Scotts_DG8

During the winters here I'm normally working inside doing things that need to be done. I've got a kitchen redo that has been on the list of things to do for some time now. Besides the garage is not insulated, although I have a good size torpedo heater that has gotten the garage up to 70 but because the price of fuel (K-1) I only used it now only if it's really required. One other drawback is that as it's just me/myself/I there is a lot to do to maintain a house, a life and still make progress on any of the cars it can at times be a regular comedy show making it all work. What I chose to do this past summer was to do the minimum around the house and focus on the van which I stretched into the fall so there was a lot of catch up maintence to get ready for winter and now I'll pick up working inside this winter so I can hopefully finish the van off next spring/summer. That's my plan for coping with winter this year. Scott...

I guess you'll need your Top Hat, Tails and Doctor's Bag when your out and about. BTW, I don't think the sunshine took much away from showing just how much class this Packard is flouting about. Looks great, Scott...

Pat, Screws aside, I really like how the dash is looking great. Your wood graining effort as pictured really has turned out nice. Scott...

Bernie, Just to clarify my comment I bolded the points and added a bit to what I was trying say for what it's worth, "That is one of the top reasons everyone here was looking forward to this next project (The 1921 Packard Coupe) after following your last one here (The Dixie Flyer)." I'd no idea, but was hopeful, that there was going to be another future project but if there is one I can assure you that I and I sure many others here that will faithfully follow what ever project you should chose to tackle. It's kind of amazing in a way that there are some peope that you can come across in life that just knowing them at a distance can make your own life a lot more fuller. I'll just wait until you finish this car before any more chatting about another project. Scott...

Bernie, Anyone looking through your thread from your first post to where things currently stand without question can see not only all the work you've put into this car but the passion too. That is one of the top reasons everyone here was looking forward to this next project after following your last one here. You have a pretty strong fan club here that I'm thinking would also have a hard time accepting your education/degrees solely from the University of Hard Knocks, I'm thinking, as other here may agree, that it's also part of your DNA. All that being said, I really love how the car has come together and am looking forward to the final touches yet to come. Scott..

I agree, what a great original example. Sorry, but I've no real idea what the value the car would be. Being someone who grew up with/around Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge products and when these were new it's one of those cars that personally stand out. It's a time capsule and appears at least in the photo's you posted to be in pretty good shape and mostly stock. I do have to ask what is I believe the next obvious question, is your friend looking to obtain a value with the intent of potentially selling it? In the end just being curious. Scott... BTW, for what it's worth I'm thinking the car should be kept as is, just cleaned up along with addressing any mechanical issues, again just my opinion.

Pat, Sorry to hear of your mishap, anyone that uses power tools has the chance to have a bad day and I'm feeling for yah. I hope that all will be well again after some healing. I agree too that we'll be as patient as need be as we all are looking forward to you completing this project. Take care, Scott...

Roger, Every update you do is giving us some insight into what is involved in building this type of model and it sure holds my attention. I'm looking forward to seeing the glued up block get transformed into a buck and even more so to the panels that will follow. I know too based on what you've posted there is still a lot more to come and you've got to know that I, along with all the other viewers of your thread, will be patiently waiting for your next update. It's really an amazing talent you have. Scott...

Pat, now that I see that you dash has some tight curves not unlike mine I can see the potential of doing it myself, I could only hope that it would turn out as nice as yours has. I would though like to know a bit more of what challenges you had in working through the curve. I do agree though it did turn out looking great. Scott...

So, Pat, who'd a thunk it would ever be looking this great. It's wonderful looking. Can't wait to see the evolution as the rest of the panels are added. Scott...

Pat, I really like the progress. I especially like the woodgrain results pictured. I would have to believe that it's great to have a removable dash when performing that task, as my '31 Dodge DG dashboard in fixed in place not to mention a bunch of curves, but maybe they have some sort of tools to work around that. Your's is looking good though. Scott...

Flop, I had a look at your video and have been a fan of your work from your first posts here. I'm sure that you're one of those that really get into your work while doing it and seldom, if ever, work with others although I could be wrong. I myself most often choose to and find it more productive working by myself. That being said I sure could enjoy a week of observing and learning somethings watching you work, don't worry as it's not going to happen, but you and a few others here have some skills that I truely greatly admire. Keep posting and we'll keep reading, watching and learning what we can. Scott...

+1

Pat, I agree, I wouldn't be worried about not having the skills as you've already proved to us all that you for sure have them. I do though look at the shop setting and hope that when they are shooting primer/paint that they are covering those new tires that you had bought, not to mention the already great looking wheels. I would hate to see a great looking body and then see paint stains on the tires/wheels. We are all here waiting along with you for the color pictures to show up. Looks good, Scott...

Bernie, I know that you know I'm just one of your many avid followers, but I am also a fan of your skills and independent nature. There are times that I run into a sticky situation on my project or the time line turnes out not as expected taking longer to accomplish something I thought would take a lot less effort that can put me in a bit of a blue mood. You're one of those individuals posting here that can sure help turn things around for me, and at times your posts of your project can be an outright pick-me-up. Just one of those things that I felt like sharing. Always interested and often amazed in any progress you make and post and looking forward to hearing about your first ride around the block. Quietly waiting and reading/watching. Scott...

Thanks guys for the postive feedback. I do try hard to do my best with whatever I tackle, hence another reason for the slow progress. I've also learned alot while taking on this project, one of those thing is that at times it can get a bit depressing. For me the depressing moments occur more often when I realize how much time has passed and how much more work(time) is involved to complete some tasks then I originally thought and/or planned for. I never let it get the best of me though. On a positive note I follow along all the other restoration projects going on here and am amazed at the skill levels so many posting here have shown. So, today it rained until early afternoon and in the fall/spring my driveway doesn't get much sun so it takes quite a bit of time to dry out and I won't pull the van out if the driveway is wet or damp as I do not need the extra humidity to engulf the unfinished body work on the van. There may be showers in the early morning hours so I may not get time in tomorrow either, we'll see. Being from Michigan and not having a heated workspace I know that my work on the van will be coming to a stop soon, I'm just hoping that there are enough nice days left to get the doors done and any exposed metal sealed in a coat of epoxy. That's it for now, those that will be following along stay tuned for another update. Scott...

Wednesday evening, Sept. 17th 2012. I've been busy working around either the cold temps or the rain but still have been making progress which is good for this time of year here in Michigan. As I recall it was some weeks back that I noted that if I couldn't finish the work on the doors in a week it would be rather telling as to how much more I would get done this year. The good news is that I have made progress, the bad is that unless there is a week of nice temps I'll be challenged to get the doors done and the work sealed up with the epoxy primer. So, let recap what's been accomplished since my last post. The following pictures show what was originally a rear door that is now being used as a side door. The rear set of doors that I came across were rust free but were from a 68 van and had the large DODGE letters across the bottom. These needed to be fill welded and was one of the easier tasks tackled latey. A copper backing behind the holes and some quick fill welds followed by some Metal Glaze finished things up quickly. The 4th picture is my original back door that I posted the repairs on in my last update, the only thing missed was there were three small rust holes that I fill welded and again followed with the Metal Galze to finish. I thought I would show you a few pictures of one of my original side doors. There was just to much rust to make it worth the effort to repair, although it, and the other original side door, would still be used for parts and repair metal pieces as needed. Now that the emblem/letter holes were filled in the one side door, I had to transfer the window latch recess from the original side door (just shown) to the replacement door. The first picture shows the part of the donor door to removed followed by the replacement door window area that needed to be cut out to accept the window latch recess piece. The next picture shows the piece fitted in place before welding followed by a shot of the piece welded in place and in the proces of being ground down. Final picture shows the completed door with the Metal Glaze. Yes, I have way too much Metal Glaze on the door as it only needed a skim coat at best, I mixed to much and so just slopped it on, and most all of it will end up being sanded off. And finally as of this evening the weather today was nice enough to get the window latch recess in place on the second replacement side door. This effort was not unlike the door work just discussed above. I've still got other body work to do on the rear and side doors, small dents/dings. My main objective was to get all the welding work done on the doors and the work covered with the metal glaze. The front doors have cracks at the hing area which was common as the door retaining straps often broke and the door would swing to a stop and creat a stress crack at the hing point. If the weather holds I'll get the front doors done in the next day or two. I'm also still holding out for some good weather, which right now might be next Monday/Tuesday if the long range weather forecast holds true, and I'll get the dents/dings on the doors taken care of and all the doors sealed up with the epoxy priemer. That's where things stand. One thing that I've learned about myself doing this work is I sure could not make production money doing it. As an example the last three pictures above look rather like a simple task but took me almost 5 hours to accomplish. I sure have a bigger head as to what I can accomplish and how long it will take as opposed to how long it actually ends up taking me. I'm still learning and plugging away at it though. Stay tuned as I'll continue to post updates as long as I can make progress this year. Scott...

I read the DB threads/posts here most every day but seldom reply to them as I'm sure not an expert on a lot of things to be offfering advise. I also read the banter that occures now and again which just enforces my decision to not reply at times. Even in this example all my cars are used pretty much as ground cover for my garage floor so I can't talk about where I drive them, let along to take any of them to a show. Some of you may have followed my thread/post on my activities redoing my '69 Dodge A100 in the Restoration forum towards the top of the AACA forums above but as I'm not currently working on my '31 DB there is no first hand experience to question and/or share. By the way I am just for information I'm both an AACA member and a DB Club member but have yet to make it to a meet although the 2014 DB meet will be basically in my backyard and I do plan to attend it. I'm not speaking for anyone else here but I would guess that the activity a thread/post gets is not always related to AACA or DB members as it includes many general visitors too that visit the AACA site and its forums and they can not post a reply unless that at least have signed up on the AACA site. I hope that provides some insite as to why many may view a thread/post but not always contribute. Scott...

Sunday morning update, October 7th, 2012, part 2. First to finish the update on the same rear driver's side back door. This was another day so I did have my camera with me to capture the bottom of the door in metal glaze that was applied after all the welding was done. I also noted that I missed welding the 4 holes that a previous owner added for who knows why, these were quickly fill welded and you can see the copper is being used. The next door worked was the rear passenger's side door. I started again with the lock bolt area, this was in general a pretty solid area. The lock bolt corner that you see sticking out was split, I had already aligned/squared it up before taking this photo. Everything was welded up and cleaned up nicely. The opposite bottom corner was a little thin and although I could of put a patch in I decided not to, it was a hard decision. The door in general is not in all that good of shape as there is some heavy pitting you can see on the inside making the metal rather thin and I know that there are rust free ones still out there. I'm for now proceeding with what I have but will keep my eyes open for another one or two for possible replacement before paint. That's where things ended as of yesterday evening. I still have a small, less that a quarter inch hole to fill weld on the outside of this last door. It was only 48 degrees outside yesterday and will only make 50 today with a chance of showers in the afternoon. If I again get a chance to get out I'll finish the welding of the hole and move on to another. As a side note, I can really see the benefit of having a tig welder vs. mig welder especially after following Flops posts. My work is very much amature compared to his. To close off this post I thought I'd post a picture I took a couple days after I finished painting the nose with the epoxy primer. It was a nice but very cool day. It makes me wish it was already spring and I was getting ready to paint, oh well. If there are a string of nice days in the 60's at least I plan to get the doors finished off with filler as there some level of body work on dents/dings needed and then get them sealed up with a coat of epoxy primer. Hope that you all have found this update of interest. Until the next update then, Scott...

Sunday morning update, October 7th, 2012. In my last update I noted that the next task was to complete the rust repairs on the 6 doors and it would be rather telling if it could be done in a week. Well two weeks have passed and I've only basically completed two of the 6 doors, obviously not making very much progress but there has been some progress which in the end was good. I decided to start with the worst door of the bunch which was the rear driver's side door. It had a good amount of rust on the bottom of the door and a good sized crack. at a hinge point. I tried to document everything that I did to repair the door so this will fall into a second post to finish. The following is shows how things went. Looking at the bottom of the door the worst was on the left (lock bolt) side. As the bottom is not flat and has a slight step I could not use a simple longer patch. I ecided to start with the smallest area to build a little more strenght before tackling the larger needed patch. I marked a general area to be removed and then after working out the details removed the area to be patched. I used the good side edge of another rusty door I had and cut out the patch. The lock bolt used to keep the door closed had a little tab that welded to the area removed which I cleaned up and drilled a couple small holes that were plug welded in place of the original spot weld. All in all the patch went real well. The next patch to be made you can see marked just to the right of the patch just finished. This next patch, other than cutting the slot and drilling the hole was rather straight forward an it too went rather well. What you see behind the holes is a strip of copper that I used as a backing to my welding, it works well. The next thing to tackle was the crack that needed to be addressed and the remainder of the little rust holes. Sorry, I don't have the after pictures as these pictures were taken the end of one day and the next day that I was outside and could work on it I didn't think to grab the camera. I can assure you that it all went well. To be continued in part two of this post...

Pat, I'm happy that your interested enough to follow along. The answer is yes, in the case of the primer I am painting outside using an HVLP gun at 10 PSI at the gun with a 1.3 tip shooting a PPG Shop Line Epoxy Primer. I looked at using the DP primer and after talking it over with the PPG guys learned that a lot of body shops were switching over to the Shop Line product as it performed well with good coverage and much better cost. I did mention that wind was a factor in making progress as I will not spray with any kind of wind, a slight breeze now and then I can handle. No over spray on the drive or paint dust being carried away. Regarding bugs and dust being an issue, the answer is that it is not an issue, for all the painting that you see I had two tiny bugs that landed while it was tacky and they brushed off when the paint was dry to the touch without leaving a mark. If you ran your hand over the painted surface that you see you would be amazed how smooth it is, maybe as much as I am, I joked that you could almost color sand, buff and polish it as is. When I do the final color/clear coat paint I will paint it in my garage and I will put a "spray booth" together with filters and fan(s). Maybe I've been lucky shooting it with no bugs/dust but after shooting what you see but I will not chance it when doing the color/clear coat. Oh, and when I do get to the point of spraying the color/clear I will be taking one of the cars over to a brothers to provide the inside paint space. In the end, although I am not happy with the progress due to weather delays and new dings and dents that continued to surface I am very happy with the end results. If I knew for sure that it was going to be in the upper 60's to low 70's over the next 4 or 5 weeks I would for sure have it in paint this year but I'm thinking that that is just not going to be in the cards at this time of year. Scott...

Tuesday evening, September 25. Not sure if I mentioned this in the past on this thread, if so please humor me some. I work out of my three car garage and I've 4 cars stored there so most all of this work is happening outside the garage. That being said, those of you that work outside realize quickly that you are at the mercy of the weather, especially painting. Just over a week ago here in Michigan we had a taste of fall that stuck around for a while. Between cool weather in the 50's and either rain/showers and wind it puts a crimp in making progress. Another drawback of my work location is that the sun has already dropped to the south enough that the neighbors trees are now creating shade over most of my work area for a good part of the day, it gets sun in the morning and there is a break in the trees and I'll get some more sun in the afternoon for a bit. It's worse if it does rain as it may be dry in the front of the house 2 or 3 hours later but will not dry out in the back for up to 8 hours. With all that being said I finally managed to get the epoxy primer on nose of the van today. Now the exterior body work and exposed metal from prep sanding is sealed from moisture. The pictures shows how things turned out. I've updated my objectives for this year as winter is not all that far around the bend. As the weather is not predictable I thought that I would drop the line item from the plan that was to have it in final paint this year and insert a line item to ensure the body work on the van inside and out is sealed up from the elements, especially moisture. So, the next task on my list of thing to do will be to finish off the doors before moving inside the van to finish it off. I'm thinking, fingers crossed, that I can get the doors done in about a week weather permitting. So, the next update will be telling as to how my revised plan will work out. Until the next update then, Scott...

Bernie, I think that the roof line works very well. I too would be having a hard time waiting but sometimes the wait is worth it, not unlike us waiting for your next update. By the way, the Packard is looking real nice. Scott...

Pat, I'm thinking you are. Although I wouldn't make a very good cheer leader I'll still be rooting for you. Scott...

Sunday evening, September 16th. This has been a busy week but a productive one too. I managed to get the roof, the back and passenger side in a fresh epoxy primer coat. I did continue to find everything from missed dents/dings to small surface pits as I used the 180 grit to sand/prep the old dirty primer coat for the new primer coat. The good news is that the front is the only thing left to do. This time I skipped posting pictures showing the filler as they didn't change much from those posted earlier, nor did I include ones showing it masked/taped up before shooting the primer coat. So with all that said on to some pictures. I decided to set the doors in place to make believe that I'm making some progress. I liked the look having the doors on. The two front doors were too much work to set in place which is why they are not shown. The vent on the nose of the van needs some media blasting to clean the paint/rust off before the nose gets a new coat of primer. I've got the presure post blaster back from the friend I'd borrowed it from, with luck it should get done in the next day or so. Altough you can see in the above pictures that the roof now has a nice new clean epoxy primer coat I took a couple more pictures to give a better view. So, that's where things stand as of this evening. I can only hope that the week coming up is as productive as the last was. The weather here though is changing and the temp is heading down. Today it was in the upper 70's and tomorrow will be the same but after that the next 7 days will see the high's drop down to the low 60's and the nights will be in the upper 40's to low 50's. Oh, did I mention that there is going to be several days with showers, that's going to put a dent on pulling the van out to work on. So, until the next update enjoy the pictures and visualize a completed van. It'll get there, stay tuned. Scott...