Greetings my fellow Yenkonians!

It's time for some updates, and in particular, this thread! What a year. Our move is complete, my shop is done, Kelly's barn is done, two bathroom remodels done along with countless ceiling fans, light fixtures, and completely updating a 1994 house to bring it into the 21st century is finally finished! Ok, well, the kitchen is the last thing but that's enough for this year. So it's back into cars!:headbang:

Last we left off the body buck was finished and I've spent several nights sleeping under it. Some by choice, others, well, I guess that was as a result of my choices:thumbsdown:.
Anyway, Much like how I graduated college, I thought that if I slept close to or on top of it, the process of osmosis would permeate knowledge on how to build this thing into my brain. Other than a nasty spider bite, I got nothing by doing that. So I did the next best thing and decided to buy all kinds of tools to bend and smash metal along with my fingers.:scholar:

If you remember, I was originally going to do metal, then fiberglass, and now I'm back on metal and I'm glad I went this route. It's so much fun to bend the metal and have it come out in a shape that sort of resembles what I want it to look like.:laugh: So what's in the SuperDave Metalworks Cave? Glad you asked! A planishing hammer, English Wheel, brake, shrinker, stretcher, various beater bags, mallets, shears, bead roller, snips, Dollys, and bunch of others cool things I don't know how to use!

So figuring I need to show some progress this year, I finally got the time to sit down, er, stand.... And hammer on some metal! I'm headed to Kentucky next month for a one on one metal class with a guy that worked with Shelby on the cobras to learn the trade of everything metal! Meanwhile, I knocked out half of the front fascia and happy with the results.

I used 3M welding paper to create the form then rolled it out into the steel to cut the pattern. This was very handy since it's sticky on the back which allows it to stick to the form yet easily releases. Perfect for pattern forming!

Lots to learn and so far I've used every tool in the arsenal. So stay tuned... More to come!

Cheers
Dave

Glad to see you back Dave.

X2 and you too, Freddie..:biggthumpup:

Yayyyyy!!! Let the party begin!

Thanks guys! I appreciate the comments!:biggthumpup: It’s good to be back!:3gears:

My new shop is the perfect size to get enough done but not get into too much trouble. Ppfflllppphaha!! Oh man, I said that with a straight face too. This should provide years of entertainment for all involved!:hmmm:

Cheers
Dave

Great work Dave.

Great to see you back Dave!

Welcome back stranger... :grin:

Glad you're doing well and that you're back Dave.

That looks like progress! Good feeling to have

So continuing on, I decided that my initial goal of making two of these things just ain't happening. I also decided I'm not exactly the best metal worker around, but holy crap is it fun to beat the snot out of metal and have it come out in a shape I actually want!:eek2:

Some have asked, ok, nobody asked, so I'll just state the reason I started with the front was since this is the hardest panel to do, it's best to do that one first. Why? Because of one wants to fail it's best to do it spectacularly!:bs: I thought to myself, "Self, why not stay with the hardest panel first? I don't know self, why don't I start with the hardest panel first? Well, I don't know, so do it!". And as such, here we have the hardest panel of the car formed up!:smile:

I sprayed it with epoxy to seal it while I destroy more innocent flat sheet steel panels. Up next week be fenders and the cowl area so off to the metal shop I go!

More to come...

Cheers
Dave

I'm very fortunate to have befriended two guys that have restored and owned 507s. They're information is incredible and they are helping me along the way. One gentleman scanned about every part of the car and I have the front and side grilles being printed as we speak!

Their info for the dash and other small parts will be a great source of much needed info when I get to the fine details stage. I'm on the hunt for the donor car and plan on buying that very shortly to start getting the chassis ready for the body.

Cheers
Dave

Thanks for the update Dave, and Merry Christmas!

Daaaave…. Dav-ah-reno…. Davarasarus…. The man workin’ the metal.. Makin’ headlight surround copies…


https://thumbs.gfycat.com/CluelessDe...restricted.gif

HA! Ah, Darrell. My posts wouldn’t be complete without your spot-on meme replies! :headbang: And thanks, Mark. Merry Christmas to you as well!:biggthumpup::biggthumpup:

Today I’ll mount up the front end and fit up the turn signals and headlight buckets along with the grille flanges. More grinding, more welding, more destruction!

Apparently I’ve been given the task to get a 62 Corvette roadworthy which will be arriving in the next week or two, so that’ll be another thread to start. The Cobra Kit I was planning on building I put the ole’ kibosh on since I really want to focus on the 507. The schedule of events are as follows:

-Chassis and body done by MCACN next year :headbang:
-Running Driving car MCACN 2023 :drool:

Realistic Schedule of Events:

-Unable to attend MCACN next year :ooo:
-Car sent to recycler 2023 :mad2:
-Bank account access locked from Wife:frown:
-Unable to attend MCACN 2023:thumbsdown:
-Disowned by Bob :eek:

So you see, a fun filled 2022 is sure to be had by all!!!:confused2:

Cheers
Dave

Nice work Dave! Beautiful

Some more final adjustments. Man, there's a reason not many people do this kind of work. 8hrs on one tiny piece.:eek2: I think I might have about 80hrs into the nose only! Based on my mathamatamics, I'm thinking I should have this body done sometime by July.....of 2025:scholar:

But having befriended two guys on the 'net who've restored, owned, and one has scanned an entire 507, I'm set for any part I may need to make. Most concerning to me is why am I always meeting guys on the internet?:hmmm::thumbsdown:

Here's a test section of the side grille I had printed to verify the size based on my measured opening. Considering this opening was based off the 1/18th scale model which I had enlarged, I'm pretty confident this car is true to size. The final front and side grilles are going to print!:drool:

More to come...

Merry Christmas all!

Cheers
Dave

Steve, help! My photos are coming up sideways for some strange unknown reason which is everybody's fault but mine!:frown:

Cheers
Dave

Looking good Dave, Imo one of the most challenging builds on this site i wish i had 50% of the drive you have. Thanks for the updates Marc.

Very common, if you are using your cell phone for the pics. You may need to upload them to a host site that allows you to rotate, save and then post from that site.

July 2025 is exactly when I will be retiring. If you don't have it done by then I'll come help.

Hells Bells Freddie. I can't even get my workshop done. I am certain I won't have several projects done by then. Maybe you can come help me.

Maybe I can start a mobile workshop.

Thanks Marc, I appreciate the enthusiasm for my project and the compliment! Freddie, come down anytime you want! Remember, I own an executive transport thing so I can fly up and fly you back 🤪.

Figured out the picture issue. It's the dimension. Cropping it keeps the dimensions where they need to be and posts then correctly. And yes Mitch, it's because of the phone camera taken in the vertical position versus the horizontal. But problem solved!:biggthumpup:

Fender forming follies forthcoming! First step is a paper pattern which when unfolded, gives me the pattern I need for the metal but more importantly, shows me where to shrink and stretch the metal.

More to come!

Cheers
Dave

Idk if that helped as most of the trine if it’s straight on my iPhone it’s sideways on a pc.

So looking at your, now right side up, pics, I've been thinking this originally had a fiberglass body and you were now recreating it in steel. So I went hunting for info and found the REAL reason you are restoring this car. When done, you'll paint it Chalk White to attract all those beautiful Elvis groupies who left lip stick on his dip... um car.

Oh, wait, they would be about 90 now, eh ?? OK, that can't be the reason.:smirk:
I guess the next question would be, why not use aluminum sheet ?? Seems like it could be easier to form than steel.
Maybe you could get that BMW group to ship over their body panel bucks to use...:headbang:

Oh, no no no Mitchatollah! Although one of my idols, Elvis groupies aren’t on the list of items I’m hoping to attract with this build. Not without their charm, GILFs aren’t high on the radar. Actually, I don’t know what I plan to attract on this build other than a bunch of old dudes nodding their heads in appreciation, “Hey…….nice”.:tongue:

It appears now after talking to several fabricators that I’m headed down the road of making my own chassis rather than the donor route. Fortunately I have all the photos of the factory chassis saved, dimensions, measurements, and access to one being restored to concur anything I need concurrence on. Daunting? Yes. Doable? Probably. Stupid? Absolutely!:scholar: But if my previous threads are any indication of the ambition of my builds, this should hopefully provide months of much needed comic relief to break up the daily grind. :hmmm:

So what’s next? Off to the supply house for more steel. And Mitch, only reason I didn’t go aluminum is I have never welded it or worked with it, But fear not! With Tig welder in hand, I’ll probably be making a second body out of aluminum…..maybe.:wink:

Cheers
Dave

I've got a lot of experience welding aluminum. Just 3 1/2 years until retirement. If your current horse barn is as nice as the last one I'd be glad to sleep in the barn.

Hot damn, when I bring my trailer down for SCR next year, I'll get there a couple days early and we can build aluminum ramps for it. Those steel ramps get heavier every year.

NOW you're sorry you posted that, eh...:wink:
Actually, I bought a tig welder about 7 years ago just to do this. Even took a course on it and I STILL suck at it.

I actually enjoy welding. I'm not as good as I was because my eyes are getting worse and my hands are not as steady. Just another thing that breaks my heart about getting old. I was DOD aircraft certified TIG welder for 9 1/2 years.

I use a '''reader" or cheater lens in my helmet. Helps a BUNCH for focusing up close.

I bought these 1.5 diopter safety glasses. They work great under a welding helmet!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

...aaaaand back on track, fender done! Onto the cowl and driver's side fender. I won't join up the fender to the nose just yet. That'll happen once I get the chassis done. And with that, I'll be building my own chassis to replicate the original. I mean, heck. I've done this much might as well go the whole way and make a complete mess of it!:biggthumpup:

I've made two contacts that have helped me immensely on this project. Next week I'll be headed to Philly to visit with one and tour a shop that is restoring one right now. I'll also get a chance to meet the owner which will be a wonderful opportunity for me. The gentleman setting this up has restored five 507s and his notes are invaluable. The other contact is the one supplying me with scanned parts files from his previously owned 507 that I'm using to print the parts.

I also had the front and side grilles 3D printed and the fit is surprisingly not that far off. Remember, my buck is made from a 1/18th scale model sized up. Amazing it's so accurate!

I'm learning more and more about metal shaping and it's so friggin fun! I'm going to make another body out of Aluminum next after the steel one is done. I mean, why not? What else do I have to do besides get a 62 Vette mechanically sound as a driver for someone and do basically all the metal work on a 280SL Pagoda next month. Pffllppppp.... Easy.:hmmm::no:

Cheers
Dave

That's so cool!

Wicked !

That IS really cool, Dave. When is the English wheel coming, to roll all the bumps out ?

Wow!! That is looking great! I'm just gonna just stay on this thread and keep refreshing it for the next year. That way I don't miss anything!! :laugh:

Thanks, guys! The English wheel is out, and the bottom of the fender shows better results than the top. :cool2: I primed it too early so I don’t want to go back while primed and run it through the wheel. No bueno! The opposite side will come out better now that I’m getting the hang of it. Still an immense amount of learning to do. It’s so much fun beating the crap out of metal and forming something. Sort of relieves day to day stresses of the breakdown of society!:p:p:p;)

Up next is the cowl panel and windshield mount area followed by the driver’s side fender. Gotta go fly a trip so more updates next week with the visit to a real 507! :burnout: Hopefully this thread is giving guys inspiration to try something they might not think they can succeed at. After all, frustration keeps you young….and humble!:tongue::biggthumpup:

Cheers
SuperDave

----Amazing progress, Dave. That Beemer will be awesome!.....Bill S