Making progress - Chopped 49 Brougham update.

[Deleted User]

I've been working on bodywork all winter. Just got it into primer this past weekend.



Next up, PAINT! It's going to be 53 Buick Titan Red. I tell you what, it was a HUGE amount of work to get this thing straight.



Here's a quick list of what I've done with the car:

Top chopped 2 inches.

Nosed, Decked, Shaved.

Custom grille opening.

Smoothed fenders and front clip.

Narrowed peaked and sectioned 54 Olds grill

52 Ford fender flares in front

VW Bus flares in rear

Custom rockers and door bottoms

53 Olds dash

1 piece rear bumper , sectioned the ends and filled the mounting holes

filled front bumper.



Here's what I started with:





Here's how it looked last summer in sealer:





And this past weekend:

GrimGreaser

That is nice!

[Deleted User]

Nice job. Keep up the great work.



Ron

lsfirth

Fantastic fantastic fantastic!!!!! It's really coming together nicely....love the chop, fender flares, grill and the low stance!!



Are you bringing it to Spokane??



I think I recognize the recent picture location...looks like you were at billetproof again. I'm pissed that I missed it this year....although I actually made it to the cruise saturday night....fun stuff!



Keep up the great work!!

MikeWA

Yeah, I missed it too- and I live right there! Always "too much to do"- now that I find that you were there, wish I'd have made some time to at least stop in. I did cruise Centralia a couple of times in the afternoon on Saturday, saw a lot of cars and a lot of folks.



The Hud is looking good- I like the wheelwell flares, as well. She'll look good in "Hello Officer Red."



Would be cool to coordinate on Billetproof next year, and park side by side- both cars about the same height, but one sectioned and one chopped and lowered.



Hope to see you next year.- Mike

TwinH

Hey,Nice Merc! My uncle had one just like that except his was a 1965 and

green.:rolleyes: JK...:p I've watched your build here and on the Hamb and

it already has me on the verge of violating at least two of the seven deadly

sins. Not sure that I'll be able to resist once its shiny. Congrats on getting it to

this point,I especially dig the work on the wheel lips. Outstanding.

[Deleted User]

Thanks everyone. I thought it looked pretty good in black, and the goal was to get it in final paint by this summer, but I didn't make it.



I've put a TON of work into making this thing straight. A few more long evenings sanding and she'll be ready for paint. The primer with guidecoat really hides a lot of the body lines, and makes it look kind of like a battleship. ha ha.

bent metal

Super nice. Very well thought out chop too.



Keep the updates coming.

Unknown

Very nice, you should be proud and satisfied with the work and look.

Sonny

[Deleted User]

GrimGreaser

Looking good!

mrsbojigger

Judging from the photos, it looks as if the lower rocker panel is welded to the fenders both front and back. Could you give some information about this?
Peace,
Chaz

hoggyrubber

i gotta say it too. sweeeeeeet!

[Deleted User]

mrsbojigger wrote:

Judging from the photos, it looks as if the lower rocker panel is welded to the fenders both front and back. Could you give some information about this?
Peace,
Chaz

Chaz - I made new rocker panels for the car out of sheet metal on a large brake. They are indeed welder to the fenders. I also had to make new door bottoms as well.
All the fender seams are welded and smoothed on the car,

Thanks.

[Deleted User]

Well. I thought I might post an update of sorts on this thread.

I decided over the winter to re-do the front end of the car. Once I made the grille opening, I wasn't happy with the "flat spot" under the stock headlights.

I've always admired the Wally Welch Merc, and the Buster Litton Ford with their "swoopy" headlights, and decided to cut into mine.

I frenched the headlights, pulled the headlights forward 2 inches by extending the fender, and then fabbed up new lower fenders.

I've been working like mad to get this thing in paint by the end of the month. I'm getting close, in the process of final wet sanding now.

It will get painted 53 Buick Titian Red.

MikeWA

Nice work, Keith. I like the way it turned out.

And a pink Lincoln in the background- about a '59 or so? Is that the next project? I always liked those- kind of like a '59 Caddy, absolutely outrageous excess.

GrimGreaser

That looks awesome!

[Deleted User]

Thanks guys. It's been a ton of work.

Mike - That's my wife's 58 Linc. It runs and all, just needs a little brake work. We'll get to it after the Hudson is painted. Then on to the 61 Olds, the 39 Zephyr, the 38 Zephyr, the shovelhead....etc. ha!

essexcoupe3131

this is going to be a cool ride, a lot of nice work
will look great in red
have fun spraying it
Mike

lsfirth

Wow....definitely a cool look. Nice work!!

Will I be able to see it this year at BilletProof??

Unfortunately, I haven't made any progress on mine lately.

Keep up the excellent work!!!

Lee

hudsontech

You've done a great job on this car - it's going to be a beauty. The only thing I have against it is that it screams "MERC"!!!! I'm sorry, but to me it looks like a 49, 50 Merc. At least in the front. I think it was the redo on the headlights.

Mind you I'm not trying to be critical about your work - that's without doubt excellent. It's just what it looks like to me. I hope you have a thick skin, because I know that when you take it out to shows people (the great unwashed) are going to compliment you on your Merc. I had a good friend in Massachusetts who had a Hudson Jet - people all the time were asking him if it was an English Ford!!!!:S Jim was, to say the least, not amused.

Anyway, enjoy it, have fun and pat yourself on the back.

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

[Deleted User]

Here we go guys.

The car was ready for paint as of Thursday night. I had a company event Friday, so even though I had planned on heading the car down to the booth and getting it masked up, it didn't happen until Saturday.

I had a hard time sleeping Friday night. Something I ate didn't agree with me and I was up all night puking and shitting myself. Saturday morning, I woke at 5:30 to rain. Heavy rain.

My friend Sam came over to my place at 8:30, and we loaded everything up and headed on down to the booth.

We spent all morning drying the car and masking it up.







First, Sam laid down some dp90 sealer....


Then, he mixed up the paint...


and started spraying. The first couple coats of base looked really copper:




But as the coats laid down, and the clear went on, it looked better and better:




We left at about 6:00 last night and let it cure overnight.

I went down today and met sam and rich at the shop and unmasked the car and drove it home.

The color is amazing. The shine is unreal, and I can't believe how straight the car is. I couldnt be happier! 2000 grit wet sanding and some buffing is the only thing left to do before assembly.

schillaz

wow that really turned out nice. thanks for the pix.

lsfirth

DANG....LOOKS AMAZING!!! Way to Nut-it-out after being sick all night!! At first I thought no way will it be ready for Billetproof, but after seeing the last few pictures.....I think you're ready!!!

congrats!!!

Lee

TwinH

Simply Superb,and I love the color or should I say "colors" The shade seems to change
depending on the lighting and now you won't be able to take a pic without the
reflections of whatever is nearby...Congrats,its been a long time coming.

essexcoupe3131

very nice, love the color you have chosen
this is going to turn more then a few heads
superb

Mike

[Deleted User]

Thanks for all the kind words fellas. I cant wait to get the thing buffed and assembled so I can hit the road!

bent metal

Looks fantastic!!:)

Unknown

Very nice work and great paint job. I have some idea what you went through to get to this point.Also know it isn't over yet.
Sonny

[Deleted User]

onerare39

That is one very cool ride!

John