bought me all the parts I needed.

Not too late though! Money can be sent to....

Refunds can be sent to...

 ;D

All the modern day comforts of charging your phone and listening to your own tunes.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200505_210804.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200505_210813.jpg)

Mass wants backup lights. I thoughtfully removed the stockers (if it had them-I don't recall) with no plan to the future.

Some cheap LEDs later....

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200515_151126.jpg)

Brackets: (http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200515_151057.jpg)

Lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxlOPt4UBfY

Reassembled the heater:

(http://www.paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200526_202449.jpg)

It can go in tomorrow after the paint on the interior side of the firewall dries (it was rusty behind the heater).

I put the rear bumper to body seal in place and finalized the rear bumper.

Exhaust is re-hung.

Fuel line re-secured.

Mounted an electric switch for the brake lights by the pedal as those old hydraulic switches suck and the one it had was broken.

This car is gonna be killer.  [thumbsup]

‘62 standard model Falcon wouldn’t (& didn’t) have reverse lamps.

Looking good!

Are those back up lights as bright as they look in the video?

Yeah....but convincing the inspection station of that is a nightmare. They refuse to believe a stock military truck had no license plate light. I'm sure that's exactly what they wanted on a military vehicle-a way to illuminate the target.  [roll]

I figured they'd be useful-I live in the woods.

reading this thread brings back images of chaos that I both love and laugh about

Yesssss  :D

Got the heater in. Surprisingly unwieldy.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200527_202026.jpg)


The stock heater hoses (what I have) do not fit this car due to the V8 swap.

The lower one needs to go through the firewall and make a little joggle, like this:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200527_202642.jpg)

NAPA came through-found an old guy and he found the hose I needed. It was too long so I had to snake it through the firewall, unsnake it, cut it, resnake.

All heater hoses now installed.

Heater motor wired-now with multiple speeds!

All heater control cables hooked up.

Defrost vents installed. Ducting installed. It now defrosterates more better.

Glove box is in. For the record the correct order is radio, heater hoses, heater body, ducting, ducts, heater cables, glove compartment.

There were many iterations of me installing things in the wrong order.

Next build I'm keeping a notebook.

Burrito runs in the Falcon!

Most of the underdash wires are now secured.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200531_175804.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200601_172017.jpg)

Funny how that shit matters. ;D

So....the rear carpet is in and nicely stuck down. Looks good.

Console is in and wired up. Static happens on the radio if you have the phone both charging and using the aux jack. I'm told that's a ground loop issue. I was also told this with some sort of vague assumption that would mean anything. I don't think it involves when I looped Paula's dirtbike, but in my defense, I'm a horrible rider.

Front carpet. Doesn't fit. Passenger front side? Fits.

Driver's side front carpet? No fit. Not even close to fit. There's an extra bit of carpet on the left side of the driveshaft hump that looks like...a fat man's beer belly. It just has nowhere to go? Squishing it down just moved it to under the accelerator pedal, which could then no longer be depressed fully, and once pushed down, would get stuck. Wrong kind of excitement.

Cutting the carpet and trying to overlap it resulted in more ugly than a Rolling Stone's group photo. Just, hideous. Clearly, something went wrong here.

This car is a stick shift. I bought a carpet for a stick shift car in the hopes that meant they had a shifter hole (it didn't). But apparently the cars that were originally manuals had a rather large kickout on the driveshaft hump which is what this extra carpet was trying to cover. Except this car was an automatic originally and thus does not have said kickout. This results in a carpet that does not fit.

So I learned yet another thing. I ordered an automatic carpet and now I have some nice spare carpet scraps to kneel on.

There's a lesson here somewhere.


I didn't write that down, either.

I bought a ground loop isolator instead.

My ground loops are totally isolated and I can now both charge a phone and listen to it at the same time.

Luxury.

She lives.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200607_153115.jpg)

Heat of the moment...

I found the stone guard.

Apparently the bumper doesn't cover it and it's visible. I really thought it wouldn't be seen later.

And I had forgotten it had one.

So...need to make it blue. Bit bent in the middle.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200608_193435.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200608_193727.jpg)

Less dented.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200608_194510.jpg)

Blue:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200630_195823.jpg)

On

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200708_214205.jpg)

It's called a front valence...

Basic part # 17779...IIRC

Well I never.

Dash grille....

Speaker grille.

Defroster vent grille?

Dashboard valence  ;)

This thingy...was hosed up from some idiot (not me for once) putting a tachometer mount through it.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200626_160441.jpg)

I'm not a skilled enough welder to fill in those half rounds so I filled in the holes in their entirety.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200626_161320.jpg)

Then I ground it flat, re-cut the slots and did a skim coat of filler.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200626_165350.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200628_162309.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200630_194215.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200702_215311.jpg)

Never thought I could remember? ;D

I did part of the interior trim too.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200630_194203.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200705_213016.jpg)

I like the silver.

I can paint all this because it's at the glass shop getting the windshield and rear window put back in.

The bug lockdown should have you finishing this project in a month [thumbsup].
Looking forward to your first drive report.

Coming together nicely.  [thumbsup]

gasketed glass is easy to install. You should have asked.

I figure I've bugged you enough.  :P

I still poke through your old emails before I paint anything.


So the registry is appointment only due to the covids. It's difficult to get an appointment. After hitting refresh enough times to slow down the RMV site, I managed to snag one. In Boston.


I was in one of the many Boston highway tunnels heading to the registry relying on my trusty phone GPS when it piped up "you have arrived!"

Er.....shit. I'm in the damn tunnel still.  I had left early but still managed to have only about a 10 minute buffer.

I parked and checked the GPS and it still thought I was there. So I called Paula and told her what intersection I was nearest and asked her to direct me.

Apparently I was a ways away.

Run! Runnnnnnnnnnn! Yell landmarks into the phone as I pass them to confirm the route. Sam Adams statue! City Hall! Run run run!

I came sprinting up to the RMV entrance at 4:40. Straight into my appointment.

Good thing they weren't checking temperatures.

Those suckers gave me plates.



They'll never catch me alive.  [evil]

Nice!

Also, I didn’t mount the tacho...

Nope. You're innocent.

This time.



I do need to remount the Iguana.

Paco lives.

How much did they charge you to install the glass, if you don't mind me asking?

I think it came to $220.

Add another $200 to that for getting it towed there and back.

You should have called...  :P

What should I be using to put up pics these days? It's about time I contribute to this thread albeit in my glacially slow build manner.

Flickr works from a laptop/desktop. Google photos sometimes works if you generate a link to the actual location from here... https://ctrlq.org/google/photos/?_ga=2.30359100.2054658367.1524554495-1970507374.1524554495
don't put them in albums. Kevin uses an app on his phone.

Pick your poison.

So I'm actually finally doing stuff on my Chevelle


(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50149363891_55785d74be_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jpwAH2)IMG_7867 (https://flic.kr/p/2jpwAH2) by Michael Williams (https://www.flickr.com/photos/189425822@N05/), on Flickr




(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50149601032_69b450d1a8_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jpxPcE)IMG_7866 (https://flic.kr/p/2jpxPcE) by Michael Williams (https://www.flickr.com/photos/189425822@N05/), on Flickr

Cool iguana that Paco...

E-brake didn't work. It's never worked.

Me and a good mechanic spent a few hours working over every aspect of it and...it still didn't work.

So....I pirated the fancy E-stopp off of my Chrysler and installed it because...it was there.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200809_161327.jpg)

So now it's a fnacy electric thing with a cable equalizer.and push button activation.

Remember how I had the carpet for a manual before and it didn't fit? Front carpet for an automatic car turned up.

That didn't fit, either. Apparently modifying the floor made a difference. Who knew? No one could have known.

The rear half of the new carpet fit. I now have two spare front halves. I better save these for twenty years.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200811_202404.jpg)

Seats in! Time for a test drive!


And.....make the beast with two backs....

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20200821_162801937.jpg)

Pretty sure I got it fixed.

With that in mind...


I hope she likes it.  :P

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20200818_195119.jpg)

It's ok, I guess.










































































:D

It's super cool

Lookin' good  [thumbsup]

I do loves me a nice ol' Falcon.




What's an E-brake?

And what's more, what's a fancy E-Stopp?

E-stopp is a 'lectric E-brake that yanks n the cables until it's good and set.

If you don't have a working one you don't get to pass inspection in the great state of Massachusetts, and thus are subject to meeting the authorities more than one would like.

Parking brake?

More of what it is really, IME they're not very well suited to what one would think an emergency brake is.

We used to call them emergency brakes before dual master cylinders.  More appropriately they are now called parking brakes though some people still call them emergency brakes.


Are they required if you have hot rod with modern brakes?

Video if the car running please!

Classy gift.

A driving video would be cool.

Get Paco re-mounted?

Tell P that I approve (if that means anything...)  [thumbsup]

 8)

https://youtu.be/eOPwClIGVd4

 [thumbsup]

Lookin cool!

Was fully expecting a donut or two.

I was surprised the backup lights worked  [laugh]

Can't miss those back up lights.

 [thumbsup]

Is that the same color as the pedal car?

Shouldn't be.

I should put 'em side by side.

Wow...

That’s got to feel good.

(Hi P!)

Hi Stu!  :)

If y'all somehow haven't seen, a storm came through.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201007_174836072.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201007_174857017.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201016_104110627_28129.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201016_104158176.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201016_104215781_28129.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201016_104237240.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201016_103923939.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201016_104044348.jpg)

 [bang]
The cowl
The door

As dp said, le faucon est mort

Yeah... seeing more pics makes me change my mind about a roof clip.

Say buh bye.

I figured it was good and dead.

Might find a shell and swap all the running gear.

FFS

This gives me the sads.

 :'( :'( :'(

Falcons subframes and/or just a shell?

This.

So many good Falcon parts from the waist down.  Build another?

I'm thinking two, so there'll be a spare.


No trees ever fell on it until I gave it to Paula. Just sayin'

(hi sweetie!)  :-*

Nooooooooo!

Cabriolet.

The Mercury Comet’s are cooler looking...  also rumored to be more resistant to death by tree.


(Super sorry that happened Dave.)

Maybe a Dodge Phoenix would be appropriate for a next go around?

One would think, yet there is precedent...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luton_Aircraft

Skip a few sentences in "The company moved to a new factory (the Phoenix Works) in...."

 :-\

Or a Nash Metropolitan (beep beep)

Moving on.

One neglected Jeep.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201011_155650098_HDR.jpg)

I started putting POR-15 on the parts that were rusty until I noticed that it was all rusty.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201011_173148781.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201011_173158569.jpg)

Ran out of paint.

The old girl has been sitting for...too long-4-6 years or so. But I find I need a pickup again so two new batteries were bought (it's a 24 volts system) and some fresh gas.

Maybe....?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04sDE1quuw0&feature=emb_logo

Do you hear that? We're talking 230 cubic inches of raw power positively churning out a mind-boggling 90 horsepower.

At least it might have fifty years ago.

It's floored. Go around.

At least with those tires they won't be able to track which way you're going.

I'm surprised the town isn't after you for a junk yard permit. ;D

Oh, yes. Those Jeep trucks are awesome. As long as you don't like a ride suggesting any suspension compliance, that is.

Split rims?  [evil] They'll kill you just for looking at them wrong if they're pressurized and in the mood.

I am....very in violation of the town bylaws.

They somehow haven't noticed yet.


Yup, split rims. Calling around asking about having work done on them just gets some very firm refusals. Luckily they're the super common 6 on 7.25 or some such which can be custom made because they exist nowhere.



Also, I picked up a Falcon shell.

Yeah, I think I'd upgrade to conventional wheels....

When I was a kid, we had an old Dodge 3/4 ton that had split rims. It was tricky to find someone that wanted to touch them back then, let alone now.

this made me happy.

https://youtu.be/1njIckENbRA (https://youtu.be/1njIckENbRA)

Just getting caught up here but agreed.

I'm heart broken for you.

I....got distracted.

Spent the summer fishing with the kids in my wherry.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20200820_194611541.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201003_180817763_HDR.jpg)

It's really a one person boat, the "seats" the kids sit on are watertight compartments. They just are small enough that they can get away with it.

Except the capacity is 350 lbs.....and I weigh....210 and the little one weighs 40......and the big is one is up to 60 plus the gear and.....

There is a distinct lack of freeboard.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_8456.jpg)

Fun pics and a sweet little craft you have!  Reminds me of when my dad and I would go fishing on our little boats.   [thumbsup]

Well....I figure they'll be too big come spring to not swamp it.

I need a better boat.

I have a better boat.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/Sg7S7zlvocSQ-hdB6DmZ8A7uFdK_XvpidhqQ-AcfvwQpX92IB~0.jpeg)

Well....boat.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/g2iCVo3QmmjfOmeNu3NtvVET7NBjKYEd691P8EwZjoIpX92IB~0.jpeg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/KWPgWfscJcwXG63BYw7h6pGJN9C9cFu7Zg8AxXnY8eQpX92IB~0.jpeg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/WrQqf7nvLmT5ZcDjdMZ7lfDi2qOjdSq3XArpRoL2xlcpX92IB~0.jpeg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/wcgsBJX4PZNZgKOET44UmMvcPMH1N8pQEl_cxFfYAMEpX92IB~0.jpeg)

It's not worth fixing so, I fixed it anyway.

I ground out the rot, filled the holes and then wrapped it in a layer of fiberglass and epoxy.

Sanded that mess....smooth-ish then put an epoxy fairing compound over the whole hull to smooth it out.

Body filler is easier to work with.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20200930_212438498_HDR.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201007_133251849.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201012_151914165.jpg)

Primed the hull

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201110_132158773.jpg)

I hacked apart the broken oarlocks and stuck a piece of fiberglass in there with a bronze oarlock, and then built it all back up.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201016_100554718.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201025_144704634_HDR.jpg)

and primed the inside

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201028_153745582.jpg)

Painted the inside.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201101_170626211_HDR.jpg)

and the outside

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201113_133243239_HDR.jpg)

Did you know rub rail is stupid expensive? Like $140 for the wee little boat that might be worth the same. So I made my own.

Look at this beautiful fixture. Scrap wood with a hole in it. Carpet blade. Vise grips. Patent worthy.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201117_134513055.jpg)

One garden hose

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201117_130617768.jpg)

Instant rub rail-just add glue.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201118_163055921.jpg)

All done until the seat fabric turns up.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20201119_134607662.jpg)



I picked up a cheap trailer and replaced the lights, bearings and races. Wheels on the way and I fixed the winch. Soon I can get it out of my shop.

Wow.  [bow_down]  Hard to believe it's the same boat!

I gotta say...

you're persistent, if nothing else. ;D

Too dumb to know when to quit  :P

My dad bought it new and took my brother and I fishing in it for years upon years.

I figured I'd breathe some life into it.

So, this is the ‘Falcon’ of small fishing boats then?!?

I guess?

Certainly quicker. If only a better quality wood fell on the Falcon, I'd make oars out of it.

Keep the boat away from your trees.

Why wood you say such a thing? Make me feel like ash and pine for a time when the car was still spruced up?

You're barking up the wrong tree.

 ;D

 [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap]

Nice work.
That mole wrench has a few miles, and still goin' strong [evil]

BTW, Did Paco survive?

Yup, and rescued.

He's in my Chrysler for now.

Nice!!

Time to get back to the Chrysler.

This turned up today.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_IMG_20210216_164828899.jpg)

That is the very rare foot controlled seven button radio.

Clearly, far superior to the five button radios that came stock.

If only one went up to eleven.....

The long pole in the tent here is that the car is about 4" shorter than my shop.


I guess I need to do...something.

That’s badass!

Looking at expanding the shop.

Man, the planning board wants all sorts of info.


Apparently "Winging it" is not an acceptable plan.  :P

I want detailed accounting of what those miserable make the beast with two backss extort from you to improve your own property through architectural plans,  permits, and inspections.

Then, I want a detailed accounting of the tax increase.

make the beast with two backs Massoftaxes.

Don't hold back, Nate  [laugh]

Have you ever known me to do that?

Nope. I'd be entertained to watch you talk to my brother.

He'd end up confused and disgruntled  [laugh]

I wouldn't use any big words. ;D

So....the car is too long to fit in my shop so the fitment and assembly will get done in the garage under the house. There's a smooshed Falcon in the way and I don't feel like doing anything with it yet, but I need some space.

I picked up a cheap Harbor Freight carport to free up some space.

Luckily some idiot sold their pickup and...didn't fix the broken pickup, so I casually took everything out of the box to fit it inside a 'lectric Honda.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210221_173527371.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210223_171940930.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_IMG_20210224_151944187_HDR.jpg)

Some hamfisted make the beast with two backsface broke my original rear emblem. No, not me-I know how my trunk opens.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210224_170241945.jpg)

I got spoiled with the Falcon. Need a part? Call up any of a dozen parts suppliers and get it shipped. Choose based on price/distance/material. Luxury.

Here? Dig through archives of old message boards. Ping someone who might still know the guy with a mopar junkyard. Somehow get a message back, find the junkyard owner, and ask about an emblem that was both model and decklid specific.

This took some doing, but I found one.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210227_110756944_28129.jpg)

The plastic is shot.

Some other guy is making reproductions.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_8373_28129.JPG)

I went with the tricolour.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_8375.jpg)

Apparently he has an LED option. I think it'd make a nice third brake light.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_1614691914769_received_2239098452974412.jpeg)

No, I don't want to talk about it.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210224_170153176.jpg)

I just need to make some space. Might be easier to steer if it was less crumply.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210310_132509702.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210310_133133745.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210310_133550471.jpg)

The snow out back managed to get warm enough to turn to ice and then stay there out of spite. My trusty snowblower would just instantly clog with it.

I was pissed so I shoveled a path all the way out back.

Then I rolled the Falcon out and jumped the poor thing.

I can't believe it worked  [laugh]

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210310_161225768_HDR.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210310_161035616_HDR.jpg)

There.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210312_170219483.jpg)

Now to align the body panels and drop it off at Nate's for paint  :P

You might not live long enough for me to finish it...wait...I might be talking about me. ;D

It's hardly bigger'n a duc tank  :P

The crushed fins-I should use some sort of stud welder maybe?

Probably. I have one you can use.

[laugh]  No further comment  ;D

I've used the shorty version of that HF carport for the past two years at our place (a modest amount of snow, lots of high altitude sun and about 9 months of wind in the 20-40mph range), and the fabric finally crapped out in the snowstorm last week. They're cheap enough that I think I'll just pick up another and repurpose the second frame for... well, I haven't gotten that far yet.

Bada bing.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210315_103312396.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210315_120004946.jpg)

The smart people would have parked with the front end facing the door.  :P

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_IMG_20210316_170641545.jpg)

But, I was only planning on aligning the sheet metal. When we pulled the fenders I noticed the frame wasn't bolted onto the body at the front mounts.

In fact, those holes didn't line up at all.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210316_200623811.jpg)

22 inches between those holes. On the body? 24".


Btw-did y'all know that a '61 300 and a '62 Newport, while looking identical, were not?

The 300 was longer by 4" and had a different subframe.


That floor I had installed was the wrong one. The frame doesn't match it  [bang]

 [popcorn]

Subframe swap, or will you mod it?

I have a nicer subframe out of a '64 300.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210317_110942699.jpg)

I bolted it up in the rear:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210317_111752229.jpg)

Here's how the front mount lines up:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210317_120738141.jpg)

Same mount, from the bottom:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210317_120820875.jpg)

And how the fender lines up with it in the current location:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210317_133045985.jpg)

Offhand, I need to do some slight mods to the front mount.

Nice.

Side comment: that’s a lot of mobile to try and stop with drum brakes...  Any plans to upgrade, or keep it original?

Four wheel disc brakes. All corners were already converted, but I rolled the other front away. I'll have to swap it over.

Plus it gives me an e-brake on the rear axle. Handy, as the transmission has no "park" option, and the tiny drum on the back of the transmission was never all that trusthworthy.

I put it down to ride height.

The wheel placement looks about right.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210317_163325576.jpg)

Tossed the dash and column in to see how it looked. Impossible to tell without the gauges in place:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210318_152428388.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210318_152352082.jpg)

Offhand I probably need to go with it-the sheet metal all lines up, and I can modify the front mount way more easily than shifting part of the floor 2".

Worst case scenario, I have to shorten the column.

 [thumbsup] [thumbsup] [thumbsup] [thumbsup]

Figured it out!

My buddy came over tonight and after some detective work we figured out that with the longer floor, the floor installation shop (having no reason to believe they had the wrong make the beast with two backsing floor) modified the front mounts. Note the gap that totally should not be there.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_IMG_20210322_210726049.jpg)

This explains why the front mounts (when used) make everything line up wrong. The rear mounts give the correct wheelbase and steering column placement.

So, using the rear mounts and going to simply extend the front frame bits to meet up with the current mounts because no way am I cutting all that stuff up to make something likely less strong than the pros.

Also Paula told me that I'm just building another pillow for a tree.



make the beast with two backsing ouch.

That's gonna leave a mark...

Cracked me right the make the beast with two backs up. [laugh]

Savage

Yeah, she didn't even give me a map to the burn unit after.

Some other smartass suggested a vanity plate like "PLLWTLK." make the beast with two backsers.


(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210325_181026755.jpg)

Yada yada yada

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210325_181302631.jpg)

Remember the boat? Spring has sprung here so I need to get it ready as the little monsters are all fired up to go fish.

Luxury seats.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210325_092615431.jpg)

Look at that foam. Does it not scream butt luxury? Buxury? Of course it does.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210325_092611337.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210325_101908805.jpg)

I do my best work in the kitchen.

There may have been complaints about the house smelling like contact cement. I said I'd look into it.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210325_115951528.jpg)

Snazzy.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210325_135058199_HDR.jpg)

Boat stuff is polluting this car thread.  Knock it off.

Like the Chrysler isn't a boat   :P

Pulled the drivetrain off the front frame

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210328_144418222_HDR.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210328_144500628.jpg)

Transmission got brought to the local rebuilder today.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210328_162623622.jpg)

I managed to kill the Honda on the way back. Yay?

He's got it apart and the major items look good.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_4031_28129.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_4032_28129.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_4033_28129.JPG)

4 speed manual instead [evil]?

Oarsome!! [clap] [clap]

My seamstress better half says she's most impressed with the stripe line-ups on all the seat coverings  [thumbsup]

And get rid of my pushbutton transmission?! Never!


That and the pre-62 crank flange bolts up to almost nothing.

Tell her I said thanks. It's my first cushion building, ever.

Lemme build a new frame piece.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210407_101343490.jpg)

My buddy has a nice arbor press.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210407_101353381.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210407_102612183.jpg)

Fits well-looks wonky because the magnets only held it so well.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210407_135908978.jpg)

After that I pulled most of the stuff off the motor so I can paint it.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210407_173739727.jpg)

Unlike the last build, things went on a shelf with the hardware in bins and labeled.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210407_173758936.jpg)

Hey look, a frame mount.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210413_140705570.jpg)

And welded into place:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210415_112331442.jpg)

Got the transmission back from the rebuilders. He's going through my steering box next.

Cleaned up the motor a bit

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210416_161822891.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210416_165646204.jpg)


Pretty sure the oil pan holds one less quart than it should with the size of the dent in it.  :P

Oh hell yeah!

Looking forward to an engine bay shot when this work is done. [thumbsup]

Got the frame mounted-some of the sheet metal needs work.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210428_112957480_28129.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210428_113023902_28129.jpg)

Picked up my newly rebuilt transmission.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210430_143000619_28129.jpg)

And stripped the motor.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210430_142955740_28129.jpg)

The dent in the oil pan....might have had something to do with letting the seven year old operate the engine hoist. Whatever.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210530_150416467_28129.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210530_151409713_28129.jpg)

Cleaned some other junk up.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210530_151339396_28129.jpg)

This is hilarious:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/14-chrysler-windsor_police_car_1961-credit-fca_28129.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/CL10-61_1_28129_28129.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/CL10-61_2_28129.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/CL10-61_3_28129.jpg)

I figured out why the replacement dipstick didn't fit.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210609_203452864_28129.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210610_210530857.jpg)

I painted the motor.

Red primer.

Red sealer.

Red paint.


Came out pink.  :P

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/image000000_03_01.jpg)

It looks like the one year only Chrysler colour Dubonnet. Totally not what I was going for.

(https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/jcauto/car_images/297/large/before1.jpg?1462312584)

I fixed it, though.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210622_102911151.jpg)

Some idiot found one of the factory options on ebay.

The RCA record player-holds fourteen 45 records and plays through the radio.

I bought it.  8)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc7EgCTXcCM

Now you need the rear speaker and some 45's.

I've got one 45.

Little Honda  :D

I’m kinda digging the color, and the record player is badass!

I've been slacking. On updates, anyway.

Record player showed up

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210703_093859818.jpg)

Some kind soul saw the latest bit of stupid and sent me this

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/009.JPG)

My old man used to sing that song to me when I was a wee tot, so I was excited to get it.

I've embraced the future opulence theme and found a set of swivel seats

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/507805_81_54841_qXX26ISda.png)

Just, uh, slightly worse for wear.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_1679_28129.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_1686_28129.JPG)

Optional cigarette lighter in the back.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_1685_28129.JPG)

Summer hit and all work went away.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210629_154752996_HDR_28129.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210705_153423302_28129.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210705_153411162_28129.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210727_111817359_28129.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210729_094634845_28129.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210731_145658999_HDR_28129.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210801_075024201_HDR_28129.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210802_191901870_28129.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/123_1_28129.jpeg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/IMG_20210730_193024829_HDR_28129.jpg)

It didn't suck.  8)

Got the car killin trees down.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20210910_124815_28129.jpg)

Cleaned some bits up

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20210902_180028.jpg)

A '61 Chrysler Brake drum is ideal for holding a starter motor in position for painting. Use that info however you'd like.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20211013_170711_28129.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20211014_204111.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20211029_150704.jpg)

Once I'm done with the torque converter I can reassemble the rest.

All the silver is metalflake so it pops in the sun.

Why I chose that for an underhood paint is beyond me.

https://youtu.be/T1kG2gHppDY

[laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap]

Record and player are cool.

Loved the photos of the summer much more.

Gotta agree with PortaGuy about the photos!  Record player is a nice touch.

Well yeah, the summer was more awesomer. Those kids had the time of their life. I did too.

Now I'm just back to puttering. Slowed down a bit with my gimpy arm. I need to stop breaking myself.

Prepped the shop, one handed  :P

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20211117_120118.jpg)

My buddy Pat came over and basically put it together for me.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20211118_224404.jpg)

That's the old frame, which is getting replaced, so I didn't clean it up.

Oh hell yeaah!  [evil]

ML's thread motivated me to update this nonsense.


Like an idiot, I bought a boat.

That was about the extent of the plan. Storage? Moving it? Does it run?

Plenty, no way, and no.

First off, to move it, let's find my old Jeep. About time it did something useful.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20211130_144249_28129.jpg)

Look at those lines-doesn't it just scream....ugly?

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20211130_163023_28129.jpg)

But it seems fitting that we'll pull our broken boat with the broken Jeep. Consistent, even.

With a great arm workout for Paula and some serious abuse of a Kubota that is way too small for such shenanigans, it got stuffed in the shop.

Barely.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20211212_154321_28129.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20211212_154417.jpg)

Look at all that space.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20211212_154427.jpg)

Being too unmotivated and unskilled to actually expand ye olde shoppe, we'll work with what we've got.

The Dana 70 got new relined brake shoes. Same for the Dana 60 up front.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20211213_164914.jpg)

That is a 6 on 7.25" bolt pattern. No rims exist for them except for the split rims. No one seems to like those anymore, which is a shame because I won't touch the widowmakers, either.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20211213_164931.jpg)

A complete fix of the floor was undertaken, and by that I mean I removed all the leaves.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20211215_134941.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20211215_141152.jpg)

One rocker was fine. This isn't it.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20211229_145938.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20211229_153952.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20211229_153928.jpg)

I cleaned up the engine compartment:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_20220308_173007.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20220405_185807.jpg)

Also replaced all the vacuum lilnes, heater lines, heater core, fuel lines, and rebuilt the carb and fuel pump.

Oh, and I replaced the fuel lines too.

The DMV wanted to know the mileage.

No problem.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20220208_100336.jpg)

I'll just remove that and....

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20220302_130734.jpg)

and remove that bit in the way and....

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20220302_130742.jpg)



If you look down from the top you can read the numbers and extrapolate which ones were in the front. Easy.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20220302_145955.jpg)

Painted the floor.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20220307_152731.jpg)

And the inner fenders

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20220419_204719.jpg)

Moved the batteries from being a large center console to behind the seats, as I need at least a three seater.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20220218_144018.jpg)

It was a fire truck. I don't know what all these holes are for.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20220210_132427.jpg)

Prime:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/normal_20220524_114111.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20220607_175554.jpg)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20220607_175616.jpg)

I put sound deadener on the floor as the drivetrain is really noisy.

It's got no roof, so it won't help, but it looks better than the paint, so there's that.

The astute will notice the roller on the floor.

There wasn't room to spray it in the shop, so that's what it got.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20220528_122441_28129.jpg)

Shiny.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20220617_200922.jpg)

make the beast with two backsing thing still won't run.

I mean, it will, but not in the stock configuration. The fuel pickup is plugged solid, and it looks like that put that in before they closed up the tank.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/10002/20220618_195021.jpg)

Gas goes it. Gas no come out.

No one makes one that I can find, and the local radiator shop that used to do such things told me to get stuffed today.

There's that and making the signals signal. Then I can tow the boat, which I also fixed.  ;D

https://youtu.be/xldCmgokYEo

https://youtu.be/2CEkVg88cZ8


It's been busy-all this since November.

Roller? :'(

After all your teaching.....



It was that or spray it outside.  :P

Oh hell yeaah!