Thread: More Problems with the Thames ..........

Tweet

......... I'm beginning to wonder if I am going to live long enough to see this thing finished .............. more problems with the Thames body will require more sheet metal work and another delay

Upon completing the second media blasting (to remove the sealing primer) we found multiple cracks and pin holes (some rather large) in the sheet metal ............. especially in the cowl and front fender attachment wing areas ............. we also discovered a couple of spots where the sheet metal was about the thickness of aluminum foil after being media blasted

So, we have to have more sheet metal work done ............. going to send it to another shop this time .......... although the first guy was awesome, he was extremely slow .............. took him almost a year to accomplish what should have taken 3-4 months ............... Neither Brooks nor I want to wait three months for repairs that have been estimated at 8 hours .......... but, I can't get him into the new shop until the first week in November ............. so we are again at a standstill ............... I'm almost at the point of saying "To hell with it", and terminating the project

The only things that we were able to accomplish in the last month were getting the nose finished and primed and getting the steel parts of the body sanded (with 80 grit) in preparation for etching primer ..............not much to show for another 30 days

here are pictures of the meager accomplishments

Setbacks happen all too often in old car building John. Way too frustrating to think you're moving forward down the path and then have to double back (in both time and money). Take a deep breath, regroup your thoughts, sounds like a good rationale on going to the new shop. This respite might be an opportunity to complete some other thoughts you may have had about the project and give you time to implement them. Hang tough......

2002



2008



John, I'm posting these 2 pics. to let you know you're not alone. I've been at it since 2002 and still have a loooong way to go.

BTW: Maybe I'll go out & work on the "Z" today, just because I haven't for awhile.
Hang in there. I try to avoid the temptation of setting a completion date. My project is a hobby, and if I get a little burned out (Or too busy) I walk away for awhile. Sooner or later I get the bug again and go back at it.

Bob and Pro are right, we have all faced these issues at one time or another during a long build. It could be a brand new engine that is all painted and installed, but suddenly has a knock deep inside, some suspension component that gets in the way of other stuff, or, in your case, some body problems caused by Mom Nature and 70 years.

Sometimes we have to walk away for a while, be it a day, week, or even months so that we can put the problem into perspective and start anew. Hitting yourself on top of the head with a BFH also helps, as does asking yourself why you chose this hobby in the first place when you could have been holding a fishing pole in one hand and a beer in the other instead.

Don

Sounds just like a lot of days around here, 1 step forward, a couple back, then forward again----slowly.... Heck, if it was easy everyone would be doing it.....

Frustrating to say the least:

2001


2008


That was May, the body with the exception of the cowl cover and hood is together plus the wiring is about done so it WILL be ready for next year - only an 8 year build.

Take a deep breath (or several), have a beverage or two of your choice, take your significant other away for a long refreshing weekend, then get back and draw up a plan

Hang in there. The new shop sounds like a good idea.

Any time you deal with things 50-80 years old you will have setbacks. As for time, I've had projects take 2 years to finish to the 40 years I've worked on my '29 AA. The '29 waited 9 years before body work and being painted. It has been a on going project (on and off) ever since.

It's a hobby and I like a number of others do not set deadlines. I purchased a '27 Ford roadster in June. It has been sitting on jackstands since waiting for me to get started. Looks like it will be after first of year. Time to build-don't know. Been building hot rods for 50+ years, some go quickly, some take more time. Just seems to be the nature of the hobby.

All seem to have the one step forward two steps back stages. Some projects just have more of them.

Earl

Quote Old Coyote......... I'm beginning to wonder if I am going to live long enough to see this thing finished .............. more problems with the Thames body will require more sheet metal work and another delay


Its a long road to the top, ive been working on, waiting for money, tired of messing with, putting stuff off, angry at it, but in love with it still. Its been a 5 year road for me so far. Sure I am close, Chassis is done, body is now mounted on chassis (not pictured), Have motor and tranny ready to go not yet in car, needs wiring and massive body work. Looks like another 2 summers for me, thats a whopping 7 dang long years, Thats if I still have a job then, but its coming.

pics 1 and 2 are my 1st day ownership January 2003

pic 3 is end of summer 2005 new chassis finally

pic 4 is 4 months ago hididng in corner wiating for something

pic 5 is yesterday, holding my halloween prop dragster motor.

I, of course, don't think of the fun starting when something is completed. The fact that I always lost interest when a project was done, is what got me into this biz. The feeling of accomplishment, and the fun of creating a well engineered....dramatic looking.....and maybe even scary.....machine is at least half of the fun.

Years ago I started hearing customers, who were newcomers to the hobby, say that they never thought it would be fun until the build was finished. They were surprised to find they were having fun during the process. This was no surprise to me, but I thought I was different. I guess I'm not so different. :-)

Have fun!

Jon I know what you going through. I bought my 37 mostly complete but when It was delivered, I found out the mostly complete was not the word. Oh it was drivable until you hit the smallest hole in the road and then it would send my wife and I through the front window. Upon further inspection I found out the front coils had been cut down to the last coil, the cab wasn't fastened to the frame correctly, the axle was cut from a unknown car with the passanger side rear wheel being 2" farther out than the drivers side, way out of alligment ,the rack was put on wrong, the engine was tilted about 10 degrees back to far and many, many more things I had to address. It took me 2 years just to get a "drivable" truck back to where it was safe to drive and I truthfully wanted to get rid of it but kept plugging away and got myself I pretty nice truck now thats been on the road for 12 years.

John

From your model work I know what you are wanting in the end---stay with it and do it your way----who knows, maybe I'll build a model of your car for a change!!!

Jerry

it takes time and for me sheet metal work i like but it always takes more time on older cars then you think or tell a customer .same with alot of the fab work it takes alot and there has been days were i just look at a job more then i would work on it .i only pick up a tool or welder when i am on my game so it a time deal hang in there

Keep the faith Coyote! I started on mine in '94 but actually only have about 6 years into it. Fixed and sold our old house, built a new house, had shoulder surgery,finished the "new house" to-do list, open-heart surgery. I quit drinking 2 years ago and found out that I really do have the time and money to finish this thing. All my fabrication is done and I'm torn down to the bare frame for paint & fresh suspension parts. Getting closer too . Oh, and I'm with Pat and hotrodpaint-I absolutely love the fabrication and feeling of inventing your own parts and ideas.

I know the feeling about losing it after so many years.Heck look at what i started 2 years ago and only 2 year later this is as far as i got and i`m doing all the work myself.

in 2006 after the frame was painted


and

and

Got the suspension done but the fun begins








I been working on the firewall for almost 6 months now between cutting out rot and welding in new metal and welding the seam up and then cab corners and then i gotta remove the metal dash and weld up the drip rail holes i`m going nuts after 2 years.This isnt the only project i got going on i got this i`m restoring




And last but not least my convertible

I know the feeling trust me i`m doing everytihing myself so i know noone is cutting corners on me and i can feel good bout the results so dont give in man its gonna take some time but it`ll be well worth it in the end.

thanks
pat

Besides! It's to Cool looking & you did to much to see someone else finish it and smile!

Pat