Hotrodders.com Project of the Week
To see our Project of the Week archives, click here.

Part 7: Bodywork Begins
Everett Gross

Next I decided to tackle the trunk area. As you can see it's in less than perfect condition.



(Click photo to enlarge)


I'll need some steel, and after talking with Halloweenking and Centerline I get me a couple of sheets of 20 gauge steel. Wow! Look at that pristine piece of metal just waiting to be shaped into a fine old automobile. I tell you this project has been an absolute blast for me to work on. I may not be getting everything perfect but for a first timer I'm learning and doing things I never thought I would/could. And I'm loving every dirty greasy moment of it! Just for the fun of it I'll share this little conversation with you. I showed my mother-in-law my 38 DeSoto when I brought it home and she says, "Do you actually see something in that old piece of junk?" And I said, "Yes, I can make this like new again and you'll be begging me to take you out to dinner in it one day." And she says, "I'll be dead before you get it finished!" Ha, I got a kick out of it. I still think I'm right. It'll be dinner on me, Mom!



(Click photo to enlarge)


Anyway, it's at this point in time Dr. Gross puts on his surgical gown and gets out his scalpel (sawzall) and starts cutting up the patient in question. The first piece is out and now I get a lesson in metal bending and forming from a fellow rodder. He gets me started and I take it from there. Here's a pic of the first cut in the trunk area.



(Click photo to enlarge)


Here's the new piece I made for it (with a little help from my friends).



(Click photo to enlarge)


Click here for Part 8: Trunk and Body Panel Work


Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Record your hotrodding project in our Hotrodders Project Journals. Add photos and information as your project progresses. Easy to use, and completely free. Click here to check it out.

---