day 1, I had built a 400 ci mazda rx7 {because I could omg fun an fast just not really me} an traded it for the 55. I don't know how this car didn't kill me coming home it drove so sloppy an stopped just as bad in a nut shell someone had glitter painted the dash {awful idea, roached out interior you get the picture} an the list of wrongs could go on for days. so I started getting the mechanicals right king pins front disc conversion, dual master cylinder, new rear brakes, replaced most of the steering assemblies. then went inside gutted the complete interior built a console installed power leather seats from a 05 Pontiac Bonneville {I may be off a few year there but I had them . repainted everything an dyed what was good to match . upholstered the trunk installed a good stereo an re wired it swapped the gauges. an began looking for a donor car to return the motor to a 4 barrel an other misc parts it was missing,
more progress photos . an found my parts for the motor. took it all from a 56 super that was going to be scrapped (couldn't afford to buy the whole car but the fellow who had it let me scavenge it !an I took all I could .) I've driven it for a year now an finally moved on the repaint. those pics to soon follow.
beautiful work on the console ... no doubt a HUGE amount of work on this car...from top to bottom. Congrats on the effort!
heres some more , the front end did not have a lot of issues not beat to bits or rotted to he11, other than me learning it wasn't properly assembled , missing bolts wrong bolts , just enough wrong to make disassembly a pain it the azz. cant wait to put on all the new stuff I have . but bumpers are going to have to wait , rechroming is costly! im thinking about doing them in silver nitrate , or giving the dagmars an upper lip a touch of my own maybe a lil modern touch {paint possibly something different }.
got more progress , wife thinks shes a widow . haha . ordered all new tinted side glass , had the deck lid off which turned out to be a lil rough but acceptable, repaired the jamb an lid an refitted them . dove into the left door an front section of the door jamb . I don't like the way the door fits at the lower rear corner so when I get to the 1/4 panels i'll handle that then along with the rocker . the door had a few pin holes that its previous owner stuffed with mud , I welded them up .good solid metal now.
lot of progress on the 55 right rocker an lower 1/4 all straightened out . god the sins some one hid in there . left rocker an 1/4 were much worse .thank god I know how to use a Sheetmetal brake , shirnker stretcher an welder. its taken me since my last post to get all the rot cut out an new made an put in sorry no pics of the fabing up of panels was too bent out of shape after seeing all that rot .
Finally got the time to finish off the body . she's all blocked an now going to sit for a while an let the chemicals vap out as I begin the nagging few mechanical repairs. have a wheel bearing to change , soft plugs in the low end of my motor , finally going to get to check out my vibration that I suspect is the u joint , rear wheel bearing seals started seeping late last season , exhaust needs replaced . brake switch needs replaced . then finally paint !
HAHA , this car screws everyone up , it is in fact a 55 the tail lamps are frenched 59 caddy, shaved door handles 54 super headlamp assemblies an turn/ marker lights , shaved roof rail mouldings, lowered 4 inches. I have been looking for a un-restoreable 57 chevy hood that I can remove the center ( for the hood bullets) an graft into my hood .
royal purple metallic main body , possibly with a dash of gold flake still undecided on that . silver roof with lace done in purple pearls so its there an kinda not . silver below the mouldings behind the front wheels only.
last weeks work was all mechanical , I figured out my vibration that was seemingly in the middle of the car I unbolted the tourqe ball got my inspection mirror out an had a buddy gently rock a rear wheel back an forth till the shaft moved turned out it wasn't the u joint thank god ! it was a bad wheel bearing . so I did the oil change new silicone sleeves on the new plug wires replaced the rear axle seals checked over every hose , replaced the freeze plugs an called the wrenching done . this week the first of the color hit the jambs that are exclusively blue/ purple . this color flops ALOT an pics don't do it justice. next week 2 tone door jambs .
Animal! Super cool car! Most of us old guys couldn't do in a year what you've done in a very short time. That color is wicked!
HAHA , nah I've been 2 years gathering parts doing what I can to make sure its reliable again an also sticking it into my small bodyshop on week ends , so you gotta make the best use of the time ya got. customers want their stuff first . besides I hated the green didn't mind the flat black an its been ages since I had a nice shiny cruiser like my 76 lesabre was.
did the door jambs 2 tone , last time I will have them off ever ( I hope ) all kinda new stuff to go in them tomorrow .
I am ready for this car to finish up , broke my own rule {no personal cars during regular hours} an just said screw it started painting today instead of waiting for the weekend . got the silver on it !