1941 chrysler coupe build

Thanks.

All that front clip work was only to install 37 Ford headlights.
While at it, why not get rid of the ugly grill and pointy nose also? It was one ugly mug on her, I tell you, the poor gal.

Airflow will be good for the condenser and rad. With a 496 BBC in there, it'll need all the cooling help it can get.
 
I had to do a bit more tapping away and I got both sides fitting the profile gauge.


IMG_5490.jpg








IMG_5491.jpg
 
I sprayed some guide coat on the reshaped panel. What a mess. I won't even attempt to take it all out.
A skim will be fine with me. (a big skim)


IMG_5527.jpg







IMG_5528.jpg
 
Things were looking pretty good.




IMG_5552.jpg






IMG_5553.jpg






IMG_5555.jpg



Then the young lad at work came by to drive CURSE (my 69 El Camino), to the shop and stopped in to take a peek. He said one side looks different than the other. I fired him on the spot.

After he left, I started looking and saw issues that I guess I didn't want to see before or just didn't see. Always good to get more eyeballs on it. I took a good look and he was right, dang. Had to call the shop and unfire him after he got the El Camino put away. (Hope she's OK)

There was a hump on both sides weld lines on the front patches. I made a longer profile gauge and found a bit of difference, but still need the shrinking disc. That didn't move the 80 year old metal too well so I got out the fire axe. Great idea in the middle of a low crown panel......




IMG_5566.jpg



IMG_5565.jpg



Then, another 100K hammer blows on dolly required. I feel like a human planishing hammer over here.




IMG_5567.jpg
 
So 200K blows later, I tried my profile gauge and I cannot slide a 5/64" drill bit under the gap of the gauge when I take it to the other side of the roof and turn it around. Close enough.

Set it on this side:

IMG_5570.jpg











Take it to the other side and turn around. A slide rise at the far end. Not enough to slide the drill bit under it.

IMG_5568.jpg




IMG_5569.jpg
 
Of course there had to be a crack from stamping the panel 80 years ago. I found it while cleaning up inside after I had already finished applying the lead. Melt some out, weld and re-solder.



IMG_5664.jpg






IMG_5668.jpg






IMG_5673.jpg
 
Laid down some SPI epoxy today.
Metal is lumpy as I was losing patience. Bondo will be fine. I'm gonna schmooze some filler this week.
The lead work is purposely left below the steel surface to ensure no sand gets stuck in the lead during blocking.


IMG_5702.jpg





IMG_5704.jpg







IMG_5705.jpg






IMG_5706.jpg





IMG_5707.jpg





IMG_5708.jpg





IMG_5709.jpg







IMG_5710.jpg
 
Prefect candidate for polyester primer!
Two coats, let set, guide coat and block sand with 150. Then move to 2k build primer.

By the way, I saw this today on craigslist: https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/d/gilbert-39-plymouth/7410471931.html

Thanks, but I would need to spray high build with a gatling gun in order to do that. I'll skim with bondo and block. I managed to strip my El Camino to bare metal over the winter with only using SPI epoxy for the whole project. I didn't want a bunch more cans in the garage.

First car with rectangle headlights? 40 years ahead of it's time. Wow.
Good candidate for a facelift.
 
Back
Top