Dream Job

[hammerhead]

My son has finally found his dream job —actually my dream job too. In a small well known to some restoration shop learning coach works and all aspects of high end restoration.

some pics of what he has been learning:

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this is the beginnings of a Jaguar xk120 rear fender

[hammerhead]

here's his first bike fender

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below is a Fiat Dino circa late 60's early 70's —my son has not worked on this car yet but it is an example of what happens at this shop. All exterior panels and some hidden and structural work was made by hand. The complete restoration of this car will start and finish here. Some cars restored here have been to Pebble. I'm super happy for my son and it will open a huge opportunity for his future. Just not in a lost skill but also meeting the right people. I couldn't be more proud!

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[5.4MarkVIII]

He’s a lucky guy. Hard to have that dream and avoid the trap that is a shop with insurance work. Most have to dream crushed out of them.

[MUSTANGWOP]

Great to hear Gerry, congratulations to your son!!

[ZR]

Coolest of cool jobs in my eyes, kudos.

[ChickenLips]

cool.

It's essentially an artist job. I learned the hard way with photography that learning the business side is just as, if not more important than the art itself. Really easy to concentrate simply on getting better, working on strengths, not weaknesses.

I'd suggest learning the business side and not becoming dependant on a sole employer.

Also, I'm jealous, good for him.

[hammerhead]

cool.

It's essentially an artist job. I learned the hard way with photography that learning the business side is just as, if not more important than the art itself. Really easy to concentrate simply on getting better, working on strengths, not weaknesses.

I'd suggest learning the business side and not becoming dependant on a sole employer.

Also, I'm jealous, good for him.

That's the ultimate goal. He is really lucky and this guy basically came out of retirement to train my son. Bought new welding equipment for my son because most of us old guys suck at tig. lol —Super nice guy and has suggested to my son to takeover the business in time. The shop is an awesome setup complete with frame straightening equipment and spray booth. I'm really really happy for him.

[Scrape]

That is incredible. Way to go! Congrats to your son.

[Uncle Buck]

That’s wonderful. Hope it works out well for him.

[hammerhead]

427 frame-off resto —I believe ‘67. The owner is shooting for a bone stock look including over-sprayed door jams and tight spots.

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Car nearing completion. My son is telling about an upcoming resto on a 1929 Cord. I will check on the model but it is extremely rare and needs full on metal work. I will be looking forward to that one.

[MUSTANGWOP]

Keep the updates coming Gerry!

[Gabe]

Amazing stuff, are there before pics of the 67?

[hammerhead]

Amazing stuff, are there before pics of the 67?

no —my son (Mitch) started there when the car had been disassembled. He did the priming and probably a lot of block sanding and now assembly. The next build will need a ton of metal work and welding should get a lot of progress shots. His boss welds with acetylene torch and Mitch will take over the welding with tig and get some good schooling in metal fab. I'm so jealous...haha

[Gabe]

sounds amazing, jealous as well

[Ponyryd]

That’s super cool, and Ana amazing set of skills to learn-true craftsmen are becoming more and more scarce.

[hammerhead]

Here's an update on the Dino. Its almost ready to go home but it didn't come without mechanical gremlins. The engine and trans work was subbed out. the engine has twin cams with mechanical timing and the builder had some trouble sorting that out. Also some transmission issues with leakage they hopefully are going to sort out within the shop and maybe less delay. The engine is running now just the trans is the sticking point. I'm heading down to Ridgetown this weekend and if time permits Im going to swing by the shop and maybe get a few more pics. (if it is still there) Enjoy your long weekend gents!!

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found tranny leak —I can only imagine the stess of have to pull the engine a trans from a freshly restored car. The engine itself was pulled a few times. Yikes!!

[hammerhead]

Good morning on this rainy Saturday. Here's and interesting project. It arrived just for paint from another shop local to where Mitch works. It's a '30's Packard Hearse. Something we don't see everyday. It's a massive car with a straight 8 flat head and a tiny carburetor. It's so big all the parts aren't in the shop yet for paint.

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[hammerhead]

It's about 20' long and I'm going to guess somewhere between 7-8" tall. I would of really like to have seen how he painted the roof.

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[hammerhead]

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[hammerhead]

This is what it should look like finished. All that ornate work will be made of wood and there should be vintage coach lights. I really hope I get to see it finished but it will be reassembled at another shop.
I will try and get more updates, perhaps the wood decor will come in for paint.

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[RedSN]

Cool! Pretty big booth to be able to paint a bus like that!

For quite a few years we had a ‘48 Packard ambulance in our barn. It was purchased by one of my father’s buddy’s who was making a homemade “Duesenberg” and wanted the straight eight. Don’t know where the shell ended up.

https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/uploads/newbb/2284_4c52d80a01273.jpg

[hammerhead]

wow that would of been cool. was that roof retractable?

What a drastic design change between the 30's and 40's.

[hammerhead]

I haven't been able to get much hobby related stuff done this summer and hoping winter will give me more time. I do have a new project started but its to early to post.

In the meantime my son sent me some pics of a job he's working on. I'm sure there's some 911 fans here and this is a '71. Here's some progress shots for you guys.

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[hammerhead]

^^^^^^

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I think I'm going to conceed and state that he is quickly becoming the best welder in the family...

[hammerhead]

Here's one i missed of the progress on the second frame above...

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[Laffs]

Sweet little long hood there.

[FABMAN]

Love 911s, vintage ones are so cool. Always amazed at how much smaller they are compared to their modern day counterparts.

[ChickenLips]

Love 911s, vintage ones are so cool. Always amazed at how much smaller they are compared to their modern day counterparts.

that goes for a lot of things, including women.

[hammerhead]

2004 Impreza —doesn’t look too bad eh!

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Until the carpet is removed

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Passenger side ^^^^

[RedSN]

OMG, it’s the shock-tower/k-member equivalent of the fox body! How can the rot be so advanced in one specific area, while the rest of the vehicle appears decent?

[hammerhead]

OMG, it’s the shock-tower/k-member equivalent of the fox body! How can the rot be so advanced in one specific area, while the rest of the vehicle appears decent?

lol. Believe it or not I’ve see worse.

[hammerhead]

Passenger side at filler nozzle was pretty bad inside wheel well as well

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[hammerhead]

The complete tower on right side (passenger) was remove and reconstruction of outer well and fuel filler section begin g to be reconstructed

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[5.4MarkVIII]

We were always told that cracked or missing seam sealer allows salty water in between the panels and will lead to this level of corrosion

Also know people that firmly believe keeping you car in a heated garage will cause this because the constant melting of salt filled snow forces that in between the panels.

[hammerhead]

We were always told that cracked or missing seam sealer allows salty water in between the panels and will lead to this level of corrosion

Also know people that firmly believe keeping you car in a heated garage will cause this because the constant melting of salt filled snow forces that in between the panels.

Its hard to say what is best. There used to be a driver here were I work. He had a 90's Mustang Cobra (red Jelly Bean Vert). He was on the old mustang forum and always kept me informed on what was going on around town with Mustangs. When he retired I had the chance to by the car. It had never been winter driven or driven in the rain and always garage kept. I think it was around 2013 when he sold it and it looked like the day he had bought it. No dust dirt grime or anything in the areas where most people wouldn't clean. It still looked like a brand new car. He would take it to a lot of the forum events around the area. I wasn't too into the car being a vert but kick myself now for not buying it.

[Gabe]

I think 5.4MarkVIII was talking about daily drivers through the winter

[ZR]

We are always surprised when what looks like an ultra clean / never seen snow ride comes in with serious rust in odd places. More common vs what peeps think.

[ChickenLips]

We were always told that cracked or missing seam sealer allows salty water in between the panels and will lead to this level of corrosion

Also know people that firmly believe keeping you car in a heated garage will cause this because the constant melting of salt filled snow forces that in between the panels.

That's a two link failure chain, failed seam sealer AND salty water seeping in.

My 88 had a paint flaw at the top of the drivers door post that eventually cancered out the car. It remained hidden under the fender until a leak developed at the bottom of the windshield. Otherwise the car looked mint.

All you need is a minor flaw AND another condition that magnifies the first flaw. In my case a heated garage probably would have slowed or halted the cancer.

I wouldn't condemn heated garages but would be aware that it introduces a unique failure mode not encountered with cold storage.

[hammerhead]

I think 5.4MarkVIII was talking about daily drivers through the winter

I think so yes. There's a lot problems with moisture and heat, metal is thinner, lack of paint in the hidden areas, seam sealer and lack of, some pigments don't protect like others. (White Paint in the past was notoriously bad) The Subby's are bad in this area and if they remove the bumper covers the metal bumpers are probably almost gone too. ( The '04 I have was this way). Back a few post is a 911, most of that rot is caused from heat from the exhaust and moisture. The exhaust was utilized to heat the cabin on air cooled cars. Exhaust pipes that come close to floor boards will deteriorate metal. There is even bad steel that doesn't hold up. Early Toyota Tacoma's are an excellent example of bad steel used for the frames. There's all kinds of problems the Mustang example was just an example that not many people can really do but the end result is the best. We need to move to Arizona...

[hammerhead]

The carnage is almost complete

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[hammerhead]

^^^^^^

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Some sections reused the rest formed from sheet metal

[RedSN]

What a satisfying job! Going to look like new when done.