30DodgePanel Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 (edited) Thanks @cutdown those bring back a lot of fun memories, especially the yellow one. Good times Edited January 21 by 30DodgePanel (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutdown Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 You can see how little room I have to operate in. I get by though. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattml430 Posted January 22 Author Share Posted January 22 Managed to get the dash in today and everything seemed to work which was a bonus. I got as much hooked up as I could before bolting it in. Hood bows are coming along and hopefully I’ll have them in tomorrow. I have glued up the other half of the steering wheel this afternoon so I can get that machined up and put together. Once thats done I’m just making some new linkages with all new ball joints for the throttle and advance. Then it’s test drive time. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minibago Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 So fast. But sooooo good. Love it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nearchoclatetown Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 Matt, it's good to see you back in the saddle again. We have very few deluxe cars here in the US so I have not taken notice if there is a seal under the cowl lights. Was there one? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattml430 Posted January 22 Author Share Posted January 22 Thanks Doug. No there wasn’t a seal under them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nearchoclatetown Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 (edited) Thanks, Matt. It seems odd to me that there isn't one. I have seen documentation that they could be ordered as dealer installed. They were normally only on deluxe cars along with a nickeled radiator shell, like this car. The master parts book calls for an " insulating washer and spring." But the knuckleheads don't show a picture of anything. I can't imagine the life of a parts man back then. Only the first few parts books show exploded views. I am trying to prove something right now concerning Victory roadsters. The dam parts book shows all body styles except the roadster. And all without pictures. Matt, and others, I just got back from AACA museum. They were given a '25 deluxe coupe that looks like it was painted with a broom. BUT it had remnants of seals under the cowl lights. Looked to be very thin, maybe 1 1/2 MM to you 1/16 to US with a rim around them. NOT saying Aussie cars were to have them as your cars are way different then US cars. AND it had a pair of step plates just like this touring has. I have seen them before but not many. They are also shown in the master parts book in one of the VERY few pictures. Still have yet to see the coolassed fender guards this car has. Edited January 22 by nearchoclatetown (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
22touring Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 Nearchoc Doug wrote, inter alia: "I can't imagine the life of a parts man back then." So Doug, since parts orders were sent by the dealers to the factory by telegraph, and in order to minimize telegraph costs DB adopted 5-or-6 letter acronyms for each part that the dealership parts man had to memorize, don't you think you would have had a really good time memorizing all those parts acronyms? I'm sure you would have really enjoyed it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutdown Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 There were some really good parts guys around a few years ago. In the 70"s and 80's there was Dominic, at the Austin agency, who knew every part off by heart, and every modification needed as well. Magic. I think he was a bit stuffed though when they took over Honda as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattml430 Posted January 23 Author Share Posted January 23 The steering wheel is all together and ready for painting. centre spokes all polished up ready to be fitted. I use hot melt glue to stick it on my wheel facing machine so I can get it perfectly round and flat. Machining the inside and outside edges. Trueing up the face to be clamped together. One half all trued up ready for the end of the spoke to be cut in. each half has the spoke end housed out with the joins 60 degrees apart. spoke Locke in once both halves are joined together. All glued up with epoxy. Out of the clamps after about 6 hours and I can clean up the edges and rout a rounded edge on them. I stick it in the lathe to speed thing up a little and it gets it sanded nice and even. it gets glue back onto the wheel table and I router cut some finger grooves into the back of it. Finished sanded with 320 grit and ready for staining. ready for a coat of clear. After the first coat I’ll remove the tape off the wheel centre and give it a quick polish up, and then clear coat the whole lot so it will always look like new. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattml430 Posted January 23 Author Share Posted January 23 I will be fitting all the new linkages that I made today into it tomorrow so once the wheel and steering column is in I can then take it for a test drive. I get great use out of my dad’s old P&N tap and die sets. These things are probably 20 years older than me and still cut perfectly. all the new linkages made up from the old ones. I’ve gone up a size so if there’s any play in the holes I can drill them out to the next size up. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minibago Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Now I understand the saying: ”Poetry in Motion” 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AussieBuick Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 Thanks Matt for the detail on the steering wheel construction, it is quite impressive in terms of quality and speed. A further question on linkages , is there an Australian supplier of the Bent-Swivel Ball Joints ?? My best efforts have located them at McMaster-Carr in the US.. Regards Norm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattml430 Posted January 24 Author Share Posted January 24 2 minutes ago, AussieBuick said: Thanks Matt for the detail on the steering wheel construction, it is quite impressive in terms of quality and speed. A further question on linkages , is there an Australian supplier of the Bent-Swivel Ball Joints ?? My best efforts have located them at McMaster-Carr in the US.. Regards Norm I have some of all the parts I bought of Bill Eldridge. It’s in a GJworks grab kit. I don’t know how old it is but has come in very handy. I’ve never been able to find them either. The address is on the picture, maybe try calling them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AussieBuick Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 Thanks Matt... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AussieBuick Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 McMaster Carr 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minibago Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 7 hours ago, Mattml430 said: I have some of all the parts I bought of Bill Eldridge. It’s in a GJworks grab kit. I don’t know how old it is but has come in very handy. I’ve never been able to find them either. The address is on the picture, maybe try calling them. Sorry Matt, not sure when it happened but this address now houses Discount Party Imports. McMaster it will have to be. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattml430 Posted January 24 Author Share Posted January 24 Well the old dodge made it out of the shed today under its own steam. Took it for a quick drive and just needed to adjust the brakes a little. Took it for another drive and she runs and drives just beautiful it surprised the shit out of me how well it went and sat on the road. Few small jobs to do still and it’s off to the upholsterer on Tuesday for the seats and top. 6 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattml430 Posted January 24 Author Share Posted January 24 Just now, Minibago said: Sorry Matt, not sure when it happened but this address now houses Discount Party Imports. McMaster it will have to be. Yeah I wasn’t sure weather they still existed. The box I have is probably pretty old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minibago Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 50 minutes ago, Mattml430 said: Yeah I wasn’t sure weather they still existed. The box I have is probably pretty old. We used the range of Gee Jay kits in the Airforce back in the 1980’s the empty tins are now advertised on ebay as collectable and priced more expensive than when they were full. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattml430 Posted January 24 Author Share Posted January 24 11 minutes ago, Minibago said: We used the range of Gee Jay kits in the Airforce back in the 1980’s the empty tins are now advertised on ebay as collectable and priced more expensive than when they were full. I have quite a few Gee Jay tins amongst them all. Some are in perfect condition too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattml430 Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 (edited) The old girl is off to Grant White upholstery tomorrow for the interior and Top. Ben decided to go with a dark Tan interior and mid tan top. I think it should look great all done. steering wheel is finished, it got about 7 coats of clear. Hood bows are also fixed in. They are definitely a time consuming job getting the tapered end to fit in correctly. I got the side curtain frames made out of some 16x3mm flat , I used 5/16 stainless steel pins so the don’t rust She got a good hand wash to get all the work shop dust of it before going to grant’s. Loaded on the trailer ready for it’s bit over an hour’s drive to grants. Onto the radiator surround now while it’s away. Edited January 29 by Mattml430 (see edit history) 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minibago Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 Wow!!!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeC5 Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 I like the varnished top bows. Do you plan to leave them uncovered? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattml430 Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 3 hours ago, MikeC5 said: I like the varnished top bows. Do you plan to leave them uncovered? Just the centre up to the curves will be covered I think Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
22touring Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 I find myself fantasizing a lot about going to Australia to volunteer to help these guys with their DB restorations in order to learn some of the things they could teach me, but I'm too old to do that. I sure wish I could, though. I know they would really up my resto game. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nat Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 1 hour ago, 22touring said: volunteer to help these guys with their DB restorations Me too but even sweeping the floor I'd be in the way. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattml430 Posted January 30 Author Share Posted January 30 Without this forum and help from you guys on here there is some things that would be hard to find out. A little bit of help and different comments on things goes a long way to helping out. So thank you to everyone that followed the restoration and put there 2 cents in. 👍👍I do really appreciate it. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nat Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 6 hours ago, Mattml430 said: Without this forum and help from you guys on here there is some things that would be hard to find out. A little bit of help and different comments on things goes a long way to helping out. That's extremely humble and generous coming from the guy who, (among many other talents), found the tools to make the tools to fix the tools necessary to make the machines and fixtures that simultaneously turns six spokes. I'm sure you've forgotten more than most of us will ever know.... Or did I say that already? Edited September 14, 2023 by Mattml430 (see edit history) 10 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nat Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 1 minute ago, nat said: simultaneously turns six spokes. Five, six, who's counting? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattml430 Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 7 hours ago, nat said: Five, six, who's counting? Thanks Nat appreciate it very much. Hopefully one day down the track some young fella will fall in love with making wooden wheels and I can pass it all on. The copy lathe definitely makes light work of making the spokes. 4 at a time with the pattern in the middle. 😂👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nat Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 4 hours ago, Mattml430 said: Five, six, who's counting? Or maybe four. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nat Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 What upholstery material are you using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattml430 Posted February 2 Author Share Posted February 2 51 minutes ago, nat said: What upholstery material are you using? Tan leather for the seats and a door trims, A matching vinyl for all the other bits and pieces. Hartz hood material for the top in a beige colour. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nearchoclatetown Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 Matt, how's the radiators shell coming? I would think that is a real challenge as thin as it is to make perfect for plating. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattml430 Posted February 3 Author Share Posted February 3 2 hours ago, nearchoclatetown said: Matt, how's the radiators shell coming? I would think that is a real challenge as thin as it is to make perfect for plating. I haven’t started on it yet Doug I’m going to just rearrange the anodes in the tanks a little bit to see if that helps get better coverage. It’s all ready to go though, I’ve got it wrapped in plastic to keep it in perfect condition. I’ll definitely keep you updated on the progress. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 6 hours ago, Mattml430 said: I haven’t started on it yet Doug I’m going to just rearrange the anodes in the tanks a little bit to see if that helps get better coverage. It’s all ready to go though, I’ve got it wrapped in plastic to keep it in perfect condition. I’ll definitely keep you updated on the progress. I'm one of the oddballs who likes seeing the details of processes so a few photos of tanks, solutions, etc are sure to be useful to others if you get time. Excited to see the interior finished. Kudos to all involved. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nat Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 On 2/2/2024 at 3:57 PM, Mattml430 said: Tan leather for the seats and a door trims, A matching vinyl for all the other bits and pieces. Vinyl is final but looks out of place if it's glossy. The remains of my two leather back rests must have been things of beauty when new. The door and side panels look like they are some sort of, (black), impregnated canvas which I would choose over anything glossy. My car is a ratty "survivor" but I don't loose any sleep when the grands dump an ice cream on the back seat. 16 hours ago, Mattml430 said: haven’t started on it yet Doug I’m going to just rearrange the anodes in the tanks a little bit to see if that helps get better coverage. It’s all ready to go though, I’ve got it wrapped in plastic to keep it in perfect condition. I’ll definitely keep you updated on the progress. So........ In addition to making the spoke copy lathe, (and other wheel jigs And fixtures), this guy made the tanks and power supply for electroplating? Woodwork, metal work painting and plating. Damn few are so capable. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattml430 Posted February 4 Author Share Posted February 4 6 hours ago, nat said: Vinyl is final but looks out of place if it's glossy. The remains of my two leather back rests must have been things of beauty when new. The door and side panels look like they are some sort of, (black), impregnated canvas which I would choose over anything glossy. My car is a ratty "survivor" but I don't loose any sleep when the grands dump an ice cream on the back seat. So........ In addition to making the spoke copy lathe, (and other wheel jigs And fixtures), this guy made the tanks and power supply for electroplating? Woodwork, metal work painting and plating. Damn few are so capable. The upholster sent the vinyl back because of that and got some that looks almost identical in colour and sheen. I will take some pictures of the tanks with the new anode set up once I have them done for you. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattml430 Posted February 8 Author Share Posted February 8 I heard from the upholsterer today and he should have it all done by next Wednesday or Thursday. He’s finished the interior and seats and is doing the hood / Top now. Can’t wait to see it done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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