My 57 Fleetwood restorations photos with questions.

[57flw]

Hi all,

Have been very busy lately being the do this do that person for my mate the panel beater come painter.

The Fleetwood is coming along quite nicely in relation to the body work.

I am truly amazed at the number of times the doors, bonnet and boot get put on and taken off during the repair process.

If there has been any doubt about any part of the metal not being in excellent shape it is cut out and replaced. Now I know what the big bucks cover.

I thought I would show some photo's before the paint went on.

[57flw]

Few more

[57flw]

And a couple more.

The bits hanging up are going to be interesting to find somewhere to put them.

I found these in the box that was delivered with the car and spent hours cleaning the old paint off them in the sand blasting cabinet.
I would imagine the paint had been on them for more than 50 years.

Ken

[57flw]

Cleaning and more cleaning.

I am amazed at how many parts need to be cleaned to make the job look half reasonable and also how long all this takes.

I have spent quite a bit of time just getting rid of the grease and grime off the bonnet(hood) hinges and locking mechanism.

Here is some photo's as usual.

By the way the body is all now prepped for painting and will get colour very very soon.

Stay tuned.

Ken

[57flw]

And a couple more of the bonnet catch.

Question!

Are these parts left in their natural state or are they covered with some sort of compound?

I know there was no paint on them just grease and road grime.

Ken

[Quentin Hall Australia]

 G'day Ken, THose bits were zinc plated. I get many of my bits (bolts brackets sheetmetal, )zinc plated here in Bris. There are a couple of companies I use. 57 used silver but some other models used gold. 
    Glad you got your missing part. Hats off to Marty. He sent me some extra parts and paid the extra $40 postage himself. He didn't ask to be reimbursed but of course I did and with enough change to buy a beer. Not many people do stuff like that these days. I will be making another list up of bits I need and supporting him.
    Regards. Quentin.

[57flw]

Some Colour on the car at last.

If there is any interest here is some photo's of my Fleetwood being painted.(9 of them)

What this means is the panel work is finally completed and I am one step closer to the time that I have to work out where all the bits go. Oh what joy.

Perhaps someone who has already done this before would like to help me put the car together. I could provide the accommodation and the beer.
I have been told I make an excellent supervisor. LOL.

All the photo's were taken from outside of my mates paint booth. He would not let me inside.

The doors, boot and bonnet will be done tomorrow.

The colour is the same as the car was born with, Mountain Laurel which everyone knows is a real MANLY PINK.

Ken

[57flw]

Three More.

[57flw]

Last three.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Looking very nice, and I like it when another step closer has been completed.

Bruce.

[JKF]

I love this thread, super work Ken!

I'm pretty sure of bonnet catch being zinc plated (silver) as Quentin Hall Australia states. Hood hinges though I believe only were zinc plated on the eldos in 1957. (Correct me if I'm wrong!) I would have plated them anyway but that's me.
And hey, Mountain Laurel pink is a great Cadillac color. Never heard any cool songs about my "Brown Cadillac"

J Kjerrulf

[P Tesone]

Ken - what a great job ! This car is going to be beautiful . Keep the pictures coming . I know how much work it is to document the progress in stages as you are doing , but it will be worth it when you have a complete photo album . Paul Tesone CLC #6876

[57flw]

Bruce,
Yes one step closer thanks to my painter mate. Without him the car would not be so good looking. He has done a wonderfull job. The doors, boot, bonnet and guards go back on tomorrow. I then should have some more photo's to post.

Jan,
Thanks for your input and your enjoyment of my thread. I have done a search and cannot find any songs about a "Brown Cadillac". Sorry.

Paul,
Thanks for your kind words and encouragement.

Talk about getting parts "just in time".

I ordered a HTR BLOWER MOTOR PLENUM RUBBER DUCT BOOT from the US and it arrived today.
I needed to fit this part prior to the left hand front guard going on and I was able to do that today.
I love it when a plan comes together.

Busy day assembling the body tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Ken


                       
                       

[57flw]

What a full day
Worked until the job was done.
My mate Matt is a bit of a slave driver and here's me I am supposed to be retired.

All the doors, bonnet, boot and front guards are back on and once it was all done the car got it's final rust proofing.

All that is needed now it a last buff and then it's the dreaded part.
Where do all the bits go.

Here is the first three photo's of the process. There is six in all.

Ken

[57flw]

Next three.

As you can see the painter is a stickler for gaps and lines which is great for me.

He has done a really professionable job as far as I am concerned.

I am very happy with the body.

Ken

[Roger Zimmermann]

Ken, you are more or less at the end of the tunnel; the fun (and sometimes frustrating) job will begin with the assembly of a great number of parts!


Roger

[57flw]

Roger,

Being at the end of the tunnel is fine but now I have to decide which way to go.

I know it will be frustrating but I am not sure where the fun part comes into it.

Ken

[57flw]

My car is now home and in my shed, well at least for a short time.

I have finally sold my house and will make a move with the Caddy and all it's bits and pieces, that are spread all over my shed, in the next couple of weeks to our other place.

Hopefully she will not have to have any more rides home on the back of a tilt bed truck in the rest of her revamped life. See photo 2932.

The move will take up my time for a while and then I will get back to the enjoyable work.

Ken

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Great news on all counts, and boy, they look like they would be good off-roaders with the rear brightwork out of the way.

Bruce.

[57flw]

I don't think so Bruce.

I may go through a puddle at some stage if I cannot avoid it, but it will be slowly and she will never go OFF ROAD.

Ken