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IT'S ON THE ROAD!
After the fire I'd lost my mood for a few days, but I decided not to
let it get to me or set me back, so I went to work on the back of the
body and the rear end and radius rods. It seems like it took forever
to work the rear end. It had old lower bar mounts welded on that had
been cobbed on out of 1/2" steel plates, and there was evidence
of old drag race ladder bar mounts too. The rear end is a late fiftys
Olds/Pontiac Eaton Posi-Trac, so it's plenty stout, as I've had the
chance to find out lately. I can't keep my foot out of it - this thing
is absolutely fun to nail to the floor! When it decides to go straight,
it's a blast - but when it doesn't.....hang on!
Anyway, I got the rear end, bars and the back of the body repaired and
painted, and installed the rear end and bars. I found some big truck
tires at the local tire shop and mounted on 10" wide wheels, so
the car runs down hill like I wanted it to. I had put some short lo-profile
tires on the front already. I did find out however, that most tire manufacturers
are not making the big truck tires in a smooth car like tread anymore,
so I bought used tires that were as smooth as I could find.
I wish I had taken before pictures of the car so you could see the mid-80's
panel paint and Centerline wheels with Mickey Thompson Sportsman tires.
It was very typical of the time period.
I got the car moving under it's own power a couple of weeks ago, so
like any hot rodder, I'd been driving it around with no windshield,
headlights, pick-up bed or tail lights, brakes needing bled, etc., so
over the Labor Day weekend I pulled it in the shop (I was really getting
tired of "crying while driving" and eating bugs!) to put the
windshield on.
After I got the windshiled installed, I stood back and looked at it
and thought "if I just put a little time in here, this thing is
really coming together", so by the time Tuesday rolled around,
I had the car looking like in the pictures below.
It now has headlights, tail lights, most of the wiring is done, gauges
working, etc. I even washed and waxed everything and started polishing
chrome. Of course it doesn't look quite as clean now because I've been
driving it every chance I get. I threw the old interior back in (mid-80's!)
so it's a little more comfortable to drive while we're waiting on 'Rags-to-Riches'
to do a nice red interior that matches the engine and radius rods.
There is still a lot of detail work to do, but it's going to look pretty
slick when it's finished. That's my own opinion though - some people
may not like what I've done with it. If you have any comments, email
them to me. I'm always anxious to get feedback.
When this car is finished up over the next few weeks it will be ready
to sell for $14,900.00 if anybody is interested. Also, all the parts
you see on the car came from our speed shop.
Keep on Roddin'..................................RJay |
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