76 Caprice Estate from Florida to California or bust!

Possibly some good news on the wood grain front?

After reading that post, I seem to remember that your wagon is at a shop in the Los Angeles area? Then I remembered there is an excellent 'wood grain guy' that runs a side business out of his home - in the area.

Here's his website:
http://www.woodgrain4wagons.com/

Here's a thread in the 'wood grain' sub-section:
http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30893

He lives in Lakewood, CA, which is north of Long Beach.
I don't have any direct experience with Mick, the owner, but I've seen numerous 'good job!' comments on various forums.

If I had to guess, you have probably already heard of him.

Marshall

EDIT:
Forgot to add that while his website offers a selection of wood grain patterns to sell and ship, he apparently also does complete installations. If you look at his gallery, there is a '67 Ford Fairlane Squire pictured. It belongs to one of our members, 'CMPRSD', who lives in Orange County I believe. Mick did his wood grain installation. I've seen his wagon in person, and the wood grain looks totally original.

 

Thanks rrbnut, yours is a stunning car, and I did not know that your wood was original until you pointed it out in another thread. Thanks for the info about the wood size as well, much appreciated.

Thanks Krash and yes as it turns out, I have had contact with Mick at wood grain for wagons a couple of months ago but at that stage while he has done some GM wagons, he did not have anything for any model clam shell yet, and really if it got down to it, I would have picked a wood I liked and probably gone to him for the installation anyway. His reproduction squire wood with the lines looks incredible! I will need to dig up my original correspondence with him again to see what I need to do now because, as I mentioned, I have had a lucky strike when it comes to the replacement wood for my 76 CE.

After much research, I managed to find a complete roll measuring 19 1/4" by 90" of nos di noc in the correct Mozambique wood grain for the 75 and 76 CE. rrbnut was kind enough to measure his car and while I was not too fussed about the length, but rather the width because it probably would have been too hard to make it wider without noticing some sort of join. It turns out that the widest part needed is 18" to do the side so I am guessing that this must have been an unaltered slice straight off of the roll in the day. I have only just paid for it now and at this stage it is on its way to my contact in Ca.

Ok the plan is to now have this piece scanned and then reproduced so that I (or anyone else for that matter) can reproduce this wood grain for years to come while preserving the original piece forever as well. I was actually thinking about contacting Mick again to see if this is something he can manage and going by my first contact with him and now your recommendation, I will definitely make it my first port of call now.

Anyway now that I have paid for and secured this piece, I can now put it up here. Here is the correct part number and description on the tube

A little research shows that Molle Chevrolet is still going but Swinson Chevrolet is no longer.


It will need to be completely smooth out for scanning though


Well over 18"


Length should not matter as there is more than enough to mix it all up like the original installation.


Cheers Mike

 

Thanks pd294, yes most of the wagon was stripped to bare metal so I am hoping for a near perfect finish. These pics were taken a couple of months ago and I have been struggling to find time to put them up. Being stuck here down under while the car is in SoCal, I have had only a trickle of updates as well.

 

Some more update pics
Here the wagon is ready for blocking back, you can see the how close the paint was stripped back on the fender after this panel was blocked back


Here the rust was repaired under the window. These areas were pretty clean and only required only small attention.


Same shot from the passenger side


The panels looking very straight right down the line on both sides at this stage


And across the tailgate.

 

The Premier, those are some great pictures of her getting back together! Do you have some of the inside spare tire well, I'm interested how the garage fixed the drip well from that area to where the tailgate goes into the body.

 

This is looking great!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arZdeg_fL-I

 

Thanks Fsl it is looking pretty good so far. I have some pics of it painted now and when I get the chance, I will post them up as well. Unfortunately because the car is in SoCal and I am here somewhere else across the pond, I have to rely on a third party to get me any update pics. While it is not the ideal situation, access to things like door rubbers, wind shields and wood di noc and even some old fashioned expertise on these old girls makes it bit easier to manage overall. I do not have any pics of this repair but I will document this as soon as I get the chance, either over there if I end up going back to pick it up personally or once it arrives back in Australia.

Thanks Mike, love the Vid!

Cheers Mike.

 

Here are a couple of pics with the doors off


You see the shine of the top coat inside the front fender

 

Any more news on the Caprice Estate restoration, Mike?

JWD in Nashville.

 

where in Southern CA do you have it?

 

These are the latest ones I have, but I think progress should have moved on bit from here.


The hinges look good in white but I will redo them back to factory when I get it back home.




The panels are dead straight with no evidence of any major accident damage, except for the light bump on the L/H front.


The rear window channels are clean but you can see where I wrote rust which was some where near the switch.


I have a couple more which I will put up a little later, cheers Mike

 

Hi rrbnut I dropped it off at one of my US contacts home just outside Phelan just north of San Bernardino off the I 15. I didn't have enough time to actually go to the body shop before I left so I can't tell you exactly where. I know it is still local though but not close enough to keep checking in on a moments notice and that is why my pics are so far and few between. They told me if I wanted it quickly it would cost more so I told them that there wasn't a rush and to let paying jobs go through first. That's why it is taking so long!

I am thinking about coming over for a week in early November to tidy up some loose ends, but I am extremely time poor at the moment.

 

Looking good! Do you have some pics of the spare tire well (from inside of the car)?

 

that area is about 1 1/2 hrs from me, but in a pinch can go if you need. Seems to be progressing nicely. In case you do come out let me know via pm.

 

Hi Fsl, no unfortunately I don't at this stage but I will certainly document it for you when I get the chance, either over in the US or when it gets back here in Aus.