Projects Recreating the jesse lopez coupe

Jer,you ever find one of those refrigirator trays for the radiator air scoop?m

 

Nope, still lookin'. In the antique stores I look for the old galvanized tubs, barrel's or trays that are there. They all have the correct lip on them. It needs to be 18" wide. I thought my wife found one in Sacramento but, it had square corners. I can fab one out of a barrel, tub or tray that's deep enough.
Thanks for asking.

 

I meant to say bucket instead of barrel, sorry.

 

This is the L side done. It needed a lot of "bumping" to get it where it needed to be.

 

IMHO it was worth all the time, not to mention the money you invested to get the chop right. A little black and white photoshoping and this might be a photo Jesse took at the same point in the original build. Your doin good Jer. By the way, I'm glad you clarified bucket from barrel. I don't have the strength to kick the barrel when that time comes.

 

It looking good or I guess I should say looked good when you did it.

Thanks for the updates!!

 

I'm workin' my ass off as I look over my shoulder to see if you guy's are gainin". You are.

 

Well now that I have the parts talking to me and, me answering back, it's a signal that I need to back off a bit. As you know I'm pretty much doing this car by myself. I need to remove this self inflicted lash off of my back. Sometimes it seems overwhelming.This same thing happened on Jr's car. The dash was completely done and I had put it away to protect it. Oh no, one day it marched in and demanded to be installed. These dead on clones become tyrants when they discover that things have to be done in a particular way. I woke up early this morning and declared I'm on vacation. If we make the 2014 GNRS, we do, if we don't, we don't. Oh, what a weight of off my back. I think I can go out there and have fun, we'll see.

 

Monumental task to undertake alone, the chop recovery has been awesome to watch. Very impressive. Does this mean we're caught up?

 

We've got to finish up the doors, go back and pick up where we were on the chassis (post #629), install the engine/trans, build the headers/megaphones, install the body, build the running board covers and the rear gravel shield. Then we're caught up if I stop now.

I've located the upholstery guy, the chrome guy's and I still have to buy more stuff. Oh, did I forget paint?

NOW I SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT, HEELLLP!

 

Sorry I asked.

But you've gotten a lot done, keep the pics coming!

 

I'm going to go back and forth (R-L) on the upper door frames. Here's the R with the parts car piece tacked in place.

 

This is where we get our shape for the door end/corner.

 

Establishing the top of the door opening with 1/4" rod.

 

Nice work jer

 

Unreal. Your tenacity blows me away!


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I like the way you are establishing the door openings with the 1/4" rod. I don't think I've seen that done so much on this era build, usually just round the corners and than adjust the gaps with lead. Do you tack and form as you go or pre-form the piece off the car. Also, it looks like you were doing some carpentry work and hit the wrong nail. Ouch!

 

I form the rod as I go, it comes straight and is easily manipulated into what you want it to be.

My eye's aren't as good as yours Karl, I don't see what your talking about.

We're gettin' there.

 

Was that your left hand holding the template for rounding the upper left door corner? Looks like the ring finger nail got beat with a hammer.

 

I kept my drip rails but I've heard of the big gap that shows up when the rail is removed.

At first I thought the tacked in rod was going to be the new the top edge of the door. (cutaway the tacks, the 1/4 rod stays with the door, leaving a perfect door gap). In hindsight 1/4 is too thick for the door.

but I see now you are using the rod to get a nice edge on the roof.

Looks good.

 

Karl, that was an injured fingernail in the process of falling off. It got damaged on the Saturday that son Dan and I got the new top in Oklahoma.

This is the picture that I sent to Jr. to remind him that he had said "you did a good job on my car, there's a lot more work to do on Jesse's car". I replied that I knew that and would get some help (ha!). It shows that finger, a bandaged hand and a bumped head.

We are almost ready for BBBBBBBBondo.

 

C'mon Jer, did you forget to duck(?) - the roof is lower now!

-Dave

 

Jer......IT LOOKS GREAT!
Thanks for all the info & photos.

 

Jer, any progress pictures from inside the car ?
Just curious

 

Inside the car? Oh, wait a minute, I know what you mean. I'll get some.

 

My eyes aren't as good as yours are Jer, I don't see what your talking about.

 

I call this a "bondo bridge". It bridges that trough below the rear window. It will save time and material. It is welded in after applying some weld through primer.

 

Did they use very much bondo in Jesse's day?

 

There is one in every crowd........

 

. Looks great Jerry.You're correct when you say,"clone projects become tyrants".When I did the Ayala clone,I would obsess over the smallest detail,temporarily insane at times!
. Anyway,good job so far.dont take off to long,want to meet you and see it at gnrs 2014.