Mickey, it's been tough. First one thing, then another kept me away.
I'd work on it, then something would come up and I'd quit.
The 55 was
supposed to be a running/driving car that I could have fun with while I got the coupe together.
I spent the last 5 or so years on the 55 getting everything working, dependable and safe.
Angs, that's just it, I've
been sidetracked for years now.
Yeah Robert, come on down. We'll throw some burgers/steaks on the grill.
Here's some pics I took back in 79 just after I got it.
This is a scan of my photo album, remember those?
Days before digital photography.
What I've done to date:
I took it apart and ended up storing the body in my Dad's barn for 10 years.
One day, on the way home from work, I decided to stop at the place that I'd been told the past owner (Jack Friend, RIP) worked. It had been 10 years, but I figured maybe they would know how I could get in touch with him.
I pulled in and parked, went in and inquired.
"He just left. In fact you pulled into the spot he pulled out of"
I told him I had an old car he used to own. He stopped me right there and asked if it was 32 coupe. I said yes and he said Jack was just talking to him about it and wondering where it was now.
I gave him my contact info and Jack contacted me.
He came out and looked at the car (embarrassingly for me it was in pieces in the barn at that time), told me some stories and let me borrow some old B/W pics he had to get copies made.
That finally got me going again and got it out of the barn and took it down to Redi-Strip in Jackson, MS and had it dipped.
Then went back and brought it home and applied a liberal coat of DS primer.
And it sat for a while again. During that time, I got married and we lived in a mobile home. No place to work that was convenient. My Dad's shop was not that far, but once I got home from work, I didn't want to go anywhere.
In the late 80s we bought some land and started planning a house.
We sold the trailer and bought a travel trailer and moved next to my parent's house.
Now I'm right there at the shop, but I'm working nights.
I'd do some in the mornings and some after I got home from work at 2 in the morning.
I had sold the original frame with the idea of building my own.
This was the era of the billet filled streetrods and that's how I was going to do it.
Well, after talking to Jack, I had decided to restore it to it's original glory from the 50s. No one was doing that...back then.
But, I still was without a frame. I had already acquired some 2 x 4 tubing, and a friend of mine with a 32 Sedan had a frame print.
I layed out the dimensions and outline on the floor of my dad's shop and started cutting and welding.
I fabricated the frame, front cross-member and suspension mounts.
Working in a machine shop has its advantages.
I made my own 4 link rear set up.
I traded my 55 2 door sedan (I was young and stupid) for some parts. I got a front axle, brakes, front 4 link, coil overs for the rear, steering box a few other odds and ends and a lincoln crackle box welder.
I already had a welder so I sold it to a friend.
While the house was being built, the car sat again for a while.
A year later I got my shop and the car soon came to its "forever" home.
I did some more work off and on. I'd gotten a new tubular crossmember and installed it.
Fabbed up clutch (hot rods gotta have a clutch) and brake pedals, headlight mounts, shock mounts, bought a Walker radiator and a full size grill and shell. The sectioned one on the original just looked wrong.
Plus, the 400 I was planning on using, Walker said they couldn't make a radiator that small and cool that engine.
But, now I have the 351 Cleveland to go in it.
And then it sat again.
I like all (old) cars, I guess you could say I'm a "cross driver".:sign0020:
In the mean time, I got the itch to have another 55.
I've touched on that already.
Fast forward:
I spent most of today (took a vacation day from work) getting body mount brackets and floor braces made. Some of them welded in.
I need some weld nuts to weld into the top of the frame rails to bolt it to.
This car was channeled. The floor was cut out except for a lip along each side to mount the body under the frame.
I'm building mounts for the body to sit on top of the frame.
It's a chore to have to strip the body and frame, then slide the frame out the back.
I'm thinking about getting wood nuts and cutting off the spikes
drilling a hole in the top of the frame rail and welding them in place.
Looks like it would work out easier than actual weld nuts.
I had
so wanted to have it done before Jack passed away.
He was in his 70s by the time I met him. I heard a few years ago he had passed.
One of my uncles really wanted to see it done too. Didn't make it.
My brother...ditto
I figure if I don't get back to it, I won't see it done either.:ashamed0005:
Sorry for the long post, but once I get started about my dream car,
well...you know...
