Another Build Thread - My '32

[stovens]

Looks great Jim!
Give me a ticket red!

[34_40]

That is so bad-ass ! haven't seen that trick in a long time. Love the color / look. congrats.

[Mike P]

that looks great!


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[Dave Severson]

Looks great Mike, super nice job!

[40FordDeluxe]

That looks so fricken sweet! I love it!!

[Driver50x]

That’s really cool.

[J. Robinson]

Well, I'm still progressing, however slowly... My latest project is installing the exterior door handles - what a pain in the ass! My advice to anyone buying a fiberglass body, if you want stock exterior door handles, pay the extra $300 and get the body with them already installed! OK, I let my frugality and ignorance get the best of me. I looked at the door handles when I ordered the body and I couldn't understand why anybody would pay $300 for a pair of door handles that sell for $69 a pair from several different suppliers. Little did I know...

First, the $69 pair of handles is just the tip of the iceberg. In addition to those you need the lever/linkage assemblies for the inside - that's another $69 plus shipping. Then you need to fabricate some kind of reinforcement plate for inside the door. I used some large heavy duty stainless steel washers that I drilled and tapped. Then you will need to carefully hole-saw some strategically placed 3 1/2 inch holes on the inside so you can get your hand and the inner parts in place inside the door. At that point you will discover that the inside assemblies don't fit flat against the inside structure because the outside door skin and the inside structure are not parallel! After you figure out a way to overcome all of that you still need to cut and bend the linkage to fit. I have screwed around with this for 3 afternoons so far. I keep walking away from it so I won't take a large hammer to all the parts and relieve my frustration! At least now I understand why so many of the Deuce 3-windows I see have electric poppers and no handles.

[Bob Parmenter]

Look on the bright side Jim. At least now you know the job is done well and not using short cuts the shop flunky figures are "good enough".

[stovens]

Jim I fix vintage stereo equipment and there are times that a certain turntable quirk or layered metal mechanisms aren't even visible that need disassembly cleaning and reassembly. Usually there is a service manual online with a good schematic that helps, that and taking 100's of digital photos as I go from every angle I can think of. With all that said my current project is much the same on the frustration level. The original Kenwood turntable had a base(plinth) made of synthetic stone that weighs just under 18 lbs. I bought one on ebay that was sent to my house in a very unprotected way. It arrived in 3 pieces. By a lucky act of God, I found a new base after a couple of months and decided to move the old parts to the new base. Here's the fun part, I had been able to super glue the original base back together and get the turntable working perfectly before finding the new base. Now that It is reconnected to new base, not so much functioning! I keep stepping away from this too after a few hours wasted trying something different. In the end I'll figure it out, but boy do I regret leaving well enough alone in my pursuit for perfection! I guess the frustrations fade when we get to enjoy the end product! If only the end came quickly! :0

[J. Robinson]

You're probably correct, Bob. Thanks for showing me the bright side of this task.

Steve, it sounds like your patience is tested frequently, too. Fortunately, old age has tempered my reaction to frustration and I now am usually able to walk away from something that is pushing my tolerance limit. And yes, the end product often erases the frustrations.

I have this weird quirk in my personality - I can deal with people almost endlessly without losing my temper. I was a high school teacher for 23 years and never raised my hand to a student, but mechanical things and inanimate objects that don't do exactly what I want can put me "over the edge" in a matter of seconds. I have a sign over my work bench that says "Caution: Occasional flying tools in this area." Actually, I rarely throw tools; I'm more likely to throw what I'm working on out the back door. Anyway, old age and experience have mellowed me so things don't go flying very often any more... Thank Goodness!

After having said all that I can now relate that I have successfully, finally completed the installation of my door handles! Hooray! I can now move on to something hopefully less frustrating.

[34_40]

I am alot like you Jim except I can tolerate the machines and the "finicky" bits just fine, I have never had the patience for people!

I also shared that pain with the door handles and the install. I "think" a 33 door is a bit more open that a 32, if so - it isn't by much. The end result was satisfactory - but the memory hinders me from finishing the door windows. I was given a pair of motorized regulators and will need to make the mounts etc etc.. I want to do the work, but the memories.. oh those memories!! LOL

[J. Robinson]

With the door handle ordeal behind me (I hope), I have moved on to the body. I have already sanded off most of the parting lines. It's something I could do a little at a time between other projects, but now it's time to get serious. The parting lines on the cowl are right on the belt line reliefs, so sanding off the lines flattened the contour of the reliefs . A little body filler and a spreader notched to match the belt line reliefs puts things back in order. The pic is after preliminary sanding of the filler. There are a couple of small divots in the filler that I will address next time, but I got a very late start today and didn't have time to proceed any farther.

The last pic is the dash with the gauges and bezel installed.

[36 sedan]

Nicely done, and the handles look good!

[stovens]

That Dash has such a cool look to it, reminds me of the old hot rods from early 60's! Sorta like when the used lace for painting effects. Love the metalic Red!

[v8nutz]

The dash is awesome!