New Timeline

- Week of 11/23: finish paint
- Week of 11/30: colemans (need to tell them about floor mats and center console)
- Week of 12/7: final assembly and mechanicals

We found another good site for parts:
http://www.belairautoparts.com/newdesign/49-52parts.htm

We called them about the ignigiton switch, the only outstanding part that we know of right now. They said no one makes that ignition switch, but he has one that they used in 53's that will work, it will fit into the same receiver and is a 6 volt. It will ship out today, so we will have it by the time it is back from Colemans.

To Paint?

Supposedly it is going to paint this week and to the upholstery shop next week. Which means we did NOT meet our Thanksgiving deadline!

These pieces in the photo are part of the dash and represent the gray color of the interior. They are trying to get as much done as they can "without tying up the paint" room. I guess because it needs so many coats of paint it will be in there for a few days!

We definitely do not want him to skimp on the coats of paint and clear coat. Anyway, we are really close!

This week we got all the weatherstripping, hubcaps, and fuel tank that we ordered from http://www.chevsofthe40s.com/. They had almost everything we needed and I am sure we will be buying from them again. They had great customer service and great quality products. Jimmy even bought an original owner's manual and the original "brochure" given to interested buyers. It is a perfect match to the original LIFE magazine ad given to us by Blake.

We still need to find and order a starter button, ours works but is old and difficult. Beginning the count down! Maybe it will be ready in two weeks!!!!!

Bonneville

Before Thanksgiving?

We stopped by the upholstery place on Monday - just checking in to see their progress. Well, they had the seats from RMS but that was about it! They were waiting on the foam and they actually need the car to do the headliner so . . . there are delays!


The good news was the guy at Coleman's said our springs were in great shape so they will be able to use them. He said usually springs this old were tweaked, broken in places and basically unusable.







We then went over to RMS to see how things were going and to check in with Blake. They were painting! This is a horrible picture, the lighting was really weird but they are painting the frames around the door.

Painting Begins

Chrome is at the chromer and painting has begun! Perhaps we will meet our Thanksgiving deadline after all! You can start to see the black here in the doors. They have to do about three or four coats of black paint and then a few coats of clear to give it that dark, rich color.


We didn't need to buy any new chrome, except for the hubcaps (those rascals!). We have to get weather strips for the windows as well. Interestingly, the upholstery guys have to pop the back window out to put the headliner on. Usually they don't have to do this but in the old '52s they have to tuck the headliner under the window.


She is stripped bare but still beautiful!

Upholstery

We have met with the upholstery guy, Coleman. This is a picture of his shop on Shepherd. It is an old school shop with tons of experience in re-upholstering old vehicles. We met with them for a good hour and went through the next steps in the process. They need Blake to order the foam and seat belts, they need to match the color with the interior paint we selected and get the frames from Blake.

They were working on an old Camero when we were in the shop - some guy bought it when he and his wife met and now he is surprising her with a renovation for their anniversary. It was all bright blue!

Our interior will be two toned, black and gray. We found some photos online of the stitching and everything we want to do and Coleman thinks there is no problemo! It should look very good.

Update - Making Progress