Quick update: This afternoon, under a canopy of autumn leaves, the '53 took her final chauffeured ride up to the hot rod shop. My wife came out as it was up on the flatbed, and scrunched her face into the infamous pouty sad face. That's a GREAT sign! It means her love for the car will give me some additional slack when this project inevitably becomes more expensive than we can predict. Within the next week the body should be removed, and we'll finally all lean in and inspect this car inside and out for the first time: frame, floor pan, rusty fenders and all. That's where the project may take yet another twist: currently, the '54 wagon is ready to donate its frame. However, if things aren't as bad as we've been imagining - we may opt to instead sandblast, powder coat and keep everything on the '53 intact for the final build. Not only would that save time by not having to swap frames... but it would boost the '54's value by simply selling it intact to the next person. I already have a local buyer lined up who really wants it - and has agreed to spend what I have into it. That would be spectacular. So, I imagine things will move along briskly over the next few weeks! More to come.
The wagon is dead. Long live the wagon. This morning, the 5 guys at the hot rod shop (and myself) put the '53 on the rack and gave it our most detailed examination to date. We spent an hour crawling inside and out - using flashlights, screwdrivers and magnets to discover that not only is the frame is a goner, but the body is in bad shape, only two good body mounts remain, and that the fenders (which primarily consist of bondo and fiberglass) are epoxied directly onto the body because all the little struts and fasteners are completely gone. So... though the '54 donor wagon sports a cracked windshield, faded paint, four non-matching wheels and no interior... it also is lacking rust, which caused me to finally see it in the light the shop guys have been since it showed up to a chorus of "oohs" and "aahs". And thus, it's with a (moderately) heavy heart that we now focus our attention on the 54 as our new project car. The '53 will become an organ donor: giving up all its glass, the headliner, seats, wood bed, dashboard, wheels and trim. Not sure what will happen to the carcass at that point -- it's still an undeniably beautiful car, but it's not in my nature to pass it off as anything other than what it is: a huge project with a terminal illness. Meanwhile, I'll begin stripping the '53 next week, and take great comfort knowing that the money saved by not swapping frames and fighting rust... can no go towards air ride systems, IFS, Wilwood brakes, rack and pinion steering and other higher end toys we might've had to forego. Long live the wagon!
The second photo shows one of the orphaned body mounts, now just floating in space. The last two photos show the same spot on the '53 vs. '54, and is representative of the situation as a whole. In the end, the decision made itself.
Hard as it is to give up on the old wagon, you certainly made the right choice. It sounds like the 53 is nothing but a collection of parts shaped vaguely like a wagon. The 54 sounds like a much better bet for what you want to do. Good luck!
Another WOW! Who'd thought? Such a beautiful wagon too. Luck was with you when you found the donor car which now will become THE CAR. In the end you will still have your dream wagon. Also lucky you found a group of guys who are helping you in many ways already. Good luck.
Unless I'm down with the true survivor look, I'll be ponying up for a new paint job on this '54. The original dusty blue blue scheme seems a bit stodgy to me... and I'd like it to look fantastic with the shiny trailer in tow. I spotted this '50 Newport about a year ago: sort of a medium putty gray (original code might've been called Dove Gray) with a black roof. I mocked it up in Photoshop for fun, and think it might be a pleasant complement to the warmth of the wood and vinyl inside. While googling, I also came across a '54 wagon with what appears to be a stock wagon rack. The photo is from the 2009 classic car show in Stowe, VT... and I've emailed the show organizers with my contact info in hopes of speaking with the owner. It would be far simpler to make a exact copy of his, vs. reshaping wax molds taken from my Desoto version - which was obviously designed for a different roofline. Whereas I know I'd be happy to whip out a screwdriver for a fellow enthusiastic wagon owner who wanted to replicate something of mine... I realize I'm unusual in that regard - this would be a pretty favor to as of a perfect stranger. Can't hurt to try, though.
Another inspiration scheme - a '42 Windsor... and a bit darker gray on the wagn to more closely match that Newport...
All great combinations. I like the original color scheme look. You'll probably change your mind a hundred times before the wagon is finished and ready for paint.
The shop owner texted me the night before last: "Oh my God, this wagon is awesome underneath!!! We're rolling baby!" That's the best news I've heard so far, in the long run up to this project. Yesterday I went up and spent about 4 hours disassembling what I could of the '53. A little bittersweet, knowing it won't be going back together... but seeing our new baby on a lift with nothing but perfect metal as far as the eye can see... made up for any sadness I'd have felt otherwise. The next big step will be replacing the front end with a self-contained kit from either Art Morrison ($$$$) or Fatman ($$). Those dollar signs are around a grand apiece. It will substitute for everything you see in the last photo, and will simultaneously provide approx. 3 feet of replacement frame, rack and pinion, independent suspension, spindles, control arms and pans for airbags. It will require sleeving and welding the new section into the old - but should be as strong as ever and cause the car to handle as well as a modern one. Rear end is still being pondered, but the venerable Ford 9" is the current front-runner for the strength it would contribute in the area of towing. Next they'll mock up the engine and trans location, at which point they can address the floorpan: it has two small rotted sections near where you feet sit (due to rain collecting there via open windows), and they'll also enlarge the trans tunnel at that point. They say it won't require much - mostly near the firewall where the bell housing is the biggest difference. Then it'll be time to use Rhinoliner (or similar) on the whole underside and fender interiors to rustproof it forever. So that's the next month or so. More to come!
$2000 for a Fatman front clip is cheap. I used what used to be Jim Weemer MMII kit out of Wisc., new name now, and paid way more without any clip. Also do not use the cheap Rhino stuff Wally World sells. Son used it in his El Camino bed and I saw him clean it well. It didn't stick. Good luck. This project was meant to be and Karma is on your side. Just don't screw up because she can change her mind!:banana:
Thx for the heads up - yeah, rust prevention is one area I won't skimp. Not sure it'll be the Rhino product per se, but I know there are a few high end options. Great to know Fatman is a good deal. I was guesstimating on the price, but the guys said it was roughly half the cost of Morrison and I know they run $4-4500.
Had another successful day at the shop. I was in one room, taking apart the remainder of the '53... while a couple professionals were next door working on the '54: removing the exterior paint, and working the deeper dents while leaving the character flaws, dings, etc. The insides of doors, floors, ceiling and other hidden areas will get an 80 grit finish that paint will adhere to. We decided to go with the Morrison front clip, as it has just about everything that would've needed to be added or modified (and ultimately costing me the same). That will be ordered in the next day or so, and once that's installed we're ready for primer. You'll see in the interior photo the sole spot of rust, in the footwells of both front passengers. That will be patched, but the transmission tunnel will need to be slightly enlarged anyhow, so no biggie. Anyhow, after primer I may tap the brakes, as it were. By the time Mr. Morrison's clip is in, this will have already been quite expensive. But we'll have a sealed, rolling chassis that can sit for a while until our finances catch up. The guys are anxious to keep going, but since only one of us is paying for it... I may have to tap the brakes - for a little bit.
Brad it's great that you have pros willing to do the work. From what I've heard not many shops like working on older cars. They like bolting new parts on new cars and getting them out of the shop. I agree, don't get over your head. It's a hobby.
