Got my shift indicator wired up and working. The directions ( for me )were confusing. While waiting for steering column parts I figured I’d sand and buff the rest of the front end that I painted about 2 weeks ago. I really like The Restoration Shop clear. It’s easy to wet sand and real easy to buff after 5 wet sandings. Even the Choo Choo light pockets hand rubbed pretty easily. Next will be the roof and 1/4s
Elco 300 Utility Wagon
- Thread starter Doug Chahoy
- Start date
- Status
Got the steering column and new wheel installed and functional. Started putting the Choo Choo nose back together. Got all the lights in and working. Then Murphy’s Law stepped in when I go to install the grille . A little back story first, Dis-Honest Charles doesn’t have the original style grille anymore. They said that the guy that made them passed away years ago. They only have this billet aluminum grille. After searching for a few years with no luck finding something close to original I realized I had to use what came with the nose. So I paid $40.00 to have it powder coated. Now I had this grille in and out quite a few times to make sure it would fit. It’s only got 4 attachment points on the inside that are like 2 piece V clamps. During final install after all paint work and powder coating, one of the attachment points BROKE off the grille. The small pieces that attach to form the V clamp always seemed to short to effectively hold the grille in place. I have some aluminum that’s the same thickness. So I’ll make longer ones for the 3 remaining attachment points. Wouldn’t you know I don’t have a tap that small, off to Home Depot. I figure I’ll use some 1/4 inch round rod to fab up the 4th attachment point. The last pic is what came with the grille along side of the longer one I made.
Attachments
That does look really short, what a b*tch when you've been waiting to put things together and it breaks
Went to Home Depot yesterday and picked up a neat small tap die set for $35.00. It even has the drill bits for each size 6-32 through 1/4-20 , worked nice for the 3 remaining tabs that I made. Inventing the missing tab was fun LOL. It’s finally in place. IMO it looks 100% better black than it did shiny aluminum.
Attachments
Got the roof, 1/4s and back end painted yesterday. I swear to God if I do another project car after this wagon, it’s going to be a SMALL CONVERTIBLE. Like a Pontiac Solstice or Saturn Sky for an LS conversion. I had to build raised platfoms to sand and paint, then move them on each coat to do the 1/4s. Major PITA. I also got the correct pitman arm that I previously didn’t know I needed when I installed the 800 steering box. Now I can put the rest of my interior, weatherstripping, and trim together while waiting for the paint to dry enough to scuff and buff. When I had the front wheel opening mouldings on with the Hurst gold wheels I thought of how it could look better. I took them to my powder coater to have them gold chrome powder coated . I’ll be picking them up hopefully tomorrow.
Attachments
Not sure why but those tail lights give me a Pontiac vibe. Shame you couldn't find a '81 Lemans front clip for it.
They are 67-68 Firebird lights I always liked the frenched idea they had then. I don’t care for the Lemans nose, SS All the way.
- Status
Similar threads
