1939 Coupe Sedan (Sloper) custom
- This topic has 660 replies, 28 voices, and was last updated 1 month, 3 weeks ago by Tony.
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June 1, 2022 at 22:11 #73454Rik HovingKeymaster
Looks fantastic
Enjoy the beauty of Customizing
June 2, 2022 at 01:37 #73455Larry PointerParticipantTony, you show so well when it is time to let go of old metal and re-generate an iconic form with replacement metal. So many forces have come to bear on a vintage vehicle’s original sheet metal parts. Vibrations cause cracks as you illustrate. Metal fatigues, wears out. Stretches out of shape. Repairs with now obsolete remedies create their own problems. Thick welds on thin metal. Even worse, brazed repairs with incompatible material.
Thank you for pointing out the pitfalls. And, most important, showing the way to redemption for those old, tired, cars in need of tender loving (and learned) repairs.
Keep on keeping on.
Cheers from the sidelines
June 2, 2022 at 02:46 #73456Mild MitchParticipantLike Larry says. Huge thumbs up!
thank you
June 24, 2022 at 00:44 #73520TonyParticipantBut wait, there’s more!
I’m not done with this fender yet. More bad stuff in the headlight area. Splits, cracks, old welds, lead…I decided to repair this by taking a chunk off the other standard fender that I liberated the wheel arch from. The shape seemed right and it was in better condition. I cut it off and dropped it in the de-rusting tub. With it suitably rust free I marked out the area to remove from the fender on the car and cut it off as well.
Oh dear, what have I done
June 24, 2022 at 00:46 #73521TonyParticipantTacked in place, not too bad. A relief actually.
Done, phew! I was shitting bricks for a while.
June 24, 2022 at 00:50 #73522TonyParticipantMoving onto the other fender, I started on some lip repairs. At the lower front, which had old repairs including a lump of 1/8 strap brazed inside, I cut this out and formed a new lower piece and then took a domed piece I matched off a scrap fender. I used a contour gauge to locate the right shape. All then tacked and welded together.
Similar deal on the wheel arch. I made a piece for that.
Then I thought I’d try the hood/grille and start getting the brain wrapped around that. The left side of the hood needs work before I can move on the the exciting actual ‘custom’ part!
June 24, 2022 at 03:15 #73523Mild MitchParticipantNice work, as always, Tony! Good save too.
That grille is going to be spectacular on this car!
Mitch
June 24, 2022 at 05:07 #73524Larry PointerParticipantLove how this is shaping up, Tony. No pun intended. That grille is simply elegant. Sets it off nicely.
June 24, 2022 at 13:45 #73525Rik HovingKeymasterVery nice.
Love the last two photos.
Very inspirational.
Enjoy the beauty of Customizing
June 26, 2022 at 02:17 #73527Quentin HallParticipantYep. How long have I waited for this moment. Just so you all know Tony made this grille in metal shop class in grade 10 in 1971. It was wedged beside his collection of Smurf dolls for a number of years.
He originally made it as a marshmallow griller for Scout group meetings. It was only when his mum cleaned his room in 1983 and said it had to go (along with the Smurfs) that he decided to graft it into his 1976 Sunbird Gemini.
The Gemini rusty restoration was nearly complete by 2011.
Luckily he found this group in 2012 and went ina this new direction.
He still has “Papa Smurf “ which will hang off his rear view mirror.
June 26, 2022 at 03:11 #73528TonyParticipantAll I can say is that a Holden Sunbird and Holden Gemini were two totally different cars.
The Gemini was Isuzu based and sold in the U.S. as a Buick something I recall.
The rest is entirely true.
June 26, 2022 at 03:15 #73529TonyParticipantThis:
Holden Gemini:
June 26, 2022 at 03:18 #73530TonyParticipantSunbird
June 26, 2022 at 10:35 #73531MichuParticipantThe story of your grill is great!!!
(…even if it‘s not true😉)
June 29, 2022 at 03:03 #73538TorchieParticipantReally nice work, Tony.
I hope you kept your Smurf doll. Probably a collectors item by now. LOL
Torchie
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