[123pugsy]

Note: I will bring you up to date but it will take a while. I started this in 08 or so and then stopped to knock down my house and build a new one. The last time she was touched was 2014.

1941 Chrysler New Yorker. Why the heck did I even buy it? I was looking at 37 Fords and 37-39 Chevys. As I was searching for the Chevys and Fords, I realized, I didn't want one for the same reason I didn't want my dream car, a 57 Chevy. There are just too many of them out there. I wanted something different. I had subscribed to Wheeler Dealer magazine out of Iowa, I believe, and I kept seeing an ad for this thing. The side view profile (1st pic) kept growing on me as I realized, I'd never seen a car like it before. I finally contacted the seller about 8 months later, and struck up a deal.


Pics:

 

[123pugsy]

Here we go.....did i mention how ugly the car was. A big paper bag is required to date this thing. The first thing was to tear off the bumper, filler panel, and grill. I mocked up a couple of new grill openings. I was not much better than Chrysler's designers. ain: So then, I thinks to myself that the reason I liked the 37 Ford so much was because it had those awesome tear drop headlights. I went to the local rod shop and grabbed a trim ring and that's when the trouble started. See how far in it is? Oh Gawd...what have I done?

 

[123pugsy]

I refuse to give up, so I fixed it.....

 

[idrivejunk]

This looks like an interesting and creative story. You sure don't see those cars every day.

Thanks for posting!:thumbup:

 

[123pugsy]

Thanks.


Next thing was to join Metalmeet.com to get some tips on how I would go about shaping a new patch so I could cut out the mess on the fender. I learned about the flexible shaped pattern and made one from the "buck" I had created with the modified metal slathered in Bondo. At just about the time I had the pattern ready, I received a PM from another member there, Ken Burt, (RIP). He invited me down to his place for a shaping session on a Sunday. What timing. I took my pattern and a chunk of steel with me. I had been tapping away in my garage previously, afraid to punch the hammer right thru the steel because it was getting too thin. When i got there, Darryl grabbed the piece and started wailing away. All right....if I'm allowed to do that, beauty. I grabbed that slab and went crazy on it. A few hours later, I had my first patch done. Ken had an English wheel which I used to smooth out the panel with. I came home, took the patch and it hugged the car. Wow, I was hooked.

 

[123pugsy]

Rinse and repeat on the other side, just flip the pattern inside out...............

 

[123pugsy]

Rinse, rinse, repeat.....another patch exactly same as the first one. This one was only to use as a buck. I cut off my ugly grill opening mock ups as well.....:sweat:

 

[123pugsy]

Several million hours later, making up bit by bit...........

 

[123pugsy]

Center section:

 

[123pugsy]

It was a scary day when my buddy and I had to tip the bottom edge, having never done something like this below. After doing so, it was all wonky and we thought we were toast until we realized we had to use the shrinker and stretcher to shape the newly formed flange.

 

[123pugsy]

Fender patches welded up and dressed. Then it was time to cut out all the buck material and add the fender tops and full face.


The front of the car was finally showing itself.

 

[KiwiStarChief]

You are a braver man than I am. Keep up the good work, and the reports coming.

 

[techinspector1]

Holy Chit man, PUGSY FOR PRIME MINISTER.

 

[123pugsy]

You are a braver man than I am. Keep up the good work, and the reports coming.

Thanks, braver, no, just plain dumb I thinks....ha.....


I brought the car into the shop yesterday after five years and I'm overwhelmed at the moment with the amount of work left to do. :sweat:


I'll keep plugging away a bit every day until this thread is up to date.

 

[123pugsy]

Holy Chit man, PUGSY FOR PRIME MINISTER.

Ha.........well, I'm sure I could do better than the clown we got....

 

[123pugsy]

I mocked up the front of the hood and painted some grills on the front for a look see..........

 

[123pugsy]

I made a hammer form for new headlight plates as the pieces i had used the first time were horrendous. The last pic shows the mess that was on there.

 

[123pugsy]

So, things are moving along pretty good at this time, or so I thought, when I realized the bottom edge of the hood would need to be like a roller coaster to follow this new front clip. I had matched my patterns and buck very carefully. It would have helped tremendously had I made the buck the right shape to begin with.....D'OH!


Out comes the Bondo to make a buck out of my brand new metal.

 

[123pugsy]

If that wasn't back enough, the headlight plates were canted inwards towards the inside. Set number three coming up. I made a jig to hold them straight as I installed them.

 

[123pugsy]

Forgot to post some pics when I shoved it outside for a look see before cutting out the grills and trimming up the hood opening.