'57 Ford Custom 300 Tudor Sedan

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

Looks nice Vic. Did you make the arm rest? They look nicely done.

Nope, they're eBay items, Scott. My only mod was to have them black anodized.

Originally Posted by ratty 46

I can only think of one word that describes your drive, persistence and direction on this .. and that would be IMPRESSIVE. Again - nice work so far. R46

Thanks, R46! It's been a long road, but I think the end is in sight. Stay tuned.

Originally Posted by Low Elco

I'm glad it ain't just me. Glad your hood came around. Take heart, good sir, you're gettin' there!

It's not just you for sure, Chip. Sometimes these old rides have a mind of their own.

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Clean! Way to show that hood who's boss!

Hey, John. I shot the last of the Slick Sand on the hood today and it looks like it should block out just fine. Now my main worry is the weather. The guy that holds down the weather guesser position at the local TV station seems to think we're in for a witches brew of snow, freezing rain, sleet... you name it over the next week. Could very easily alter my plan to deliver the car to the paint shop on Monday. And of course, at the very least, it could mean another influx of work for Precision and their crew. We'll just have to play it by ear.

[Elliot949]

Hey Vic... What color are you going with on this?...

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Elliot949

Hey Vic... What color are you going with on this?...

Top color above the stainless trim will be Millennium Silver (like my '68 truck was) and below the stainless trim it will be Cyber Grey Metallic which is on late Corvettes and other GM cars. Bumpers painted to match the lower body color. Between the upper and lower stainless trim will be a foil backed tape that mimics black / grey carbon fiber. It even shades to purple when the sun hits it just right. Interior will be similar colors with black accents. One of my projects when the car returns from the body shop is to make a console the upholstery shop can cover when the car goes back to them in early April. Lots to do. Now if the weather will just cooperate and let me get it to the body shop on Monday!

[Elliot949]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

Top color above the stainless trim will be Millennium Silver (like my '68 truck was) and below the stainless trim it will be Cyber Grey Metallic which is on late Corvettes and other GM cars. Bumpers painted to match the lower body color. Between the upper and lower stainless trim will be a foil backed tape that mimics black / grey carbon fiber. It even shades to purple when the sun hits it just right. Interior will be similar colors with black accents. One of my projects when the car returns from the body shop is to make a console the upholstery shop can cover when the car goes back to them in early April. Lots to do. Now if the weather will just cooperate and let me get it to the body shop on Monday!

That will give that car a real classy look... Really great choices of color....

[Vic1947]

John called from Precision Collision this morning to let me know the side glass for the '57 had arrived. While I was there picking it up, we discussed his backlog and the fact that the weather was about to turn bad for the next few days which might impact my ability to get the car to him. Bless his heart, he suggested we just go ahead and get it in there this afternoon. So about 4pm, Russ came by with the rollback and loaded up the rolling chassis and it's now resting comfortably in PC's shop. Over the weekend, I'll get the last little bit of blocking done and shoot 2K on everything. Then when the weather permits next week, I'll haul the rest of the panels to them. Fingers crossed, but it looks like it won't be long until there's icing on the cake.

[jlsanborn]

Exhaust looks sweet! Can't wait to see a full-body shot. Glad you gotter there in one piece.

[Low Elco]

Glad you got it in there early. Looks like a prep deck party!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Exhaust looks sweet! Can't wait to see a full-body shot. Glad you gotter there in one piece.

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Glad you got it in there early. Looks like a prep deck party!

Thanks guys, had a 2K primer party in the workshop today. Looks like a M-80 went off in a bucket of talcum powder. Not sure if Precison will want all the parts tomorrow as they're really busy now, but I don't want to be the holdup... just in case they want to get on it.

[swamp rat]

Nice progress Vic!

[texasld]

Color, Color, We want color!!!

Keep it up Vic. The end is near!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by texasld

Color, Color, We want color!!!

Keep it up Vic. The end is near!

Believe it or not, color is going on some filler panels and the inner fender wells today. I should have them in hand tomorrow and I'm looking forward to seeing how the silver and dark gray work together. I'm still finishing up 2K primer today. Had to stop and overhaul the HF primer gun a couple of times. It will take several more trips to Precision to transport all the parts, but it's looking like they're making good progress. Repairing some low spots on the roof and a few pinholes. The rest of the body and the doors should be blocked and ready for sealer today.

[Elliot949]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

Believe it or not, color is going on some filler panels and the inner fender wells today. I should have them in hand tomorrow and I'm looking forward to seeing how the silver and dark gray work together. I'm still finishing up 2K primer today. Had to stop and overhaul the HF primer gun a couple of times. It will take several more trips to Precision to transport all the parts, but it's looking like they're making good progress. Repairing some low spots on the roof and a few pinholes. The rest of the body and the doors should be blocked and ready for sealer today.

I am waiting with anticipation... This is going to look so sweet... I may actually have to make a 1/25th scale model of this...

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Elliot949

I am waiting with anticipation... This is going to look so sweet... I may actually have to make a 1/25th scale model of this...

Funny you would say that, Dan. For the longest time, all you could find were Fairlane kits but they recently released a Fireball Roberts '57 Custom sedan. Has the low buck trim package but at least it's a two door post.

[Bishops Trucks]

Looking great. It's come a long way.

[Low Elco]

Congrats on the color! Can't wait to see!

[Xeen]

It seems like you are flying through this project but then again you have little choice considering it's already March 3rd and that deadline is rapidly approaching and it really is do or die this time and this is when all your years of experience is really going to pay off.
I have my fingers crossed that you complete the project at least two weeks before the power tour so you have some shake down time with the car, 500 miles of drive time sure wouldn't hurt so you have some confidence in the car before you have to do it for real on the tour.
I'm pulling for you, go Vic go!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Xeen

I have my fingers crossed that you complete the project at least two weeks before the power tour so you have some shake down time with the car...

Me too, Brian. I've finished a few at 1AM then caught a few hours of shuteye and hit the road for a race hundreds of miles away. Not a recommended way of operating.

I dropped off the bumpers and some assorted other parts at Precision just a bit ago and picked up the inner fender wells and the front filler panels. Here's a preview of the colors... although keep in mind they'll look different when sprayed over a larger area. The Cyber Grey is a bit more blue/green than I thought it would be looking at it in the can, but should work well against the stainless and carbon fiber'ish accent panels. The thing about greys and silvers is they nearly always play nice.

[flashed]

Those colors look great ,cant wait to see more .

[Mr Chevorlet]

Went through you build thread and its amazing, great work!

[Elliot949]

Great colors Vic

[Xeen]

Oh man I love it when the paint goes on, but then who doesn't.
I bet you are super excited to see this project come together and it is amazing that you have kept this car all these years through it's many moves and iterations.
I can't help but wonder how many times you have thought about selling it and how many times it has gone on the back burner but here you are having persevered to it's completion.

[jlsanborn]

It should be super sharp with that vinyl!

[Vic1947]

Thanks everyone! I think the colors are going to work well with the interior and the brushed aluminum wheels. The Centerlines are so old they're almost antiques. Not even sure you can buy them anymore.

The shop was filthy from all the bodywork and primer overspray, so I spent several hours today with the big doors open and the floor fan running while I blew out all the nooks and crannies with compressed air. I know it will just get grungy again from the interior parts I'll be prepping and painting, but it makes me feel more like working when it's tidied up.

I needed a short break from the paint, etc. so I modified the headlight buckets for the Oracle Halo lights. They are keyed differently than the stock sealed beams and I'm not sure why, but it was an easy fix to relocate the notches. These have amber LED's a.k.a. SMD's (surface mounted diodes) that make up the halo. I plan to use them as the turn signals and park lights. Lucky for me I had two leftover halogen bulbs from the silver truck project as the Oracle housings didn't include the bulbs.

Tomorrow morning I have to take Kathy to the airport. She's headed to Houston for 10 days to help the twins' mom who's having surgery. I'll be batching it and hopefully I'll get a lot done while she's gone. She left me a fridge full of eats and a list of what is there and where to find it.

[texasld]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

Thanks everyone! I think the colors are going to work well with the interior and the brushed aluminum wheels. The Centerlines are so old they're almost antiques. Not even sure you can buy them anymore.

The shop was filthy from all the bodywork and primer overspray, so I spent several hours today with the big doors open and the floor fan running while I blew out all the nooks and crannies with compressed air. I know it will just get grungy again from the interior parts I'll be prepping and painting, but it makes me feel more like working when it's tidied up.

I needed a short break from the paint, etc. so I modified the headlight buckets for the Oracle Halo lights. They are keyed differently than the stock sealed beams and I'm not sure why, but it was an easy fix to relocate the notches. These have amber LED's a.k.a. SMD's (surface mounted diodes) that make up the halo. I plan to use them as the turn signals and park lights. Lucky for me I had two leftover halogen bulbs from the silver truck project as the Oracle housings didn't include the bulbs.

Tomorrow morning I have to take Kathy to the airport. She's headed to Houston for 10 days to help the twins' mom who's having surgery. I'll be batching it and hopefully I'll get a lot done while she's gone. She left me a fridge full of eats and a list of what is there and where to find it.

Mrs. Kathy always takes care of feeding!

[sduckworth13]

Those colors look great Vic, I like the headlights too. Those look very nice.