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RocketDude

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About RocketDude

  • Birthday 05/06/1943

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  1. I believe what you're describing was best stated as, "Some days you eat the bear, some days the bear eats you,..!!"'
  2. If given a choice of any old car, I would chose a '37 Chevy, my favorite. Many a year ago, I build a '37 with a small block Chevy, and later a '39 with a Cadillac. Your choice for a 348/409 is different, but looks good. Nice car...
  3. Looks great, but it appears you might have missed a picture or two between January, 2014, and February, 2015... We live for the pictures and the story of the adventure along the way...
  4. Of you were dinged for having an alternator rather than a generator, why not put a generator back on and be original? Here is a company that makes alternators that look just like a generator. Then you get the best of both worlds.. http://www.qualitypowerauto.com/item_543/6-Volt-GM-Positive-Ground.htm
  5. As a long time professional engine builder who has build hundreds of engines, my thought on painting before or after assembly has always been to put the heads, V covers, intake manifold, etc on the block and paint everything. This is just sitting them in place, not bolting anything on. After the paint is dry, I take everything off and do final assembly. That was you can see all of the gasket edges. It looks much more professional than putting the engine all together and painting everything at once, gaskets and all. I hate the look of just one big painted blob, the contrast makes it look great. Just my take on the subject. Also, no special paint required, just a rattle can of the factory color engine paint, looks good and holds up well. I always stuck to factory stock engine colors, I appreciate what the factories did. Again, just my take on it..
  6. I agree with dulling the black out some. Too many people use gloss black on frame and inner fender panels. The factory never used gloss, so it isn't original looking.
  7. In the old days once the studs were pressed into the hub a swedging tool was used to flare out the protruding part of the stud to make sure it was tight and never came out. When it became necessary to remove the stud, a special cutter was placed over the stud and the flare was cut off before pressing the stud out. If the flare wasn't removed, it enlarged the hole, as you found out. I worked in an auto machine back in the day and did a million of those tasks. If the hole wasn't to sloppy, I could take a center punch and hit close to the hole and all around the hole, to expand the metal and in effect, make the hole smaller so the hub or drum wouldn't need to be replaced.
  8. I took an auto body shop class at the local Jr College. They have an instructor, tools, and a paint booth... Also lots of like minded students to help when needed.
  9. Watching your progress brings back a lot of memories. I bought 1959 Renault Dauphine when I was just out of High School, probably around 1962. It was an almost new, low mileage car, but had been hit in the front end. We cut it in half just in front of the front seat and at the window posts and grafted a new front end on it. We found a car at the wreaking yard that had been rolled but the front end was perfect. They wanted $175.00 for the front end, but would sell me the whole car for $200, as they didn't want to go to the trouble of cutting it in half. As luck would have it, another guy happened along that was looking for an engine for a Renault. We struck a deal at the counter, I purchased the car for $200, the other guy gave me half, and we split the car..! I took it home and cut the front end off and he picked the remains and off he went. One of those lucky days when things went right..!! Years later I worked at a foreign car parts store. Customers would come in and request a water pump for a Renault, and our first question would be, is it 6V or 12V. That always drew some strange looks, but the same time the factory changed voltage, they also changed water pump design, so the easiest way to determine which pump they needed was to ask what voltage is was.. It was a fun, inexpensive car to drive, I enjoyed it while it lasted.
  10. Use this thread...! We are all enjoyimng following along with your adventure..!!
  11. Get good manual and learn the proper way to remove the shocks, which requires taking the tension off of, and removing, the springs. Springs under pressure are DANGEROUS. Know what you're doing before doing that job, and be careful .
  12. I assume you were talking about the ballast resister smoking... That's standard procedure, they always smoke when new... always scary when viewed by someone not familiar... Not to worry...
  13. I have enjoyed following your restoration. I admire your willingness to work under such adverse conditions.!! My garage will sometimes go below 60 degrees, and I have no interest in working at that temperature. The thought of working in your conditions is the reason I moved to So Calif...! However, I love your car and your spirit. Keep up the good work... Thought you might like to see what people in So Calif do with their llama by products...... It might be your future...! Llama Brew - Home
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