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Ok, I am putting this thread together so I have a record for everyone to see, suggest, comment, and critique. I have been to the first six Nationals, all without Bertha. Seventh was the lucky charm! I can't let this happen again, it feels too weird.

Here is the list of what I have remaining to do in the next 334 days. By June 24, 2022

1. Get car back home to Auburn. (Yes, it is in Defuniak Spring FL. right now.)

Sheetmetal Work
1. Buy new one piece floor and trunk floor and install
2. Install new rockers
3. Install and repair quarter panels
4. Repair rust / dents in roof
5. New hood
6. New Cowl
7. Repair dash (knee dent on pass side)
8. New trunk-to-bumper panel install and smooth into quarters
9. Align trunk lid
10. Prep and prime and paint

Glass
1. Rechrome side glass frames
2. Buy and install glass. (Vent windows done)

Wiring - install AAW kit I bought

1. Engine
2. Dash
3. Interior
4. Rear body

Drivetrain
1. Get motor running (already rebuilt)
2. Prep transmission (fluid and install filler tube)
3. Turn front brake rotors (they are new, but rusted a bit in the Florida humidity)
4. Buy and install gas tank (lines are already run)
5. Install steering column and wheel
6. Finish routing and hanging exhaust

Interior:
1. I already have a complete kit from Gina Ciadella (modified 670 trim). It is ready to install.
2. Install wipers, radio, etc. Just enough to make it fully functional

Trim
1. Buy new bumpers (front and rear) and install.
2. Finish polishing all of side trim. I have all of it, it just needs polishing.
3. Get new taillights and install


I think after this, it will be ready to drive to Nats. Not perfect, not complete, but drivable. That is what I want more than anything is for it to be drivable.

I am tossing around set on colors now, but will use a dark silver / gray metallic for the car with a dark blue metallic for trim Strato blue / white. I still have to decide on specific colors though. Paint is now a mix of the VW Strato Blue and Porsche Aetna Blue. I am sending a sample to Orion Automotive and it will be called "Bertha Blue"

Am I forgetting anything major? I have had this car for 10 15 years, I need to get it on the road!!! Finished!

 

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Eldon,
You stated that completed items are in Blue. Well, I must be color blind, cause I didn't see any Blue. I'm not one that has to completely finish a car before I drive it. If it will start, run, and stop, I'm going up the hill!
:anim_25: with you 57, it can be done.

NOW, GET THE HELL OFF THE COMPUTOR, AND GET TO WORK !!:sign0020:

Exactly, none are blue yet. This is my to do list starting yesterday. I am going to upholster the rear seat tomorrow while the hurricane is passing over. I have the foam and fabric to cover it under the upholstery.

 

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Here are the colors I am thinking of:
1. Entire car: Overcast Metallic G1C http://images.tcpglobal.com/chips/2017-Gm-pg04.jpg

2. Trim / accents: Slipstream Metallic G05 (right next to Overcast Metallic on chip chart above)

Current status:

 

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Well, it only took 8 months to finally get the new engine in my truck and get down to Florida to bring Bertha home! In the span of 48 hours, I drove over 700 miles to get her loaded on the trailer at my father in laws, get home and unload her, then take the trailer back to my father in laws. Now to get to work! Here she is already nestled on top of the lift in the workshop.

Yes, I have a Ford truck, but it was my Grandfather’s. And it’s also a 1990 F250 4x4 with a 460 big block. I had a block machined, I assembled it, and a local guy installed it. It ran like a Swiss watch! And finally got up to 10.1MPG at the end.

 

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I should have good photos tomorrow. I need to tackle the brakes, exhaust, and get the motor running first.

 

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Worked on getting rid of some of the flash rust from being in Florida for 3 years. Cleaned up the rotors, tried to fix the leaking T joint at my rear brakes, put my power steering piston in, and scrubbed the tires and wheels. I started working on the exhaust, I’m trying to decide where to dump it. I’m thinking in front of the rear axle. The rear pipes I bought from Jegs 5 years ago don’t fit all that great. I have headers to a short extension to glass packs.

Thoughts? It’s for a 265, not a big block.

 

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Exhaust is finished! A buddy of mine stopped by and we used the hangers I bought and some well positioned studs and completed the exhaust.

I used one of the two holes behind the rear spring hanger and put a threaded exhaust stud in. It’s bolted on the inside with a jam nut on the outside. The rubber hanger slides over and a lock nut goes over the top. The metal hangar is tack welded to the pipe. There is 1.75 inches between the bottom of the frame rail and the top of the pipe on both sides. I have to add a small piece of rubber tubing as the steel rod will bang against the frame, but only if I get it to wiggle like crazy.

We cut the new tubes to fit, put the band clamps on the tail pipe and tubes, then I put a single tack weld on all of the joints jut to make sure nothing wiggles apart.

Parts:
Steel hangers: Dynomax 35005 universal hanger
Rubber isolators: Bosal 255-113

It feels good to finally have something COMPLETELY done on this

 

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Pulled her outside and washed her down. Got all of the Florida dust off. Now for me to get the new floor pan and trunk floor bought and put in. Steering is completed minus steering wheel. Wheels are repolished to get some rust off. I need to find someone to massage the roof and rear quarters for me, I can do the rest.

 

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Thanks All! I’m pretty certain that the health issues with my dad have put Bertha’s completion off by 6 months, both time wise and financially. I will be at BG though and I will try my hardest to make sure my dad is too.

 

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Made progress today! Not in cutting, welding, or that sort but finally getting some of the critical parts I need so I can actually make progress. I went to Moultie Swap Meet today and picked up some needed parts from Double Nickel.

New complete trunk floor with spare tire well.

New complete rockers for 4dr HT.

I am ordering the full floor tonight (if its still on sale from where I want to buy it)

Now I have to make a final decision on color as I need to paint the underside of the car before I install the floors (main and trunk). I have several choices and they may not be popular since I don't want to go with a metallic paint.

Color ranges I've narrowed it down to (not necessarily exact colors, but you get the hint of what I'm looking for) :
2017 Toyota Cavalry Blue
2016 Jeep Hydro Blue
OR some older color types
1973 Pontiac Porcelain Blue
1960 Pontiac Newport Blue
1955 Chevy Glacier Blue

I'm thinking either a funky newer bluish color (more gray than blue maybe) or one of the old blues.

Thoughts?

 

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I was hoping to see you there Jason, but you decided yodeling lessons were more important.

I'm thinking I may go a little wild on color. The interior is pretty much a stock 670 interior but with different cloth inserts and the dash and metalwork will be painted in a color close to pewter.

Thoughts on this color? It is a 2017 Chevy Spark color.

 

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Some work today, late start though. Welded in the seat belt anchors for the rear seats before I install the new floor. Put some epoxy primer on the areas welded. I also am going to try out a color and use the paint to paint the floors first and see how it looks. Its a 2018 Toyota color but has a bit of an old 50's feel to me.

New full floor pan getting prepped.

Holed marked, drilled, and temp bolted in place pre-welding

Welded in. Yes, I know, the welds look awful. It is fully sealed though and won't get any rust behind the washers though.

Here is the color choice, Thunder (PBA)

 

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Continuation from previous thread (https://www.trifive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=177160)

I will get Bertha ready for this Bowling Green one way or another. I have been working on the new floor and have the seat belt anchors welded in place and its 2k epoxy primed. I have been waiting on it to actually clear up here to get some serious paint work done, but it has rained for the past 2.5 weeks pretty much nonstop. The humidity has been about 95-100% the entire time and my crappy compressor can't handle the moisture. Time for a decent compressor and dryer system.

Edit: I have added my checklist from earlier to keep me focused.

Here is the list of what I have remaining to do in the next 334 days. (Blue means completed)

1. Get car back home to Auburn. (Yes, it is in Defuniak Spring FL. right now.)

Sheetmetal Work
1. Buy new one piece floor and trunk floor and install
2. Install new rockers (Jason)
3. Install and repair quarter panels
4. Repair rust / dents in roof (Jason)
5. New hood
6. New Cowl (Cowl fixed)
7. Repair dash (knee dent on pass side)
8. New trunk-to-bumper panel install and smooth into quarters
9. Align trunk lid
10. Prep and prime and paint

Glass
1. Rechrome side glass frames
2. Buy and install glass. (Vent windows done)

Wiring - install AAW kit I bought


Drivetrain
1. Get motor running (already rebuilt)
2. Prep transmission (fluid and install filler tube)
3. Turn front brake rotors (they are new, but rusted a bit in the Florida humidity)
4. Buy and install gas tank (lines are already run)
5. Install steering column and wheel
6. Finish routing and hanging exhaust

Interior:
1. I already have a complete kit from Gina Ciadella (modified 670 trim). It is ready to install.
2. Install wipers, radio, etc. Just enough to make it fully functional

Trim
1. Buy new bumpers (front and rear) and install.
2. Finish polishing all of side trim. I have all of it, it just needs polishing.
3. Get new taillights and install

 

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Waiting for paint to get here. I finished spraying the underside primer and will spray the sealer and paint tomorrow after work.

 

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Finally had good enough weather and some time off to get the floor underside painted.
2018 Toyota Thunder Blue. I hope to get the trunk floor done tomorrow.

 

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Thanks! It looks more blue in this photo than it really is. Its really gray with a hint of blue. I am trying for the look of the gray convertible that was in the main arena at Nats last year. I absolutely fell in love with that car.

 

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Better photos. The underside of the trunk floor is now done.

 

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Test fitting the tank. I need new straps, not sure I want to use the old ones.

 

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I was able to have a beautiful weekend to work on Bertha. I lifted the body off the chassis and rolled the frame out. I finished painting the trunk floor, let it cure, and put the main floor and trunk floor on the chassis. Its not bolted up yet, but I have the bushings in place. That was fun, cleaning up the new bushings that have been in a box for a decade now. I used Mother's Back to Black, it cleaned them up well and gave a bit of lubrication for sliding in the steel sleeves. Next is to pull those floors off again, drop the body back down on the chassis, weld in the bracing, and cut out the old floor. The trunk floor is already out so this shouldn't take long to cut. I am also cutting out the old rockers as I have those as well. I do need to prime and paint the inside of the rockers.