1959 Chevy Kingswood project

Looks good.
When that car is done nobody is going to care about schmoogied license plates. Too much to look at elsewehere.

 

Good for you for going ahead and tackling the licence plate. It is one of those things that you can redo later if you feel you want to, but it works just fine the way it is.

If hubby thinks it should be done another way you can show him where the suppplies are. That is what my wife does when I make "suggestions" about the way she had done something I might have done differently .

 

You did just fine on that plate, Lisa.
The only thing I remember about your turnpike in OK goes back a while. 1986, to be exact. We were buying our business in Tucson, and needed to be in Tucson the day after Christmas. I was driving my new 86 Monte Carlo SS. Christmas morning, got on the turnpike before dawn, and we were flyin' low. I don't think we ever saw another car the whole way. We came up to the toll booth, with the card we had picked up when we got on. I noticed a state police car at the booth. When I turned in my card, I saw a sign in the booth that told, by calculated time, what your average speed was, and what the fine would be! I got lucky. They charged me the toll, wished me a Merry Christmas, and told me to slow down.

 

It's been a while...

Any updates?

 

Early this week I asked the shop if there was anything "photo worthy" going on, and they said they hope to have some painting done by the end of the week. The sheet metal (for patching and fabrication) and floor pan should arrive any day as well. I might swing by there tomorrow and see what's happening. Very interested to see how that paint choice will look on a large surface. I'm hoping it's not too dark and has enough aqua in it.

I forgot to ask if the engine has been pulled yet... d'oh. But surely they would have told me. I think!

 

I went over today and got a few more pics. Some trim (would you call them that?) pieces have been painted and I am very happy with the color!

The engine guy hasn't been by yet but is expected next week. And the shop owner reports that he'll get started on fabricating the rocker panels and other pieces - the sheet metal we ordered has arrived.

Worries are over about the color being too dark and not greenish enough - the color is lovely.





My kiddo allowing us a closer look.





Pieces awaiting paint. The shop co-owner is on the left. She has been so nice to work with!









The paint booth... you guys have probably seen a few of these before, but it was new to me!

 

:2_thumbs_up_-_anima

 

Lisa, what can I say? That's a beautiful color. I can't believe the progress they are making on your car, I'm stunned. You should be very pleased. We could all tell you war stories of body shops not getting work done. I've seen paint booths before, wish I could afford one. I'm luckier than most, though, my son-in-law does my painting, at my place, in my shop, or outdoors.

 

Love the color.

Paint booth? You mean a cardboard box and a rattle can spray bomb is not a paint booth?

 

Cat..........that's not how your wagon was painted!

 

Thanks - I am glad you guys like the color choice. Hopefully it's close to the original Crown Sapphire... but even if it's not exact, it sure is pretty.

The shop is really on top of things - they've been busier lately than they were at first, but still find time to get work done on the car. SO glad to have found them. Honest, good, talented people.

 

Like the others I am so impressed with the excellent work your recieving from your body shop! I am so excited for you you have got to be over the moon with this project. Your wagon is one of my favorite body styles and I'm loving what your doing to bring this car back to a more respectable state.







I just discovered your thread and have enjoyed reading about your progress so far. It looks like you and your family are really enjoying your new addition to the family.
Thanks for all the pictures and the up dates. I'll be following you continued resto.



By the way, I'm also very jealous...

 

I just got caught up on this thread also, looks like a really cool project, good luck with it!

 

Thanks for the kind words, Fannie. It is a family affair, for sure. We are all so happy with how the project is going so far.

 

A big day at the shop today. They're closed on Saturdays, but the engine guy, Larry, came over to assess the engine so we met up to learn what he had to say. Turns out he does a lot of other things, too - suspension, brakes, a/c, electrical. Pretty much everything besides interior/trim and bodywork. Steve, the shop owner, says he's the best in the business. That is always reassuring to hear.

We talked at length about staying with the original engine vs. putting in a new small block V8. As you guys know, hubby and I have been waffling on this a lot. After meeting with Larry, though, we have decided to go ahead and replace the engine. He said he could rebuild it, and get the transmission in good shape, too, but in the end we would be spending more than a new engine and transmission would cost. Also, we would have a warranty and readily-available parts on a new engine/transmission. He understood my hopes to keep the original engine, but all things considered, doing so made less and less sense. As you guys have pointed out, we could get so much more out of the car with a stronger engine and better transmission.

So - looks like it will be a Chevy 350 small block V8, and a 200R4 transmission. 4-speed with overdrive, if I understand correctly. I borrowed the shop's engine catalog and we're going to make our selection over the next couple of days. I think I want a carbureted engine, rather than fuel-injected, just to hang on to the older school technology a little bit.

As for brakes, he agreed front power brakes, a dual master cylinder with power booster was what we needed. 60 - 40, and we could keep the drum brakes in the back if we wanted to. Does that make sense? I'm struggling a little to understand the terminology.

Anyway, here are some pics from today.

Bye-bye, old engine. I never really knew ye, or what you were capable of.



Less and less of the car sits on the frame now.... here are Larry and Steve getting it on the lift.



Going up...



... and up....



...and up.



The guys noticed the bolt missing from the... what is it? A control arm? Whatever it's called, they said the wheel had nothing holding it into place! Don't know how long it was driven in this condition. Larry will replace the springs, ball joints, and whatever else needs replacing. He thinks the frame looks good.




The new floor pan arrived, as well as a new rear quarter panel and the extra sheet metal for fixing/patching other various holes.



Various other pics, showing the condition of the undercarriage.






Shop owner, Stephen. A great guy!



Just for fun. The Kingswood's roommate. The shop did some dent and ding repair and repainted it.