I painted all the body panels separately, here's photos of the doors.Finally finished block sanding the body, then wet sanded with 600 grit paper.Next, the underside of the dash, quarters, deck, and other hidden areas was sprayed.Finally, the floors of the cabin and trunk get their black paint-
Re: Getting a start on the convertible project
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 1:19 pm
by big m
Back in Black!
Re: Getting a start on the convertible project
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 1:22 pm
by big m
I climbed up to the loft where I had stored the doors, it was 100 degrees on Saturday, but probably 20 degrees hotter up there. Summer has officially arrived here! I had blankets covering them, but as you can see, they were still covered in dust. I did manage to get both fitted and aligned to the body, however. Also, I painted the inner fenders semi-gloss black, although with the paint still wet, looks like gloss black.
Re: Getting a start on the convertible project
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 2:42 pm
by Dick Koch
Fantastic John - I can picture a Black 59 Ply and a White 59 Ply parked side by side at a car show, maybe a Green one and a Blue one could be there also. I wish I had thought to hang and align the doors like you did, seems a lot more simple than the way I did it. You car is as Ed Ekerson would say "BOOOTEFUL".
Dick.
Re: Getting a start on the convertible project
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 11:18 am
by big m
Thanks, Dick!
Re: Getting a start on the convertible project
Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2014 11:35 am
by big m
I installed the inner fender panels, also the heater assembly-I sent another two coffee cans of hardware off for plating, I was held up because of missing a couple critical small brackets. I installed the trunk torsion bars and hinges, installed the trunk lid, as well as the front fenders. All will require more fitting once the car is buffed out. Also installed the re-plated hood hinges, with brand new springs that Greg Conomos sent me.
Re: Getting a start on the convertible project
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 11:26 am
by big m
All major body panels are now fitted, and most of the car has been sanded with 2000 grit, in preparation for buffing.
Re: Getting a start on the convertible project
Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 11:47 am
by big m
The paint is now all buffed out. I sent most of the aluminum trim out for re-anodizing, hopefully they do a good job.
Re: Getting a start on the convertible project
Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 11:57 am
by big m
Straightened out the mangled front valance, and painted it and the filler panel argent. Close to 40 hours went into this alone, but good, straight valances are scarce.
Valance before repairs, flat throughout the center-Also installed a few polished trim pieces and headlight buckets-The two grill halves I elected not to send out, for without drilling all the rivets out, the plating would not come out well. Instead I took the tedious job of polishing them with a brass bristle brush and metal polish. Here's the before and after-
Re: Getting a start on the convertible project
Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 12:09 pm
by Dick Koch
Sum-a-gun John - You might be on the road before me. Classic work. Strange, I did the same thing with my grill.
Dick.
Re: Getting a start on the convertible project
Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2014 11:31 am
by big m
Thanks, Dick!
I still have a long road ahead, though, as all my top bows were junk, and have to be made, also, I still have to make rear seat cushions and find someone to do the upholstery work. My friend that did my other cars is up in years, and unable to continue doing this type of work.
---John
Re: Getting a start on the convertible project
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 4:04 pm
by Matthew Keij
John, I must say you have done so much awesome work. It's unbelievable what skills you have.
When do you expect to have this finished?
Re: Getting a start on the convertible project
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 1:28 pm
by big m
Sorry I missed your post, Matthew.
I don't really have any idea when I will have this completed, the convertible top components are all in shambles, I have to make rear seat cushions still, and beyond that, my friend that does my upholstery can no longer do it for health reasons.
---John
Re: Getting a start on the convertible project
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 11:50 am
by big m
Assembled the dash using either refurbished or NOS parts. The dash pad was made for me 15 years ago by Dash Specialists.
Re: Getting a start on the convertible project
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 12:00 pm
by big m
I bought a new, complete harness from Greg Leggatt and hooked up everything behind the dash, then installed it in the car. Next, I found a good, pliable, used windshield gasket in a '59 Chrysler, and soaked it in Go-Jo overnight to soften it up. After cleaning it thoroughly and using bedding compound, it was installed on the windshield, then I installed the windshield in the car.
