Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Thanks for the input Grizz. Hard to believe those examples are 122 Volvos! I’ve owned a couple and they sure didn’t look like those! A lot of very talented work invested there.

I’ve seen grilles made from the VW bumper guards as well, and some of them look pretty cool. I like the toothy look, but the DeSoto tooth grilles are too expensive, rare, and hard to find for serious consideration. I also think they look too “custom” for me, as I’ve always been more of a hot rodder than a custom guy. What I like about the 1950 Buick design is it is one of the most hideous designs to ever make it into production. Compared to any other 1950 car they were just butt ugly, which is what I like about them. If done correctly on the front of my truck, I think the huge “teeth” would look more industrial than custom. That many guards looks like something that should be on a tow truck!

I’ve done another crappy photo chop effort to install the Buick grille on the stock bumper. If I ever get serious about doing this, everything would have to be chromed: I wouldn’t care for this appearance in white. I’ve also eliminated the Oldsmobile hood ornament:

http://imageshack.us/a/img812/8568/vq45.jpg

I have decided however that whether or not I pursue the 50 Buick grille, I am going to invest in creating the hood. I believe I’ve come up with a practical means to make it out of fiberglass, that won’t require buying a 2nd Chevy hood or 59 Olds hood to cut up. After hours of study, it seems creating a design built from scratch may be easier after creating a buck from wood and Styrofoam. In my opinion this is the hood GM should have produced in 62-63 as a transition between the 60-61 hood and the 64-66 model:
http://imageshack.us/a/img69/6712/fowg.jpg

I’m working on an alternate hood release either inside the cab or under the front bumper, because I want to retain the stock latch and hinges. If bolting plates are embedded in the hood structure, the only thing that should have to be replaced are the hood springs. This is a project that will have to wait until the spring/summer, but I can gather a lot of education and stuff in the meantime.

And the really advantageous side benefit – if I ever install a supercharger poking through the hood I won’t have to ruin my original steel version! :lol:

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Hi Mark

No probs. Here is a link to a thread I started yesterday on Retro Rides.

Take a look, maybe something jumps out there.

LINK: http://www.retrorides.proboards.com/...e-grille-teeth

Cheers.

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

There are some very cool rides on there, and many I've never seen before. Back in the 60's I had a lot of affection for Morris Minors, 444 & 544 Volvos, Hilmans, Austins, most of the BMC cars etc. Outside of small gatherings they are almost never seen in the US anymore. Right after high school one of the local kids even put a 327 in a 1954 Vauxall. Man that thing was a screamer, but trying to find parts - forget it.

I'm contantly amazed how many different automotive enthusiast sites there are available. Thanks for sharing.

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Since even I sometimes forget which switches go to what when I don’t drive the truck for extended periods, I decided to pick up some I.D. bezels to mark the controls:

The safety covers will soon look similar to this:

http://imageshack.us/a/img812/182/7y2l.jpg

The heater and camera switches will have these:

http://imageshack.us/a/img39/766/bkoa.jpg

All the rest of the lights, wipers, choke, etc. will have these.

http://imageshack.us/a/img845/9365/ur9a.jpg

The last two items are much smaller in real life. Everything should arrive in a week or so. Installing all these should provide me with a couple hours of truck time since all the switches and cables have to be pulled.

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

really like the switches with the safety covers. when you post up about the install, please include info on where you got them. the utility bed i'm working on needs 3 of those same switches... and thanks mark.

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Hard to believe that your truck can get much better… but the addition of those covers will do the trick!:metal:
In my humble opinion, you and your truck far exceed the :jdp: factor!


Happy New Year to You and Yours!!!:ennyd:

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Thanks so much for your comments Don. I’m trying to be cautious with any further “improvements” because I know cars can be ruined by not knowing when it’s time to leave them alone. I saw many beautiful customs destroyed back in the 60’s because the owners were required to change them annually in order to continue competing in show judging.

Beyond the custom hood project, I’m now trying to focus on little upgrades that make the truck seem more finished, refined, or easier to live with.


Clem, after a lot of research here’s where I finally found the switch covers:

http://performanceunlimited.com/cobr...gglecover.html

These are the same authentic aircraft style switch covers I currently have in the truck. I tried to have those engraved and paint filled several times over the last few years, but none of the local shops were capable of working on the slightly curved upper surface.

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

The data plates arrived today. It took about an hour to install everything but the choke plate, which required another 4 hours of attention. I simply couldn’t get the nut off the cable holding it to the dash. After removing the ignition switch, courtesy light and some other stuff, I finally got that one finished too. I took about 60 pictures and all of them suck. Here’s the best one I could use. I’ll try again tomorrow in the daylight. I’m very happy with how the bezels look. They really add another level of detail, and make everything understandable. There are three more on the other side of the steering column - Lights, Wipers, and Washers, but I couldn't get a decent picture tonight:

http://imageshack.us/a/img513/383/fgf6.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img577/5703/l9jm.jpg

No word on the safety covers yet. I haven’t even received an order acknowledgement, so I’m thinking they might have been closed the last two weeks of the year for the holidays.

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Looks awesome Mark! Love your interior. It gives me hope that one day mine will look good again.

Bret

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

That looks nice Mark! Not only does it serve as a reminder/indicator for you, but others will now be able to discern what cool gadgets you have when they peek inside at a show.

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

....that has more switches and gadgets than the batmobile!

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Very Nice addition to the family of switches!!!:metal:

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Thanks for the comments guys.

To my delight the safety covers arrived this morning. So they are now also mounted. Here are a few outdoor photos showing the updates. Although the photos aren’t razor sharp, in real life the laser printing and engraving is:

http://imageshack.us/a/img706/286/r1t0.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img59/258/ed31.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img20/2711/wa7c.jpg

I know, I’m kind of running out of room. And I’m not sure if I should label some of the hidden features or not, like the levitation generator, hyperdrive controls, GPS/self destruct detonator, cloaking device, etc.

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

EJECTOR SEAT !!! :metal:

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Oh man, great minds do think alike! Now you know why the 3rd safety cover is blank. Nobody would ride with me if it was labeled. The Martin-Baker seat mechanism works fine but I haven’t put any effort into the breakaway roof panel yet, because the cosmetic upgrades were considered a higher priority. If I’m forced to use the seat, the passengers head is going to cause a lot of damage to the cab. Since that level of destruction is beyond my skill set to repair, I’m leaving the switch unlabeled until I get around to addressing this minor shortcoming. ;)

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Ejector Seat! Your Joking!

Bret

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

We are going to need Video of the Ejector Seat in Action...:haha:

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

A classic ejector seat works fine in my convertible, but you are right about the extensive cab frame and roof mods needed for those in these style trucks.

Thats why I went with the economical side dumper that pops the door open, tilts the unsuspecting passenger out, with my own patented break away seat belts.
I dont get to see the looks on their faces, but the screams are still satisfying.

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Creative genius at work!!! Thanks for the tip. I'll get to work right away figuring out how to wire all that in to my one switch! :lol:

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

The glovebox decals have been bothering me ever since the full size door panels went in. When the interior was less luxurious, they seemed fun. With the upholstery nearing completion, they now seemed tacky.

Having run their course I pulled the door this morning and removed the stickers/decals. Each one left deep impressions in the paint, so I applied rubbing compound to see if the indentations could be removed. That step just made them show up even more, so I started prepping for paint. I block sanded with 800 grit wet, followed by 1500. A quick check revealed all the impressions had been eliminated, so I started over with rubbing compound, polishing compound, Semi-Chrome Polish, machine glaze, and finally a coat of wax.

The metal underneath isn’t perfect, but the paint turned out very close to being. Now I’m thankful I piled on so much lacquer when I stripped the wrinkle paint and replaced it with gloss black. The cool part is the glove box is painted with Tamiya Gloss Black Lacquer model car paint, and it is the same exact color as the PPG I sprayed on the dash years earlier.

Here’s closest before and after comparison I could come up with. The pictures taken this morning aren’t very good. The wind was blowing so hard it was knocking the camera around on the tripod, and the sunlight was very harsh. With the wind chill near zero I was having trouble holding the camera still with my nose running from the cold!

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/1663/xce9.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img69/4388/v99w.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img545/4290/8iuq.jpg

I am going to mount the Hurst “Warning” sticker above the windshield between the sunvisors. When I removed the OEM inside mirror bracket, I never finished the bodywork/paint repairs to my satisfaction. So rather than having to fix it, I’m going to mount a plate there with Velcro to support the decal. It should look somewhat cool and eliminate a repair I have no interest in fixing. Pictures of that to follow once the new decal shows up.

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Very clean! Nice cold winter project, Mark.

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Dude that interior is PLUSHHH

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Thanks guys. Until the new one shows up, here’s the old Hurst sticker mounted on flexible magnet material. It has defects, but from 2 feet away they can't be seen. I think on the new one I'm going to eliminate the white border:

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/2621/gih9.jpg

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Good choice on the glovebox door, as it really does clean things up a bit. I liked the decals as well, but I think you made the right move.

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Even the small details you change, enhance, eliminate, add… really make your truck stand out as one of the BEST and keeps me motivated...:metal:

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

^^^^^^^^^^:agree::agree:^^^^^^^^^^^:chevy:

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Your glovebox door turned out very nice!!
Very professionally done, and looks it!

You know, I think it was from growing up with the wacky racers, monster hot rod stickers you got in gum that turned me off from pasting stickers onto anything.
I always liked those stickers, and it seemed once you adhered them to something, they were spent, lost, a goner...
But they were not something you could or would stash away in a scrap book either.

These days I get those magnets from various businesses, and put my stickers on them, then trim to size.
For me that works out great since I can move them around, and not have to deal with the adhesive as well.

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Very little going on with the truck recently. Almost all of my waking time has been spent converting over to a new desktop computer, something I absolutely hate doing. I vehemently disapprove of being forced to “upgrade” to new tools that no longer contain many of the prime features I use on a daily basis. But I finally found ways around the limitations and got Microsoft Office Picture Manager reinstalled (so I can continue to edit my photos easily), got my email (Outlook) up and running, and also got my dual monitors connected and functioning. So I’m pretty sure I can switch over completely within a few more days.

Coincidentally while dealing with all the tech problems, Imageshack also decided to make massive changes to their website and cram it down the throats of their paying customers. There may be some new benefits, but the frustration outweighs any interest for this user. Just because Microsoft gets away with this behavior most of the time, doesn’t mean there aren’t other alternatives for photo hosting sites. Enough of my ranting.

In any event, here’s the first photo of the in process seat covers. Progress has been slow as my younger son got very sick over the holidays. This section will be fitted into the bottom of one cover:

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/18/1ha9.jpg

And here’s the new replacement sticker mounted on a chunk of flexible magnet. It doesn’t show in the photo but this one isn’t full of wrinkles and air bubbles:

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800...0/802/0nvn.jpg

Although the weather has been cold, we’ve been blessed with decent roads recently so I’ve been out bombing around in the truck every chance I get! Life is good. More to follow.

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Bombing Around...:metal::metal::metal:

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

My youngest son called last night advising the seat covers were finished and will be shipping out today. In the meantime I got tired of the chrome Hurst Shifter handle slapping my knee every time we encounter train tracks, so I went back to the custom aluminum handle my older son made a while back. I got tired of the boring appearance however, so last week I dropped if off at the local engraving shop and they whittled it up in an outline font similar to the Hurst stamping. It now shows HURST on both sides. It turned out very nice and I’m pleased with it. Kind of hard to photograph each side equally however, as I really put a polish on it before the engraving:

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800...0/855/j2k5.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800...0/836/9g78.jpg

Once the seat covers go in, I’m probably going to call it quits on any further modifications or upgrades until the spring, when I can hopefully get started on the custom hood.

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Shifter is :metal:

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Always with the attention to detail. Top notch!

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Sorry no pictures tonight. Amazing how one day can end up so different than the last. Last night I was gearing up towards acquiring all the stuff I would be needing to build a custom fiberglass hood. Earlier this evening there was an incident in the garage that caused me to reconsider priorities. Tonight the plan is to rewire the truck as soon as I decide which kit to purchase.

I’ve been left with a couple of minor nagging electrical issues since the cruise control debacle. Last week the switch that activates the heater valve failed to function. It turned out to be nothing more than a wire pulled off the terminal. Easy fix. Two days ago the heater fan stopped working. I’ve had issues with the 2 lower speeds being too slow through the resistor, so I decided to go with an on/off switch going through a relay to run the heater fan.

I haven’t been able to diagnose anything yet, but the minute I powered up the new circuit dark gray smoke started pouring out of the driver’s side radiator apron (where the headlight relays reside), behind the battery (where the master disconnect switch is located), and a glance downward revealed that I could not see my feet or the pedals as thick gray/black smoke was pouring out from under the dash.

I snapped off the disconnect switch, but the smoke kept getting thicker. Fortunately whenever I test anything fuel or electrical I always position fire extinguishers conveniently, and I also leave the negative battery terminal loose on the post. A quick upward whack on the battery cable knocked if off the terminal with a big spark showing something was really shorting out. At my age not too many things scare me much anymore, but fire in a location where things can blow up does.

Once I was convinced nothing was going to burst into flames, I started airing out the garage and ventilating the cab. I hate the smell of a burned up car, and mine sure has that stink in it now. I’m hopeful it will dissipate, as there is no cloth and no headliner to really suck up the smell. Armoral on the vinyl should remove any odor on those surfaces.

Since I don’t know what went wrong, and I’ve never experienced a problem like this in 50+ years of working on cars, I’d like to blame it on a mechanical problem. But the truth is it was probably me. The Ron Francis system went in over 20 years ago and has been modified countless times. And the older I get and the more painful it is to access the fuse panel I’ve taken a few shortcuts splicing when I should have run a new circuit from the fuse panel. It might turn out that things aren’t all the bad and I could get it limping along with some minor repairs, but at this point I have no confidence. Partially melted or burned electrical stuff failing at some worst possible time in the future won’t add to the joy of ownership, so everything is coming out for a new system.

Even though the truck has been modified and refined over the last 20 years (few modifications in the future) I’m leaning towards another Ron Francis kit as I love the convenience of adding or changing wires at the front the fuse panel. And this time it will be mounted in the glove box so I can work on it while sitting up in the passenger seat. I’ll either fabricate a flip down panel in the glove box, or just leave it out completely as it almost never gets used anyway.

My first reaction was depression. Five minutes later I was taking it as a blessing. It’s kind of how I use to feel when I realized I’d been shot at and didn’t get hit. A second chance to improve things before the truck, garage, or house could have gone up in flames. I'm very thankful.

More to follow!

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Morning Mark

I was reading your update, getting into a panic on your behalf as electrickery is not my favourite subject.

Cant help with advice but your last paragraph and the mention of getting shot at is a great way to look at it.

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Thanks Rian. Have a great day!!

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

WOW! Mark, so glad you and truck and house are OK. I certainly know what dramatic and quick damage any kind of fire can cause. I guess you know how the rest of your winter will be spent now. At least it gives you the opportunity to renew of of the most important systems in any vehicle. Let us know if you need anything.

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Really hate to hear that Mark, but I'm glad you're all safe & sound. As you already noted, it could've been much worse. It sucks that you're having to throw money at something you hadn't planned on, but I guess it's a great opportunity to refresh/upgrade the wiring. I think your outlook on the situation is spot-on. You're blessed! Looking forward to hear about your new wiring install & continued seat progress. Btw, the engraved shifter looks great!

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

We Military folk use the term "dodging a bullet" a lot, and as you alluded to, this is one of those times. Congrats on that, bummer about the truck though.

Once you tear into it, you are not going to have any troubles finding out what the culprit was, more than likely it is going to be quite the crispy critter, be it a wire, relay, or heater resistor....

I wish you more good luck (in that your truck, house did not go up in flames) and am happy for you that you are going to have a good and solid project to keep your mind and hands busy for a while !!

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

Glad to hear you found out there was a problem before any major damage ensued... Sorry you are going through this but better now rather than, what could've been a disastrous, later.

Re: Markeb01 Build Thread
 

I'm not sure if you're familiar with the Rebel harness' but a large number of people on the HAMB speak highly about the quality and cost. The manager at my local auto parts is using one on a late 60's Datsun he's building, says it's great.