51 Ford

idrivejunk · February 17, 2021, 01:36:59 PM

Make that two snow days. Today coming in was a longwinded adventure-

She remains a noble mount ^^^

But doors freeze shut easily on these coupes.

Hood, black- I ground one hole in the driver's side and left a couple so a few welding touch ups are needed. Thought I checked but must not have on that side.

I have hood hinges back on cab and am assembling fenders.

jaybee · February 17, 2021, 09:13:05 PM

Nice, making great progress.

idrivejunk · February 17, 2021, 10:04:55 PM

That is much needed. I was about ready to go grab the hood at quittin time.

idrivejunk · February 18, 2021, 01:58:54 PM

Reckon this is about where I left off, eh? "Fixed" latch closed and working but the customer "may do something else there". I had a small revelation: There are three heights in a hood bumper set of six pieces. Not two, as I thought. That tells me a wedge gap is proper. What do you think? That would appear as an even gap viewed from the front, due to perspective, would it not?

The right hinge is still too far back, a little. And somehow before grey primer, the bottoms of the cowl sides both got smushed.

idrivejunk · February 19, 2021, 02:07:32 PM

More of where I left off... front body mounts now bolted down and suprise

suprise :!: An inch now, of height has to come out of the right fender just above the extension.

Thought I was past that or had conjured an excuse. More obviouser where the issue is now though. Yay.

idrivejunk · February 19, 2021, 08:08:29 PM

Oh good grief, its still droopy. I found the grille to be not even across the top. The bead curved on the right side. That side was a half inch taller out by the headlight. It was off center according to the ends.The backs of the headlight hoops were not sitting flush against HL mount panels. I smushed it down for the half inch bulge on top, hogged holes to center it, and trimmed until the backside laid flat on the floor. Put it back in and leveled the eyebrow portions, and...

now it looks incredibly crooked! Not the grille, that looks pretty good now. Its that dang extra inch of right fender. I suspected lighting illusions so moved the truck around. Nope, just still crooked. Ugh. But, cover up the valance and I see eyeball satisfaction.

I gotta wonder if moving the fender extension up as previously mentioned back a ways... is going to be enough. The long, curved and radiused bend on the valance just appears to me as though the radius is inconsistent in some way. To find out, I'll have to do the fender surgery then look again.

How about I just stop showing the head on view? Nah. It bothers me. It should. Can't stand looking at it this way. Any other view is starting to look right -

At least with all six body mounts snug or tight and knowing the grille was a big thing throwing eyeballs off, I can rest a little easier.

This pic may give you some idea of the double extra backwards work committed when someone chooses the "de-nib and buff" option then opts to upgrade to show buff after the car is put together-

kb426 · February 20, 2021, 09:10:20 AM

I like the 56 grille enough that I'm looking for one. I didn't like what I found on ebay. Pretty serious money for what in person won't be real nice.

idrivejunk · February 20, 2021, 10:10:41 AM

Seems like you also had a mild positive response to this lower image in April 2020-

I don't think I messed up the narrowing of the grille so much, just was only there to narrow it. Wasn't shooting for a museum piece that day and nobody cared that it wasn't finished, just wanted bondo and primer on it.

I just reattached ends, rough ground the outside and checked nothing really. Wasn't ready to. Now is the time for that. Wish I had known none of the parts besides fenders would be primed when I took the front clip apart last time. It takes like a day just to put all the bolts in since access to many of them is torturous. Next task is probably the doors. Same there, no primer on hinges but wanting it back together so that means at least twice on that operation just to get back to where it is now. Things have degraded. Anything requiring prep is ignored and bare metal cleaning is done very very poorly. Like the painter stopped caring. Nobody even wears gloves for deqreasing anymore. Sad but true.

kb426 · February 20, 2021, 10:53:01 AM

The bottom is going in the right direction. Got any ideas on what bumper would make a donor? The 56 grille would be pretty good with that bumper style.

idrivejunk · February 20, 2021, 11:26:33 AM

Heck I thought it was the lights that appealed to you. Did not have a bumper donor in mind, but your era of familiarity is likely to have better cantidates than mine. I still think that for a custom flat bumper shape, a chromed sheetmetal outer skin over a core of flat stock could be a solution. It seems to me that a bumper design with some depth (like old Mustangs) would really grab looks on an old truck too. If tastefully done. Surely, it would polarize a crowd.

idrivejunk · February 20, 2021, 11:44:05 AM

Random brain fart... I wonder how different the curve is along the back of an 87-91 pickup front. In the bumper biz, we called them canoes. My instinct tells me theres potential there, even to do away with the "valance". The phart vision sees wraparound corners.

You ready to play front view are ya? ~:) Gimmie what thoughts are in the mind file on that. Let me know if 51 grille style is out. I do have an unrefined and semi radical era-blending faux pas germ of an idea stemming from ones seen where some degree of honoring the donor Mustang is featured.

I also think a handsome custom push bar might be plenty for looks.

And I am thinking I saw a 52 hood nose trim piece and it was more appealing to me than the 51. Bet you'll opt to shave but theres that too.

enjenjo · February 20, 2021, 01:03:45 PM

How about a cut down 88 to 98 Silverado front bumper? https://www.amazon.com/MBI-AUTO-1988-1998-Silverado-GM1002801/dp/B07F6FVR5J

kb426 · February 20, 2021, 01:22:03 PM

Matt, there is appeal to the lights. The 56 grille would be easier to clean after long trips in bug filled areas.

Laziness on my part. The mustang bumper has merit as does the chevy unit. Time to think.

idrivejunk · February 20, 2021, 02:40:28 PM

Quote from: "enjenjo"How about a cut down 88 to 98 Silverado front bumper? https://www.amazon.com/MBI-AUTO-1988-1998-Silverado-GM1002801/dp/B07F6FVR5J

Those have big flanges at top and a convenient plastic upper filler. Both have sizeable stock air dams, too.

idrivejunk · February 20, 2021, 02:53:58 PM

Quote from: "kb426"Matt, there is appeal to the lights. The 56 grille would be easier to clean after long trips in bug filled areas. Laziness on my part. The mustang bumper has merit as does the chevy unit. Time to think.

OK so they have Merits. But do they have Kools?

>

You got that right about bugs. And I will second the laziness. Just napped breakfast away and now its lunch time.

You also know I start at the deep end and work toward kiddie pool as far as adventurous ideas go. Making images before de-bunking sizes and such covers most territory fastest and culls quickly. All I need is the right mood for that. Lately, vehicles are a hope and pray thing to me. I ought to go reduce the snow pack on and around the "rod" in case it hits 45 tomorrow. That might help me find a gear.

Think of something else? Jot it here.