'57 Ford Custom 300 Tudor Sedan

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Elliot949

I can't wait to see the pictures of it tomorrow...

Tomorrow has arrived! Just got back from the body shop with the '57. Still waiting on door buffing and etc., but I have what I need to get started for the upholstery shop. Just a few quick photos before I dive in. I was very happy with the way the two tone line curves around in the back. Hopefully the front will be as easy and nice. The filled seams all look good around the tail light housings and the shaved drip rail area ended up nice. Top has a few flaws, but out in the sunlight, only a picky b@$#%^d like me would ever notice. Overall, I'm thrilled... so now the thrash is on.

[Elliot949]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

Tomorrow has arrived! Just got back from the body shop with the '57. Still waiting on door buffing and etc., but I have what I need to get started for the upholstery shop. Just a few quick photos before I dive in. I was very happy with the way the two tone line curves around in the back. Hopefully the front will be as easy and nice. The filled seams all look good around the tail light housings and the shaved drip rail area ended up nice. Top has a few flaws, but out in the sunlight, only a picky b@$#%^d like me would ever notice. Overall, I'm thrilled... so now the thrash is on.

Dude.. I am soooo going to have to take a drive... or better yet you can do a good shake down cruise to Winfield

[Vic1947]

Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement. I sure can use them! I hope I get it running in time for some shakedown runs, Dan. Sure don't want to leave on a 2500 mile trip without a thorough checkout.

I've been nailing down acoustic deadener. But before I could start, I had to pull the driveshaft and dolly the tunnel back up. Between me and the upholstery guys, there were dents in the top of the tunnel from behind the shifter all the way to the back. Long ago, I traded some paint and bodywork for the tunnel work and some other mods. I think they must have used 22 gauge sheet for that stretch. All you have to do is look at it and it bends. Used a big piece of round Delrin and got it back in shape. While I was under there, I topped off the gear oil in the rearend and reset the preload and track on the rear suspension. I had a quarter turn of preload in it and decided to return it to neutral for the trip.

The deadener is taking longer than I remembered. I don't like using a roller on it, so every square inch gets nailed down with a spatula and then all the seams get covered with aluminum tape. I found out the hard way that the black asphaltic material will ooze out when it heats up. To keep it from doing that, I completely seal all exposed edges. Of course, most of this gets covered by carpet anyway, but they'll be tracking around in it before that happens and that stuff sticks to shoes, clothes and especially exposed skin.

[knomadd]

Nice progress! I like the paint combo. It's going to look really good!

Originally Posted by Vic1947

I found out the hard way that the black asphaltic material will ooze out when it heats up... that stuff sticks to shoes, clothes and especially exposed skin.

I found this out the hard way too... No fun trying to chase little spots around the shop floor and the wife really likes it when I track it inside the house (NOT! )

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by knomadd

Nice progress! I like the paint combo. It's going to look really good! ...No fun trying to chase little spots around the shop floor and the wife really likes it when I track it inside the house (NOT! )

Same goes around here, Duane.

I think I'm gonna call it good on the acoustic deadener. I didn't cover the entire trunk area, but it gets padding and carpet, so I doubt there will be heat or noise issues. Picked up the separator panel that Keith Daleen rolled an offset bead into and the guys at Sure Coat powder coated for me. It looks great and will hide the springs in the back seat.

I got one of the quarter windows in, despite the fact that the factory service manual recommends putting the glass in before installing the glass runs. I had to install the retainer clips onto the channel using a homemade tool and it took some finesse to get the entire contraption snapped into place. Didn't want to remove it once it was in place, so I took the roller tracks out and installed them after the window glass was in and tucked into the glass run.

I finally committed to the location for the fuse panel, so tomorrow I can start routing the wires to their destinations. Precision had my doors ready, so I went down there this afternoon and picked them up. They had the bumpers, front valance, hood and truck lid ready to go into the booth so they should be in color by now or tomorrow morning at the latest. Only the front fenders are left waiting for their turn.