Faulkner gets a Redo

The Garage Rebuilds
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The day the floor mats were to be delivered, there was a snowstorm in the Northeast - no delivery that day, although it arrived at the local Post Office. For three days since then - with roads now clear - it has been “out for delivery”. :imp: :imp: :imp: I filed a complaint, with any luck they will arrive Monday. Sheesh.

In other news - the “guy” who was going to work on my power steering pump took it apart, and decided that the valve needed to be replaced, that he likely would destroy it in removing it. Huh?! I’ve not had one apart, so I won’t know what he’s talking about until I go to get it back - which, awaits the repair of the generator and starter.

And even though I know the hood is fairly light, I already know I’ll have trouble signing up my wife to help remove it. So I saw this on Harbor Freight, it came today:

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It addition to cleaning it up and rustproofing it, I think I’ll take it to a local body shop to 1) fix one hood corner by the cowl, that has a slight bend because it’s too damn tight; and 2) weld a spot on the side towards the lip where it’s weak, resulting in a paint crack on the hood.

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The mats arrived! And they are be-yoot-ti-full:

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Every body, needs some body (work), sometimes. Apologies to Dean Martin…

I’ve got some things to do, before Faulkner gets his paint job; detail the engine compartment, put the compartment back together, get the exhaust and gas tank back in, finish the brakes. Summer stuff. But then, off to the body shop for touch up, and repaint.

I took a bunch of pix - I alluded to the work I need done to the hood - but there’s the hold in the fender to be plugged where the antenna was, a wheel well to be repaired so there’s a better fit for the skirts (Yes Matthew! Skirts), and… this:

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Mostly hidden by the taillight housing - but, not quite - is a dent that was never fully repaired when the Sterling sisters backed into something. Or, got rear ended when they braked at the last minute to turn into the Hot Shoppes on Fairview in Boise.

I sent the pictures off to area body shops (some recommended to me by “Delco Cruisers”, a local club), and the replies have been shocking: $20-25K. Despite my disclaimer, that my car is a driver, always has been, and will so remain.

I can’t justify this expenditure, certainly as I head into retirement. But I want Faulkner to look decent, at least for the next 15 years I will own him (and I got 15 decent years out of his last paint job). So… Call me crazy, but I think I’m going to tackle some of this body work myself. I bought this Eastwood set of hammers and dollies, back when I had my '55 Savoy:

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I think I’m going to give it a try, testing the fit with a taillight housing that Dick Koch has graciously loaned to me. What do I have to lose? It’s been 45 years since I did any body work, but I was pleased with the results then. I’m no young’in anymore, but maybe an old dog can remember old tricks. I’ll be watching plenty of YouTube videos…

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Dick pointed out to me that Lares will rebuild my PS unit through Rock Auto for 135 bucks. And, that’s what I’m gonna do.

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Dan, That is MADNESS!!! 20-25K FOR A PAINT JOB! boy I am in the wrong business or maybe they are if they think it cost that much! I can see a couple thousand for a good paint job (with some decent block sanding work between coats) but for 25K that better be Pebble Beach quality!

Gotta love YouTube! eastwood has some good videos and lazzemetalshaping are worth checking out. Its amazing what a little patience and hammer & dolly work can do! Also sounds like you will be able to save some serious money! Looking forward to seeing photos and posts of the metal work.

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Hey, thanks for the tip about Lazze, Will! I’ll check it out.

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That dolly set looks like you bought it yesterday! For room and board, plane fare and ten grand l will come up and paint your car. (Not). I have a friend that found a Macao shop that prepares and paints his classic cars for around $1,500.00. They turn out pretty good, in fact damn nice. Something else to consider, go to some car shows and ask if there are guys that paint cars. Sometimes guys that work at shops look to make money on the side. Same for your body work. It can all be done in your garage. Last, you do all the preparation work yourself and find someone or a paint shop (maaco) to shoot the paint. Some Maaco shops do body work.
Dick.

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Dick, Tom Fox was telling me that some of his car buddies have used MAACO with good results - and I heard the same thing from Ken Morton. It really all depends on the shop, and how much prep you do. I’ll have all of Faulkner’s trim off, so there’s nothing to mask but tires, interior, trunk and hood compartments. There’s a shop near me that also does body work (in fact, it’s near the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum - I’ve been there with Matthew and Stefan, here’s some pix).

I’m thinking I’ll tackle the hood alignment, the antenna holes (old and new), the wheel well and the taillight - and leave the block sanding and touch up before painting to them.

You srsly need to think about coming up here, though. Yvonne will love Philly, and we get to drive your convertible to Carlisle! It doesn’t get any better than that.

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I picked my P/S back up today - they weren’t able to fix it, but they did clean it up real nice, no charge. I’ve purchased the rebuild from Lares, and I’ve got the form and FedEx label all filled out. I’ll drop it off at FedEx tomorrow, but I’m wondering about the cap bolts through the rear bracket…

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Can I safely remove them, without the inside pump mechanism coming loose inside? No problem for Lares, they’ll be taking it apart anyway - I’m just wondering about when I when I get it back, and if it will be a challenge to put the bracket back on if the guts are flapping in the breeze.

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You can remove the bolts, and replaced the large o ring. nothing falls out.

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Those 2 bolts just hold the bracket and outer housing in its place. You can remove them and paint the bracket black when you get it back :mrgreen:

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Thanks gentleman. The brackets are off and bagged for safekeeping, and the unit is on its way to Lares (by way of Rock Auto).

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Well, I’m not actually getting anything accomplished, but I’m continuing my buying spree!

I’m replacing all the hoses, but by the time I put everything in my basket at Rock Auto and looked at the shipping charges, I was getting killed. So I headed over to Amazon using the Gates part numbers from Rock Auto, and even though the parts were a bit more expensive, shipping is free (with Amazon Prime). I ordered Friday night, they arrived Sunday morning. You can’t beat that!

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Frankford Plating swears by this stuff for polishing chrome - I’m going to give it a try

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Dan; What is the contact info for the fellow the makes the floor mats? I am looking for A set. Mark

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Mark, in black? I don’t know that you can get them anymore; here’s a PM on the Forward Look Forum from Jim Mikolajczak (“CustomRoyal”):

I’m not sure if he made them, or supplied them - but there are other colors available on eBay or from Andy Bernbaum: coral, green, off-white, I think. I’ll PM you Jim’s email address, just in case he might be able to come up with more black.

Dan

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Dan; Yeah I was looking for black. That’s the guy I sent an e mail to about A week ago but I have not heard back from him. From what I read it sounds like he makes them. I thought maybe you had someone else,yours look great.I will give it more time maybe he is busy. I see the one’s on e-bay and I contacted the mopar parts web site and he too say’s black can not be had right now, maybe A number of months for now. Thanks for your help. Mark

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“mopar-direct” has been telling me maybe in a couple months for over a year now :smiling_imp:

As I look at what else he has to offer, it looks suspiciously like what Andy Bernbaum sells - I suspect they are one and the same.

Dan

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You can get just about anything on Amazon! The exact same size as the original heater vent hose - a little gray paint, and voila.

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Dick and I have been having a sidebar - but, I’ll post the pix here of Faulkner’s toilet seat aluminum trim, and ask him what he thinks.

(subliminal message: Say you’ll take a crack at it, Dick)

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a little ding

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45 years of evaporating water after a Boise rainstorm

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scratches here and there

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Thanks Dan !!! Mark