Thread: Everybody that is currently building a car...

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As I've mentioned before, my current project is a '39 Dodge pickup that has a custom built frame (by us) 3 link rear suspension with coilovers, a tripower Olds 406, and it is chopped 5", channelled 5 ". frame is Z'd a bunch, and will be fenderless with WW slicks on the rear. While I have built rods before, my one Son has been the primary fabricator of this rod, because, frankly, he welds and builds better than me. (In fact, my other Son said to me, so what are you doing on this rod?" I told him " I'm writing the checks."

Anyways, last September I was working on the car, and when I picked up a corner of the body to shim it, I tore the bicep loose from my arm. Surgery laid me up for 3 months, and all the while my car sat with no progress.
Then on Christmas Day, my Son took me to the shop, and for my present, he finished fabricating my entire subframe assembly. This was the thing that was holding me back, and it was such a great gift. He had been working in the shop til' 4 AM every morning, so he could surprise me.

Now we are chopping the top, and last Sunday we got to the stage where we finally had the fit right, and we started tack welding it back on. Our plans were to go over after work this week and do more work on it. Last night he called me up and said he wanted me to meet him at the shop, so we could start the final welding. When I got there, I was totally blown away, because he had completely finished the final welding, and the chop was done, except for the doors. He had , once again, worked until 4 AM on Sunday and Monday nights to get this done for me.

Every person has something great that happens in there life. My two Sons have been that great thing that has happened to me. We have always been best friends (my ex-wife used to call us "her 3 Sons'), and this thing that Dan did for me is just one example of that.

I hate to gloat, but I just had to say thank you to Dan for doing this for me, and how proud I am of how well both of my Sons have turned out. Here are some pictures. I have posted some of these before, but felt it wouldn't hurt one more time.

Thanks for reading this.

Don

This first picture is the subframe he did for my Xmas present.

This is the top chop that he finished up for me this week.

Front view

This is before the chop started.

Kids do the darnedest things. Sounds like you've got a couple keepers. Kids don't usually turn out that considerate without a roll model to emulate. Sounds like you did a fine job raising them.

Nice project too, BTW.

Awesome Pro70, Ican now see how much work you have really put into your ride. Very cool man, very cool!

Don, you are truely blessed with great sons. All a man can hope and pray for in life is that your kids grow up to be ok and do well. You are living the dream come true with two great boys. Pat them on the back for me.
By the way, you have some awesome rides there including the white rod in the backround!

Thanks guys for the nice words. Yeah, I love my Sons alot, and am proud of the way they have turned out. My own Dad died when I was almost 12, so I didn't have the chance to really get to do these kinds of things with him or to get to know him. I wish he were alive to see his Grandsons, but maybe he sees them, who knows.

Brickman, that white '27 used to be purple primer, but I stripped the body down to redo it, after being on the street for a lot of years, and I sort of got sidetracked. I actually drove it almost every day to work and for fun, and put many happy miles on it, but it was getting tired, so I tore it down. Some day I plan to blow it all apart and freshen it up and maybe even paint it with real paint.


Thanks again guys, Don

Going to be a great ride, Don!!!! I'd say you have done a fine job with those sons of yours. I would bet they are eqully proud of you!!!!

Originally posted by Itoldyouso
My own Dad died when I was almost 12, so I didn't have the chance to really get to do these kinds of things with him or to get to know him. I wish he were alive to see his Grandsons, but maybe he sees them, who knows.

Small World Don. That's how old I was when my Dad died. He was 39.


The "Z" is actually sitting on the front wheels now for the first time. Soon as the rest of the parts show up on the big brown truck, I'll get the rear end assembled and presto, we'll have a roller.

I bought a can of "Clear" POR15. I'm gonna try topcoating the polished aluminum rear end parts. I think I'll test a scrap piece first before I do the actual parts. Ann E. Body ever try this to keep aluminum shinny?

Also seriously considering POR15 for the whole chassis, once all the welding is done. I've got some time to think about that one.

Looking very good Pro70, and I have had alot of 'sperience with POR 15. It is the greatest thing you can buy for a rust protector but don't wait to paint over it. If you wait more than 12 hrs to paint it, the paint won't stick, just flakes off.. I know this for a fact, but...if you primmer over it as soon as it is dry enough to..it's fine and you can paint over the primer anytime. You have to cover it with something right away. My friend small block just undercoated his whole duster with it and when it's dry it's a faded color from when it's wet.

Small World Don. That's how old I was when my Dad died. He was 39.



Pro70: Yeah, it leaves a hole in your life when one or both of your parents die young. My Dad was 47. Cigarettes got him, and when I was a little kid he would try to play ball with me but his bad heart would force him to stop. He used to warn me " If I ever see you with a cigarette in your hands, I'll break your fingers." I never did try, and luckily, my Sons don't either. But I wish he would have lived to see me grow up and his Grandkids, too. He was a Sax player, and both of my Sons are professional Sax players themselves. I sort of think that reincarnation thing may have kicked in.

Your chassis is GORGEOUS. Really nice workmanship. As for the coating, there is some product my boy just bought that he is going to use on his brightwork, and it is supposed to protect polished aluminum really well. I'll ask him tomorrow for the name, and post it. According to him it has super great properties, and leaves no film. I didn't pay much attention to the name of it, but he seems to think it is really great stuff. Sprays like WD-40.

I'll post the name and whatever I can find out about it tomorrow.

By the way, is that a SNOWSHOVEL I see in the background? When I moved to Florida I converted mine to a dustpan.




Don

Yup, that's a snowshovel allright. I try not to use it too much.

I hope to assemble the rear housing sometime this week. Might have to do a little experimenting on some scrap pieces, just to see how this stuff looks. If it dulls down a little but is maintanence free, that's better than real shinny but needing attention all the time. These are ''under the car'' parts, not like it's under the hood, interior, etc.

Pro70: Found out the name of the stuff. It's called Gibbs Penetrant. Amazing stuff. Go to www.roadsters.com and read about it.

THanks, Don

It lives and moves under it's own power!! I cruized her over to another Bud's shop today for a little finishing touch work and then off to the glass shop. It was a beautiful day for a short cruize, I eat it up.

Good news, Brick! Are you going to have time to get it painted this year? Hope the new engine and cooling system takes care of last years problems.