The More I Do The More I Need To Do!

Removing seized carriage bolts.

 I had just finished the new parcel shelf and was going to give it a trial fit.  A rusted carriage bolt and a cracked spacer block told me otherwise. I removed the rear window regulator and you guessed it more dry rot.

 

More dry rot to deal with.

 The rear window really could use new channels anyway, out with the glass and old channels.  Remove all the wood surrounding the rear window and back to the shop.

Great tool, compact air hacksaw.

Hot melt glue holds dry rotted pieces together.

I am amazed that I already didn't have this air hacksaw, a very very useful little tool!  And speaking of good tools the hot melt glue gun has been indispensable in holding together dry rotted pieces.

Some really good patterns.

Something that we don't always have, good pattern pieces.  I always try to mark clearly the new part that I am making with layout lines and shade the areas to be removed.  Even then mistakes can happen!

Clear layout lines make cutting easier.

One side and now the other.

Custom built Honolulu Lulu and Little Lulu

One done and the other one fully marked ready for the saw.  The finger joints appear to be original.  From what I have read they glued all the joints at the factory and then installed the metal, these joints have no trace of glue.  They are snug fit and screwed together and with the bodies flexing, expansion and contraction of the seasons the fingers with cross grain split and broke.  No surprise, it is a situation that you should try to avoid.  Every time I talk with family or friends, they casually ask about the 32 and want to know if I am making any progress.  You know the old saying one step forward and two steps back just comes to mind.  With all the wood that Chevrolet used in their early cars, wouldn't you think that they would have produced lots of woody wagons?  I searched the Internet and really only found one 32 woody wagon and that was a custom build that sold at Barrett Jackson in Scottsdale, AZ.  Someone custom built a woody wagon (rod) with matching trailer and it sold for $53,900, can you imagine?  I am sure that there are more, I just haven't been lucky enough to see them yet.

More later from---Beneath The Bark