Builds Farm Fresh LV

JLawson · Jan 17, 2019

Took the bumper supports and the new rims to get powder coated. Got the bumper back and the painting the inside. Bought a hitch off Amazon for $25 and had an extra couple pieces of metal added to the bottom of the bumper so I can bolt it on. Got the back seats and headrests back. I figured out the metal bows that hold the headliner up and got those cleaned up and painted. Put most of the weatherstrip in for the tailgate but the adhesive is failing. I guess I will go back with the 3M glue and stick it on there. Also the bottom strip along the tailgate doesn't want to stick because it is coated with the lizard skin. I am thinking of a strip of aluminum and some screws to hold that on. Side mirrors from a 55 are ready to go as well as the review mirror and the sun visors. View attachment 1881774 View attachment 1881776 View attachment 1881778

JLawson · Jan 17, 2019

more......

Tancruiser · Jan 17, 2019

Head rests??? I’m confused

Tancruiser · Jan 17, 2019

Head rests??? I’m confused

Tancruiser · Jan 17, 2019

Head rests??? I’m confused .

JLawson · Jan 17, 2019

Yeah, they are a concession to safety as are the three point seatbelts

Tancruiser · Jan 17, 2019

Oh ok just don’t forget the airbags.

KT40 · Jan 17, 2019

Looking great! Any pictures of the bumper being made?

JLawson · Jan 18, 2019

No, i had a friend do that. Heating and bending the 1/4' steel is above my tool strength. I had the supports and the bumper cut and bent per Buckroseau drawings in his LV thread. I made a pattern for the ends and gave that to a guy that has much bigger tools and does this stuff for a living.

JLawson · Jan 18, 2019

He said he was going to just cut in along the backside of the face and then cut the shape of the pattern out on the top and bottom edges then a lot of heat and bend the face around then weld it back together. Sounds easy as pie and I guess it is if you have he right tools?

yotadude520 · Jan 18, 2019

Nice build @JLawson - what a rescue this was!

I take it the plans are to leave the patina on the exterior?

JLawson · Jan 18, 2019

Yes, That is the plan. I am going to try Eastwood's Patina Preserver and see how it does and how easy it is to apply and re-apply. Says it will last up to a year. I am on the coast so I would expect I'll re-apply in some spots if not all in 6 months? It maintains the look without a heavy build up coating like a clear coat. Not totally invisible but not bad either. I sprayed it on where ever I needed to mount lights and other stuff so far. I have gone around and around between clear coat and this and it came down to re-application. If I clear it will last longer but when it fails, it will have to be stripped and/or sanded off thus losing the patina altogether. With the PP, I can clean with a solvent and re-apply when needed and if I am getting too much rust in spots, I can prime it and re-apply the PP for better protection and not lose all the patina. We will see.....

xtremeVA · Jan 18, 2019

What type of vehicle did the headrest come off of? They don't look bad on the bench seat. Any pics of the fab that you did on the frame to accept the head rests? Thanks.

JLawson · Jan 19, 2019

ExtremeVA, They are '92 to '96 Ford F150, 250 350 head rests. Had to buy all new mounting sleeves but they work really nicely. I got them off ebay for $30. I did have to put the metal tubes in the back of the seat. The seat back was bent when I got it so I ended up straightening and then screwing in a piece of 1" angle iron to stiffen it. That also gave me a good place to weld on the tubes. Upholsterer had to rework the springs around the tubes but they needed some work anyway. I am pleased with the look of them. Not too crazy a shape and they should be effective.

yotadude520 · Jan 25, 2019

JLawson said:
Yes, That is the plan. I am going to try Eastwood's Patina Preserver and see how it does and how easy it is to apply and re-apply. Says it will last up to a year. I am on the coast so I would expect I'll re-apply in some spots if not all in 6 months? It maintains the look without a heavy build up coating like a clear coat. Not totally invisible but not bad either. I sprayed it on where ever I needed to mount lights and other stuff so far. I have gone around and around between clear coat and this and it came down to re-application. If I clear it will last longer but when it fails, it will have to be stripped and/or sanded off thus losing the patina altogether. With the PP, I can clean with a solvent and re-apply when needed and if I am getting too much rust in spots, I can prime it and re-apply the PP for better protection and not lose all the patina. We will see.....

Never heard of Patina Preserver...interesting. There's something to be said for making the inside nice as it can be and keeping the outside patinal. I really dig it.

Hey - they're only original once!

JLawson · Jan 25, 2019

I'm thinking, it took over 50 years and a lot of people, effort and life to get it to look like it does. No need to wipe that slate clean to preserve the vehicle and do what I want with it. It is extremely lucky that it even survived so why not celebrate that at least on the outside?

JLawson · Feb 20, 2019

Getting a little closer every day. Got the rims powder coated and new BFG's mounted and balanced. Got the bumper installed. Putt he back seat in. Mounted the spare tire. Bought an FJ60 jack and tool kit off eBay and made a mount for the jack. I think the tools will bungee to the top of the spare tire mount bracket.