A Good Start for the New Year

Walker Auto Pride did not have a 1953 rear gravel pan but did have a 1951 that fit the body line but was longer and the ends had to be cut off with new return flanges welded in place.



To make the new patch panels for under the tail lights I cut a 6" x 4" piece of 20 gauge and bent a 1 1/2" flange, using two pieces of angle iron in my vice, then cut notches in the flange that would allow me to bend, fit, and clamp it to the gravel pan and spot welded the notches to hold the form. Next I cut it to fit between the seams under the tail light and rear trunk panel, held it in place on the car then started forming the curve using the new forming head and body hammer.



After several passes of tapping the piece over the forming head it took the curved shape on one end that came close to the shape under the tail light then I continued hammering and shaping the piece until it was close along the top (bottom was already fit to tail pan). I tack welded one end in place, after some final trimming then worked it along the top with the hammer and dolly tack welding and trimming as I went. The welding was finished using the skip and let cool method to avoid warping. Then 80 grit flapper disc on the 4 1/2" grinder cleaned up the welding nicely.









The car was rotated on the Rotisserie for access to the rusted out trunk floor pan under the tail lights, new pieces made and welded in place including a new flange that connects the trunk floor pan to the new body panel. I cleaned up the bottom of the car and painted it with POR-15 base coat then a black top coat



The body was removed from the frame and put back onto the rotisserie while the frame was taken to Allcoat in Kingman to be powder coated.



I spent some time on fitting and patching the dash center console and the rear sheet metal under the rear window and made new 2" x 2" support frame under the body that attached it to the rotisserie.



It only took 3 days for the frame to be powder coated with semi-gloss black and I picked it up on my car trailer on Monday.







I then spent the next 3 days doing the final assembly of the rebuilt 9" Ford rear end with 4 link suspension and Airride, front Mustang Two suspension with Airride, power rack and pinion steering and power disc brakes onto the front and rear. Also, installed the custom made brake pedal, power booster and master cylinder assemblies. The re-furbished and powder coated gas tank was installed and the new wheel vintiques rims and tires put on. I made pipe sleeves that fit over the shocks front and rear to support the car at ride height until the Airride System is completed.



When the assembled frame was set on the floor it turned out just as planned with 5" of ground clearance and lowered 7" from stock.

Next it is back on the body work and getting it primed and painted.


P.S. Got a comment from MyRideIsMe.com
and it was a pretty cool website if you get a chance please visit.