1929 Dodge DA Phaeton Project-MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

[idrjoe_sandiego]

At long last our 1929 Dodge DA Phaeton project is complete. Many, many thanks go out to all of you on this forum for all your help and advice. Without your support I would probably be still chasing my tail. You guys are the best! Last but not least, I'd like to pay my respects to all the members of the Dodge Brothers Club who helped with technical advice and moral support. Special thanks to DA Technical Adviser Harry Reding, DB Club News editor John Bittence, Doug Walters, John Keiser, Amil Gerhke and my Guru for old engines Charlie Nichols. If anyone is attempting a Dodge restoration, I urge you to join the Club and get together with the experts. Didn't Hillary say, "It takes a village to get an old car back on the road" ??

So here are a few pics showing what we started from on thru finishing that bloody trunk!

Thanks a billion, Joe

Edited July 29, 2010 by idrjoe_sandiego (see edit history)

[idrjoe_sandiego]

Here's a few more...SMELL THE RUST...BODY and CHASSIS REUNITED...APPROACHING THE END...last but not least...THE TRUNK (a nightmare in itself!)

[alsfarms]

Hello Joe,

I sure like the effort you invested in your car. It should last for another 100 years! Would you share what paint code for your yellow? I would like to use it on a project, just good solid yellow. I don't see much green, brown or orange in it.

Thanks, Alan

[idrjoe_sandiego]

Sorry to bore you with the family album, but just for fun, check out the before shots of that *&!%$# trunk. Problem was, just when I thought I had the body work all smoothed out, I would prime it, then block-sand it, and VOILA... all the old hills were now valleys and vice-versa. Nearly driving myself crazy, I finally discovered that there was a layer of crumbly rust particles sandwiched between the outer sheet metal and the inner wooden box. Every time the trunk was repositioned, the rusty crumbs would find new homes thus creating "new" hills and valleys. I finally got religion...went out and got a sheet metal brake and SKINNED the thing alive!!

[nearchoclatetown]

Alsfarm, the color really shows well in the sunlight. Nothing drab or mellow about that yellow! Joe, it's hard to believe G-burg is over all ready. I'm glad you and your father made the trip. See you at the next Nat'l, whatever state it's in.

[Joe Cozza]

Nearchocolatetown,

It's in Indiana, no Illinois Gee I hope I drive to the right state next year.

idrjoe,

Thanks for the nice pictures. I liked the ones close up. You could see the notes on the body. Also,thanks for the plug about the Dodge Brothers Club. Your right, we do have a great bunch of guys and girls.

At every meet I learn more and more about my cars and geography:)

Joe C.

[keiser31]

Dr Joe...I had so much fun in your little Pontiac, I can hardly wait to come down to San Diego and ride in that Phaeton.

[idrjoe_sandiego]

It's always a good time here on the forum and I have missed connecting with the "brotherhood" for the past year. I didn't get this doggone DA finished for the Keiser, Oregon meet, so I had to get-a-gettin' to Gettysburg. You're right Doug, hard to believe its done and dusted already...

Alan, its hard to tell from the pictures, but the color has a lot of orange in it. Given that, I am not sure if it is what you are looking for. I don't have a number for it as it was a concoction I messed around with using some water colors. I then had the color matching specialist at my local PPG dealer work on it to develop a 2K urethane (base coat/clear coat) match. It took several tries, but finally he did it. I paid extra for his time and formula, but when it came time to buy more paint, I returned to the dealer and asked for the formula, but alas, no record of it in the computer and the label on the can was unreadable. If you want a sample of it, PM me with your address and I can shoot a piece of metal painted with it for you to match. This will be much easier than trying to match water colors on cardboard.

Mr. President: Great to see you, sir, at Getty! Good times! Are you sure that next year's meet isn't in Iowa?

And JOHN--hurry hurry- get down here to San Diego while summer's still on! I had a blast with you on your last adventure down here. You look good ridin' shotgun in them old cars. The Phaeton's awaitin!!

[keiser31]

Now that the car is done, I can post the photos I took of the phaeton when I was in San Diego the last time. Sorry if a couple of them are a little blurry (YOU ARE NOT HAVING A STROKE).