Before locking in the sills I decided I need to finish off the front fender. I’ve stretched them 4 inches and changed the flow of the rear. But the original top section was still a rusty mess. I probably could have replaced the original metal but decided to spend a couple of hours welding the pits and then hit it with rust converter and was surprised at how nice it’s coming up. The surface rust was impenetrable with a wire wheel or grinder but a couple of hours of phosphoric and the shiny bare metal is starting to shine through. A couple of passes through the English wheel this morning and I can put it back on the car and lock it all in.
This is going to be beautiful. Any thoughts yet about paint? Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I keep seeing a battleship grey on a new Kia Stinger that I like. Looks like a WW2 Navy colour. I saw a 20s Packard racer in a similar hue at Gilmore last year. I’ve got a ton of dark blue leather for the interior. I’m keen to understate the paint cos the Packard styling is so overstated. Plus as it sits in the bare zinc metal I can’t envision it any other colour. I thought about black or maroon or Washington Blue. But they have all been done.
FWIW, I’ve been seeing some new Subarus that have a color that reminds me of “putty”. I find it very attractive in a surprisingly odd way. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I may have titled the colour incorrect but my plans were the colour to be on a art deco style car like a late Thirty's ford my sloper for example
I drove past an Artdeco house today that I’ve always loved called Eldorado. For years a 48 Packard sedan sat outside. Then one day it was gone. But today out the front was a Kia in that colour. ..... I’ll take it as a sign from god.
I think that Kia colour would be a good choice, maybe add an accent colour to match interior colour that would break up the grey.
This little bastard nearly beat me. A compound reverse roll will a stepped edge to accomodate the hood side. 7 hrs solid!!!! To get the stepped edge I ran it thru the bead roller then I had to English wheel the little reverse curve . But it was a bear. The roll would go nice and then pull the gap for the hood. Back and forth, back and forth. I’m knackered. But it’s fitting perfectly. I won’t do any more till I decide on a locking mechanism.....
The work on that little filler piece is amazing. Having to struggle to make even simple panels, it's humbling to see what you can do with a piece of sheet metal. On the color, choice, good call on the grey. It's classy and understated. We had, back in my used car salesman days, a lovely little Cutlass Brougham diesel sedan, an '82. It was dove grey, with a dark blue velvet, diamond tufted interior (remember those days? ). It wasn't fast, it wasn't sporty, but man, was it comfortable and, we thought, stylish and luxurious. It's fun seeing your car come together.
I kept looking at the rear of my front fender. It was nice but too full and puffy. I wanted it to be sharper and more like a Cord fender. So I bit the bullet and last night I took a pie cut out of the inner edge against the body. Then I squashed it further inwards and the result is astounding. It now looks sleek and tailored. All the tension came out and it sat down like it should. Welded in the hood infill and it pulled the fender crease straight and true. Now I can start on the doors.
The work being done is incredible! Thanks for sharing along with the thought process driving each step. Really great stuff. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
With the guard now under control I can start to lock in 39 Buick head lights. I made a new perimeter support and trimmed up the shell and will weld it up tonight. They will bolt onto the guard not welded to it.
A couple of hours on Sunday morning and I have got my head around a remote cable operated hood lock and release. I like the smoothness of the hood sides. Should have the pin sorted on the inner fender tomorrow. Meanwhile more of the Darrin models are on marketplace. Might have to sell the house.
The Jalopy Journal
