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Almost there!

We’re now back on track after an extended delay because the body man who started the 34 decided to take a job with another  body shop leaving Byron a little short on the expertise to work on it. I didn’t realize how difficult it was to fined a qualified Metal Fabrication specialist with artistic skills. The craftsmanship of recreating the originality of a vintage vehicle demands ingenuity, resourcefulness, high technical skill, and a feeling for vintage machinery, not an easy ticket to fill. Panel beating, or recreating a body panel in the proper shape and size from a piece of flat sheet metal, requires a skilled hand and an experienced eye. I’m starting to think that in our current throw away society these specialist are slowly becoming extinct.

I decided to shoot my first video to give you a better idea of the overall progress and I quickly realized how difficult it is talk, walk and video all at once! Let’s say that I have no intentions of quitting my day job in Oil & Gas Facilities Engineering to become a cinematographer. I apologize ahead if time for the frequently repetition of the word nicely. And my wife reminded me that “there is no ‘u’ in ‘we’!” Obviously, I’m not the one doing the actual body work.

I do plan on making a few more videos – so hopefully I will get much better with time – like a fine wine!

Enjoy.

 

 

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Craig Calwhite December 30, 2014, 8:49 am

    I found alot of 33- 34 have trouble with the cowl light install. When tightening the gasket gets compressed and the lighs point in different direction than straight, and then inturn toget them to line up they become loose. The way I headed off the that particular problem is I welded a piece of metal plate behind the cowl so I coould thread Cowl light’ s bracket thru the metal plate. Just twirl (thread) on the cowl lights and lock the nut behind. I have many other idea’s if interested?

    • steve December 30, 2014, 9:17 am

      Craig I would greatly appreciate any and all helpful advice, tips, pointers, tricks, remedies, and anecdotes.

      • Craig Calwhite December 30, 2014, 3:22 pm

        Steve another comes to mind before you paint. Looking at you rocker panel I beleive or at least on my car and other I have looked at there is line vertical at the cowl in the rocker panel. It is where the rockeer meets the side of the front cowl. I belive that was they came from the factory. Double check.

        • steve December 30, 2014, 3:43 pm

          Craig yes you are correct there is a vertical line on the rocker at the bottom rear of the cowl belt line and another directly beneath the back of the door vertical from the rear door seam. I have the original 1934 Ford factory roadster drawing (SK-12001) and it shows both of these vertical overlaping lines. The rocker actually overlaps the lower cowl belt line and the rear quarter panel belt line. I have discussed this with my body man and they will be there prior to painting.

      • Larry Olson January 12, 2015, 9:38 pm

        Hi Steve I see you do not have any holes for the side curtains snaps are you going without them.

        • steve January 13, 2015, 7:47 am

          Larry, I have the side curtain patterns from LeBaron Bonney and we will be installing the side curtain snaps back into the body very shortly.