51 Ford

[enjenjo]

The ring would be easy. Torn it on the lathe out of aluminum. You cut it out of a plate, and cut away everything that doesn't look like a ring with the profile you want. If you want it oval you can reshape it over a form if you use the right material, and then polish and chrome it. Several 10/32 studs would hold it in place, or if you can't access the back you could us unthreaded studs and use barrel nuts to hold it in place.

The letters and numbers can be CAD printed in plastic, polished and painted black, then vacuum chromed. held in place with trim tape like the new cars. Or modify an F150 medalion of a later for truck.

[kb426]

Random thought about combing the latch plate with the hood. My thought would be that a reverse opening hood would be the simplest way to do that. However after going to all the work of installing the new hinges, that seems counter productive. There is plenty of room under the latch panel to do a brace and latch. Making that fit between the front fenders would be interesting. If I missed the point of the statement, disregard my post.

[idrivejunk]

OK. Whew. After a long nap to build patience, I set out to make replies and it became obvious that I had to beat down mysterious issues with the phone or give it up. So all my want-to for holding this abomination in my hand squinting at it for this day is gone but I got past it and here is another example of what I have been doing as proof. This is the image where I gave birth to bumperettes-



The image is twice that size but size has recently been capped by the blog which means a method no longer exists for me to provide full detail and that disgusts me. Just part of what drives me away from the internet. But theres that.

Once he picked bumperettes, I made him this-



...because F1 man circled grille color on one and bumper on another. My efforts to keep colors consistent from image to image had fallen short but at least a color choice was indicated. So I put the right color with the right truck and left it medium size but at reduced quality for smaller file size.


Then once I looked into the hood merge, I made this and this.





By the way, if you noticed that some of these images are comparable to quality seen in top shelf designer images... know that it is not by accident nor is that a new ability. It is not unusual for a new view to take me thirty hours. But thats in a recliner. I saw unique opportunity at work and have done free images for anybody who'll let me for quite some time just as practice but with hope that exposure might lead to dollars I can make without air tools in my hands. And it recently has, once I decided to put forth full blast effort. The hands are getting awful worn out at 54 but a mouse still takes awhile to hurt. Woops, sounding like me again...but I figure that was relevant.

Also, while doing the qwik ruff head-on view, I added park lamps but in order to avoid picking lamps boss wants to use the headlights with signals in them like on the Catalina. Plus he says these take away from the bumper and I agree.



Still think it needs small flat LED strips on the flats on the grille under the headlights. As signals. Where the stock ones were but not in the stock housings.

This shows the hood nose and valance slot trim treatment, and park/signal lamp spots I would choose, (and additional slot-like spaces added above and below grille [which nobody wants]. Because a 56 grille almost entirely obscures the radiator from direct airflow whereas a 51 grille does not) ... for what thats worth-



I will see how far I get with replies but have been holding the phone composing this for about three hours now, a full charge of phone, and man... yeah I am glad I quit doing this. I can see how it ruins my personality / life and am reminded why I stopped. Waste of good life. If people tell you just keep doing what you are doing, that means you are hurting yourself. Just like how you can know you are right when nobody says anything. People are funny like that. I never rode in a short bus but reckon I must just learn slow or have uncommon motives.

In my travels this evening, I did see the recent article on HRN about the 51 project that Kindig has, or had, going. On TV. I quit TV and facebook several years back but to this day everyone still expects me to know of everything shown on either. As you have seen, I do fine with just my mind.

Sitting across a park picnic table from Dad today sharing a pizza on a perfectly beautiful short sleeve day, a welcome thought emerged. I got a text from F1 man " Looks good Matt" about the image of the tail end in traffic, and was explaining to my folks how while that feeds my ego it does nothing for the job. Looks good doesn't tell me if I can build that bumper thing and are they talking about the art or the mod shown? Anyway...

Mom goes (yes we fully aware how fortunate we are to be a complete immediate family still. Don't despise me because I still have my folks and brother and that we are well. I swear that is something I run into in car circles on the web) "I don't know how you do it, I wouldn't know where to start!" even though she herself has been a formidable artist in various media on top of everything else. I again briefly explained how I use a free and obsolete program to do this stuff and Dad says "I guess it turns out that two years of Art Institute wasn't a waste after all." And there is the positive note to end on. School taught me nothing about it but his statement is true at some level.

[idrivejunk]

The ring would be easy. Torn it on the lathe out of aluminum. You cut it out of a plate, and cut away everything that doesn't look like a ring with the profile you want. If you want it oval you can reshape it over a form if you use the right material, and then polish and chrome it. Several 10/32 studs would hold it in place, or if you can't access the back you could us unthreaded studs and use barrel nuts to hold it in place.

The letters and numbers can be CAD printed in plastic, polished and painted black, then vacuum chromed. held in place with trim tape like the new cars. Or modify an F150 medalion of a later for truck.

Vacuum chromed... I think thats what I was looking for. You do that? Within given parameters, any black nonporous solid object can have this, I assume. If I wondered more I could research, but theres that. What I rendered is possible and if my knowledge ends there thats fine. You know sheetmetal is my day job and I know I probably ought to include some in this mini-revival about farting around with the art. It has been some welcome personal relief though, only documenting progress in recent weeks with the shop camera and not bloating my phone with unwanted pics for web's sake.

The imaginary emblem you probably saw above which I created is possible in my mind thusly but could be made like we are talking about and be much better:

The base could be rubbed aluminum or stainless or whatever, just a bright ridge around a black rectangle inset.

The F-1 portion comes from the stock hood side trim and is indented. The 5.0 is a stick on emblem offa stang. Sticks out.

That explains a how but does not address scale. Close enough for me but if it were a body panel, in a rendering, no. I strive for accuracy and to only show possible things. Made one slip up with the bottom left in that thumbnail page type image with the rear bumper. That was the first tail end image I showed and it was unanimously liked. But the bottom half of the sill panel appears to be lopped off at the ends. Layering mistake. I think the now version is a better design.

Hoping that this added chitchat is not a bother, it is just me trickling out what I can stand to but it might be laborious to read. I understand that and hope the pictures offset my character. Always seems to with you guys.

I'll say this... our hero never did find a satisfactory dash solution, all the places asked to create the desired instrument panel backed away. You the guy for that kind of thing? Coyote and all? Just sayin. Hey by the way work finally started on the Imp you have a hood for. I am no closer to knowing if theres a hood though. And your rodder journal kindness is being used and shared in the intended context. Much obliged, sir.  

[idrivejunk]

Random thought about combing the latch plate with the hood. My thought would be that a reverse opening hood would be the simplest way to do that. However after going to all the work of installing the new hinges, that seems counter productive. There is plenty of room under the latch panel to do a brace and latch. Making that fit between the front fenders would be interesting. If I missed the point of the statement, disregard my post.

I welcome it with a  especially, because I know what you kept to drive.

Because that has been a common '56 mod since day two, and since there was a '54 on-site with that conversion during this hood hinge time, of course that came up. The preconcieved notion going in was that billet hinges are required for rock-steady hood on these, but that they don't make them so we will make the ones for a 56 work. Fair enough. Did that.

Now, as I made valance modifications I had opportunity to digest and consider the possibilities and at some point  I just grabbed a roll of tape and laid something out. I have a new latch panel on deck and will shave the 3 rectangular slots in the bottom half.. And now I'll get to the point. I just went where the design led me and this picture shows where I think best to end the hood at front-



Tough to see on the dinky head-on rendering at dinky re-resized size. That would not lend itself as readily to a reverse hinged design but I think would look a lot less goofy open for show than it would if I went all the way down.

That was like old times, having tidbits of unsolicited genuine input and a sincere picture response.

Below is just me showing off like that too. Nothing anyone couldn't do given the same situation. This was yesterday, before removing the valance to finish and clean up welding inside, on the lower portion. I now have all the stuff on top shaved except one patch is not yet fully welded and another not fully ground, and I realize these don't show how it is made. But they show the fit that I am satisfied with.





And all this was just so I could sneak GRAND PRIX in somewhere.

[kb426]

I think most have fought the lower gap on the hood fit. If this allows that gap to be tight all the way from back to front, that would be real nice. Because the hood will be almost closed when it is in latch position, a pair of vertical guides if needed would be an easy addition. The open area of that area will lend itself to many options. If you want to burn up plenty of time, add an electric closer like some trunks have.

[enjenjo]

I don't do vacuum chroming, but there is a place here in town that does it for a reasonable price. A buddy had it done on a modified fiberglass 34 Ford grille surround on a custom car. It's been on the road for several years and looks as good as new. I am sure there are others since it is a similar process that is used for "chrome" grilles and other trim on new cars. They can also vacuum plate copper on most materials, then use actual electroplate chrome for the finish, but more steps and more expensive. They can also do a brushed chrome finish if the surface is properly prepared.

CAD three D printing can be scaled to get the size you want in the programing, and the parts can be done in Layers, so you can use different finishes on different layers. I don't have a three D printer, but Fatcat does and can probably tell you more.

[idrivejunk]

Knowing I will catch up on those interesting replies, with interesting pictures, later... I figure up here at the top of page two is a good spot to drop an engine shot and remind everyone that like any other F-1 worth it's weight in spit, theres wrecked Mustang parts at the heart of it.

This is the engine / trans as recieved-



We just added a splash of gas and vroom!



The A/C compressor was busted and made nasty noise, but vroom.

I have responses to further the chitchat and more revealing pics but will save those for later on. It is a bright, perfect day outside and I could stand to fiddle with my Big Races while nature is being so cooperative.

[chimp koose]

maybe now that you are spending a lot of time on the computer you will think about that styling and how-to book .  

[idrivejunk]

maybe now that you are spending a lot of time on the computer you will think about that styling and how-to book .  

Whew! All the computer time is missed sleep time, thats the only way. Besides, I may be good enough to show my work but nowhere near good enough to tell others how-to. You can always ask me anything though.

[idrivejunk]

I think most have fought the lower gap on the hood fit. If this allows that gap to be tight all the way from back to front, that would be real nice. Because the hood will be almost closed when it is in latch position, a pair of vertical guides if needed would be an easy addition. The open area of that area will lend itself to many options. If you want to burn up plenty of time, add an electric closer like some trunks have.

That would be nifty.

I've had the old hood gapped tight at bottom and the billet hinges simply don't give.

I agree that a nice secure !atch safety catch is in order. I figured the ugly upper lip of the inner fenders must be to limit hood rattle room.

Had to add a little color to help readability of this image of that area. Happily, it looks as though this mod would work just fine with the existing trim-

[idrivejunk]

I don't do vacuum chroming, but there is a place here in town that does it for a reasonable price. A buddy had it done on a modified fiberglass 34 Ford grille surround on a custom car. It's been on the road for several years and looks as good as new. I am sure there are others since it is a similar process that is used for "chrome" grilles and other trim on new cars. They can also vacuum plate copper on most materials, then use actual electroplate chrome for the finish, but more steps and more expensive. They can also do a brushed chrome finish if the surface is properly prepared.

CAD three D printing can be scaled to get the size you want in the programing, and the parts can be done in Layers, so you can use different finishes on different layers. I don't have a three D printer, but Fatcat does and can probably tell you more.

I remember now...boss had some shop logo emblems made up a few years back. So he knows about that stuff

Hey but I just put 14 new images on the blog

http://chevroldsmobuiac.blogspot.com/2020/09/51-f-1-50-art.html

Here is one with a circle-

[chimp koose]

I like this version of the box sides better than the ones with the 59 impalaish wider fins

[GPster]

I just looked at those 14 extra pics. Try taking the headlight /grill and turning it upside down so that all of the openings on the front view have the longest opening on the bottom. Just to see a little symitry (I think that's a word). GPster

[idrivejunk]

I like this version of the box sides better than the ones with the 59 impalaish wider fins

The only alteration to the bedsides on that one is rounding the back corners. Like this except not tapered off but extending the gate instead.



That Impish one came after the owner saw several hood scoop suggestions and kept wanting something "more aggressive". Since establishing the hood top vents, all interest has been shown toward classy, refined-looking things. :?

I kinda think these ones are both radical and classy:



I think that one would catch eyes from a long way off.