Projects Some kustom stuff from King Kustoms in Temecula

Are you waiting for someone to say, "yeah, you should"?
Well, I said it.

 

Yes, I agree! Yesterday I was visiting Rik Hoving's CCC. I ran across this Shoebox update with the last entry in Dec. '14: http://www.customcarchronicle.com/news-flash/radcliffe-shoebox-sees-light-of-day/
I made comment #10 before I noticed the update needed updating. My comments still stand though! I focused on the visual aspects of your side trim placement.
Early in the day I received a package from an old hot rod buddy who is downsizing his digs. He sent me a treasure chest of 5 and 6 decade Hot Rod, Car Craft, and R&C little pages. Plus he had books on Customs and drag racing. I waited until late evening to relax and delve into the Andy Southard and Tony Thacker CUSTOM CARS of the 1950's, a 1993 publication.There on page 82 was a white 50 Ford coupe, chopped and relieved of it's B pillar. And it had YOUR side trim on it! The thief (owner) was not revealed.

 

HERE ARE SOME UPDATES

Greg's '50 Ford hit the road for the first time last weekend...still some things to finish up, but it is almost there! This has been a bittersweet build completion because it is the last kustom to roll out of my parents' property where I have been doing this work for the past 14 years. My wife and I bought a house and I am now working at our place in Lake Elsinore on one project at a time.

 

You're referring to the white shoebox that was named the Gator from back east- it was also blue at one time. Anthony White knows the history of that car. I also got my inspiration from the Gaylord-built Don Carroll Ford, but wanted my side trim to go farther forward

 

Here are some recent pictures of Octavio's '49 Ford Buster Litton tribute- he finished the bodywork, shot some satin paint, had the front seat upholstered, and reassembled it before we drove it to the GNRS this past January. The car is at his house and will get shiny paint in the very near future.

 

More of Octavio's '49 Ford

 

Sam's '49 Merc, which is now headed for body and paint. Long-term metalwork on this one- '52-'54 Merc rear quarters with scoops added that held frenched spears, flush-mounted handmade skirts, molded stock rear quarters, frenched Winfield bubble tail lights, '56 Olds head lights, '52-'54 Merc front wheel lips, '53 Merc bullets modified to fit the existing '57 Chevy front bumper, narrowed '54 DeSoto grill , lip added to french the entire front bumper and bullets, molded beltline with metal pieces welded in place, driprail added back on with rod...lots of fitting had to be done on this car and the door gaps were trimmed and welded.

 

My Ford that has been completed for a few years now:

 

Jeff's '51 Merc that came to me for rust repair, chop, and other tasteful kustom touches...it went home for a bit so Jeff could shove a Cadillac motor in it and now it's back for final metalwork before heading off to paint and body. All of the inside window frames, vent windows, and stainless window trim have been chopped and chrome-plated.

 

More pictures soon...I am teaching high school full-time now and only do the kustom work on the weekends, so I have gotten down to just one project/car at a time. I love doing this work and wish I had a lot more time for it! Thanks for looking

 

Hey man,
I like the color you guys chose for Greg's car that blue is a nice touch.
May I ask you who you used for the chrome plating on the inside mouldings. And is it flawless. Did they sand the shit out of these or did they fill any needed areas with copper. I sent off a bumper to get plated and it came back about 10 pounds lighter from them sanding the hell out of it insted of doing it the right way. I'm looking for a good real chrome triple plater. Thanks.

 

Thanks! Greg wanted a nice blue...it really pops in the sun.

I use Buena Park Chrome for all of my plating and I metal-finish everything to the best of my abilities before I give it to them. I have had very minor issues with things and they have made good on the few things that have happened. The inside window frames are a ton of work to prepare for chrome-plating and they always need a bit of copper. Sam at Buena Park Chrome does a really good job of getting them straight by block sanding the copper between dips by hand.

 

I forgot to post these pictures of the first drive since completion of Greg's '50 Ford...

 

Wow! That's some awesome talent you have. Keep it up.

 

Thanks slim38!

 

Man oh man, this custom stuff is so addicting.My desire to build custom type of items and or cars is growing every day.The freedom to create out of your own vision or style is endless.Its pure creativity.
Glad I saw this thread,fantastic work!!!

 

Boss stuff dudes, my interest in kustoms was sparked by seeing Voo Doo Larry's fine Sahara at KKOA in Salina last summer. This is the bomb, hats off to some sweet builds.

 

I will never ever get bored looking at your build pics and the completed cars! I remember many years ago when you were first on here, great pics of cool custom work while you were teaching yourself to be the true craftsman you are, well done and keep up the great work!


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Enjoying the update. Incredible talent, labor of love as they say....

 

Thanks so much guys! I will post more pictures soon

 

Speechless awesome work keep it up.
P.S I need hub caps

 

Spent the last few weekends fitting the front sheetmetal on Jeff's '51 Merc. Had to cut and weld some gaps after I started with NOS hood hinges that Jeff provided. I didn't take a ton of pictures along the way but this one had all of the typical '49-'51 Merc fitment issues going on. I also added a lip and more metal to the edges of the opening that was cut out in the passenger inner fender to clear the Cadillac generator. I also rounded the corners of the front valance to clear the front bumper better. The firewall was shaved as well. If you haven't seen the articles on the chop on this Merc, check out the last two issues of Kustoms Illustrated!

 

Cool projects

 

Few more updates from this weekend- got the trunk completely dialed in. Jeff found some better condition trunk hinges (originals had a ton of play in them), Matt Townsend came to the rescue with a nearly NOS condition upper trunk latch, and I was able to weld the striker pin on the lower trunk latch. I had to weld up the cracked and pushed back lower trunk latch platform and re-thread the holes due to screws showed in to hold the latch. Once the trunk opened, closed, and fitted nicely I cut and welded the upper gap. The rear bumper guard holes on either side of the license plate also got welded up yesterday. Not much left on this one before body and paint!

 

My latest project is this '51 Ford tudor sedan chop all the way from Seattle. Stay tuned for more metalwork and kustom stuff on this one

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Seattle ehh, that’s my neck of the woods. I’ll be keeping an eye on this one.


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Seattle ehh, that’s my neck of the woods. I’ll be keeping an eye on this one.


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Took my Ford and Greg's Ford to our local cruise night Saturday

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Made some progress on the '51 chop...my schedule is crazy busy teaching high school full time and a welding class on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at another high school. Summer is almost here so more progress soon! Chop is all done except for the door tops (and window frames/vent windows) but I will need to fit both doors quite a bit this coming weekend. Here is the inner rear window factory bracing after I flattened it for the new chopped roof shape and extended the ends to meet the C pillar. In these shots, you can also see the B pillar and quarter window areas completely finished with all inner structure and surfaces replaced. Temporary bracing used for the chop has also been removed. It's all downhill from this point

 

Got some more work done...driver side door fitted and door top almost finished. Hard to get a lot done doing this one day a week, but my summer break is almost here and it will be full speed ahead