Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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Tomorrow is supposed to be the big day...........supposedly I can pick up my painted body from the shop !!! Have to call them in the morning to confirm a pick up time, and man am I excited. Sure hope it came out nice, gloss black scares me, but these guys have a great reputation, so it should be fine. In any event it will sure be better than what I could have done. I'll post some pictures tomorrow night if it happens.

Today I worked on Don's T for him. The new pulleys and alternator bracket came in and they actually line up. The combination of Ford Racing pulleys and March alternator bracket did the trick. I still have to modify the alternator adjustment rod a little because Don bought this high output alternator that is physically bigger than the normal Ford unit, so I have to swing it out further to clear the block. No big deal, I can do that tomorrow.

The driveshaft shop whipped out his driveshaft in one day........all 10 and 3/4 inches of it. I got it painted and installed, which is one more hurdle to maybe us getting the car fired up this weekend. We prelubed it last night and got 70 pounds of oil pressure on my drill spinning the preluber, so everything should be pretty well oiled up inside.

I also got some stuff done on my T. The brake lines are now all run and tightened up, and the fuel line is also done from tank to carb. I just have to do some undercoating on the body and it can go on for the last time.

Here are some pictures of the new pulleys and driveshaft.

Don

Don you guys have to be pro builders LOL . You grab nothing and in a short time you have a sharp looking car going together. The Grabber blue looks super against the chrome items . Its just enough of everything to get the great look you guys have accomplished .

That's good news on your body. You need to, somehow, make sure the guys at the first shop see you bringing it home. Let 'em see how a "real" shop does business...

Your son's car is lookin' good. I think you guys are going to make it (Turkey Run) with no problem.

Thanks guys. Now I am pretty confident that at least mine will make it. GOT THE BODY BACK FROM THE SHOP THIS MORNING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I couldn't be happier with the results, especially considering it is gloss black. I can't say there aren't a few little nicks, like on the dashboard, but I could care less.........for what they had to work with (inexpensive fiberglass body), and what they charged me ($ 1500.00, plus I tipped the painter and body prep guy) I got a heck of a job.

I'm so glad everyone was pushing for shiny vs satin, it is just going to look so much better and more finished. Now I just have to undercoat it and it can go onto the frame for the final time (I hope) I think I have to take the grilleshell and headlights to them too, because there is no way I could ever get them as glossy as the rest of the body.

Don's body should even come out nicer, being that it is blue and won't show as many flaws as gloss black. Couldn't wait to post these pictures.

Don

It's looking great, Don. I find myself waiting everyday for your latest update. I have really been enjoying your build.

Thanks Duane...........BTW, how are you feeling?

Don

I am feeling pretty good. Just a little ache once in a while in the surgery entry area if I move too fast the wrong way. No big deal. Thanks for asking.

WOW !!

Don
Hats off to you for recycling old stuff into a functional rod. I hope I can get my truck on the street for under 3k. So far it was 2,500.00 for the truck as is. About 220.00 for battery(non lead acid), coil, points, and condensor. The brake stuff came with the truck so that is just my time, but registration was 200.00 at the California DMV, so I guess I have about 80.00 to work with! Prices for just about anything is outrageous in catalogs. If you tried building a new vehicle using their aftermarket fabricated parts you could easily exceed 30K for a stock truck! P.S. forums like this save us all a lot of time and money, with the years of experience and advice all of you guys offer. Thanks. Steve.

That Black is beautiful!!!! Are you still going to do the scallops? It would be a shame to cover up that great paint job.

Thanks guys. No, the scallops are out. All I want to put on the body is wax. I am going to look for a pinstriper at Daytona while I'm there to put a few licks on the dash and maybe things like headlights. Not much, just a few lines.

Don

Don't wax it!! Fresh paint needs to cure for at least 30 days before waxing or you will trap solvents in the paint and cause it to blister or crack later... Besides, if you're going to have it striped, the pinstriper will thank you for not waxing it until after he's done. If you want to polish it up after you install it, get some 3M Fill 'n Glaze (pink stuff). It is a non-wax polish that is safe for new paint.

Man, they did a nice job! Now I'm anxious to see it all together.

Good point, I was going to wait for the wax, but I will pick up some of the 3M stuff to get handprints, etc off.

Yep, it was nice to run into a professional operation like the shop that did it, especially here in Florida. As we who live here know, there are lots of fly by nights in every business down here (I think they come down for the sunshine ) so when you actually find an honest, high quality place it is very comforting. The entire shop is clean as a whistle, and they have 5 booths being used quite a bit from what we saw. I would certainly recommend them to anyone in the area...........Annie's Collision Center.


Now I gotta save up some coin for upholstery.

Don

I like it - always liked black rods.

Oh, and Don . . . it looks like that paint job used up half of your $3K.

Thanks. Yeah, but I only spent about $ 500 on the rest of it.


Acording to my financial planner, I have enough left to live comfortably in retirement..........as long as I don't live for more than a week or two.

Don