Observant fans will note that I’ve named this post after a compilation album from The Who.
It feels right, because after spending a lot of time with the fender extensions and getting the headlight mounts installed I needed a break from that general area for a couple of days!
So I cranked up the garage stereo with some Maximum R&B and got to work on some odds and end type work. Not the fun creative stuff that is also extremely aggravating like custom fiberglass pieces, just good old fashioned things that needed done.
Without further ado…
Side Marker Lights
Very small, but an important detail, side marker lights!
I took the pair of side marker lights I had, made a template out of a couple of scraps of poster board and put the new Dremel to work.
The Dremel kicks ass! I love it. I don’t know how I went so long without a new one!
Rust Scaling
Fortunately I have no rust through anywhere on the car that I can find as of yet. I think the car spent most of its time as a summer vacation car or stored in the winter. Lucky me!
The 2nd owner had it for about 5 years or so and did drive it once in awhile during the winter months. That cause a little bit of what I call scaling on the rocker panels and lower quarters/fenders.
Got the corded drill out and threw on a wire cup brush and got to work…
While not deep or all the way through, the scaling runs the length of the car. It will take some time to get it all off and then coat it with a rust encapsulator paint so it doesn’t come back anytime soon. Oh yeah, and I still need to do the other side of the car! Consider this work in progress!
Gas Door D-O-D-G-E Letters
Since I have a ’76 Royal Monaco, my car did not come with one of the most distinct features from the Bluemobile. The D-O-D-G-E letters, with the missing “D” of course, on the gas door.
I also removed the “Unleaded Fuel Only” sticker. Dead give away that it’s not a ’74 with that there!
So now I will finish with the rust scale removal. This will take some time, but it needs to be done.
UPDATE:
After I did the odds and ends I started looking at the fender extensions again. As I mentioned they were way flat in the front. I hated how flat they were. They just did not look right.
In all fairness, I have never seen a ’74 Monaco up close and personal. In fact, I have never seen one in person. I’ve relied exclusively on 2D photographs, and not always showing the best angles!
I placed them in their spots, made some markings where I thought there should be smooth angles and starting filing, grinding, sanding, you name it.
This is where I have to call uncle. These things are kicking my butt and I have to say they are close enough.
They were probably close enough the way they were seeing as the black paint would obscure the lines, but I let my OCD get the better of me.
It is expected to be near 60 degrees this weekend, so I will be attaching them to the fenders and header panel with 2 part 3M epoxy.
Once the epoxy cures I will be going over them with Everglass filler to blend them into the fenders, fill in some low spots, etc. Pretty much make them more presentable before primer.
Will they last long term? I don’t know. I think this is the first time something quite like this has been attempted. From everything I have read I am optimistic.
Some of George Barris’ and most of Ed Roths custom cars built were held together with little more than spit and plaster of paris underneath the ‘glass work and they managed to last years on the show circuits.
We’ll see in 50 years 🙂
