Okay. Work begins on straightening out the front end sheet metal and doors. Starting with the drivers door and drivers front fender. Plus, I have an outer cowl patch coming for the drivers side. I want to have one more look at the original sheet metal before I go to the patch. As always, pictures will follow. Winter seems mild this year, so paint shouldn't be an issue.
I've learned that having a 1954 drivers inner fender makes things just not quite right. Hunting for an earlier version. So, when the LF got tagged, they replaced the inner fender, outer fender and whatever else they could find off of a 1954 donor. I'm working on making it right.
There is a heavy dose of rust on the LF fender. Grinding it off is going to take a while. I am considering doubling the size of the sandblast cabinet!
I've also decided to upgrade the front door outer window molding to a stainless version. Anyone have any thoughts or comments to fitness issues?
I've also decided to upgrade the front door outer window molding to a stainless version. Anyone have any thoughts or comments to fitness issues?
I think the SS exterior window SS molding for a door with a vent window is different from the SS molding for the earlier 1-piece glass window? If so, i was probably only available in 1951 and in 54/55st (deluxe trim RPO/package)?
I think the SS interior door window trim for a vent window was only available in 1951 (but maybe the 1-piece glass interior deluxe SS trim can be adapted?
Let's hope someone with first-hand experience posts info.
This is my issue. The interior molding is fine and already powder coated to match much of my interior trim. The exterior molding was tweaked a little when they were close to the lift point when I lifted my body off the frame with the overhead crane. I've been wanting to reshape them but I don't think it will be possible. Lately, I've wanted to chrome all the window exterior molding and figured buying the stainless stuff would save me a little chrome shop money. I have Weeds calendar entry above my desk at work and his window bright trim has grown on me!
I was looking at the Truck Shop manual and they show the outer molding as 47-54 1st. The inner molding they only show as 47-50. So, I'm pretty sure the after-market outer stainless will work on the door. As with most complaints from folks doing body work, where patch panels don't fit or need a lot of messaging, I'm concerned if the after-market stainless has fitment issues on an original door.
I figure, the other benefit will be that the old exterior molding will now give me patch pieces to fix the passenger middle and rear window moldings. The drivers side is in great shape and can be run down to the chrome shop at any time!
Mark, I've kept up with your post but haven't checked in lately to let you know I think your still doing a dang good job. You give a lot of us hope! Good job!
Change of plans. I wasn't going to reassemble until May for a show in Monterey, CA. But now I have to be at the Winternationals. So, door is mostly done. Fender decent enough. Time to reassemble. I've been tweaking the 1954 drivers inner fender to fit, for now. I'm still on the hunt for the correct version.
Okay. Two things I'm happy about. 1) I installed a super duper Spal fan to take place of an anemic Spal fan that I've had forever. I took a drive to visit my chrome guy. Lukewarm day. Going, almost no traffic. Coming back home, stop and go, through the city traffic. Temp held right where I wanted it to. We'll see what happens during the triple digit days of summer, but I like what I see so far! And 2) like I said, I visited my chrome guy. I asked him if he can chrome the current window trim I have. I heard he has a bunch of tiny people there that can bump out really small dents with really tiny hammers, then polish to a shine. I also asked him about chroming my original grill. He said no problem to both!! I can now stop the hunt for perfect trim pieces!!
Winternationals is done. Back in to the shop to pull the front end apart again. I need to patch the drivers cowl.
Had a hiccup at the drags. Friday and Saturday night, we were supposed to push the dragsters down the track. John Force blew up Friday, along with other things and the day ran late. About midday day they let us know that we wouldn't be doing any push starts. We had already put the axles in the dragster rear end. When the axles are in, the thing is a bear to move! There was an opportunity to go up to the grandstands and do a fire up. We decided to pass as it was just way to much work to do that. Later, after it got dark, we did a fire up at the Cackle Corral. There is a few videos here and there on Facebook showing this fire up with my Burb in the back ground. I'm not in the video as I was cooking burgers and dogs at the time.
Saturday, we got word that the push start was on. Before final qualifying rounds, we moved our mess to the top end of the track. There was going to be about 6 vintage dragsters that were going to push. As we were getting closer to our destination, I could smell antifreeze. I was hoping it wasn't me. They placed two of us out on the return road. At the big show the return road is quite the dangerous place. You have crews flying up at freeway speeds to retrieve their race cars. Once they retrieve them, they fly just as fast to get back to their pits so they can start the process to make the next round. So, we're out in the middle, they have all us human bodies move back behind a barrier because they're about to send some 300+ mph cars down a hot track. From my vantage point, I can see a drip and a puddle forming under the drivers side cowl. I talk to my partner and he says, if the track officials don't see it, we are a go. I'm more worried about not having enough coolant in the vehicle as opposed to making a mess. Some of our co-dragster people notice and I tell them to stop bring it up and ignore it. Unfortunately, the track officials see it and ask "Who's vehicle is that?" I tell them it's mine and they ask if it is AC condensation. I tell them I don't have AC and it is probably coolant. They tell us we can no longer be part of the party. I'm bummed.
Then my partner asks our coordinator how long it will be until we will be able to get on the track. He tells us an hour to an hour and a half! My partner asks, if we fix it, can we go?? He says yes! OFF TO THE RACES, so to speak. My top fuel tuner hops in the back and my partner hops in shotgun. Back to our pit we go. Now, my Burb is powered by a 1986 L98 out of a Corvette. It has an oil warmer. There is a nipple in the side of the block that goes to the oil filter housing, comes back out, goes to the front of the motor and dumps in to the heater system. GM put a lot of stuff on the 'Vette to help warm it up. Probably a bunch of stuff that I don't need in California, where it seems to be summer year round. The hose that comes off the nipple to the filter has a pinhole leak at the nipple. I couldn't see it at first and almost thought it was a head gasket! So, I'm handed some tools that might work and start to remove said hose. As I'm doing that, I noticed my cowl vent drain hose. Some long time ago, I put about a 3' hose on that drain and let it end down by the transmission. Something GM should've done with the side window drains. My cowl vent drain hose looks a lot like the correct diameter. The original plan was to cut the end off the old hose and re-clamp. New plan. Cut a section of good hose off the drain and use that. New hose installed, coolant in pans put back in the radiator, fire it up. I let it get to temp, burped the system and checked for leaks. NO LEAKS!! The whole time, knowing that we are going to push after the last round of Nitro, I'm listening to the track. The fuel cars are just barely finished warming up. They haven't even gone to the lanes yet. I'm drenched in antifreeze since I was laying in most of the contents of my engine. Good thing I always bring an extra shirt!
We zip on back over to where our dragster is and wait to get back over to it on the return road, There it is, all alone waiting to put on a show. http://www.bunchobikes.com/1952suburban393.jpg The white, dusty spot behind it is where my Burb went tinkle. Thank you track crew!
After a bit, while fuel funny car was whizzing past at 300+ mph, they let us go out to the dragster and wait. One eye on the track with cars whizzing by, one eye on getting lined up, our driver in the car and getting ready to go! http://www.bunchobikes.com/1952suburban391.jpg The Safety Safari right in front of us! About this time, my phone decided it didn't like taking pictures any more. So, no more camera and I forgot the GoPro, ugh. The next pic, was taken by one of the guys that crewed with us Saturday. You can see the back end of my Burb, next to the Christmas tree, in front of the blue station wagon. http://www.bunchobikes.com/1952suburban392.jpg Man, that was fun!!
Well written. I felt like I was in the driver seat............and also felt your frustrations. Kind of makes me want to race again......NOT. Main thing is fun....got to have run and it seems your having your share. Now, back to garage! lol
Things have been slow with race car prep taking up time. Work also sent me and a few guys to TIG welding training. That came in handy. Not too bad for using the machine maybe 1/2 a dozen times previously. Bet it will get used a lot more now!! Time to focus on the cowl!
TWO thumbs up Mr. Smith. When you get this one finished how about coming to the right coast. I have an old coupe that I just KNOW you can work miracles with! hehe Nice work. You are gaining on it.
Okay. Work began and completed on the drivers outer cowl and inner to outer cowl. I also listened to the voices in my head (AND members of Stovebolt) and corrected the passenger side mirror holes.
Side note. My web log is about to go to 20 pages. I try to keep it to 20 pictures per page. The thing has grown quite a bit. I was thinking of maybe, just maybe, going to 40 pictures a page and cutting the bottom links in half. Change it? Or leave it as is?
The Burb is out of the shop. Next is the passenger door and front fender. Back in 2012, I had sand blasted the valve covers, then hit them with some WD-40 and was done. Thought I'd clean them up a little. Re-sandblast, then paint them with a satin clear coat.
Work continues. Fender, hood. Passenger door has been remounted. Started grinding the hood and got to the point where I just had to do it right. Break it down, remove rust. Paint and reweld. Passenger fender is getting a skim coat and sanding, sanding, sanding! I'll probably be close enough to paint the fender and start painting the hood half.
Picture of the door panel is the door reinstalled. I tried the Classic Parts stainless panel trim around my ABS panel. I like it! I liked it so much, I got all new handles for both doors!
Yes. The boring, monotonous work of grinding, sanding, smoothing and painting continues! But, these will be the last major rust issues I will have to deal with that can be viewed externally. Goal was to make Laguna Seca on the 19th/20th. That's not happening because the motor in our dragster is tired and needs to be redone. That means finding an iron 392 hemi, prepping it and building it. Since my partner broke his leg on the inaugural run of our Fuel Altered, all race car things are on hold. Yeah, long story. Either way, I hope to have my work done in the next two weeks so I can start cruising again here real soon. Plus, I still have the AC unit to install where I can, hopefully, have a cool summer. Especially for my better half. Maybe she will even want to drive it now and again!
Oh, and I got the tubing bender assembled at work. I'm getting the itch to make some rear seats. I'm thinking I might want to make the third seat reversible. For two reasons. One, that's where my partner launches from when we push start the dragster. Someone stays with the dragster while I move the push car to a different location that doesn't block the view of the dragster for the fans. To date, anyone who has been in the cargo area just kinda rolls around back there. And two, if we take this thing to the drive in moving pictures show, two lovebirds can use the seat to watch a movie. Yeah, it probably won't be my two kids. More like me and wifey!
A plan man, always a plan! hadn't checked in lately but I see your still burning the candle. Nice work by the way. (after all that work you'll need the lady to drive you around) !
Work continues on the hood halves. Thought I had finally bought my last quart of epoxy primer. Looks like I'll need one more. Added the 20th page, but I still need to update page 2 through 18 with the page 20 link. Too tired today to do it.
