The Classic 1950's Automobile Group Build Starts 4-16-07

Well guys, here it is almost TAX DAY and I've completed the '53 Chevy Street Rod. Didn't think I'd make it. Things just kept going wrong and this is what I felt like. SSSSOOOOOOOO glad that it is done.  Kept track of the time it took to build - 246.5 hrs. Would have been a lot less if those freight trains would have stopped going by under my workbench all the time. Took a whole bunch of pics and will post them below. Hope you like my first time building a car with this much detail. Everything was painted by hand with the exception of the body (Rattlecan). All flats. Krylon Int.-Ext. Ultra-Flat Black (Body). Craft Store Acrylic flats. Testors(.25),MM, and Pactra flats. All comments welcome.

Jim

The original point and click interface was a Smith & Wesson.

Here's the pic of the dash. Hope everything shows up.

Jim

Hi there. There is only a little more than a month to go so here is where I stand. I'm ALMOST finished. The future on the windshield and rear window is curing. Used the best of three windshields from three kits. First one was cracked down the middle. Second one had 3 large bubbles in it. This one has I small bubble in it but I don't have any more kits to steal from. The interior is finished except for the side panels which should be done this weekend. Finish to paint the bumpers, install dashboard, drop body on frame, complete the wiring of the engine and install the side pipes. The upholstery is supposed to represent a southwestern flame-stitch blanket. Seatbelts are painted masking tape with thinned tips from kit belts. Front bucket seats swivel. All comments and crits welcome both pro and con. Pics below.

By the way, where are all the rest of the guys that signed up

Jim

Whoops, forgot to take a pic of the dashboard. Will post later.

Thanks navypitsnipe for the compliment. I have 3-1/2 months to finish it. With the freight trains always going by under my workbench the going is slow. I'm also trying a lot of things I've never done before. Learned a lot from the forums and trying to use it on this model. The interior is giving me the most trouble. Have ruined 3 already. Gave up and am now scratch building it from my humongous stash of parts. Good thing I had 3 '53 kits to pick from. May have some more pics later this week.

Jim

fox wrote:

Plain & simple. WELCOME BACK BILL (even though you never really left). LET'S BUILD. Jim

I was gone a WHOLE DAY! It was agony!!

Plain & simple. WELCOME BACK BILL (even though you never really left). LET'S BUILD.

Jim

Guys, I've had second thoughts. I've received a huge outpouring of support, and the admins have taken care of my problem.

If you'll let me, I'd like to pick up the pieces and get back to the build table.

Sorry for the trouble!

Bill 

Sorry to here this Bill. This shouldn't happen. It's only a hobby (sorry, to some it's a business). Still shouldn't. Very sorry to see you go. Keep building those great builds.

Jim

I'm sorry but I'm pulling stakes and moving on. I've had too many run-ins with one particular member on these forums, and I've reached the end of the rope.

Sorry for not being able to finish the group build. I wish you all good building.

Model Grandpa, I hope your treatments kick the cancer. You're a good man.

So long all!

Bill Grigg 

Looking good Jim, she going to be a nice build. 

Hope to get some build time this weekend.  Was feeling pretty good until chemo today. The plus side is only three treatment left and Dr. say's "I'm doing great."  Bummer that it had to happened the day before Thanksgiving but getting healed is more important then a major pig out right now.

Been getting my builds prioritized and the '58 Chevy & a "wingy thingy" for another group build are at the top of the pile.  Going to set aside an hour or so a day when I feel good and get caught up.

Hi everyone. A couple more weeks have gone by and I've got a Little more done.but I have made changes to the frame, engine, and body many, many times. All of the pics and hints on the forum have really done a number on my mind. They have pushed me to try things I have never done before or do better than I have done. Can't seem to be satisfied with the way it looks but I'm getting there. Here are a couple of pics as the car sits now. Had it propped up to get road height. Seems to look right as there will be long lakes pipes on the sides. Luckily I had three kits of the '53 as I ruined two of the interiors. My solution: Build it from scratch. Have it started but it looks like a mess with all the green putty on it and in it. Finally got exhaust manifolds that look OK and fit after about 20 tries. Brake lines in up to the splitter. Gas line in from tank to engine compartment. It will be hooked up to the block when the engine goes in permanently. Working on spark plug wires. Several tries didn't look right. Made up a set of wire looms like one I saw in Street Rodder. Looked good there but didn't look good on my engine. Hope you don't find anything wrong but in a way I hope you do so I can fix it and make it better. Have fun.

Jim

Hi Dan,     Sorry to hear that your body is not playing fair. Sounds like the brain is in good shape though. Hang in there. Glad to have you back. It looks like all of us have been working slow, so you won't have far to go to catch up.

Jim  

Holy Crap, Dan!

I sure hope you are on the road to wellness.

My camera died, and I'm slowly getting closer to completion without being able to take WIP pics. I am trudging along, and find that now winter is coming that I have more time to spend at the bench. Hopefully I'll be able to borrow a camera to take some pics before the kit's finished. 

Sorry Guy's, been forever since I've checked in.  My only excuse is my body decided to get Diffusse B Cell Lymphoma so between being ill and chemo I haven't done much building.  Hopefully I get some building in soon. 

Looks like some nice progress since I last checked in, keep up the good work.

OK. Its 3 months later and I have done a little work on the Chevy. So, here are the pics.

Jim

Well its been awhile but I've got a little more done. I've also built a ladder and a load of lumber for the back of the truck.

Well, its 16 days later and I've gotten a little more work done on the car. Put the first coat of primer on the other day to see where I need to do more work. Boy the camera hid a lot of scratches and places that still need filler putty. Just a little bit of work done on the engine. Still searching the Street Rodder mags for the right set-up. Have started on the interior too. Nothing much to show yet.  Test fit the radiator just before taking these pics.

Just wanted to jump in and let ya'll know I am working on my car. Just took a couple of pics to show what's done (or part done) so far. Have taken parts from a Corvette, '57 Chevy, '54 Chevy, '59 Chevy, and of course the main star of the show(maybe soon) the '53 Chevy. Also took parts from my stash of parts left over from all the kits I have either built or butchered since the '60s. I am still working on the body to iron out all the dents and mold in the headlights and tail lights and grill shell. It will be a "Flat Rod". No gloss paint to be used. The drivers door will be opening in suicide fashion. Hopefully, the engine will be wired correctly(all I have to do is search through a mountain of Street Rodder magazines). No chrome trim. I think in the magazines they call this type a "Rat Rod". Between the magazines and my recollection of cars and parts from my racing days in the 60's, I JUST MAY BE ABLE to keep from making a total  out of myself. SSSSOOOOooooo, here are the pictures I took tonight. They're not much, but you'll get the idea.

Got some more done this weekend. The sectioning was fairly mild but the proportions of the body look a lot better even without the top being chopped.

Ron.

I got a bit done on my '56 Vickie on the weekend. I thought I'd go a little wilder than I originally planned. I sectioned .100" out of the body. The cuts are a bit rough but when I get the dimensions right I'll fill them with Evergreen strip plastic.

Ron.