ron hausmann Posted January 8 Author Share Posted January 8 A couple more - - - 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95Cardinal Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Looking awesome, Ron! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron hausmann Posted January 10 Author Share Posted January 10 Here is a picture of the original Kissel Gold Bug vehicle number plaque and a new one that I punched from today. This is mounted on the cowl inside the engine bay. Also shown is the paired plaque which is mounted on the right front fender base. Kissels had the vehicle numbers in these two locations. Ron Hausmann P.E. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 I remember the Gold Bug we restored was 45-1964. Wonder where it is now? We restored it for a fellow in Switzerland. He sold it to a customer of ours from France where it was driven 600 miles in an endurance run. Our customer consigned it with Hyman Classic cars. Somehow it ended up with Wayne Carinni and was on his Chasing Classic Cars show where it was modified a bit from original. No idea where it is now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron hausmann Posted January 18 Author Share Posted January 18 All - Here are a few more pictures of the car as of January 18, 2024. Also shown are pictures of a couple of the last accessories, after market air cleaner and L and R front mudflaps, that I’ve restored for the car. Now just awaiting body being finish painted for final assembly. Ron Hausmann PE. 18 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron hausmann Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 (edited) All, Kissel used an unbelievably wide range of trim items their cars. For exampl, while they made only 50 to 100 Gold Bug Model 6-45 speedsters a year, some trim items were only used on those models for a year or two. My cars’ trim is this type. Below are pictures of the front bumper mounts which were used on Kissel Gold Bug Speedsters late 1921 to mid 1923. Even my restored 1923 Kissel Gold Bug does not have original ones. Since I am restoring this, my second 1923 Gold Bug precisely, I have manufactured exact copies of 1923 bumper mounts from period correct pieces, steel bar stock, and metalworking. A picture of an original bumper mount from the Kissel parts manual, is below and is the model for what I’ve made. Several pictures show the “head” part of the mount cut at the 35-degree angle, bar stock, and pictures of metal working to replicate the originals. I also created long slot head screws from modern bolts. ( Four years ago, I was lucky enough to buy rear bumper mounts at Hershey)! A lot of rewarding work. Enjoy! Ron Hausmann P.E. Edited February 2 by ron hausmann (see edit history) 15 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayne sheldon Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 Nice fabrication work! I have often said that a little creativity can go a long way. I have repaired or replaced a number of steel castings over the years by cutting, bending, and shaping steel pieces then welding or brazing them together. A little "pretty-up" work and usually one can make the new piece look like an actual casting. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron hausmann Posted March 6 Author Share Posted March 6 All, As of March 6, 2024 we are finally in the home stretch - final assembly! The painter is painting parts after all have been test fit. All connections and seams are better than when new, and the fun part starts now. 1. Completed chassis has been released by painter and is now at my shop for fitting out. (First 2 pics) 2. Front bumper brackets that I made and signature Kissel bar bumper has been mounted, adjusted, and protected (next two pictures) 3. Rear bumper, luggage rack wood, and mounting hardware have been mounted and adjusted and protected. I was extremely lucky to get a set of original Kissel 6-45 Luggage mounts (last pictures). 4. Mounting final “jewelry” onto car will now continue. 5. soone will start getting body pieces for final assembly. Ron Hausmann P.E. 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron hausmann Posted March 18 Author Share Posted March 18 All - As of March 18, 2024, we are moving right along! a. Rear tail light and bracket has been mounted and wired. b. Luggage rack wood runners have been fitted and secured. c. Body and body panels at painter are being coated and rubbed out. Very very nice work. I’ll continue mounting whatever i can onto the frame until we get the aprons and body back from painter to open up a lot of finish work. Ron Hausmann P.E. 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulrhd29nz Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 Love seeing this come together. great work 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron hausmann Posted April 15 Author Share Posted April 15 As of April 15, 2024, body is done. Will be mounted on chassis next week. 21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted April 28 Share Posted April 28 Don't know if I shared these with you, Ron, but here they are again. I took these at the Wheels For Wings gathering at Balboa Park in San Diego a long time ago. 1980 maybe. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kar3516 Posted April 29 Share Posted April 29 3 hours ago, keiser31 said: Don't know if I shared these with you, Ron, but here they are again. I took these at the Wheels For Wings gathering at Balboa Park in San Diego a long time ago. 1980 maybe. Wow…if I’m seeing this picture correctly the Kissel is as long as the Chevy Nomad! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron hausmann Posted April 29 Author Share Posted April 29 (edited) 8 hours ago, kar3516 said: Wow…if I’m seeing this picture correctly the Kissel is as long as the Chevy Nomad! Kar3516 - A Kissel 6-45 (1919 to 1923) has a wheelbase of 124”. Bumper to bumper is about 180” The pictures show a 1921 Kissel 6-45. A Kissel 6-55 (1923 to 1927) has a wheelbase of 121” Later Kissel 8-75 cars starting in 1925 had longer wheelbases Ron Edited April 29 by ron hausmann (see edit history) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron hausmann Posted May 6 Author Share Posted May 6 All, Here is the status of the restoration as of May 8, 2024; 1. Painter has done a beautiful job on the body. He will mount the aprons and body onto the frame this week. 2. Painter is working on final painting of fenders. 3. Side Seats are complete and I am doing their final assembly. If you look closely at the pictures, you will see how theseats interlock and slide within the car body, parallel to each other. They are held in place and cannot over extend because they are locked by the black bars shown loooselyat the back of the seat assembly. Quote ingenious! Other cars had single side seats, but only Kisssel paired them. 4. all of the body adds ns and nickel stuff like the radiator are done and will get put on soon when I get the completed chassis/body from painter. 5. engine shop is plodding along on the Kissel 6 engine Stay tuned. Ron Hausmann P.E. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old car fan Posted May 6 Share Posted May 6 Ron,another beautiful Kissel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron hausmann Posted May 7 Author Share Posted May 7 More Pictures. Details of side seats and engine pans Ron 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron hausmann Posted June 5 Author Share Posted June 5 All - Big milestone today! The Kissels body had been permanently mounted and mated to its chassis ! It’s finally looking like a car! Here are pictures of the body . Doors and deck lid mounting is underway. Side seats have been upholstered and will be installed soon. Cowl trim and other “jewelry” is being added! Stay tuned! Ron Hausmann P. E. 23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95Cardinal Posted June 6 Share Posted June 6 Fantastic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron hausmann Posted June 9 Author Share Posted June 9 All, Fitting the trunk lids and sliding seats today. Those sliding seats are unique inasmuch as they are held by dual huge 3/8” U-channels underneath, which are interleavened like the wheels on a German Panther or Tiger tank. After some very fine tuning, and application of a kitchen drawer slide lubricant, these things slide in and out beautifully. Paige roadsters had seats on one side only. I don’t know about Pilot cars which had at least one. Ron Hausmann P.E. 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron hausmann Posted June 17 Author Share Posted June 17 All, As of June 16,2024, we are continuing application of windshield, dash, cowl lighting, instruments and steering column stuff. Also drilling holes into the finished aluminum floor boards for penetrations, now that steering column and shift locations have been identified. Drilling semi circles in aluminum floor boards is hard. Within a week, I will return the car to the paint shop where final fitment of polished fenders will occur Two structural imperfections will have to be addressed. First, the right side step plate brackets were apparently badly bent in an accident in the cars ancient past. While I can mount the step plates, they aren’t in a flush straight line. I will use a pipe to bend them as close as I can. Second, you’ll recall from previous in this posting, that I had to find and weld new front spring knuckles on to this cars frame, because the original ones were cut off when a previous owner attempted to mount a V8 engine on her in the 1950’s. I found and mounted new front spring knuckles. However my welding was off by about 1/2” so one side is lower than the other by that amount. Since that’s where the front bumper mounts, the bumper is off by that 1/2”. So next week we will cut the frame about 10” before the knuckle and raise the right spring knuckle. Then weld the frame back with the correct knuckle height. Here are progress pictures. Ron Hausmann P.E. 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike "Hubbie" Stearns Posted June 18 Share Posted June 18 Looking good! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericmac Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 I am impressed by your dedication to doing everything 100% correctly. The car looks fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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