1957 Sandblasted Coupe

[ukinusa]

Well I guess I will have to get back to you on that in couple of years ! ! Fingers crossed and other parts too.

[ukinusa]

Now doing some seam sealing and being cleaner easier to see what else needs to be done. Some areas in fender wells/walls still have great globs of "seal" - dried and crusty now that I need to dig out.





Getting into these areas isn't too bad with a long thin metal modified hook.





But I am kind of flummoxed as to how to get a tube or ?? up there to squirt/squeeze liquid DEEP in and reseal. The Built By Hand videos shows a guy with great big bucket of tar slopping it around with a brush - there has to be a better way ???

[ukinusa]

Sealing up the weld and joints under the car and wheel wells. I used this 'glup' - the English have an expression that somethings can stick like sh** to a blanket" and this stuff does . As the days were getting cooler and my garage runs cool too, I opted to pop each tube in my wife's oven at 200 ' f (no she doesn't know nor read this blog! But I did make sure to put a couple layers of aluminum foil under and around it, just in case!! Being warmed made the 'squeezing' process so much easier. Also at the 'business end' I used a spare tube 'end' rammed on and that helped get into the deeper recesses.

[JTR70]

Glad to see you back Steve! Sorry the update took soooooo long. The car is looking great BTW!
Justin

[John Pierce]

Can't wait to see the updates! I've got a bunch also.

[ukinusa]

In a previous post above you can see the floor pan - having watched the factory video I was generous with the sealer . Having spent countless hours setting up the metal panels and grinding welds flat and leveling the floors and edges, I ended up absolutely HATING the look of the black seal being so rough, made even worse when sprayed with grey epoxy primer. So with a sharp chisel and mixed blades I cleaned it all up - leaving material in the joints of course - just the excess. So now not the factory look but I like it ! - Will add picture later.

[ukinusa]

One thing that really bugged me was why a previous owner cut off the speaker 'mounts' - I mean they must hardly weigh anything.

When I got the car I thought the only way I was going to repair this area was to make a replace 'mount' - maybe I could make a wood buck and drill out the holes and then pound it into shape ....hummm! Maybe someone here could do that ... me ? Unlikely !!!
Next stop Adam at Unobtanium. He sent me picture of a shell with the part I needed - AWESOME - I was golden ! He promised to cut it out and send it to me - free of charge and my plan was to make duplicate copy for the other side.... somehow.

.Two years went by and being as he was doing me a huge favor and I could wait - I didn't want or need to push it. Then this spring it arrived ... Christmas again with both sides.

They were well and truly rusted into a lump - getting them apart would be challenge.

I cut them apart but the rust was deeper and more pervasive than I anticipated
The solution came at Rennsport this year. In the booth of Restoration Design they had a car shell mock up and included was the panel I needed.

I didn't need the whole part with the speaker box - just the front "grill" - so on my return home this was ordered and it duly arrived.

[ukinusa]

Justin or ? Not sure how to get rid of "spare" pictures below post above. This post can be deleted later.

[ukinusa]

Using the salvaged but unusable speaker mount as an approximate template, I plasma cut the oval I needed - over size.

I find that using a flapper wheel rather than cutting disk is really effective method to bring metal to size, in a controlled and non life threatening way ! (Yes at least one visit to ER for stitches) .
Once one was done it was the perfect template for the other side, although the slight recess needed to go around the fresh air vent mount was mirrored of course.

[ukinusa]

Two ready to go...


Use copper weld thru spray to give some protection and painted the back black before mounting - where I wasn't welding of course.

[ukinusa]

Ok getting frustrated with this new editor...!
Cut to the chase -
Holes punched for spot welding
Screwed into best position to mask old pattern.
Welded in
Finish spot welds
?

?

[JTR70]

Sorry Steve, its just new and we are all figuring things out. Nice work restoring the speaker bosses BTW!

[ukinusa]

Damm been a year since here last - time to catch up - but first to see why I am not receiving notices of postings ....

[ukinusa]

And another year gone - so I need to post some pictures to show progress - the car is off to paint this week.... I hope....
I

[JTR70]

Nice to hear from you at least once a year Steve. LOL Off to paint shortly? I'm sure you're very excited. Look forward to some shots.

Happy New year!

Justin

[roy mawbey]

Yes Steve, a lot of work in over 5 years and hope you manage some photo's These cars take a lot of time to finish correctly!

Roy