My 1954 BelAir project.

[DEEDDUDE]

Looks cool, I am interested to see how the paint match goes.

I think I've found the color it was painted last and in rattle cans too. I'd like to get the stainless back also.

Very Impressive Work.
I am also Loving your Vision and How your putting is all together.
I am Torn between the Car being all Painted and Beautiful or Leaving it Original, with old Interior (Mexican Blanket Material for seats)
No Matter what...Its Going to be a Slick Ride!

My wife bough those a while back and thought they'd look good, they are a hell of a lot cheaper than having the seats recovered.

Me too. In my opinion I did very well on the body work having no experience. I really like showing people the weld seams and seeing their reaction.

Thanks guys

 

[DEEDDUDE]

What a cool project.

Love the car! Looks great on the ground, especially with the patina. Looks like it'll be fun to drive!

Believe it or not these cars a pretty light compared to cars of today. I think I saw the car weighed 3400lbs with the old engine and iron glide. I added some steel, but also added aluminum engine and trans. So she's lighter and more powerfull. She does get down the road real quickly.

Outstanding work happening in here! ive been on the hunt for a 49-54 chevy for a few years now, and thank you for saving another from becoming scrap!

thanks for sharing and keep the pictures coming!

This one was ready for the salvage yard. Good luck on the find. My next one hopefully doesn't need as much body work.

Great job!!!! Keep us updated please.

Thanks to you guys also.

 

[Askme42]

Thanks for the compliment.

I will try to match the faded paint on the new panels, but leave the patina and seal it with clear. My opinion these cars look good with the aged look.

Thanks again

I love a blue patina more than about any other color. Looks great.

 

[DEEDDUDE]

really dig the chevy, the way you did the fab work makes it look easy. I know a lot of hours are invested in the ole 54. I have your next project now that you have some space freed up. How about some work on the 54's daddy? Have any ideas??

Thanks Bug. I laughed at the statement of it looking easy to do the work, not at you; but myself. If I had real tools instead of the HF stuff I have it probably would have been a lot easier. Some of those large metal pieces I beaded by myself as I turned the crank, balanced the sheet metal and stood on one foot. I have no shear so those were cut by hand. You should see my forearms. I needed a roller for the driveshaft and trans tunnel. Those are the areas that I’m not impressed with, but they’ll do; especially once I get the sound deadener over it.

She’s far from complete. Are hot rods ever finished? LOL

WOW a 48? Chevrolet National. Awesome car. I would hate to do anything to that car, it looks to be in great shape. Well I would lower it and pull the hub caps off. Ha-Ha. I’m sure you’ll get some strange looks driving that around, especially if people knew what they were used for.

Thanks for the comments and yes it was a ton of work. I appreciate the acknowledgement of the many hours spent on the car, I need better tools and more skill.

Thanks again.

 

[DEEDDUDE]

I love a blue patina more than about any other color. Looks great.

Agree, Thanks.

 

[DEEDDUDE]

No real update. Just a couple pictures. I finished the firewall and painted the trunk. Mostly just driving. No problem in this Texas 100° weather. Added a few more fuses for the Headlights, horn, etc..

 

[don long]

I just spent the morning going over your build.
enjoyed watching the car come together.
Had to laugh about your likeing to do things twice (I can relate)

Being an old bodyman I like the way you did the front wells
but don't you think that motor deserves a nice painted car to push around
Just my opinion
Thanks for posting it up

Don

 

[Zeke]

I just spent the morning going over your build.
enjoyed watching the car come together.
Had to laugh about your likeing to do things twice (I can relate)

Being an old bodyman I like the way you did the front wells
but don't you think that motor deserves a nice painted car to push around
Just my opinion
Thanks for posting it up

Don

Cleared patina seems to be the popular fad right now. I've seen it go from stripped to bare and scuffed to faux patina, faux rust, rust camouflage, you name it. Car builders used to drive around in colored primer. There was a name for that look but I forget, "suede"? Don't forget the matte black craze.

It just goes round and round.

 

[DEEDDUDE]

I just spent the morning going over your build.
enjoyed watching the car come together.
Had to laugh about your likeing to do things twice (I can relate)

Being an old bodyman I like the way you did the front wells
but don't you think that motor deserves a nice painted car to push around
Just my opinion
Thanks for posting it up

Don

Thanks Don. I do appreciate the comments. I'm torn between painting it or not, but it would be nice to be one color again.
BTW nice shop I've been following the build for some time. I've gotten a lot of ideas from your build.

 

[Fender1325]

I dig the patina as is

 

[scissorman]

Car looks good, here's a pic of a buddies "53" that he bought from my late business partner and rebuilt.

 

[don long]

Here is my 54 convertible with original paint and 50k on the odometer
Now this car I won't repaint

 

[DEEDDUDE]

Car looks good, here's a pic of a buddies "53" that he bought from my late business partner and rebuilt.

Here is my 54 convertible with original paint and 50k on the odometer
Now this car I won't repaint

Beautiful Cars guys, Thanks for sharing..

 

[DEEDDUDE]

I dig the patina as is

Thanks Fender

 

[930dreamer]

Crazy fab skills, I don't know how you do this.

 

[DEEDDUDE]

Crazy fab skills, I don't know how you do this.

Thanks Dreamer. Some of the skills I learned from this site. Awesome group of guys. Thanks again for the complements.

 

[Bears Fan]

Great job on the 54, looks like it is going to be really cool when finished, thought i would throw up a pick of my dads 54 for inspiration...its all stock tho

 

[BUGTHUG]

That's a sweet looking Chevy

 

[DEEDDUDE]

Great job on the 54, looks like it is going to be really cool when finished, thought i would throw up a pick of my dads 54 for inspiration...its all stock tho

That's a sweet looking Chevy

Thanks Bears, looks good.

Thanks BUGTHUG.

I appreciate the compliments.

 

[Acefab]

How do I get the photos to load?

 

[DEEDDUDE]

How do I get the photos to load?

Unfortunately photobucket tried to extort money from me and many others for the use of their free photo hosting, those of us who did not pay had their photos blocked from view. I have yet to find the time to repost all of the photos with another source.

 

[Bears Fan]

I switched from Photobucket to Flickr, I like it and so far so good! There is a little bit of a learning curve to it tho, but not to complicated...

 

[DEEDDUDE]

Thanks Bears Fan. I have a friend who uses Flickr and recommended it also, however I have numerous threads on several forums; it would take a tremendous amount of time to update them. As soon as I find time I will update them. Thanks again for the recommendation.

 

[brawls43]

Did you end up deleting your photobucket pics? There's an app you can add to your browser to view old photobucket pics, but its not working with this thread. Its called Photobucket Hotlink Fix.

 

[DEEDDUDE]

Did you end up deleting your photobucket pics? There's an app you can add to your browser to view old photobucket pics, but its not working with this thread. Its called Photobucket Hotlink Fix.

I did. I waited for pb to change their minds and offer a lower price on the extortion; they didn't so I deleted the pics and the account. I do have all the pics in my computer and external hd just no time to go through them and repost.