Time out for restoration
Willoughby's Restoration. May mine be as nice.
Danbury Mint 1:24 1941 Chevrolet AK Series in Export Blue
My '41. Given to me by my wife for my 40th birthday. I'm sure Luke and Tracy won't appreciate the bowl cuts today!
Double acting shock, springs, etc.
New shackles and bumper installed
Rear Motor Mount
Transmission and enclosed drive shaft, brake line details
Frame Sandblasting
Snow in Florida
Frame Sandblasting. I'm thinking that I should have done a "total" frame off at this point but that wasn't in the deal I made. Maybe next time.
Frame painted out
SS Brake Lines bent around newly rebuilt 3:55 rearend
Just found out that new bearings cost a small fortune
Brake lines awaiting install
On all fours again!
On the road again...
SS Brake Line Detail
SS Brake Line Detail. Wrong engine mount.
Brake Bracket
Rear Bracket (8.120) oil catch pan
Oil Catch Pan
Rocker panels, upper filler panel, etc.
Bedside
Original Bedside
Original Bedsides
Starting on the cab
Cover-up Exposed!
My biggest headache right now. The inside of the firewall to floorpan support area and the diagonal piece for which no one can identify.
First attempt by my body shop to repair lower cowl area. This dude thought he would just cover it all up. Not!
Inner view of cover-up. Metal guy was subsequently fired.
Oh my, look at was underneath the previous "repair"
Old, old repair to left lower cab cowling area. As obvious from paint outline a poor patch was once applied.
This is what was covered up. Thanks to Roberto for firing and hiring
More rot
Fitting cab lower cowl outer patch panel
Ah So. This is what is was supposed to look like.
Junior working on lower cowl panel. Recently promoted to Chief Painter
Final finish roughing out
Bottom view of "inside" Lower Cowl Panel
Ready for painting
What was original color?
Cowl vent, dashboard still attached, and rear hood hinge bracket mount.
Primed cowl vent cover.
Whatisit? Found under the dash. This is a cheap knock-off defrost vent adapter. They can be found at Sears in the Wet/Dry Vacuum attachments isle.
Disk sanding to find the iron oxid
More sanding. Note hole finally patched
More and more sanding
Etching Primer Applied
Mig repairs to cab windlace area
Almost ready for painting
More almost ready for painting
KAR-PREP prior to spraying sealer on cab
Bob wiping on the Kar-Prep. Notice the use of protective gear!
Surgical Blue tack cloths
Final tack wipe
Spraying the sealer
We know this is the original 1941 Export Blue because the label states so.
First base coat
First Base Coat
2nd Base Coat
First clear coat being displayed by Roberto the shop owner
First Clear Coat. Next step wet sanding and another clear coat.
First Clear coat. Note flash distorted the color
First Clear Coat
First Clear Coat. No flash, color off, but Roberto's reflection in firewall
A sneak peek of the back of the cab. Looks like export blue to me
off to the Line-X Shop
Cab sitting in Line-X Shop
Line-X on Bottom of Cab
Inner Cowl Panel area
Cab ready for mounting on chassis. Artifacts appearing on silver stripe are only camera glare.
Floor board and toe board prior to insulation
Insulated Cab
Toot and Little Toot
3 Terminal Block. Have to order 4 terminal to accomodate turn signals.
Lower Baffle (1.285) and radiator. Awaiting Panel (Front Splash Apron 1.263)
Center Baffle (1.286)
Not too happy with floor mat cut out for shifter.
Crummy floor mat received from Jim Carter's
Driver's side windshield wiper penetration
Inner Fender Mounting Details
Inner Fender Assembly Driver's side
Inner Fender Assembly Passenger side
Need to order welting clips
Miscellaneous sheet sheet metal receiving color correction
Incorrect Defrost Adapter
Wrong size Defrost Adapter received from Bowtie Bits
Correct Defrost Vent on the right
Radio/Defrost Unit
Heater/Defrost Unit
Non-Original Heater/Defroster
Non-Original Heater Penetrations
Back side view of restored gauge cluster
Original floorboard
Tom fitting up toeboard to floorboard
Tom taking direction from Roberto. Tom left and opened on metal business.
Thin metal cropping prior to refab
Final prep work on rebuilt floorboard
Lower Filler Panel, Floorboard and toeboard
Floorboard bottom Line-X
Under seat and gas tank mounting area
Headliner extension
Headliner extension.
Chris prepping hood side
Hood and fender hallucinations
Hood prep
Right side hood wet sanded again
Right hood getting some touch-up
Export Blue!
Hood with Silver stripe painted in
Total length of hood hinge channel
Total length of hood hinge
Hood Hinge
Interior parts laid out in Florida sun
Dashboard with prilimary fill work
Hammertone put back in dashboard
Dash getting some more detail paint work
Roberto happy to be getting rid of final '41 parts
Question 2. What is the original color?
Is that Apple Green on the fender flange?
Fender work
Count a ding
More work on fender to reveal wasted portions
FE revealed
Good reason for undercoating
Fender flanges. Any ideas?
Roberto explaining to Tommy what needs to be done. Tommy has since taken permanent vacation.
Fender patches by newest employee Tom
Tom smoothing out a fender
Fender flange cropped renewed
Fenders moving closer to paint booth
Front Fender Line-X
First black base coat
Second base coat
Rare 1941 die cast parklight assembly. If you have one of the small metal retainers let me know.
The lens retainer is the small metal piece secured by the slotted screw. It secures the lens to the base.
"Vanity" License Plate I lost when I parked it in 1995. Someone else claimed it.
Support Brackets
Running board
Floorboards clear coated
Inner cab headliner supports.
Interior Garnish ready for Hammered Beige
Radiator support and external beer cooler in background
TOOT and little toot
Inner view of drivers side door
Right door etched primer and sanding work
Right door etched primered
Right door. First coat of primer
Left door. First coat of primer
Export Blue on door. First clear coat. Next step wet sanding and another clear coat.
No flash. Roberto embedded in door. Next step wet sanding and another clear coat.
Door wet sanded and back for some remedial paint work
R/L door inner panels. Primed but not totally ready for paint.
Running board to bed splash apron primed
Extension (8.153)
Front Skirt (8.153)
Lower Panel (1.263)
Original (at least in 1952) 216
Starting to tear her down. Transmission was NOS in 1988 or so.
216 looking pretty good after seeing my newly purchased 235. I'm keeping the valve cover and mounting studs to fool the casual observer.
It ran before storing under the tree out front
POS 1957 235 ci bought on eBay. Thriftmaster attached
Another view of nightmare eBay "it ran when I parked it" 235
POS 235 back from National Cylinder Head in Orlando. Note the 216 front mounting bracket.
Another 120 mile round trip and 1 week delay. Rebuilder was really upset that his mechanic overtightened plug and cracked block.
Crack discovered after return from Engine Refurbish Shop. This crack was found after applying etching primmer.
Seems like everything is Inline!
Installing "Pre '68 Dave's" water pump adapter plate
Engine Fired UP!
Rochester "B" Single Barrel worn out Carburetor
NOS Carter YF 2100S
Carter 2100s
Opened up
NAPA 2-5096 Overhaul kit
Napa Part # 2-5096 Overhaul Kit
Front Motor Mount Assy
Retainer, Front Motor Mount, Bottom View
Retainer, Front Motor Mount, Top View
Retainer, Front Motor Mount, Side View
Plate, Front Motor Mount, Top View
Plate, Front Motor Mount, Bottom View
Plate, Front Motor Mount, End View
Shield, Front Motor Mount, Bottom View
Shield, Front Motor Mount, Top View
Shield, Front Motor Mount, End View
Side View of Installed Front Motor Mount
Front View of Installed Front Motor Mount
My Painter. Bob's been painting for 48 years. He's the only guy I know who could take the fisheye and Hammered effect out of hammered paint. Ha! AWOL this weekend 02/24 for rejuvenation. Now on permanent vacation
Tom. Roberto's new Dupont certified painter. Lasted two months. Now on permanent vacation
Repo bedside from Obsolete Chevy. We were somewhat surprised that all spot welds had to be filled.
Local paint shop at matching Export Blue. Not a chance.
Bedside painted with "close" match to 1941 truck Export Blue. Thanks to Barry weeks for recommending 1973 Ford #7 Harbor Blue.
Teardrp? Whatisit?
Ah so desca!
Something happening here.... what it is ain't exactly clear... Somehow the correct paint color is tending to show as a mild baby blue.
What happened 1?
What happened 2?
What happened 3?
Wet sanding again
Right bedside wet sanded again
Tailgate wet sanded
Front bed panel wet sanded
This color isn't going to hit the road. We are back to paint matching now. Decided to go black instead.
Radio wanted. Thanks to Steve G for providing photo. Apparently the '41 had a chrome face while the later models had a plastic face. Now dealing with deadbeat ebay seller. He won't send the radio I "won"
Radio Found and "won" on eBay
This old radio
Hmmm, Me thinks this came out of a farm truck
I want to keep it original although everyone keeps telling me to gut it and upgrade to modern internals.
Boom box speaker cone looks a bit tired
Restored 6V Radio
"Restored" 6V Radio - Detents not working
Why install rusty screws?
BAR (Big Ass Resistors)
BAR - 12V to 6V
I sure hope that blob in the upper center is a ground point
What the heck is that wire in the center supposed to go to?
Frayed insulation on speaker wire.
12v Conversion completed by Justin Rubsam www.stellar-tv.com
Quick turn-around from Mojo Artworks
My plate shop in Melbourne, Florida
My bumpers on bottom after nickling and two coats of copper. Awaiting buffing to look like set on right. Next stop 1 minute in chrome bath.
One coat of nickel, two coats of copper, awaiting buffing.
Hub caps at chrome shop. Ouch!
Hubcaps back from plate shop
Fog lamp housings, bezels and clam shells at chrome shop. Hand crank support bracket in foreground
Fog lamp clam shells replated
Fog lamps back from plate shop
Radio Bezel, Bumper Guards, Grill Emblem, Crank Hole Cover, and Cigarette Lighter Knob
Cigarette Lighter Knob
'41 Radio Bezel - I'm stoked!
Grill Emblem
Hand Crank Hole Cover
Bumper Guards
Upper and Lower Grill replated
Bumper going in bath. I forgot which one.
Bumper headed for 4 hour soak in copper tank
Copper Tanks
Copper tank
Another Copper tank
Motorcycle parts ready for buffing
New Bed 1984
Bill's finished restoration ~1985
Beginning teardown ~1997
Parts headed to attic for extended stay
Grills , filler panels, splash guard, fender to hood panel
Hand crank support bracket
Crank support bracket back from plate shop
New Cloth Covered Wiring Harness from YNZ's Yesterday Parts
Black Woven Loom
Close-up of wiring loom
Note soldered connectors
Hood Props from Dodge Truck
Bumper Guard Mounting Bracket
Putting the new bed together
Discovered bed strips too short too late
Seat
Seat burlap peeled back to reveal springs
Found Army wool blanket used as cushion
