Thread: I think we see the finish line!

Tweet

Wow that is great progress for the both of you. I like the two tone black and white interiors. Very classy but simple and clean at the same time.

I'm on pins & needles Don ....

Paul

Thanks Steve and Paul. We got the bed flipped over and temporarily installed on the rpu frame, with the help of Don the other night. That was the easy part, next we decided to install the stainless steel cowl band on the front of the body. Dan and I had installed it a couple of times before, but that was when the body was in bare metal, now that it is painted Dan was sweating bullets for fear it might scratch the paint going on.

If anyone has ever installed one of these they know it takes a little finessing to get it on straight. You are trying to tighten down the band on basically a funnel shape so it keeps wanting to slide forward, out of place. With the three of us it worked out great, as Don and I could hold it in place while Dan adjusted it until it finally cinched down and stayed straight. We had a cold brew to celebrate getting that thing installed with no scratches.

Yesterday I got 95% of the final little stuff done on my 27 and got it back down on all fours. I filled up the rear end with gear lube, tightened up the brake lines to cure some little leaks that were seeping, installed the exhaust pipes and rear shocks, installed the tach and shifter.

I found out the steering wheel I wanted to use (the old flat four spoke one that I kept from my 23) wouldn't work. It is 15 inches in diameter and when I sat in the drivers seat I had no room for my knees, especially to work the clutch. So I had to go to a 13.5 deep dish wheel that I found at Pep Boys. I am not nuts about it, I liked the flat one a whole lot better, but this one works. I also found out the Zoom clutch is a WHOLE lot stiffer than the original clutch I had ran for years. The old one was a little stiff, but this one is VERY stiff. Should be a lot of fun in stop and go traffic.

Here are a couple of lousy pictures. Took them after a long day, so they are not the best ones I have ever taken, but will give some idea of where we ended up. Today I am going to push the 27 outside and wash some of the grime that has landed on it, and the plan is to drive it to the upholstery shop Saturday. Going to try to take the first trip around the block Friday, when Dan is off work. Tentatively, the plan is for my car to be in the upholstery shop until about 11/15, and when we pick it up we will drop off Dans for seats, carpet, and a top to be made. We are probably going to put Dans body only on my utility trailer and have them do the interior that way. We have NO idea how we are going to pick up the body though, even with our gantry. There is nothing to hook some rope to without scratching it, so we have to work that out in the next week or so.

Don

Don - it has become a real work of art - tho I still have to get used to the flatted black. You and your sons need to be congratulated

Those cowl bands are something else - as they really don't fit as well as I would like. Add the rear hood bracket, a couple of clips, fenders, etc in the way and then you need some extra arms. I used what seemed to be about a half roll of that blue tape for mine and prayed as I 'forgot' (ya know about CRS?) to do a fit up before painting but installed it successfully without scratches.

Thanks Dave. Yep, the satin black is not for every one, but we can't imagine any other shade for this one. It allows the shiny powder coating, stainless bolts, and chrome stuff to come through as the focal points. To us it just says Hot Rod as opposed to Street Rod. (nothing wrong with Street Rods, just not what he wanted for this particular car)

Those cowl bands are a bear to intall. We spent one whole weekend a while back, trying to figure out how to get it put on straight. The original Model A cowl top has 3 bumps in it that hold the band in place, but the Brookville smooth topped one doesn't have them. So we made up 3 special little bolts to accomplish the same thing. But even then the band needed some reforming with hands and a rubber mallet to get it to conform. Once we had it right we tightened it down and let it stay on the body for a long time so it would take the shape and keep it.

Every time we went to a show we would look at other model A's and talk to their owners to get tips on installing it. The final solution ended up being those little clips that go on the sides and hold it from slipping forward. Once we had those in place it became much easier.

Don

Don - Don't take me the wrong way with the paint - I'm just not used to it yet

You can see what I have to hold my cowl band in place on mine. If I wasn't using the cowl lights, the neighborhood kids might have learned a few new words. Oh yeah, I forgot about the rubber hammer and a piece of neoprene I made up to fit mine. Then of course, trying to get that nut on the stud and a wrench behind the firewall leg

No offense taken, Dave. I realize paint is a very personal choice and if we all liked the same thing it would be pretty boring.

The cowl band and lights look really good on yours.

Don

Wow That thing is looking great Don.
Kurt

Thanks Kurt. How is the new Grand Daughter? We need some updated pictures.

I just talked to the upholsterer to see if we are still on for me dropping off my 27 on Saturday. They are not going to be done with the 55 they are working on until Sunday, so it looks like Monday night is the soonest I can take it there. That is really pushing it for having it done for Turkey Run at Thanksgiving. Oh well, what will be will be.

Don

Way to go Don. Sounds like you can almost feel it happening! Post a video of your car tomorrow during the test drive, and give Dan a well deserved Pat on the back for all the hard work he put into this project, his skill and attention to detail are really paying off now!

It's gonna be close ain't it???
The GrandDaughter is doing great she's up to 7 pounds now up from her 4 pound birth weight. My daughters husband still thinks he got a good deal for that pineapple, said he's got a little angel now as part of the deal.
I told him that's just till GrandPapa start's spoiling his little angel. HE! HE! HE!
Kurt

Hey Don looks like both of you are amazingly close to the line now, great stuff

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Thanks Dave. Yep, the satin black is not for every one, but we can't imagine any other shade for this one. It allows the shiny powder coating, stainless bolts, and chrome stuff to come through as the focal points. To us it just says Hot Rod as opposed to Street Rod. (nothing wrong with Street Rods, just not what he wanted for this particular car)

Those cowl bands are a bear to intall. We spent one whole weekend a while back, trying to figure out how to get it put on straight. The original Model A cowl top has 3 bumps in it that hold the band in place, but the Brookville smooth topped one doesn't have them. So we made up 3 special little bolts to accomplish the same thing. But even then the band needed some reforming with hands and a rubber mallet to get it to conform. Once we had it right we tightened it down and let it stay on the body for a long time so it would take the shape and keep it.

Every time we went to a show we would look at other model A's and talk to their owners to get tips on installing it. The final solution ended up being those little clips that go on the sides and hold it from slipping forward. Once we had those in place it became much easier.

Don

I keep pushing Dan to put the body on his rpu because I know once he sees it there it will really kick him in the tail to get it running. He was hesitant to do that because he was worried the upholstery guy would be climbing all over his frame when doing the top. But this guy knows his stuff and has been doing it for over 30 years and works on some high end cars, so that shouldn't be a concern. I also think it would be easer if the car comes back from the upholstery shop with the body already on the car so we don't have to remove the top to pick the body up with our gantry.

Mainly though, I am just anxious to see the body on the car...........one less piece laying around.

Don

I am with you Don, you tell Dan to get that body on and fixed down correctly as all the top trimmers down here require the car to be almost runners before they do the trim. The last thing anybody would want is to remove any of the upholstery to finish the car when the trimmer has it looking fantastic. And anyway, upholsterers have enough off cuts of material to use to protect the car while being working on.

Can't wait to see this one completed.