1947 Chrysler....before & after.....

[BobT-47P15]

(may be either a 46 or 48, not sure). (Not a dial-up delight. 6 pics)

First time I saw it at a radiator and mechanic shop about 35 miles from here, it looked like this. Was purchased from an older fellow in the area. Not all that bad to start with.

It was at the same shop today.....progress has been made.

New paint, tires, wheels, interior, brakes and other misc things as needed.

Engine has been detailed.

How to deal with the glove box door......did it have plastic or chrome?

The one thing they are now having trouble with is a fuse/relay right beside the voltage regulator. It causes or allows the battery to run down. I think that is an item not easily found. All in all a pretty nice updating job. I would think a new glove box door is in order eventually. Looks like only one heater.

[PatS....]

WOW!!! What a great job on the old Walter P. Kinda neat to take it back to the scene of the crime so to speak for the after picture.

As for the glove box door, that's the cleanest treatment I have seen to deal with the lack of plastic on those cars. Looks like it belongs there.

[BobT-47P15]

I know a fellow here in town who has redone a few 1946-48 Fords. He would always have the dash lightly padded and covered in vinyl. Looked pretty good.

[Guest chrysleritis]

I've started a project to reproduce the plastic trim pieces for the dash and front doors which you've got covered in tidy fabric here. I've got a 1941 Chrysler. Very similar dash treatment -- plastic face on the glove box door, plastic pieces at the edge of the dash wrapping around to meet plastic pieces at the leading edges of the front doors.

I've been casting alumilite parts in silicone rubber molds.

I will try to write a longer post about the process later, because I think it would be useful information.

But some initial observations are:

1) It's not that hard to do

2) It does take a bit of time spread out over several days

3) It does require a little bit of artistic "touch", unlike the usual wrenching work that more of us are used to.

4) It turns out really quite nice reproduced parts

5) It requires having an original part in good enough shape to serve as a template, which is nearly impossible to find with this old crappy plastic.

6) The materials are really freaking expensive.