April 21st, I had to use a propane torch & a putty knife to remove the wood paneling and glue on the drivers side of the car to get to what is left of the body. It really isn't in that bad of shape. I'll have to rebuild the front of the wheelwell opening like the right side but I made a template so it should go easy. Here are a couple shots of the fire...
I picked up the fenders Saturday evening and they are in great shape! Some surface rust and a couple of dings but in a lot better shape than what I had. They were on a car that was built for export, which I didn't know Crosley did. You can see the holes for the side marker lights that are required outside of the US. I drilled out the spot welds and they seperated nicely. Now I have to figure where I'm going to cut the existing firewall to weld the new fenders on.
May 4th I had my neighbors come over and help me lift the body off of the cart and onto the frame. I had to clearance the front floor pans for the 700R4 auto. trans but it fit nicely. I bought the front pans from the Yankee Crosley guys but I made my own rear pans. I screwed up when I welded the sills in. I had to hang the doors and refit the sills for door clearance. I will fit them one more time before I weld the floor pans to the body. I need to pull the fenders off and replace the battery box and work on the fender wells where they fit the firewall. My projected engine running date of May 31st is growing near. Not sure if I'm going to make it. My next big date is July 12th. Crosley Nationals in Ohio. Must be done by then...
May 14th, had a good weekend of work. I got my hood back from being flanged. 48 flanges to let the heat out. I also welded the driver side floor pans in, welded the left front fender on, replaced the battery box, made by Tim Freshley in Ohio & refitted the drivers door to make sure everything fit. It does!!! Here are a few shots of the hood and fender in place. I had to smooth out a few dents in the fender but I am soooo happy to have good sheet metal after what was on the original car. During the next week, and next weekend, I hope to have the floor and right front fender all done. That will leave the left rear quarter to finish and the rear floor patching. After that, send it out for final blocking and paint. While the body is gone, I will install the rear axle and springs, mount the engine, build the trailer hitch, box the frame, install the electric fuel pump and the brake lines, run the exhaust (1 3/4" dual pipes) & paint the frame.
May 21st, Had a good weekend in the garage again and got a lot done. Tim Freshley made ma a battery box for the right side. I installed it in the right fender, fixed a dent by the headlamp mount, welded on the right fender, the right front and rear floor pans, made and installed plates between the front and rear compartments and started on the "hump" for the driveshaft. I also figured out where the B&M shifter will go so I can cut in the cable hole and make a spot on the hump flat to mount it. A few more things to do to the body and it will be back off the frame and out for paint!!! I ordered the rear axle last week from Currie Enterprises. It's going to cost me about the same as what I paid for the whole car, but worth it. 8" Ford with 3:70 gears, narrowed to 41". Here are a few shots of the battery box's and the floor pans.
Memorial weekend, 3 days of 10 hours on the car, got a lot done. Finished the rear floor pan, finished the "hump" over the trans, filled all the extra holes in the firewall, sanded the cowl to bare metal and primed the front end and interior. Mounted the horns and started on the left rear quarter. All that's left is the left rear quarter, the doors, the side rear slider window braces, the bottom 4" of the left rear wheel well and then the body comes off the frame and goes for paint. While it is gone, I'll be finishing the drivetrain, I.E., mounting the engine, the input shaft and bearing for the trans, mounting the rear axle, when it gets here, and running the rear brake line and the fuel line and the electric fuel pump. 43 days and counting...
June 13th, Had a good weekend and finished the outer body work and finished the rear floor patch and the bondo on the rear wheelwells. I also finished the trans/engine main mounting plate. That includes the input shaft to the trans, shaft bearing, spacer plate and drive pulley. The charging system came in and I have it mounted on the engine. I chose the Harley charging system over the conventional auto alternator because of space. Today, Wednesday, my buddy Speedy stopped over and we dropped the engine into the car. I rigged up a chain fall over the car but I had to lift the engine off the bench and hook it onto the chain. We installed the drive pulleys and took the measurements for the mounting plates for the engine. Next weekend, I hope to pull the body off the frame and send it out for paint and work on the engine mounting. Here are a few pictures, taken by my wife Pauline, of us installing the engine, and a few of the stator and the finished body work.
