AURktman

Isn’t it amazing how much a car or truck feels like it’s actually a car or truck once the glass goes in? It feels Iike a turtle shell with no turtle before the glass goes in.

H&H is one of the vendors in the TriFive world that his highly regarded, not many out there as well regarded.

A little more progress.

Hood done and some of the chrome installed. New steering wheel in but will come back out to be painted. it’s from a 1964 Bel Air, I prefer them to the 57 steering wheel.

Photo from the official event photographer, I’m in love with it! Now back to the work. Instead of the rear drivers door that was on there, I will redo this one. Everything north of the trim line is in great shape and dent/rust free. I will form a new patch for this.

Pics from the show. As always, it was a blast! Put about a mile on her, it’s quite fitting her first mile is at the TriFive Nationals.

Headed to Bowling Green, KY tomorrow morning for the Nationals. I will be parked in the “Scratch, dent, and rust” section. 😁

I have 2 layers of 1 inch foam, I just need to redo the hog rings so it doesn’t look like a bad boob job. I will also run some thin padding around the front to fill in any gaps.

Taillights in, they will definitely have to come back out before paint but they’re functional.

Enough interior installed to drive it to Nationals. I need to work on my upholstery installation skills.

I miss the AZ desert. Here in Alabama, it’s so humid you can go fishing and the fish won’t die when you pull them out of the water.

Passenger doors somewhat aligned properly, latches and strikers installed, everything hooked up and handles installed. Lock works too. So many firsts on this car in the last month! It’s languished over 15 years getting bits and pieces done.

Roof is painted, that was the only area that I had to get to before installing glass, especially around the top windshield area. I painted the area where the gasket sits so it won’t rust. There is a LOT of bodywork still to do on the drivers side.

More progress. Now to tune the engine so it runs like a sewing machine.

Thanks! It’s roughly a 4:1 mix of VW Strato blue (1959) and Porsche Aetna blue. I spoke to the woman that owns the paint company I order it through, I am sending her some spray out cards and a small bottle of the paint so she can match it. It will get called “Bertha Blue”

Front and rear glass in. Starting to look like a car instead of a shell.

White roof now, windshield and back glass going in tomorrow.

Thanks! Two tone, white roof.

Finished the front fenders and passenger front door. They need a good wet sanding, but that will happen after the Nationals. I just want to get the car there and home in one piece.

More bites of the elephant done. Front fenders prepped and in sealer outside drying. Will paint those first thing tomorrow morning. I still have to bleed the brakes again, I had great brakes then none a day later. I attribute it to the fact that I hadn’t bled the rears and the fronts need bleeding again. But cooling system all finished (electric in front, mechanical behind) and she sat outside running through the RPMs to get broke in a bit. I put her back on her chrome wheels.

Had to wait until today to move her out. I look like a bear in a phone booth sitting on that milk crate.

She moved under her own power for the first time in 36 years! I need to bleed the brakes better, but I will get her moved outside tomorrow evening and do a proper engine break-in. I have to get the body the the point where the roof can get painted and glass installed.

Granted, they are just the turn signals/parking lights but it’s the first non-dash set of lights to work.

Getting more done, the cooling system and wiring under the hood is finished. Also connected up the tach and fuel gauge. I also swapped out the brake booster bracket for a straight bracket that is close to the firewall. Much better fit overall.

Looking sharp!