'59 Plymouth Forum

Posted: **Sat Oct 09, 2010 1:44 pm**

No worries, don't want to keep you away from the restoration work on your SF convert and your normal Big M business.I should have PM'd you instead of intruding on your thread.

Keep up with the pictures on your restorations.

PS Michigan vs Michigan State today!

John Q.

Posted: **Sun Oct 10, 2010 1:28 pm**

Wish I had a chance to see the game, John, but I was busier than a one legged man in an ass kicking contest yesterday! My favorite competitive college game was always U-M, and Ohio State. My father graduated from Ohio State in the fifties, so it would always be fun to watch the game with him [as I always rooted for Michigan!]

---John

Posted: **Sat Oct 23, 2010 10:57 am**

I finally got a chance to do a bit on the car. Getting the place cleaned up for the party has been an undertaking in itself!

Here are the replacement 12 gauge rocker panels. These were made with a hydraulic metal brake, as the gauge of the steel was a bit too thick to use a mechanical brake.
To get the dimensions of these parts correct, I cut a cross section from an undamaged rocker panel from another Mopar. You can visually see the difference in what was specified for a convertible versus a coupe or sedan.

Posted: **Sat Oct 23, 2010 4:15 pm**

John, Super Job on the fabing the Convert Rockers! Very Complex series of breaks to do and it came out OEM quality! Especially for someone your age!!! (Well, you are almost 50!)

Now I know where to go to get these rockers should there be a need on my next convertible project or even to beef up a rusty Hard Top car.

John Q.

Posted: **Wed Jan 12, 2011 12:35 pm**

Trying to find time to work on this project has been next to impossible, the temps in the barn have been under fifty degrees, and playing with cold steel does not work well without taking time to warm up occasionally.

I have been working on getting a '56 Thunderbird that I found in a backyard ready to drive, and am also starting to mic out engine parts for my wife's '69 Hurst/Olds that I am getting ready to build.

I hate the short cold days of winter, and will be glad to see it gone.

---John

Posted: **Wed Jan 12, 2011 10:04 pm**

John, it was -5 here last night... if I had a 50 degree day (and we do) I would be out in the garage in shorts and t-shirt. I have resorted to a propane heater out there which does take the sting out of the cold. Big advantage I have is the lack or low humidity out here in Colorado, which makes the low temps tolerable to my fragile 55 year old shell of a man!

John Q.

Posted: **Thu Jan 13, 2011 9:56 am**

OPPS, John, didn't mean to intrude on your thread. Thought I was starting a new one. Does anybody know how to transfer this to a new thread.
Dick.

Posted: **Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:14 am**

MISTER KOCH!
This is AWESOME news! ANOTHER convertible gets a second chance! And joins this List!
I'll keep my comments brief, since this needs to be a new thread.
Before you have it shipped east, think about what you might need from Big M..save on shipping

Posted: **Thu Jan 13, 2011 12:15 pm**

Congratulations on your purchase, Dick!

That convertible looks quite good, the one i had been told about near Angels camp was supposed to be quite poor, maybe this was a different car?

---John

Posted: **Thu Jan 13, 2011 2:01 pm**

Nice car! It is in pretty good shape.

From what i can see:
No dash pad in it, std steering wheel, normal rear view mirror.
Had a normal mirror on the left side, bumper wings! (John Q can learn from that), Sport Fury medallions on it, Sport deck.

Cant wait to see more pics of it

Posted: **Thu Jan 13, 2011 2:11 pm**

Matthew - You have some pretty good eyes, I was so excited to get it I didn't even notice the Bumper wings, medallion, etc.
Dick.

Posted: **Thu Jan 13, 2011 2:35 pm**

Yeah, I got a chuckle seeing the Sport Fury medallion next to the Belvedere script.
Some eyebrow stainless can be seen in the green plastic "recycle" crate.
Let's hope all the seat springs are there, however a person CAN cut down a hardtop rear seat backspring to fit, and swivel seats can still be found.
Interesting that it has bumper wings, but no rocker moldings or stone guards. Maybe there are more goodies to go with (rattlesnakes and black widow spiders not included). i don't see a valance.........
I am just stunned at how apparently rust-free, and dent-free it is. It appears as though it may have been one of those slow-motion restorations-in-progress...(someone had sanded on the paint).
We'll know more when Dick has it delivered.
Dick, you must have had the sweetest voice for you to talk the widow into choosing you over all other parties! Did she stick to the original Hemmings price?
Matthew, which letters do you see written on the hood?

Posted: **Fri Dec 02, 2011 11:24 am**

I finally got caught up enough to resume work on this car.

12 Gauge rocker panel installation- Now, I cut the original 18 gauge rockers from the body with the body firmly positioned on the frame. There was no rust found, but wanted the stronger panels to reduce body flex that convertibles can suffer from-

Cutting and fitting the replacement panels-

Had to hammer and dolly the inner rockers back smooth ater breaking the spot welds, then lightly ran a grinder over to knock down any nubs-

Posted: **Fri Dec 02, 2011 11:29 am**

Drilling the replacement rockers haphazardly to replicate spotwelding, with 1/8" holes enlarged to 3/8 holes-

Treating the metal with Over-Rust after cleaning-

Here is the driver side rocker positioned and partially welded in it fit quite well-

Posted: **Wed Dec 07, 2011 12:09 pm**

Noow that both rocker panels are now installed, I am able to move onward. I bought this Carotator at the Arco swap last summer, assembly was easy, and of high quality. Using a series of wood blocks and barrels, as i had no help that day, I managed to move the body into position for the rotisserie. Fully fastened on, I can rotate the entire body with one hand. This will make all the grinding and welding much easier.

---John