Low Budget Ideas OT

[55 Fargo]

Hi all, I am constantly faced with budget concerns with the 47, as well I have young children, home , mrtgage, driver cars etc, just like a lot of you guys.

I have done this to date, 95 % of mechanical is complete and in good order, at least I think.

The interior neeeds complete reupholstering, the bumpers need to be re-chromed.

The body work is at this stage, all metal welded into floors/rockers etc, car was stripped and primered, I am continuing on with panel alignment, etc.

So all dent removal, filler work, sanding, prepping and painting needs to be completed.

I am trying to do this, but am not an expirenced body man, so we shall see how far I can go with it, so far not bad.

Now my question is this, what have some of you done, if money was an issue, did you complete things in stages, did you wait and have things done every few years, have some of you driven your cars rough for a while, just lookin for ideas.

I like working on the car, but sometimes, without equipment, experience, and quality parts, it gets frustrating....................Fred PS this car is too rough to be show quality, just hope to make it a nice driver

[Norm's Coupe]

Fred,

True show quality show cars are not driven. They are restored, stored away in a garage and only taken out for shows, and then they get to the show by trailer. Preferably a closed trailer to keep dirt and rocks from hitting them on the way to the show. 99% of the cars you see at shows are just #3 cars. They all have flaws in them if you look closely, even the great looking street rods are the same if they are driven. There is no such thing as both a true show car and a driver. A true show car is only one that looks like it just rolled off the assembly line. So...........just continue as you are now, drive it a little and fix it up as time and money permits.

If you want a prime example, just look at Ed's Plymouth he just wrecked. It was just in primer and the interior not finished. Yet, he drove it from St. Paul, MN to Detroit for the POC show and entered it in the show. It didn't look bad, but it was far from being a show car. It was just a nice driver and he was having fun with it, even though it needed a lot of work to finish.

[Young Ed]

If you want a prime example' date=' .[/quote']

Pun intended ?

[Norm's Coupe]

Pun intended ?

No pun intended Ed. Was just pointing out that cars at shows are usually #3 cars and not done. My coupe still needs a little body work too, but I still drive it to a cruise in from time to time. Even had it at a couple of GoodGuys shows sitting with all the other cars. Didn't even have the headliner in it then either. The first cruise in I took it to I didn't have the door panels, headliner or carpet on the floor either. Was just trying to point out that the cars don't need to be perfect to take them to cruise in's and shows to have fun. Back in June I even had it entered for judging (by the public) at a small car show. Didn't win anything and don't know how many votes it got. Only know it got two votes for sure because my wife and I both voted for it. :D

[55 Fargo]

Hi Norm, I realize a lot of collector cars that are driven are usally #3, even when they have new paint. engines interiors etc.

I just want mine driver quality, as you have mentioned, mine will eventually get close to finished, new paint interior, chrome etc, will have to patient with steady, slow progress.............Fred

[JIPJOBXX]

I know if a person takes his time can have a nice old driver. I'm very proud of the fact that probably 98 percent of the old Dodge I did and sure its not perfect but in the end who cares? The above picture was taken when I had sprayed it with a sanding primer and then alot of prep to have Maco paint my car. The interior has seat covers but the rest is original and sure its old but you know what? I kind of like that feeling that its been around for along time.

Oh yes the best part of the whole deal is that I have a nice old car and only have around 7500 dollars in it and that everything!!!![

[55 Fargo]

Hi Jon, have to agree with you, I think your car looks great, how much prep did you let Maaco do, I am thinking of letting them do the final sanding, maybe some filler work and paint. We have 3 Maacos here in the Winnipeg area.......Fred

[David Mac]

Jipjob:

If I may ask what did Maaco charge just to paint the car?

David Mac

[JIPJOBXX]

I think the final cost was around $550 and I also had them do the final sanding. I did do the prep and they asked me if I wanted to work for them but no way! That's to much work.

[1940plymouth]

Fred,

I have had my '40 Plymouth business coupe for twenty years next month, the first two years I drove her each summer, then for about four years I couldn't afford to put her on the road, but was able to get some necessary parts, along with raising four boys we finally put her back on the road in either ;95 or '96 and the old thing has been on the road since. She isn't a show car by any means, but a daily driver here in the Catskills when the weather permits all year long....

In that period of time, the past 12-13 years I have done work to her as she requires it, ie generator, water pump, king pins, etc. Most of the work my sons and I have done. In fact, while I was in Rapid City,Sd in '00 visiting my son at Ellsworth AFB, my youngest son painted the coupe teal using Rustoleum paint. The paint has held up very well and being that it was one of Shane's first paint jobs, it will stay that way as long as I own the car. Once one of the boys get it, then they can paint it.

I guess what I am trying to say is that these old Plymouths need to be driven as long as they are safe, it doesn't matter if they aren't pristine as far as I am concerned. They were built to be driven and that is just what I do with my Plymouth and even with the condition that the paint is in, I still get thumbs up when I drive down the road.

Hope this helps,

Bob

[55 Fargo]

Fred' date='

I have had my '40 Plymouth business coupe for twenty years next month, the first two years I drove her each summer, then for about four years I couldn't afford to put her on the road, but was able to get some necessary parts, along with raising four boys we finally put her back on the road in either ;95 or '96 and the old thing has been on the road since. She isn't a show car by any means, but a daily driver here in the Catskills when the weather permits all year long....

In that period of time, the past 12-13 years I have done work to her as she requires it, ie generator, water pump, king pins, etc. Most of the work my sons and I have done. In fact, while I was in Rapid City,Sd in '00 visiting my son at Ellsworth AFB, my youngest son painted the coupe teal using Rustoleum paint. The paint has held up very well and being that it was one of Shane's first paint jobs, it will stay that way as long as I own the car. Once one of the boys get it, then they can paint it.

I guess what I am trying to say is that these old Plymouths need to be driven as long as they are safe, it doesn't matter if they aren't pristine as far as I am concerned. They were built to be driven and that is just what I do with my Plymouth and even with the condition that the paint is in, I still get thumbs up when I drive down the road.

Hope this helps,

Bob[/quote']

Hi Bob, enjoyed your post, here is a pic of the beast, it is still in primer. I have also considered spraying on Rustoleum, I would reduce it with auto enamel reducer and add gloss hardener, they mix quite well.

The worst case is the paint doesn't come out that well, you sand it down and have it re-painted at Maaco. The body prep is still the same procedure.

How about a pic of your car, like to see it............Fred

[1940plymouth]

Fred,

Thanks for posting the photo of your car, sure looks good

If I have done this right, there should be two photos of my '40.

This winter I have to take the tranny out, as if the other day she stuck in second gear, even though I had the shifting lever in nuetral, The linkage doesn't bind anywhere, and it only does it once in awhile. Our antique tractor club has their ninth annual two day show this weekend, do I will drive the old girl down both days. Only five miles from the house, so if I have problems I can linp her there:) Oh, by the way, right now she shifts normal, which is a good thing

[JIPJOBXX]

My old Dodge as most of you know was sitting in a barn when I found it. I have had it for nearly 18 years and there were a few years in the middle I also was doing other things like raising a family. I oust to go by that old Dodge sometimes when it was down for the count-no engine-no transmission and plenty of worked to be done and touch it and say to it "Someday if the lord let it be you will be back together again!" And so its been an 18 years labor of love and hate that finally when finished I kind of feel that she is a part of my soul.

[JIPJOBXX]

Oh one other thing about that old Dodge. I built that car port just to have a clean area to work on my car. I starout to build a garage but our wonderfull city planners put a squash to that idea when they wanted me to change my plans and move my drain field. Not the way I wanted it to be so I just spent two weeks and built that car port without a building permit and at least I had a nice cement floor to work on. Its built right but those darn people down at the city hall all they wanted was more money and more problems for me.

http://i2[/img].photobucket.com/albums/y4/1942dodge/IMAG0002.jpg

[dodgebomb]

Just drive it as you work on it. Every day you don't drive it is a day you won't get back. Seems to me when an old car is driven regularly (hardware store or a car show) your'e more in tune with how it runs and what problems may be developing. Most important thing is to enjoy your old ride while you can.

[Tony Cipponeri]

Rockwood, down here in SoCal, most of the local car shows have a under construction class. They give a trophy for it also, of course there are a few guys that have been winning this class for a few years. Tony C

[BobT-47P15]

Fred, mine still needs work even though it looks good a few feet away.

I had a friend paint it.....think he only charged me $75 for his labor.

I bought the paint and supplies, did sanding, masking, etc....then took it

to his house for him to spray. I did not do any body work, therefore there

are small dings on the front fenders and some other places, plus the

passenger side is a little wavy from body work back in the 1950s or 1960s.

And, there are a few runs in the paint. But -- I take it to shows, cruises,

etc and people like seeing it. My plan is to eventually do the body work,

or have it done, then get one more good paint job. Maybe base coat,

clear coat.

If you want.......do the most obvious pieces of body work needed, get a

cheapie paint job......you can make your own door panels.....maybe a

set of box seat covers......enjoy and don't worry about it. You can do

upgrades as time and money permit. Most people out there don't know

what youve done and what it needs. They just see a neat old car

which pleases them.

[123.gramps]

A long time ago when I was 18 I purchased my first car, a 1948 Plymouth club coupe. Cost me $35.00 from a disgrunteled fella who didn't know how to fix it. Well, $10 bucks later, blown head gasket, I had a really great running car that I drove till I went into the service. Never forgot the fun, anyone remember their spedo turning colors from green, to amber, to red??. Anyway, years go by, buy a basket case corvette build it, start realizing how old I am and look for and find an old Plymouth club coupe in a barn in upstate NY. Same color, same interior memories came rushing back. My son, grandson and I went and got it brought it home and made it run. One thing we couldn't do is get the rodent smell out of it so we are in the process of replacing the interior. Why am I telling you guys all this??? Time, its what its about... just time. I drive that old Plymouth and I am a young man again. Like the vette, I can work on this one as long as I can hold a wrench and will drive it every time I get a chance.