Search This Blog

Monday, April 27, 2020

Another Scandinavian Forward Look Project

First up was Ray's Canadian '56 Plodge, while yet another '56 station wagon project belongs to Geir, a Forward Look enthusiast from Norway. The basic trim level will be upgraded by adding parts and pieces from a Belvedere, and maybe some custom interior parts. Sort of like mine, he hasn't decided exactly what all he wants to incorporate, but that early Dodge Hemi should be a perfect fit.


I envy this rotisserie! If I had it to do over again, it would be the first tool I would have purchased. I could have saved hundreds of hours when I was replacing floors and trunk panels.




He still has a lot of work left on the wagon, but he also owns this beautiful Savoy sedan.


Saturday, April 25, 2020

Invitation to my Readers

Geir, Ray, and anyone else with a '55 or '56 Mopar project, pictures are always welcome and I hope you will share them with us. I've posted a few guest photos in earlier entries, but as your projects progress it's fun to see what you've accomplished. I don't discriminate if it's a serious restoration, a wild custom, a hot rod, or a Mopar mutt, like mine. If you'd like to tell us all about your car, that's also fun to read.

Just email your photos and text to GaryS1941@gmail.com and I will post them here. For starters, here are a few pictures of Ray's '56 Plodge wagon with a Dakota clip, modernized drive train and an impressive and plush interior.




Thursday, April 16, 2020

Hood Installation

One more visible task completed!  Thanks to the damn virus quarantine, there was no one I could call to help with the hood installation, so once again I had to muddle through the job alone, but at least it's now in place.

I had to mount another support hook in the ceiling so I could suspend the hood from a rope. It only took an hour to get it close enough to install the bolts, and another three or four hours to make all the adjustments. I only have to fill and sand two small dings near the hood ornament mounting holes, and the body will be ready for primer, final prep and paint. I'm not sure if I want to mark the mounting locations so I can remove the hood before painting, or if I want to paint it while in place. If I was sure I would have help after painting, it would be easier to spray and color sand, but if doing it alone again, I'm scared that I might scratch or chip the new paint. Decisions, decisions!

Now, if I can get a paint booth built so I will be ready to spray if the weather ever decides to cooperate.


Not that anyone would notice, but I took these pictures before making adjustments, so the gaps are not even. All in all, it came out nicer and with fewer adjustment issues than expected.

Saturday, April 4, 2020

Summerfall-Winterspring

Our recent weather reminded me of the pretty young woman who played the character by that name on the old Howdy Doody TV show back in prehistoric times!

Along with storms and heavy rain, we had lots of wind every day, some sun, and temperatures that reached nearly 90F on one day last week, but I had to cover my patio plants last night as it was 37F when I went to bed and light frost was threatened!

My biggest project during this crazy spring weather was getting the hood prepped for paint. The under side was in much better shape than the outside. Underneath, all I had to do was de-rust and fill the dozen or so deepest pits, followed by a coat of primer, to get it ready for epoxy primer and paint.

The top side was badly pitted over most of the hood, and some were getting fairly deep. I spent a couple of hours and several sanding  before I can prime. There is no doubt in my mind that if the car ever gets on the road and spends any time outside in the weather, I'll be looking for a more solid replacement. In the meantime, since I have yet to make a temporary paint booth, I wait for weather nice enough to paint outdoors.

We're also sitting around waiting for the all-clear to get back to life as we know it. This morning I dug out the old barbering tools last used over twenty years ago. I gave myself a haircut and it actually looks okay, but then I can't see the back very well so maybe I shouldn't brag too much. At least it was the cheapest haircut I've had in a long, long time!

About the only business that remain open are those selling food and fuel and a few things they deem critical.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I need to replace the charcoal filters on my painting mask, and no one online has them to sell and say it will be June before they expect any. Mine have not been used that much, but it's been quite a while since I sprayed epoxy and I don't like using old filters that might be harboring bacterial growth. Not sure if there is an effective way to sterilize them before use.

1956 Chrysler 300B Infineon Raceway



Not a Plymouth, but clearly the king of real stock car racing in 1956. It was a time when fans could see cars that raced on the track began life in a factory. Okay, the teams made a few modifications, but the cars were  mostly stock, unlike the purpose-built, NASCAR designed common-silhouette product today.

I love watching the big Chrysler catch and pass all those sports cars!