Photographs & Memories

Got a new camera recently... ok, I got a new phone. But the only real reason I really wanted it was for the camera features. Sad though, I've got an old digital SLR and a bag full of lenses and this thing beats the snot out of it for resolution and ease of use. And I can't help but laugh a little when I recall my first camera as a kid, a Kodak Instamatic model 104 that took 126 cartridge film and flash cubes. It was the camera I used on our first trip to Florida in the early 70s and I took pictures of everything, wearing my folks out with requests for more film. Thinking back? If I'd had access to this technology back then? Oh man, the fun that would have been had!

Anyway. Here's a shot I took Saturday afternoon. I do like its performance in situations where the lighting and levels are less than optimal.

One of my first Kodak Instamatic photos
Christmas vacation with my grandparent's in Fort Myers, Florida - December 1971

Taking It Off

Self explanatory. Have some cleanup work to do while we're at this state including removing the rotted splash panel and installing a new shock while it's exposed and easy to access.

Motivation

Before and After

Oh, What A Feeling!

Check In

Cold. Rainy. Snowy. Bleah. Popped in to the shop Saturday while running errands to fire up the furnace for a while and check in on things. Been busy doing stuff around the house this weekend.

Metalwork Progress

Got the repaired turn signal pod fitted and tack welded in place. It's starting to look like something again!

Motivation

The View From Here...

Just posting a few shots of the shop while I wrestle with metalwork/shaping the deformed turn signal pod on the replacement fender for the '63 Savoy moredoor, Mr. Stein. The piece I'm working on was cut from the existing (rotted) fender since it was less damaged than the one on the replacement fender. It's taking longer than I expected since I'm doing this on my own and have never attempted this before. But... I hope to have it welded in by next weekend.

Metalwork Progress

Two fenders. Both with collision damage to the RF turn signal pod. One's rotted. The other fairly solid. One can be repaired. The other folded like an accordion.

And so I continue my lessons in metal working. 👍

Motivation

Now THIS is fun!

First passes with the plasma cutter. Freehand then with a magnetic guide. Cuts like butter. 😎 👍

Metalwork Progress

Finished welding and grinding the trim holes on the fender I've been working on. Next up is some hammer and dolly work on the heat warps. They will get leaded later this winter after I install it on the Savoy. After I repair the damaged sheetmetal around the turn signal pod. But I am really enjoying the heck out of this!

So Much To Learn

Pictures below... my first welds in over 40 years, since high school. And my first MIG welds.

Working on the RF fender off the '63 Fury parts car for the Savoy moredoor, filling old trim holes.

Project Dragon2

Work on the wagon is slowly lurching forward with removal of the old seized engine block imminent.

The goal of this project is to build the wagon I had in High School back in the late 70s. And step it up a notch like I would have liked to have done given the experience and money. 😉

Motivation

Andrew Schollars' 55 Chevy / image from "Longroofs" Facebook group

Progress On The Wagon

Saturday I decided that after two and a half years it was time to start cleaning out the wagon. To that end, I removed the headliner cards (all are intact) and the bows that hold them up as well as the retaining clips (all are present and accounted for). Also tore out and disposed of the roof insulation, a nasty ass job.

Next up is getting the seats out so that I can start to cut out what's left of the floors.

Stay tuned.

Parked since the early 70s, this is the only sheetmetal damage to the car.

Pointless Selfie (aren't they all)

Shop News 10.14.18

Tearing into the wagon's slant six and from the looks of things I'm inclined to think it barfed a timing chain.  I won't know for sure until I pull the motor and get into it further but if I can save it with minimal investment and effort, I will. Keeping in mind that the odometer reads 110k... it may be the end of the line for this block. At any rate, I do have the poly 318 and its k-member, and a 413 here as well so there's no shortage of alternatives.

Motivation

Image from Trailer Park Limo

Shop News 9.30.18

The carb on our moredoor has been dicey since I got the car and seems to seep fuel everywhere. Obviously it needs rebuilding. Last week I decided it was time to get it done and ordered the kit online. Saturday after the parts arrived I pulled the carb and on a whim decided to install the one off the wagon. I had pulled it earlier this year since it's getting a V8 swap and had the carb soaked in organic detergent, cleaned it up, scrubbed it down then set it on the workbench.

I didn't know what to expect since the wagon has sat since the 70s which means there hasn't been any gas though that carb in forty-some odd years. But... the thing did its job and the Savoy fired right up. I took it for a test drive and the beast has more power now than ever. Obviously that other carb is really roached.

Stay tuned!

Another One Brought Back From The Dead

Our '63 Fury parts car (with 57k on the clock) was parked in Tennessee in 1996 and hasn't run since. When I got it, the 318 Poly-head motor (polyspherical “semi-hemi” heads) turned over but didn't have spark so I today I pulled the distributor, tossed in some new Standard ignition parts; points, condenser, rotor button and a coil and gave it a shot. Here's Uncle Crusty idling for the first time in 22 years. Since we didn't know why the car was parked and with carb being a crusty mess, I was pleasantly surprised at how smooth it ran after sitting for so long.

The motor is reserved for possible use in our '63 Savoy wagon.

Motivation

(https://www.hotrod.com/articles/factory-built-64-hemi-wagon-really-happened/)

A Quick Saturday Project

Sometimes it's the little things that are the most fun. Saturday I installed a new shift knob, custom designed and made by NumNobs (https://www.facebook.com/numnobs/) on our '63 Savoy moredoor, Mr. Stein.