Projects Mr. Palumbo's Shoebox project

[Buddy Palumbo]

I should've started this thread a while ago , but better late than never - LOL !!

A little preface for those who don't know , I have a '49 Ford Custom Club Coupe that will be (when finished) a mild custom . I got the car with no motor , and I intend to drive it daily , so it's getting a 302/C4 combo - eventually a T5 tranny will be installed , as I love to shift gears . I've already lowered it with Aerostar springs up front & 3" blocks in the back - it'll sit nice . I have some Foxcraft cut-down Merc skirts for it , and the plan right now is that it'll eventually be running '55 Chevy BelAir sidetrim with the paint dividers down , two-toned in the back . Till I find the pieces I need , it'll be runnning the stock rear 1/4 trim with the fender short-spears on the doors - should look cool . Right now , I'm looking at painting it the original dark blue metallic color , but that could change till it's done ... you know how that goes . Well - on with the show !

I started my metalwork by shaving the trunklid . I did a How-To on it a while back , if you missed it , you can see it here :


http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...ighlight=trunk


A few months ago , I did an old-school french on the taillights (i.e. no tunneling buckets) . I shot a few pics along the way to share with anyone interested .


Here's the original taillight , as you guys know





I made a 1/4" steel buck ,





bent some roundbar around it ,





put a little peak on it , to give it some visual interest ,





and here's what it'll eventually look like :





Here's a little preview of it's new look :





I cut the center out of the original taillight panel , so the housing can come in from the backside :





I tacked the new lip in place





holding the new lens in behind for a look




and welded it up . It'll get all leaded-up to finish it off right .



It's new look !

[off-beat]

very cool.

[HomemadeHardtop57]

finally!

[Scotch Buzzard King]

Looks good. I've got a shoebox. I'm not customizing it like you, but it will be a radical custom. It's a 4-Door 1950 that I'll turn into a 2-Door 1949. Major facelift, but radical none-the-less. I've got most of the original Ford parts. Still need some more before I can get to my goal. Keep up the good work.

[Finnrodder]

Thats a good start,looks nice!

[Stefan T]

Not bad keep on building

Nice pics

/Stefan

[bigfive]

Looking good! Gotta love box coupes!

[jerseymike]

hey allen, great to see you finally getting round to your own car! taillights look good. much different look than the frenching kits they sell. keep this thing going!

[Finnrodder]

Where did you get the lenses?
They doesnt look like an OEM stuff for my eyes..

[Buddy Palumbo]

Thanks guys . I like the look of this style so much better than the tunneling buckets - more old school style too . I even bought the buckets & ended up not using them - we'll use them on my friend Craig's custom .
I have a bunch more pics to post , some repair stuff - some custom stuff , so keep your eyes peeled .

Finnrodder - The lenses are Lee Lenses ( www.leelenses.com ) . Even with stock chrome bezels , they look cool . I got mine through Wirth's Customs ( www.wirthscustomauto.com ) , but they're available all over the web .

[OlSkool50]

Looks great. Nice work.

[Finnrodder]

Originally Posted by Buddy Palumbo

Thanks guys . I like the look of this style so much better than the tunneling buckets - more old school style too . I even bought the buckets & ended up not using them - we'll use them on my friend Craig's custom .
I have a bunch more pics to post , some repair stuff - some custom stuff , so keep your eyes peeled .

Finnrodder - The lenses are Lee Lenses ( www.leelenses.com ) . Even with stock chrome bezels , they look cool . I got mine through Wirth's Customs ( www.wirthscustomauto.com ) , but they're available all over the web .

Thanks!

I've seen Lee lenses before,but i dont know why i didnt recognize them at this time.They look really good,i think i'll get a pair of them too.

[Skirv]

That tail light treatment looks really nice BP.

[sawzall]

You guys must be breeding SHOEBOXES up there!
love the taillight treatment.. hope to see this car out and about soon..

[cuznbrucie]

What???? No blue dots??? Come on, Allen......you can do it......

I like the approach a lot......I had to use the buckets because I am an uncreative lamer and I don't cut metal so good......

CB

[Midwest Rodder]

Nice job!

[legend544]

Looking good Al,after racings over,lets get going on it hard,Craig

[Buddy Palumbo]

Originally Posted by Skirv

That tail light treatment looks really nice BP.

Originally Posted by Midwest Rodder

Nice job!

Originally Posted by OlSkool50

Looks great. Nice work.

Thanks !

Originally Posted by Finnrodder

I've seen Lee lenses before,but i dont know why i didnt recognize them at this time.They look really good,i think i'll get a pair of them too.

Go for it - they'll look cool on your ride .

Originally Posted by sawzall

You guys must be breeding SHOEBOXES up there!
love the taillight treatment.. hope to see this car out and about soon..

I hope so too !!

Originally Posted by cuznbrucie

What???? No blue dots??? Come on, Allen......you can do it......

I like the approach a lot......I had to use the buckets because I am an uncreative lamer and I don't cut metal so good......

CB

LOL !!
No blue dots here . I do like 'em , and you can buy original-style lenses w/blue dots already in 'em (you know that already ) , but Lee lenses were the way to go this time .

Originally Posted by legend544

Looking good Al,after racings over,lets get going on it hard,Craig

Yea , I need to make some more progress . Soon time to DRIVE yours !

[Buddy Palumbo]

Well , I've got some more update pics for you guys .

See this ugly seam up on top of the rear quarters ??



I got rid of it the old fashioned way ... with a WOOD CHISEL !! Don't worry , I learned this trick here on the HAMB . I won't tell my old shop teacher



I had to get rid of a bit of lead



I tack welded it up & back



I took my time , skipping here & there until it was welded solid (probably overkill , IMHO) . I ground it smooth (sorry , no pics of that for some reason - I'll shoot a couple) , and it will eventually get a pass of lead to finish it off . I repeated the procedure for the seams under the taillights . Another small mod that will have people scratching their heads as to what's different .

More updates to come !!

[sawzall]

Originally Posted by Buddy Palumbo

I got rid of it the old fashioned way ... with a WOOD CHISEL !! Don't worry , I learned this trick here on the HAMB . I won't tell my old shop teacher

BUDDY.. I am a shop teacher.. and your defiling that WOOD chisel!!