Centurion Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 I think you're ready to open up your own shop...I was thinking the same thing! If you do not find employment in Cincinnati, you're the man with the skills to create your own opportunity.Congratulations on the pending engagement! Good for you, Adam, and your Buick friends will be eagerly waiting for forthcoming details. And just think what a spectacular wedding car a '58 Buick Limited will be! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan at larescorp Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 I started reading this three hours ago. All I can say is wow! Nice work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted September 4, 2012 Author Share Posted September 4, 2012 Thanks, guys!Yes, somewhere down the line I would love to do this for a living. Maybe sooner than later. Maybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest my3buicks Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 That had to be a head rush!!! Hershey is only a little over a month away, you better hurry!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted September 5, 2012 Author Share Posted September 5, 2012 Ready for the regional! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wildcat465 Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Ready for the regional![ATTACH=CONFIG]152506[/ATTACH]This is definitely going to be a great weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackofalltrades70 Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Adam,You are more than ready for your own shop......you do wonderful work on cars and the job you do on stainless is remarkable. Congrats on the engagement. Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rob McDonald Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 You're on the right track to follow Mike's business plan. That is, you appear to be reeling in a wife with a steady job - essential to successful self-employment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1957buickjim Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 That is great Adam! Feels good to get it on the road, even if it is very air conditioned! . There is a great sense of accomplishment knowing that at one time the drive train was a bucket / box of parts, the harness a twisted mass of spaghetti, and hoses, bolts and belts a tangled mess. Then you put it all together and voila! It starts and runs and can actually drive, steer, shift and stop. What an incredible feeling. Congrats on getting it this far. Keep up the work and the updated postings. I hope you can get it together for the National meet in South Bend..can't wait to meet you and you 58! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rob McDonald Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 (edited) "twisted mass of spaghetti, and hoses, bolts and belts a tangled mess" - JIM M'BOY, you've described my Buick perfectly! It was once among the "walking wounded", like Smartin's unLimited. Somewhere I've got photos of my Roady, with no hood or front fenders, and the doorman at Edmonton's Hilton Hotel holding the driver's door open for me.Hehehe, I just had a thought - it's a Middleton family business, marrying one's fortune. It worked especially well for Mike's cousin Kate....and the Little Green Car (//www.miguelitoslittlegreencar.com/blog/) Edited September 12, 2012 by Rob McDonald (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick man Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 Oh..Oh. I see the photo of the car on the trailer. Gee I hope this is not one of her first demands. "The car has to go or at least out of the garage....." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted September 20, 2012 Author Share Posted September 20, 2012 Nah, she wants it to be our wedding car...and refuses to let me sell it.:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Conley Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 Don't worry guys. I've met her and she's a keeper! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted September 21, 2012 Author Share Posted September 21, 2012 Yes, she is a keeper...for more than one reason:o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted September 26, 2012 Author Share Posted September 26, 2012 Sand sand sand...all night long. Nearly finished blocking two of the four doors...just a few touch up spots to hit. Time for some R&R for now. These things are a nightmare to get straight...I'm sure they won't be 100% even when I think I'm done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 4 bufords Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 good to see some more progress on the 58 adam,keep us updated,4 bufords from ct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 These things are a nightmare to get straight...I'm sure they won't be 100% even when I think I'm done.Amen brother. Been there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick5563 Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 I have no idea what you are talking about. This trunk lid is finished....wait, it was finished:...til I buffed it and saw ripples!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted September 27, 2012 Share Posted September 27, 2012 Just caught up with your thread Adam. Congrats on so many levels...The engagement, the drive, and the block sanding of the doors. Others have said, and I totally agree, you have provided much inspiration. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted September 30, 2012 Author Share Posted September 30, 2012 Jambin'!!The color appears to be a slight bit more purple than the original, but it's in artificial light right now. I may roll it outside tomorrow and see how it looks. It shines like crazy, too. Looks wet...love it.The color combo looks stunning, though! I am pleasantly surprised at how well the white compliments the Blue Mist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rob McDonald Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 Smashing shining colour! Is it an illusion of the photos or did you paint everything silver first? The tops of everything look different from the vertical surfaces. Probably just catching the overhead lighting differently.Dead paint, live car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted September 30, 2012 Author Share Posted September 30, 2012 That's all it is...illusion. Blue Mist basecoat and a clear coat. It is DEEEEEEP when you see it in person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted September 30, 2012 Author Share Posted September 30, 2012 Dad came over this afternoon and helped me install the doors. They line up pretty well, but there are a couple spots I might have to tweak, since it seems like the doors are not true. This sure does light a fire under my a$$ to see it put together this far! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rob McDonald Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 Perfect panel gaps - I think they were invented in the 1990's by Mercedes Benz, trying to justify their overpriced products. When my bodyman friend finished aligning the doors on my Roadmaster, prior to sending it for paint, he was pretty pleased with the door-to-fender gaps. Although not terrific, he said the GM used to do a better job of it than Chrysler or Ford. Regarding Fords of the late '50s, he said "You could throw a chicken through the gaps." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Gelinas (XP-300) Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 Awesome job and I bet your looking forward to the final photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 Gee, a pair of flashlights for headlights and some carpet and you're ready to go! I remember when you first posted pics of this car...What a ride, figuratively and litterally! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted October 1, 2012 Author Share Posted October 1, 2012 Thanks guys...feels really good to hit this milestone. It keeps me moving! On that note, I have already stripped, primed, and painted the jambs of the front fenders. They are ready for install. I just have to figure out how the front inner sheet metal goes back on. hmm....to the photo vault!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted October 1, 2012 Author Share Posted October 1, 2012 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1957buickjim Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 The black stuff goes on the inside of the engine compartment! Should be similar to my 57 in the engine compartment. I you want, I can post some photo's later of my engine compartment re-assembly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted October 2, 2012 Author Share Posted October 2, 2012 I have plenty of photos...I just need to round up a bunch of new fasteners, since half of mine broke in the process of removing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rob McDonald Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 Oh no! not the danged fender fastener thread again! We never did identify a reliable source for those things, did we? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted October 3, 2012 Author Share Posted October 3, 2012 I was able to save most of the square washer bolts...or at least the washers themselves. I am wire wheeling like crazy right now...hanging the wheel houses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rob McDonald Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 I'd hate to delay your progress but I wheeled all my fender bolt/washer assemblies, too. After sitting in damp storage one winter, these little buggers bloomed with rust. Must have scratched the zinc off them. I'd recommend at least giving them a shot of silver paint before reinstalling. Or, gather them up and take them to a hot dip galvanizing shop for plating. Most shops will do a bucketful for $50 and some will even do it for free. I wouldn't normally be so picky, myself, but the darned things are so visible... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted October 3, 2012 Author Share Posted October 3, 2012 Yeah...I am clear coating them, but will probably eventually get them recoated right. I'm starting to get the itch:p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted October 3, 2012 Author Share Posted October 3, 2012 Both inner wheel houses installed tonight...then a friend stopped by and progress came to a halt :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 4 bufords Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 i hate it when that happens,can't work and talk at the same time,4 bufords from ct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted October 10, 2012 Author Share Posted October 10, 2012 I slapped the driver's side fender on this evening. This front sheet metal is a major pain in the arse to get lined up. You pretty much have to leave all of the fasteners loose until you get them all started...and then you're still fighting it into place. I can't wait until I get the hood on. That should be fun to line up. I still have to install the heater hose on the passenger side, as well as the fuel line...before I can install the passenger side fender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rob McDonald Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Pay attention, lads. What SMARTIN is telling us is that, to eventually remove or service that heater hose or fuel line, one must remove the freakin' fender. Buick didn't invent hard-to-fix but they sure advanced the practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick man Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 (edited) You can remove the access panel under the passenger side for that. True it is tight but if you fast for a week or two you can thin down enough to get the job done through that access panel. Make sure to duct tape your wrists and forearms first.Oh... and by the way and I probably missed this, but what are you spraying here for your top coat colors? base coat / clear coat? single stage urethane? acrylic enamel? acrylic lacquer? .... PPG, Ditzler, Dupont ? Edited October 10, 2012 by buick man (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1953mack Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 I slapped the driver's side fender on this evening. This front sheet metal is a major pain in the arse to get lined up. You pretty much have to leave all of the fasteners loose until you get them all started...and then you're still fighting it into place. I can't wait until I get the hood on. That should be fun to line up. I still have to install the heater hose on the passenger side, as well as the fuel line...before I can install the passenger side fender.Why did you decide to install the fenders before installing and fitting the hood to the cowl and front doors? Al MalachowskiBCA #8965"500 Miles West of Flint" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now