Greg Pugh Posted February 15, 2018 Posted February 15, 2018 I really didn't want to take on another project until I got some of the current ones cleared off the bench and onto the shelf BUT....Lol. I am getting close on several of those and this online build challenge popped up and it was just meant to be. The build challenge is to basically build either a race car, custom, hot rod, or street car in the traditional manner. Nothing (including style) is to post-date 1965. I had just the project! For those not familiar with my '61 Ranchero build, I bought a collection of vintage kits this last spring. Along with my Ranchero, came this '40 Ford Coupe. And much like my Ranchero, this poor thing was an abandoned (and WAY over puttied) project. I briefly entertained the idea of tossing the poor old thing but it's almost mint original box is probably what saved it's life. In addition to that, there was just something about the vision the original builder had that spoke to me. Then, after the success of stripping my Ranchero of all of it's putty, this found it's way into the "Keeper Pile". When the contest kicked up, my immediate thought went to this car. So, much like my Ranchero, I will be building this car following the original builder's vision but to do it up right this time and add a couple of things here and there. I'll post pictures as I bump along.
Greg Pugh Posted February 15, 2018 Author Posted February 15, 2018 First step was to get 'er stripped down. I've always used whitewall cleaner with great results. So in the tank she goes... After about a week, this is what we had. Now, the process didn't necessarily take a week, that's just how long I left it in there. And pay attention to the gold in there. It's relevance will come up later.
Greg Pugh Posted February 15, 2018 Author Posted February 15, 2018 This is what I pulled out. Now I'm generally dumb enough to tackle just about any project, but I think this one might be a bit too far gone. The more I looked at it, the more I thought more along the lines of a "Recreation" of the original build, rather than a "Restoration". The paint and putty came off really well but I think the body is shot. She is ROUGH!
Greg Pugh Posted February 15, 2018 Author Posted February 15, 2018 (edited) Eager to get started, I took it with me on my trip down to NNL West. In the hotel room, I got started by doing a scale 2" section on the body. I didn't want to hack the you-know-what out of it as I wanted something that was super subtle. I started by removing the firewall which I will reattach later. All in all, it went really well. Edited February 15, 2018 by Greg Pugh
Greg Pugh Posted February 15, 2018 Author Posted February 15, 2018 Once back home, I got started on sectioning the hood. Geez! Who would've thought that sectioning the hood would be more work than sectioning the body!?? I made my cut line in the same spot as I did the body, right under the body line/side stainless. The cut went easily, mating the top half and the bottom half back together went easily. Then...when I placed the hood on the car, all of a sudden it was too wide for the body. By like a 1/32" on each side! I have no idea why either! I didn't make any modifications to the top of the hood! So I ended up cutting the hood down the center-line and removing 1/16" of material, then pulling the backside of the hood together. I reinforced the underside with sheet styrene and covered up my mess on the top side. It's done now at least!
Ron Hamilton Posted February 15, 2018 Posted February 15, 2018 Nice! I would love to do a 40, but it is hard for me to come up with a concept. I am leaning towards a stock body with Halibrand Sprints, with a body painted in Maroon or Root Beer Brown, with a saddle tuck and roll gut, and a hot flattie.
Ace-Garageguy Posted February 15, 2018 Posted February 15, 2018 Interesting project... ...but, I think if I had had that baby, I would have just scribed clean panel lines in her and left her as a barn-find and reference. 'Course, you never know what you'll find under all the filler until after it comes off, and many's the time I've wished I'd left a real one alone after I saw how bad it really was.
GerN Posted February 15, 2018 Posted February 15, 2018 1 hour ago, Ace-Garageguy said: Interesting project... ...but, I think if I had had that baby, I would have just scribed clean panel lines in her and left her as a barn-find and reference. 'Course, you never know what you'll find under all the filler until after it comes off, and many's the time I've wished I'd left a real one alone after I saw how bad it really was. I agree. When I saw the first photo, I thought "he overdid the rat rod patina!" Put some outrageous wheels with rubber band tires under those strange fenders and it would have been outstanding. Well, it would have stood out.
Casey Posted February 16, 2018 Posted February 16, 2018 I think you ultimately made the wise choice, though I would have made it as soon as I pulled it out of the box. Better to start with a clean, solid base. Looking forward to seeing the body modification progress.
StevenGuthmiller Posted February 16, 2018 Posted February 16, 2018 7 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said: Interesting project... ...but, I think if I had had that baby, I would have just scribed clean panel lines in her and left her as a barn-find and reference. 'Course, you never know what you'll find under all the filler until after it comes off, and many's the time I've wished I'd left a real one alone after I saw how bad it really was. I would have thrown it directly into the trash where it belonged! Especially for a kit as readily available as this. Why waste the time? Steve
Ace-Garageguy Posted February 16, 2018 Posted February 16, 2018 23 minutes ago, StevenGuthmiller said: I would have thrown it directly into the trash where it belonged! Especially for a kit as readily available as this. Why waste the time? One man's trash...
Greg Pugh Posted February 16, 2018 Author Posted February 16, 2018 This one too... http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/123297-61-ranchero-old-60s-custom-rescue/
StevenGuthmiller Posted February 16, 2018 Posted February 16, 2018 29 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said: One man's trash... Sure, but a Johan '61 Dodge Dart is a bit rarer animal than an AMT '40 Ford. It's a little like comparing a Bengal Tiger to a Barn Swallow. Steve
slusher Posted February 16, 2018 Posted February 16, 2018 We have seen some bad ones save but the 40 Ford was really bad...
Richard Bartrop Posted February 16, 2018 Posted February 16, 2018 It looks like the last owner used his teeth in spots. If you did want to use it for anything, I could see turning it into a radical custom.
PARTSMARTY Posted February 16, 2018 Posted February 16, 2018 4 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said: Sure, but a Johan '61 Dodge Dart is a bit rarer animal than an AMT '40 Ford. It's a little like comparing a Bengal Tiger to a Barn Swallow. Steve x2
Ace-Garageguy Posted February 16, 2018 Posted February 16, 2018 (edited) 8 hours ago, Greg Pugh said: This one too... http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/123297-61-ranchero-old-60s-custom-rescue/ Wow. That's one serious piece of resurrection. Pretty fine work there. Edited February 16, 2018 by Ace-Garageguy
espo Posted February 16, 2018 Posted February 16, 2018 You seem to have the ability to save the unsavable when it comes to old Glue Bombs.
bobthehobbyguy Posted February 16, 2018 Posted February 16, 2018 Good call on starting with fresh body. Looking forward to seeing more work on this. Im sure its going to come out as nice as your falcon has.
Greg Pugh Posted February 16, 2018 Author Posted February 16, 2018 Thank you everyone! I'm hoping to get started on the top this weekend.
Greg Pugh Posted February 16, 2018 Author Posted February 16, 2018 8 hours ago, Richard Bartrop said: It looks like the last owner used his teeth in spots... That made me laugh out loud! Lol
Ron Hamilton Posted February 16, 2018 Posted February 16, 2018 That original car was down right ugly!
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