From salvage to prostreet

[geezerman]

Waiting for inspiration to paint the Big General, I started looking for something to salvage from the newly replenished salvage yard.
 
My eye picked out this 39 panel body and a pretty good looking 50 Chev pickup.


Beginning the stripping and cleanup process with my brain spinning !


Wait a minute! struggling to clean up the pickup frame and still looking thru  the care package stuff. I spied this way cool, already prostreeted chassis. This is it !! The way I had envisioned going. Down and dirty! No chop or channel, just slammed.


At the present, did a little work on the wheels and working on the delicate 4 link rear end.

[geezerman]

Fitting the body parts together today.


Waiting for glue to set, I started doing a couple of things to the engine. I like this engine, just wanted to weak it a little. Well, it didn't take 'Ol Murphy long to show up with his laws.  Things I wanted to leave alone fell off, while that which I wanted to change needed an industrial Sawzall to get off. I got a crooked head straightened and as long as I am in this deep, there's a couple of other things I'll be fooling with.


Now I have my filler pieces in and waiting for Bondo. If I were a better engineer, I wouldn't have needed so many pieces.

[bob29579]

Pretty cool idea. The patching almost reminds me of welding stips like you would see on a rat rod.

[geezerman]

Been solving a couple of problem areas the last couple of days. I didn't think I'd have any trouble finding fenders to replace the rears, but I was wrong ! I couldn't find anything that was appropriate. I ended up   butchering a set from a  pristine 36 fender assembly.  



I had to find something for the lower front of them. (That was the problem in the first place)!  I'll use the ends from some model As. I'll be tweaking them some.



Meanwhile, doinking  with the intake, I ended up revamping almost  the whole thing.

[tomcd62]

very cool engine

[geezerman]

Thanks, Tom
I have the engine in the chassis. And today, I addressed the headlights. The salvage Chev PU cab had only one headlight rim. So. I scrounged around and found a couple of hubcaps still on a sprue. The inside  of the caps were just the right size and I found a couple of lens' that fit. Must have been from some spotlights. Good, but I thought, because the lens' were convex it might have a bug eyed look.


I had, some years ago, tunneled some headlights using some really OLD rapidograph ink pen bodies. These slightly newer ones had a tapered barrel. But the ink barrel inside  had a  diameter I could use.


But the ink cartridge was kinda Teflon looking and I didn't think it would hold.


I bit the bullet and drove down to Homossassa to the Ace Hdw and got a length of 3/16" aluminum tubing. the rest of the afternoon was rigging up a way to mount  the lens on the inside of the fender after frenching and tunneling the tubing,

[geezerman]

I think I have the bodywork whipped. I'll let the white primer gas out and she'll be ready for the paint. Working on the usual minimal effort interior.

[geezerman]

Gettin there !
Final wetsand done on the body. Have to make windshield and rear window, and then I will be done handling the body and it will be ready to paint. Added a couple of details for inside the rear door and on the back of the seat

[harron68]

Taking time to do seat back springs shows high attention to one's "least favorite" area. Taking the time to work on one's weak spots creates a greater skill and patience, whether in hobbies, athletics, or life. Thanx for the effort and success.

[geezerman]

Thanks, Harron. Would you believe I'm actually upholstering the panel inside of the rear door? (To hide the hinges)
Here's what's planned.
The chain of Cody's Roadhouse restaurants usually have an iconic old Chev. PU setting out front. The owner/manager of the Crystal River franchise is a rodder. His custom version is usually setting out front along with the chain's usual barn find.
Not slovenly trying to emulate this, but rather basing my panel on the theme.

[bob29579]

Great seat and great trunk.

[geezerman]

I'm not as ready to paint as I thought. Was planning on a bumper for the rear, but couldn't find anything suitable. I attached a license plate bracket, and this morning I'll fill in the pan,

Paint sample below the grill. Duplicolor ceramic engine enamel - Chevrolet orange.
I think I'm gonna like it !!

[bob29579]

Looking really good, makes me want to add to your junkyard some more.....

[geezerman]

We are in orange and the decals have been printed. (Rear door looks like it needs a little work,Eh)

[geezerman]

Been moved to Completed projects. Thanks for watching.