The Goldcar Story, cont.

[Goldcar1967]

Goldcar Story cont.

Ron worked on completing the support bracing for the driver fender mounting on both front fenders. Once complete we can lift the car up with the hydraulic lift to have better access to making the plates for the running board mounting to the side of the car so we don’t have to crawl around on the floor. We’re getting a little too old to easily execute some of the necessary maneuvers. I cut and fabricated the inner support rails for the passenger front fender. Ready to make the inner fender panel and front frame cover next week. Plan to finish mounting the fender. Once completed we will start finalizing the passenger running board.

4/5/2021

Should have most of the front metal fabrication almost done by end of the week. We’ve had a few distractions this week in spite of that we accomplished a lot this week. We’re building the new front fender and bumper trim pieces. What a difference having the new tools to work with in completing our projects. This was not a possibility when we first built the car. One of the front trim piece is cut out of sheet metal 3/4” x 3/4” x 36” , bent into a 90 degree angle , take the shrinker and curve the metal ends, then put a bow into the same piece to make it all fit together with a very finished look. That’s just one small piece of what you see in the pictures. My grandson, Ethan came to see me so we decided to go help Ron and see what was accomplished. Perfect timing to see the front section in proxy primer.

 

[Goldcar1967]

Goldcar Story cont.

TA-DA! New look up Front fabrication completed. Here’s a peek at our support system underneath. It turned out looking very good if we do say so ourselves.

Here is a pic (below) with the top plate mounted on the brace and clamped in place.

Starting to finish the last part of widening the rear fenders. Here’s a sneak peak. Still some trimming excess metal but starting to take shape.

Worked on the passenger running board. Completed lay out, installed rivnuts for studs and cut spacers which will be welded to the framework so the running board will be secured to the frame and not the side of the body for support.

remove body plastic so we can reshape the hood since we had to move the radiator support forward for increased clearance between radiator and fan blades. Hand made jig to shape the front part of the hood to the exact shape of the grill. We’ll add some sheet metal to fill in the space and never know the difference.

 

[Goldcar1967]

Goldcar Story cont.

5/10/21

Both running boards are complete except for making final template and cut top plate on passenger side. Cutting the rubber top mat from final driver side running board floor pan. Fabricated the edge trim for each of the new panels to fill in between fender and front bumper. Ron welded them in place and prepped for primer and first coat of body plastic! A milestone in our progress. Doing final fit next week for complete driver side. Then everything comes off and we start to make each piece look pretty!

Starting to polish the under the hood dash instrument cover. So far three hours into the process of the two pieces. Probably another hour or two on each and they will look like a mirror.

Big day today in our progress...(5-17-21)...our first pieces in primer and undercoat on the bottom of running board! Things are starting to move forward at a more rapid pace. Metal fabrication starting to wind down. Still some fabrication left but the majority of the that work is completed. We’re both excited about our progress. Body plastic not far behind.

 

[bob w]

What a major project you have there. A real labor of love. Makes for a great story.

 

[Goldcar1967]

What a major project you have there. A real labor of love. Makes for a great story.

Thank you! My grandfather said if we had $.50 for every hour we put into the original build we could have bought a new Cadillac. After this re build, I think Ron and I both could drive our choice of anything on the lot! LOL

This build is really a dream come true thanks to Ron. He has been the mastermind driving many of the changes and updates. Having the opportunity to participate has made this time just as special as the first.

 

[Goldcar1967]

Goldcar Story cont.

Completed making the stands to mount fenders for prep and paint. Driver Fenders probably ready for primer tomorrow, running board finished ready for primer and cut rubber mat for surface. Completed driver running board. Undercoated, painted and rubber cut...DONE!

Driver fender first coat of body plastic.

5/24/21

Driver fender modifications and body work complete! If we can get the rain to stop long enough we will get this fender in paint primer.

Fabricated the mounting brackets for the roll bar today, completed template for final floor pan to clean up the cut out mess I made with a chisel when we first built it, removed all of the left over carpet stuck to the floor board, drilled pilot holes for right rear fender and finished fabrication.

 

[Old Iron]

Lookin great
[P[P[P

 

[bob w]

Yep, looks great.

 

[Goldcar1967]

Goldcar Story cont.

Passenger running board ready for final welding and new radiator support bar cut and ready to finish fabrication on passenger side. Hoping to continue making faster progress if we can get the rain to stop long enough to start getting more parts in epoxy paint primer and on its way to paint prep.

Driver lower engine panel in primer today as well. I included a pic of the old shifter I picked up at a flea market and installed the last time I refreshed with different engine and changed to an automatic transmission back in 2000.

Removed the old shifter and started to determine what will be required to install. As usual, looks like another challenge to resolve. No plug and play here!

5/31/21

New Locar shifter mounted with a “little” modification. We had to extended the top mounting bracket with a piece of fabricated aluminum to match the bends. While we had access I built a new mounting plate for the rear transmission mount to strengthen and cleanup the look. We were able to utilize our new mount to weld a bracket to strengthen the shifter as well. Turned out very nice with plenty of support. The shift linkage was rubbing against the kick down switch so we bent the linkage at about a 20 degree angle, extended the shift rod about 8” and cleared everything. Installed a new cable for the kick down switch. I’m sure it will work much better than our old make shift steel rod that grandpa and I made for the original overdrive kick down, which didn’t work very well with the different engine/transmission change back in 2000

Rerouted the left front brake line to keep it out of the new engine side panel. Ron trying to have the driver rear fender in epoxy primer Wednesday. By the end of the week we hope to do a final fit for the driver side before beginning to prep for primer. Starting to knock off the small details on the mechanical side so we don’t contaminate our paint surfaces with dirt and lubricants. New floor pan patch angels completed and ready to install since transmission work is done. I’ll complete the floor patch panel installation and everything is prepped to install the new roll bar mounts. Once completed I’ll treat the entire inside of the car to prevent rust in the future.

 

[Goldcar1967]

Goldcar Story cont.

6/7/21

Built and installed the roll bar mounts, started prepping inside to spray sound deadened on complete inside the car. Started template for side panels for the interior and applied a coat of fiberglass resin to the back side to keep out moisture.

Sprayed closed cell low expansion foam in all of the areas where we had gaps to keep out moisture. Sprayed complete interior with “Second Skin” sound deadened which will preserve and prevent any rust.

We completed all of the front end body parts and getting everything ready for final fit up front.

 

[Z.Z.Rat]

Wow ! That sure is a project. Nice job.

 

[Goldcar1967]

Goldcar Story cont.

Ron plans to complete driver side body work this weekend and if all goes well we should have driver side in primer.
Installed the new fuel inlet. It will look much nicer than the original build.

Working on fitting the front end with the bumper. Some of the changes is making us redo the bumper mounting. Another unexpected delay once again. The best news is the bumpers I purchased have made this doable without many challenges…for now! lol Ron has been working feverishly on the body. Probably would have been done and in primer if I hadn’t had to pull him away to help me with problems to fix. We’ve decided to make the end caps for the under the hood cover for the dash out of fiberglass. Quicker, easier and still look great.

6/21/21

Made the passenger side mold today.

Tomorrow I’ll get our epoxy resin and cloth mat to make the end cap for the dash. Then on to replicate the process and complete the driver side.

Took longer than expected to dry. Two hours after applying it was starting to set up and get hard. Our first layer of cloth drying below. (First time I’ve done this.) I thought this would go pretty quick it’s a time consuming process with lots of down time waiting for the resin to dry.

We just recently finished the passenger end cap and in primer. Thought I would include those pics as well.

 

[Goldcar1967]

Goldcar Story cont.

Ron’s working feverishly to get the body in primer. I’m off tomorrow so he can stay focused. Otherwise, he gets involved in something challenging I’ve run up against.
Major milestone today (6/25/21) the main body is finally in epoxy primer. One of my custom upholstery contacts is coming over for a look tomorrow. I sure hope he’s got some great ideas, talent, quality and fits the budget.

Finishing the roll bar has been put on hold to finish other areas to get ready for the interior. I made the filler panel for the back bumper this week and we should have the rear section of the running board pretty much completed. Ron and I bent the stainless outer rails yesterday. Hopefully, we will get it finished up today (7/3/21)

 

[Goldcar1967]

Goldcar Story cont.

(7/5/21) I’m out with my Grandson Ethan. Ron working on getting shop cleaned and ready for paint. Took my headlight buckets back to the chrome shop (Whitworx in Lincoln, AR) to discuss the milky looking splotches in the finish. They said it would not have left heir shop looking like that but they did. As we all know from this chronicle the car hasn’t been on the road in over a year. So we’re parting ways and will go elsewhere for our chrome work. I’ll be taking the bumpers to Wells Chrome shop in Collinsville, OK on the 17th to straighten and prep for us. Joe Wells said it would take a couple weeks to prep. I’ll pick them up and do a final fit before taking them back for the plating process which will take 6-8 weeks, which we all know will probably be closer to months than weeks. Hahaha!

7-12-21

Working on deck lid this week. Made the top skin and have it installed. Working on mounting latch, fabricating lower skin and getting it installed so we can finish the rear of the car.
This was some very precise work to get the two skins to match perfectly. Getting the deck lid skinned, the latch mounted and adjusted to work flawlessly took a week’s worth of work. Look at it now…almost completed!
7/19/21

Cleared more of the shop this week. Slowly moving towards converting to a body shop and eventually a paint booth. I made the driver end cap and worked on fitting the dash for easy install when time comes.
Ron worked on finishing the rear of the car. Really starting to take shape! Decided o move the upholstery date to October 18th. Matt was running a week behind and we were needing some extra time as well.

 

[bob w]

You did a fine job documenting the rebuild of your hot rod.

 

[Torchie]

[P [P [P[P
Torchie

 

[Goldcar1967]

Goldcar Story cont.

We tried everything we could to make the patches for the rear body where we had to cut out some rust. The bead roller nor English Wheel could reproduce the curves needed to make it seamless so we decided to go with fiberglass. Ron worked on shaping the floral foam and built the patches with fiberglass. By the time we’re finished it will be like new.

7/26/21
Making the floor plate to go around the steering column this week and more work on the rear end.

Body plastic on today (7/27/21). Ron is working on finishing the back end this week. If all goes well hope to have it ready for epoxy primer. Once fender work is finished very little left to complete to have the entire body of the car in primer. I’m working on getting the end caps for the dash covers glued to the car and start getting body plastic on and smoothed out for primer. Glued the driver cap on today. Next getting it smoothed out, ready for primer then repeat the process on passenger side. Might get to the top engine panels this week. Could be a stretch but could be ready to fit with mounting rail fabrication complete. Lots of small detail projects to complete to make ready for our move to paint.

Passenger end cap glued in placed ready to finish. Ron will do the final finish of both end caps. Not my forte, unfortunately! We’ve discovered my welding and body plastic skills are not up to par with my fabrication and mechanical skills. LOL

 

[Torchie]

[P [P [P
Torchie

 

[Goldcar1967]

Goldcar Story cont.

8/2/21

Made some very good progress on our flex exhaust pipe from engine panel to running board.
Our panel was already made all that is needed will be to finish the support rails completed and fit the panel in place. Next step start the process of design and fabrication of the new flex exhaust pipes. The final look will be made from polished stainless steel flex pipe. Ron is getting the rear patches of the car body and trunk lid finished. The trunk lid Ron finished and sprayed with epoxy primer over the weekend.
The side pipes are starting to take shape. We have our final deign figured out today playing with the mock up.
8/3/21
Took our material to Jack our machinist to make the trim pieces for the side pipes while Ron finished the rear of the car. We masked everything off before leaving so tomorrow is primer day.
Finished up the floor patch around the steering column and top radiator support rail on passenger side. Ron made a new gasket for the trunk latch handle. It was made to lay flat which the old one was, the new lid is curved so Ron made a custom gasket which fits perfectly. New shift boot installed. Ron was working on the passenger rear fender. He’ll mostly have it completed by Monday while I am out with family in town.

 

[Goldcar1967]

Goldcar Story cont.

8/9/21

Worked on fitting the rear bumper today. It just wasn’t coming together the way we wanted so we made the decision to cut our problem pieces off, shorten the new center section and weld the two ends making it one piece other than the bumper guards. That was just what we needed. My next project will be to make the bumper guards fit properly. It will be a much nicer look once completed especially with the new rear modifications.
Received the stainless flex pipe and Jack, our machinist, called today said he should have our “jewelry” pieces finished in a couple days. Hope to have driver side pipes all but finished this week.
Ron worked his magic and has the rear fender reworked after the first weld had created some distortions. We replaced the bad mounting straps and good as new!

8/10
Rear bumper finished and looking great not to mention a nice fit.

8/12/21
Ron is HAPPY with the rear fender which goes off and on with ease. First round of body plastic went on the rear fender today! We’re down to small nit picking projects. The finish work has all but begun. Made the decision to cut the front main bumper section and weld the ends on, making it one piece like the rear. We went for fit over originality. It is as close to a perfect fit as one could. The guards I’ll trim to fit similar to the rear which will make the welds disappear. Should be a far cry from the original build when complete. We have a saying in the shop, Ron will let me know when I’m HAPPY! Well I’m HAPPY!