restoration help

[Don Jordan]

You know about 30 years ago I could think of nothing better than crawling around on a cold cement floor doing manly things under my car. It seems time has caught up to me and it's not as much fun as it used to be. Plus I just don't have the knowledge I think I remember having back then. Now I seem to have extra money I didn't have 30 years ago. So - what this is all about is that I'm giving up trying to restore my 48 4 door and I'm willing to pay someone to do it - and do it right. I live in Southern California - can anyone recommend some one that can do body work and paint, interior, the fancy wood grain dash. I've done the engine, wiring, and all things mechanical. I don't really want a show stopper - just a clean driver. I figure I'd ask first. Usually I get it done and then everyone says "Oh - you shoulda gone to my guy."

Thank you

[47heaven]

You know about 30 years ago I could think of nothing better than crawling around on a cold cement floor doing manly things under my car. It seems time has caught up to me and it's not as much fun as it used to be. Plus I just don't have the knowledge I think I remember having back then. Now I seem to have extra money I didn't have 30 years ago. So - what this is all about is that I'm giving up trying to restore my 48 4 door and I'm willing to pay someone to do it - and do it right. I live in Southern California - can anyone recommend some one that can do body work and paint, interior, the fancy wood grain dash. I've done the engine, wiring, and all things mechanical. I don't really want a show stopper - just a clean driver. I figure I'd ask first. Usually I get it done and then everyone says "Oh - you shoulda gone to my guy."

Thank you

Don...I'm in So. Cal too, in Pomona, and I had most of the restoration work done here locally. Of course, I did everything backwards, meaning the the paint and body, interior and now finishing up the engine...all in that order, when it should have been the other way around. Most of the car's interior is almost close to original specs, except I didn't woodgrain the dash and window garnishes. Instead, I had them painted the original Plymouth Airwing Gray. I felt it gave it a cleaner look, and besides the '46-'48 woody and convertible models had solid colors painted on the dashes and trim...so I'm really not too far off. Wood graining is way too expensive and I'm just not fond of it.

I, like you, am just making a daily driver that looks nice. Not planning to get into any shows because I know the Plymouth judges would laugh at me, so why bother. Just as long as I can enjoy my ride and people enjoy looking at it...I'm happy. Are you going to try to stay original with the interior or just put in new-style fabric? I did my own panels and I can help you with those. Hopefully, you still have the same trim pieces that go the inside of the doors.

Anyway, if you want to drop me an email I'll be glad to give some more info on where I got my stuff. Contact me through here.

Darin

[David Maxwell]

Don, is your `48 a Plymouth or Dodge? Either way, I will be back at the regraining business in a couple of weeks. I have the plates for both cars. As to bodywork and paint, that depends on your location. What part of So. Cal are you in. I'm up in Santa Maria and hour north of Santa Barbara. Up here, I highly recommend the man that painted my car. He does good work, is reliable, timely and more reasonable on price than most in Cal.

[Tony Cipponeri]

Hi Don, Bob Amos has a shop in Riverside, he does some nice stuff. He is currently working on a Mustang, and a 35 furd. Tony C

[Don Jordan]

Thank you for the leads. Driving somewhere is not a problem. I live in Acton which no one has ever heard of - it's in the high desert near Palmdale/Lancaster. It's almost as far to Santa Maria as it is to Riverside.

Here's another question: am I going to have to go to a different place for each thing? One place for interior and another for paint and body work? I guess it's like ordering a la carte - I guess it could save some money.

To answer a question: it's a 48 Plymouth 4 door. The body is straight except for some dents where the suicide doors flew open. Of course it's like an ugly wife that you love - you don't really dwell on the flaws. No rust at least.

[splat1955]

Don, is your `48 a Plymouth or Dodge? Either way, I will be back at the regraining business in a couple of weeks. I have the plates for both cars. As to bodywork and paint, that depends on your location. What part of So. Cal are you in. I'm up in Santa Maria and hour north of Santa Barbara. Up here, I highly recommend the man that painted my car. He does good work, is reliable, timely and more reasonable on price than most in Cal.

Hey David............who in Santa Maria did you have paint your car......just wondering if I knew him. I'd like to talk to you about maybe doing the re-graining my my Dodge too.....I'll PM you when I know when I will be down, but PM any info you have on doing it like how soon you will be doing it again, how long it might take to do (probably just the dash), cost, etc. Thanks.

Brian

[greg g]

Hey Don, I know how you feel. I have this rule that applies to most things mechanical these days. The likely hood I will work on somethig is inversally proportional to its proximity to ground level. I really don't like to work on stuff below the knee unless it is absolutely necessary.

[Normspeed]

Seems like you might save a bit by dealing with individual shops. Darin got some great work locally including the interior which came out great. I think Bob Amos knows some individual shops in his area too.

I still love doing the mechanical stuff, I find I do better work now that I've learned to slow down and enjoy doing it carefully. But after a recent transmission swap in my 53, it took me a week to stop hurting. And cussing.