57 Chevy Wagon - Californa Dreamin'

[knomadd]

Looking good Vic! I've been gone too long and had a ton to catch up on. You've done quite a bit since the last time I checked in on your build. Nice work! Keep it up.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by knomadd

Looking good Vic! I've been gone too long and had a ton to catch up on. You've done quite a bit since the last time I checked in on your build. Nice work! Keep it up.

Thanks, Duane.

And Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

I know I have a lot to be thankful for.

[Low Elco]

Happy Thanksgiving! I gotta come by and check on this!

[Ol Blue K20]

It's all looking great. I vote on the chrome paint on the grill bar. That way you can tell us how it works and your thoughts on the process.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Happy Thanksgiving! I gotta come by and check on this!

Thanks, Chip! You know you're always welcome whenever you're in the neighborhood. Reminds me, I need to give your ole dad a call.

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

It's all looking great. I vote on the chrome paint on the grill bar. That way you can tell us how it works and your thoughts on the process.

Hey Dale, thanks for weighing in on the chrome paint. I think it will be better than body color. The combination of pot metal, brass and zinc weld ended up being impossible to chrome conventionally. So we'll see how this compares to the real thing.

Speaking of which, picked up the front bumper bullets yesterday from the plating company. This is the first chrome they've done for me. I've mainly had them do zinc plating previously. I thought they turned out really nice. Chrome can be a bit of a crapshoot so it's a relief they did a great job.

[Vic1947]

Been welding and grinding on the door edges to prep them for the filler I'll use to set the gaps. The patch panels I made for the bottom third of the doors didn't always end up where I planned, so a do-over is required. The gaps were pretty good from the factory on this old wagon, but there are always a few places that could be better.

I didn't like the way the dividers between the doors looked after moving the latch hardware around for the suicide rear doors. When the doors are open, you could see the recess from the stamping process on the backside. So I made a poster board template and transferred it to some flat sheet metal. With it welded in and ground smooth, it adds a ton of strength to the divider, plus it makes it look a lot nicer as well. The good news is, I'm running out of metal fab on the body shell and should transition to body filler in a week or so. I'll still need to do some fabrication work under the hood when I get the body on the frame and the front clip reassembled, but I can use the break.

[mongocanfly]

Looks great..!!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Looks great..!!

Thanks, Greg. I'll be glad to finish up the metal fab. Just suiting up for all the noise and dust generated by welding and grinding is a pain. I've learned the hard way, though, that I'd better not skip the dust mask, safety goggles and hearing protection. Not that body work is much better.

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

Just suiting up for all the noise and dust generated by welding and grinding is a pain. I've learned the hard way, though, that I'd better not skip the dust mask, safety goggles and hearing protection. Not that body work is much better.

Hello Vic, I'm Chris. And as of now, I have read all of your threads. Thank you for the effort you make to take pictures and tell us about your projects with all of the ups and downs. With regard to your post above, I now think about suiting up with PPE as a little like gearing up for combat. Not to make any comparison to actually going to war, as many of our members here have served, but to think of the appropriateness of suiting up with the proper items as vital to the process. A sort of uniform for the work. It helps push away the "I wonder if I look silly right now" thought and replaces it with "I'm set up to get the job done". Much of that has come out from my experience with communicating the need for self-preservation in construction.

And since I'm just getting caught up, I also wanted to say that I hope and pray for the best for you and your wife through your medical difficulties. I assume that your vision has stabilized, and it sounds like your wife is a trooper and working through the medical treatments well. A little awkward to say all that, but it's well-meant and I hope you guys are blessed through Christmas and the New Year. Thanks again for making the effort to share your projects.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

2 thumbs up!!

Thanks, Mike, hope the rat is staying out of the weather. Having lived in Woodinville, I know this time of year is the pits when you have limited space.

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

MAAAN! I have some catching up to do. Looks incredible, Vic!

Thanks, John! Can't wait to see how your new shop gets set up.

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

The bullets came out nice. I like the divider work too. It's looking great!

Thanks, Dale, won't be long until I'm slingin' mud.

Originally Posted by LT7A

Hello Vic, I'm Chris. And as of now, I have read all of your threads. Thank you for the effort you make to take pictures and tell us about your projects with all of the ups and downs. With regard to your post above, I now think about suiting up with PPE as a little like gearing up like gearing up for combat. Not to make any comparison to actually going to war, as many of our members here have served, but to think of the appropriateness of suiting up with the proper items as vital to the process. A sort of uniform for the work. It helps push away the "I wonder if I look silly right now" thought and replaces it with "I'm set up to get the job done". Much of that has come out from my experience with communicating the need for self-preservation in construction.

And since I'm just getting caught up, I also wanted to say that I hope and pray for the best for you and your wife through your medical difficulties. I assume that your vision has stabilized, and it sounds like your wife is a trooper and working through the medical treatments well. A little awkward to say all that, but it's well-meant and I hope you guys are blessed through Christmas and the New Year. Thanks again for making the effort to share your projects.

Hey Chris, thanks very much for your kind words, means a lot to me. 2019 is almost in the books and we're ready to turn the page. Kathy's most recent scan was 100% clear and she's already planning road trips for next year. So with all that in the rearview mirror, we can focus on getting the wagon done and ready for the road.

I'm trying to keep caught up on this thread without posting too much stuff that isn't newsworthy. The reason for the pictures is because I learn new stuff the best when I can see it. If someone tries to explain something to me verbally, it doesn't seem to sink in. But if you give me a demo, that's all I need to get started.

[jlsanborn]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Hello Vic, I'm Chris. And as of now, I have read all of your threads. Thank you for the effort you make to take pictures and tell us about your projects with all of the ups and downs. With regard to your post above, I now think about suiting up with PPE as a little like gearing up for combat. Not to make any comparison to actually going to war, as many of our members here have served, but to think of the appropriateness of suiting up with the proper items as vital to the process. A sort of uniform for the work. It helps push away the "I wonder if I look silly right now" thought and replaces it with "I'm set up to get the job done". Much of that has come out from my experience with communicating the need for self-preservation in construction.

And since I'm just getting caught up, I also wanted to say that I hope and pray for the best for you and your wife through your medical difficulties. I assume that your vision has stabilized, and it sounds like your wife is a trooper and working through the medical treatments well. A little awkward to say all that, but it's well-meant and I hope you guys are blessed through Christmas and the New Year. Thanks again for making the effort to share your projects.

Well said!

[swamp rat]

2 thumbs up!!

[jlsanborn]

MAAAN! I have some catching up to do. Looks incredible, Vic!

[Ol Blue K20]

The bullets came out nice. I like the divider work too. It's looking great!

[mongocanfly]

Great news about Kathy ...

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Great news about Kathy ...

Agreed, glad to hear!

[sduckworth13]

Vic, It’s good to read that Kathy’s doing great. The project is coming along nice!

[Low Elco]

Great to hear about Kathy. This car is gonna be awesome!

[Vic1947]

Thanks for all the good wishes, everyone!

I started spreading Everglass over the welded areas today. Got sidetracked by the phone and lunch with Kathy and my niece or I'd have more done ...at least that's my excuse. The doors are all gapped and adjusted so that a small amount of filler along the edges should make them look nice and even. I drilled a couple of locating holes in each hinge so I can insert pins and not have to spend a bunch of time with adjustments when reassembling everything.

Hope to get the major areas worked smooth over the next few weeks. It's a tough time of year to be priming parts with 2K or other catalyzed products, but sometimes you get an unexpected warm day or two. Will have to make the most of what Mother Nature gives me, I reckon.

[tune_1]

Vic, progress is looking good, great news on your wife, have a merry Christmas

Dwight

[jlsanborn]

Looks great! Would like to know a bit more on how you're doweling the hinges. Small roll pin at assembly?

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by tune_1

Vic, progress is looking good, great news on your wife, have a Merry Christmas. Dwight

Thanks, Dwight, Merry Christmas to you too!

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Looks great! Would like to know a bit more on how you're doweling the hinges. Small roll pin at assembly?

Hey John,

Nothing too exotic. After getting the doors adjusted up/down, forward/back, and in/out, I used a 1/8" aircraft drill to make two holes in the hinge and the mating surface on the door. Removed the door and then reinstalled it loosely with the bolts. I used a couple of long, 1/8" punches to line up the holes. Took me a few minutes of working the door around to get the punches in but after I had the first one, the second was no problem. I snugged up the bolts just enough to keep the hinge and door from moving around and then removed the punches and finished tightening it up. I found if I cranked down on the bolts before removing the punches they didn't want to come out. But if you go easy at first, then tighten, it works better.

Using this approach on both the upper and lower hinges, I ended up with a nearly perfect alignment when the door closed. I had to loosen the bolts on the lower hinge and pick it up very slightly to be exactly on the money. For me, the important part was to make sure when the final assembly takes place I don't scrape the door edges or the jamb. If I can get really close on the first try, I can fine tune it from there.

I'll have to do the other end of the hinge where it goes into the jamb to make sure the in/out alignment is maintained before I remove the hinges for blasting and paint. On the truck, there wasn't quite as much room in the hinge area, unless the fenders are off. IIRC, I only drilled the half of the hinge that bolted to the cowl, then winged it with the half that bolted to the door. I've never used roll pins, but I reckon they would work.

[jlsanborn]

Makes sense, great tips, and thank you very much for taking the time, Vic! I'm plugging hard on the dirty old house but should be able to get my shop set up after the new year.

[Vic1947]

The end of the year is upon us and I'm up to my ears in bodywork. Just incremental progress to report at this point. However, my goal is to be ready for paint by the first of February. This morning, I spoke with the guy I was hoping to use for final prep and paint. Unfortunately, he's behind with work he's promised and the changes he was planning for his shop haven't transpired either. I got the impression he may not be able to accommodate me so I'm starting a search for another painter. We'll see what the new year brings. Hope everyone is ready for the roaring 20's.

[Ol Blue K20]

Looks great Vic. Happy New Year!!