1959 356A S/R coupe project chassis # 108625

[roy mawbey]

Yes Scott I agree with you he has transformed the front so well. Amazing bit of work to make it for me perfect.
Well done Justin indeed.

Roy

[Scott B]

Nice elegant long smooth taper between body and bumper to outside tip. Huge difference. Looks so comfortable and matted.

[JTR70]

Begin refitment of the bumper trim.
Completed the shape adjustments to the front bumper to match up with the new nose as closely as my original reference is showing. Onto refitting the bumper trim to its slight changes.
Began with the uprights since their position remains fixed. Then the tube was slipped in afterward.
That 3mm of additional width in the overall relaxed arch did throw of the needed hole position out at the tips of the tube off.
The holes on both side had to be moved inward about the holes width. Will backfill this once everything is fitted and set for the final time.
All bumper trim fully mocked up and bolted down. Making the needed changes to bumper iron mounts themselves next to allow a shift to the left that was needed from the beginning.

Thanks for looking.

Justin

[JTR70]

Thanks once again Roy! It is a process that keeps on repeating itself doesn't it? You just can't realistically expect these pieces to just fall into place. Everything needs at least some adjustment to fit or flow together properly and some a lot more than others as you have well noted.

[roy mawbey]

Well done Justin a good method of getting the bumper alignment correct. Again I have to say relief cutting was never in my head to make corrections until you started this restoration. I will never forget the process now !!

There is so much involved in body restoration so that it looks really correct.

Great bit of work !

Roy

[JTR70]

Bumper halves going back together:
After several rounds of mock up with the nose an additional 3MM width was added in along with the slightly more relaxed profile to give both the reveal and spacing from the nose I was looking for.
Began backfilling and tack welding from the middle so I could still adjust the overall profile shape of the bumper as it went back together. Once the edges were welded the final shape was locked in.
There is the reveal spacing and shape against the nose I was looking for.
Got the right side spaced to match the left but again I lose the line as it relaxes and sweeps too wide just after the mounting hole for the overrider tube.
Now I could begin relief cutting to tighten up this turn. Initially tacked and on for another test fit before I commit to more welding. The bumper was slid over tight for this shot so I could get a better feel for the shape match. Getting closer.

Thanks for looking.
Justin

[JTR70]

Hi Roy, Thanks! Definitely a process to get all of these components both old and brand new to fit and work together like they need to but its steadily getting there. Thank you for that confirmation info on your car. Justin

[roy mawbey]

Justin yesterday I took the measurement of the bumper tips to the right and left fender. The gap was equal at 3/4 of an inch ( 19mm ) I was surprised they were so equal its not an easy job to get those gaps correct you are winning with that. So many difficult decisions to get this result. Not that many would have attempted your way round this. So many things to think of Justin.

Roy

[JTR70]

Front bumper fitment continued:
Eventually came to the conclusion that it would be much simpler to continue the cut and fit each side individually to the body.
Cleaning up the edges so the halves can be retacked in their newly needed position. Bodywork was done previously by someone with a very acceptable thickness of filler.
This approach immediately turned the trick for this left side and closely resembles my original reference reveal in both width and contour shape.
Was able to get a similar shape and width on the right side but it begins to sweep away from the skin starting just after that mounting hole.
Direct comparison laid over top highlights that this shape discrepancy. Confirmation that this issue is with the bumper and not on the body. Will be tightening up this bend as the fitment continues.

Thanks for looking.

Justin

[JTR70]

front bumper fitment to this car:
Bumper is now resting on wood pegs so I can "float" it into its best adjusted position with the new nose. It needed to come in a touch closer for about a 2 inch reveal or spacing away from the body. By the time I achieved that the tip of bumper closed down to nothing.
Pretty much the same issue on this side though the radius shape on this side isn't quite as tight and the tip begins to swing out.
I'm using this original nose and bumper as my guide. The general distance through the center is just shy of 2 inches with a livable but slightly tighter spacing as it makes the turn towards the tip.
The mock ups are telling me that the general overall contour of this bumper is a touch too tight; at least for this newly established nose. The center of this bumper has been rewelded at some point and I detect residual crash damage through its center. Knowing that its not pristine stock makes contour adjustment changes much easier.
Began by relief cutting it through the weld joint to begin relaxing and opening up its shape. This quick cut immediately allowed the bumper to come in closer and bottom out against the skin at the center; extreme but just working back from there. While it was heading in the right direction, swinging it opening this way was now flattening its profile shape a bit too much at its center. It was taking on a bit of reproduction look so I needed another approach to get the clearance and final contour shape I was looking for.

[JTR70]

Continue dialing in the final bumper fitment:
Bumper brackets are fully synched up at this point. I have about an inch gap at the end on the right side here
but a non existent gap on the left side. The problem now is that the bolts are bottomed out in the bracket slots and won't allow for any additional movement to the left.
The right side is maxed out but at this point I'm still in need of an additional 1/2 inch of adjustment. I could open the slots up further but the bracket half on the left here would out of range. As you can the base mount has been damaged and rewelded at some point so one thought is to cut it free and move it over where it is needed for this specific application.
On the left side only the inner half of the bracket is bottomed out but the outer half has ample for further adjustment. Again not sure if I'll move and reset the base mount or modify the brackets.
Before I commit to changing anything I wanted to establish a base contoured fitment with the new nose and this old original bumper. Bumper was stripped entirely and was now in process of dialing in a uniform reveal/gap between these two parts. More on this next.

Thanks for looking!

Justin

[JTR70]

Hello Roy, No magic my friend, just steady incremental improvements as it goes. I've actually left the hood/body contour correction alone for the moment. The body side of it will be corrected with lead but I haven't quite decided how I'll relief cut the end of the hood to get it to relax up and outward the needed amount. I want to be as least invasive as possible so I'm letting it marinate in my mind for the moment but I'll be addressing that issue very shortly. Thanks again Sir! Justin

[roy mawbey]

Justin you are a magician my friend! the work to correct that front error of the hood lid matching the bottom section you pass off with a few words ? Thet must have taken you some to do so perfectly. The trough looks perfect and everything is lining up so well.

Super result Justin.

Roy

[JTR70]

Pilot hole punching:
Bumper mocked up again and approximating the angle and height of the struts by running them through the horn openings with a really long bolt to reach the battery box. Not having the headlight buckets installed just yet provided a nice work window.
Confirmed that the left side is close enough to commit to a small pilot hole.
Then confrimed the factory location on the right side is also close enough for a pilot hole.
Pilot hole drilled then my knock out punch installed here to make an initial hole large enough for the struts to pass through. The final sized hole will be made once I confirm 100% whare the center of the hole should be.
Bumper remounted once again but this time with the struts. Now onto dialing in this bumper for true center and final position. one step closer.

Thanks for looking.

Justin

[JTR70]

Bucket install prep:
Harvesting the original capture nuts for the trim ring.
Love reusing the old original parts large and small when possible.
Before this bucket goes in for good I decided now was the time to open the holes for the tube struts. This original high bar version is my template.
Having access though the head light opening is such luxury to work the weld joints and anything else up front here like establishing the best centered position for these holes that installing the bucket itself is pretty much the final chore.
Bumper mocked up to determine if the factory position of that hole is still applicable here; too many variables to just blindly punch that hole as outlined.

thanks for looking!

Justin