Delays, repairs, upgrades

Well It's been a while since I've posted any progress on the car... because there hasn't been any! I have managed to get the car (Nissan) fixed, got my new air compressor set up, saved up some more overtime money to buy a few more tools, (dual action sander, more wrenches etc.) Now I should be back in business and can knock out a few of these body panels (as in grind down,smooth out and prime) Then I can put them somewhere besides the garage floor, freeing up enough space to pull the engine and rebuild it! If anyone wants to come give me a hand with any garage shenanigans Shoot me a message I'm usually home.
So to Keep us in a good progress mood I'll post some motivational pics I like!

I'm Shedding!

I've been on hold with progress on the 55 since I have nowhere to put anything I have random parts laying everywhere in the garage... if I get some of this crap out of the garage I can actually have room to get the engine out then finish the front frame.

I've had a 10'X14' shed laying in pieces in the backyard for a long time so I decided to finally put it together! Here's how far I got before being unable to go any further, apparently it takes 2 people to put the frame and roof together so I think I have some ppl coming over on Sat to help me finish it up.

OOOOH Shiny!

I love the Glossy "wet look" that this ended up with! I put like 3 or 4 coats of the gloss black on it and i think it looks nice.

I was Framed!

Here's what I got done today... I dragged the 55 half out of the garage to sandblast the frame around the engine, I got the driver's side as done as I can until I yank the engine & trans these pics of the primer look pretty good, I have since put on a few coats of glossy black that look really nice. (a shame since most of the frame won't be visible...)
I only had about an hour and a half to do the work since by the time I got her dragged out and the time I knew it would take to clean up the sandblasting mess(to please my beloved wife). I think the other side will turn out nice too either tomorrow or Monday...




Should anyone like to come over and lend a hand with anything (sanding,painting,tear down of interior) please send me a shout on Facebook or call me (my #'s on FB as well)! If you'd just like to stop by to chat or watch me get frustrated ;o) do the same. Just give me a days warning to have the place spiffied up for company!

PS here's what I plan on her looking like when finished...



My interior paint will be a few shades lighter than the ones pictured but they are pretty.

Stalled due to Inflation!

Sorry I've been dormant so long, between biking to work and other random things...(video games) I haven't had/made a lot of time to work on the '55. The other problem is a lack of fundage... Saving up money to buy a new air compressor while trying to catch up on bills from my "disability pay" period put a huge damper on my spending for the car. I did manage t get a few more parts primed and painted though.
The problem I came across yesterday is how am I to sandblast the front frame without turning my garage into a beach again? Anyway I've had several guys offer to help me yank the engine and rebuild it properly which I have gladly accepted and plan to get together as soon as all parties are free to do so.

Upper control arms after 1st coat

Radiator Support frame

The exhaust/intake manifold next to the Valve cover, I decided the engine is going to be "Chrysler blue" since thats the closest shade I can find to the original in High heat paint, and the Exhaust & all engine accessories will be glossy black (i.e. generator, oil filter holder, fan, pulleys, battery box etc...) I think they look good together.

Here's a pic of the stock engine!

Painting!

^Front Spring Before, After Soaking, Painted

^Inner Fender after soaking, Painting

Valve Cover Before, after soaking, scrubbed, Painted

Freshly painted Valve cover on the engine waiting to be pulled so I can rebuild and paint it!

So I got the replacement tips for the sandblaster, got them installed and..... nothing! I dumped out the sand from the hopper to see if it was the problem, but no... the siphon tube that was supposed to be sucking the sand up through the blaster nozzle was blowing air into the hopper! Thanks Harbor Freight for a $20 piece of junk!
Now in their defense a lot of their stuff is awesome and I spend WAY too much money there, and if I take it back they'll probably give me a new one. I just don't feel like driving to W-S to do it because the GSO store doesn't carry this one...
Anyway that ticked me off and set back my plans for world domination.... OOPS I mean the restoration...

Check out all of my 55 pics on Facebook...
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.892900972381.2354362.25003132&type=1\

Frame Up!

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The front end is down to frame only! Well the engine is still in until I get the transmission & Stuff unbolted but I'm excited! I was stuck on how to get the Upper and lower arms separated from the hubs I spent a few hours trying to figure it out when My best bud Kevin Conklin showed up with his father in law Bob McCue. This man knows his stuff! In like 30 minutes we had that thing completely taken apart. Thanks Bob!!!

When I attempted to do the other side by myself today I had a bit of trouble... I did everything we did yesterday, but the ball joint just would not come free from the spindle so since I have to replace the ball joints anyway I used the trusty recip saw to cut the ball joint Bolt in two. Now the problem is that the cut off bolt is stuck in the spindle arm. I guess I'll try to drill it out tomorrow.

^Just to prove the molasses does work, here's a part that 3/4 of it fit in the solution and 1/4 was hanging out. I hadn't even hit any of it with a wire brush yet, from the rusty crap on the right to bare metal in 4 days.

^Crankcase Breather tube

^Oil Filter Holder

The springs are soaking in the molasses so we'll check on them in a few days and i'll post more pics.