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October 20th... Day 8. This afternoon the passenger fender and the inner fenders came off. Today I curse rust! There is a huge difference between todays restoration and the repairs that were made in 1966. I'm worried about finding the correct bolts, and the rubber gaskets to make this restoration correct, and I find a fender welded onto the firewall via a huge patch on the splash pan! It was just another repair to keep an old Chevy on the road back then! Missing on the passenger side is the brace that runs from the frame to the hold the splash panel. Back into the parts stash... and I found both splash pans with the braces attached! Out came the chisel, degreaser, and pressure washer again to get rid of another twenty pounds of under coat. Without the battery tray, I had to start the car with the battery strapped to the bumper brace, then unhook it to back the car into the garage.
Those accustomed to the finest...find it in Chevrolet. 1953 Belair Convertible 1951 2dr Deluxe Sedan 2015 GMC SLE 4X4
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I also frequent the ChevyTalk site, and wanted to share this little "How Too" with you guys. Member "DZ Auto", Tom Parsons gives a complete lesson with photos on how to strip down, and restore an early Chevrolet front suspension... http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/218134/I hope to use this tutorial to help me on mine as well.
Those accustomed to the finest...find it in Chevrolet. 1953 Belair Convertible 1951 2dr Deluxe Sedan 2015 GMC SLE 4X4
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October 21...Day 9.
Not much to report today. I took the front slash apron out onto the driveway with the torch and melted the undercoating off of it. It came off pretty clean. Then I removed the incorrect 3 piece rear bumper. In Canada we had one piece bumpers. The '52 parts car has one, and I have a couple of others. I think my convertible may have one on it too... and if it does, I will likely just switch them.
Those accustomed to the finest...find it in Chevrolet. 1953 Belair Convertible 1951 2dr Deluxe Sedan 2015 GMC SLE 4X4
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October 22... Day 10.
I had the morning off, so I took the tail lights, licence plate, and back up lights off. I figure that this whole process will go faster, even if I find one small job to do a day. I also power washed the crud up off of the driveway. I must have about 30 pounds of dirt and undercoating in the trash now!
Those accustomed to the finest...find it in Chevrolet. 1953 Belair Convertible 1951 2dr Deluxe Sedan 2015 GMC SLE 4X4
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Thanks for the link, it's a very good "How To ".
Steve D
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Backyard Mechanic
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Backyard Mechanic
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Good start. We are watching...
Chris
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Backyard Mechanic
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Backyard Mechanic
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Brewster, Would your parts car happen to have the plain fresh air tube for the inside passenger front fender?
Dean 50 - VCCA #44675
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No it doesn't Dean. That is likely a rare part up here, as I imagine most cars came with a heater installed.
Those accustomed to the finest...find it in Chevrolet. 1953 Belair Convertible 1951 2dr Deluxe Sedan 2015 GMC SLE 4X4
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Backyard Mechanic
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Backyard Mechanic
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Thanks Brewster. I'll keep looking.
Dean 50 - VCCA #44675
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I took a weeks holidays this week. It's getting too cold outside to work or paint, so I started another project! I hope to have it wrapped up quick so that I can get back to business on the car! This past summer Jane and I went to the 50th Central Meet in Port Huron, Michigan. While we were there we hit a Hobby Lobby...a treat for us since there are none in Canada. I bought these drawer pulls, and brought them home knowing I would have to find a garage project to use them on. This past week I arrived home from work, and my new project was waiting for me at the end of the driveway! The neighbours across the road had this entertainment centre sitting outside waiting for garbage day. I quickly scooped it with my dolly and brought it home. A trip to the paint store yielded the colours that will fit my garage theme. I took my tin sign and GM parts paper up there with me to match the chips.
Those accustomed to the finest...find it in Chevrolet. 1953 Belair Convertible 1951 2dr Deluxe Sedan 2015 GMC SLE 4X4
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I sanded the cabinet down, and applied a primer coat. I also got rid of the veneer back board and cut some pine bead board. Here's where I'm at now. I still have some work to do to figure out where it will fit in the garage, and how I'm going to adopt more shelving and some logos to it....
Those accustomed to the finest...find it in Chevrolet. 1953 Belair Convertible 1951 2dr Deluxe Sedan 2015 GMC SLE 4X4
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Backyard Mechanic
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Dean 50 - VCCA #44675
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All your chevy toys will look great in there
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Thanks Guys... Today I stripped out the old workbench and shelving...
Those accustomed to the finest...find it in Chevrolet. 1953 Belair Convertible 1951 2dr Deluxe Sedan 2015 GMC SLE 4X4
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Being up north, you need some GOOD insulation in those walls.
1951 Chevy Styleline Deluxe 2 door sedan / purchased from second owner 6-19-2000.
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There's no insulation in the walls. I pretty much shut it down until spring. I've thought of wrapping the outside when we get resided, but there is no heat in the garage, so I'm not sure it would be worth it.
Those accustomed to the finest...find it in Chevrolet. 1953 Belair Convertible 1951 2dr Deluxe Sedan 2015 GMC SLE 4X4
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Another couple of days of painting. Waiting for drying time is no fun! I had this little base cabinet in the basement, and gave it 3 coats of paint and new hardware... The workbench top has been in this garage since the 1950's. If only it could tell stories! I went over it really carefully and pulled all of the nails, screws and staples out of it, and then "cleaned" it by running it through the planer. Fortunately it was about an inch and a half thick because it took 8-10 trips through to make it presentable. Then I cut it down to the new size and routered a new edge onto it. I may still stain or clear it as well... Here's where I'm at. The basement is still full of partly painted upper cabinets...
Those accustomed to the finest...find it in Chevrolet. 1953 Belair Convertible 1951 2dr Deluxe Sedan 2015 GMC SLE 4X4
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Hey!! I thought this was a 1951 Deluxe Sedan Restoration Journal??????
Paul If it isn't broken, fiddle with it anyway so you have something to repair. 1931 Deluxe Sport Roadster 1953 BelAir 4 dr. Sedan 1965 Chevy II Nova SS
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It is... I need the bench to restore the car parts on!
Those accustomed to the finest...find it in Chevrolet. 1953 Belair Convertible 1951 2dr Deluxe Sedan 2015 GMC SLE 4X4
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And don't forget that a nicely restored car needs a proper place to reside. Looks like it will be in a period correct garage with some great displays.
Steve D
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Those accustomed to the finest...find it in Chevrolet. 1953 Belair Convertible 1951 2dr Deluxe Sedan 2015 GMC SLE 4X4
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Looks great Brewster. Amazing what a little paint and lots of labor can do.
Steve D
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What is happening with the 51 ?
What stage is it in now?
Are you doing the work or are you farming the work out?
1951 Chevy Styleline Deluxe 2 door sedan / purchased from second owner 6-19-2000.
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Bob, I'm kind of on hold with the '51 right now. I've got all of the trim off (except the windshield stainless... I'll get that this week!) and all of the interior out. It's too cold out right now to do any painting, so I'm going to leave the frame and front end 'till spring. Over the course of the winter I have all of the stainless to buff out, which I will do. I have to decide which chrome is going to the chrome shop and get that set up. I have to look at getting some parts as well. I'll need a new gas tank. I have one patch to do in the floor, and I'll check out the rest of the metal once it's all blasted and stripped. I have to talk to my painter again, but I'm leaning towards him doing the stripping, as I think it's better if he does his own prep work. I'll have him paint it, then I will rewire it and put it back together... hopefully in time for the Six Cylinder tour next September. Not sure if I'll make it in time for that though because (with any luck...) I'm going to have a HUGE pause in April...
Last edited by brewster; 11/10/13 10:51 PM.
Those accustomed to the finest...find it in Chevrolet. 1953 Belair Convertible 1951 2dr Deluxe Sedan 2015 GMC SLE 4X4
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Hey Brew, Great job on the work area resto!! I love the Chevy blue/yellow color scheme. Your garage looks very homey/cozy. All you need now is some heat, a beer cooler, large screen tv, couch, and bed (for when you're in the doghouse with the Chief) and your "cave" is all set. I'll be over when that happens! Cheers.
Rick
"Never time to do it right the first time, but always time to do it over."
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