1959 Lone Star El Dorado "Project Texas Tornado" - Winner 2016 Resto SOTY Award

[Luke000]

These guys are very strict in their inquiries, they like it by email, Customer service is poor but the product seems to be good.
They want a sample windshield, I might be out of luck with that. it's all part of the fun, going to take flooring measurements,and a missing list of items this weekend.

When I was on their website under the Lonestar section it said 1960 El Dorado- *CALL* for availability so that is what I did.... I guess they cant be bothered to return a simple phone call/ voice mail :facepalm: I would have e-mailed them if it did not specify to call right on their site.

Oh well, just more of a reason to try and make my own :lol: Good luck with your project, cant wait to see it come together, and if you need any help with other missing parts let me know!

 

[denny shortt]

yes they are kind of dicky. I don't like to spend $ with that type, but I find a lot of machine guys are like that and in the end I will have a new windshield.(if I rob a bank):bolt::fish:

 

[Luke000]

yes they are kind of dicky. I don't like to spend $ with that type, but I find a lot of machine guys are like that and in the end I will have a new windshield.(if I rob a bank):bolt::fish:

I know all too well how those types are!

My project just took another hit today...on my way back from picking up cardboard to make patterns for my windshield, the transmission in my Subaru Outback took a dump as I was pulling into my drive. I lost AWD two days ago and today it just quit. I ordered up a used one on ebay and I hope to have someone drop it in once it gets here. I hope to get out of this under a grand but that could go a long way on the boat and get it close to finished. :blue:

 

[Tnstratofam]

That sucks about your Subaru. Hope you can get it fixed on the real cheap side. Nothing like a little Murphy in your life to rob boat funds from your wallet.

 

[hadaveha]

Man that sucks sorry about the Subaru, I have one waiting for a timing belt when I ever get someone to put it on. Those things happen atleast it's still winter and it's not the end of May that would really be a bummer

 

[denny shortt]

No Title

Cars suck! My Suburban Has so many shorts in it, the locks lock and unlock constantly passenger window doesn't work, all kinds of crap like that. I had an idea though. The ribs on the side walls can have a tilt door at the bottom with a piano hinge that would tilt out and would make a great place for storage

 

[denny shortt]

No Title

Luke, how do you get the metal emblems off of the side without breaking them?

 

[Luke000]

Luke, how do you get the metal emblems off of the side without breaking them?

Very carefully, with the smallest hammer I had (I think it was an 8oz hammer) I had a second person on the outside to steady the emblem as they came off. Just slowly tap them off from the inside on each one of the pins. keep switching pins to keep it all even. They will come off eventually. As for the side doors, that might be a cool idea for some storage but the spaces between the panels is where all the flotation foam goes.





Thanks for the good words about my car! I got a transmission for $425 shipped and the estimate to install it is right about $430. Does the estimate for the labor sound fair? This car has been such a headache! I plan to sell it this summer once I have a little more cash from my summer job.

 

[Tnstratofam]

I've never worked on a Subaru, and I'm sure the transmission in them is tricky with that boxer engine so I would say the labor rate is pretty good. Hope your mechanic gets you up and running soon. Car trouble is never easy or cheap for me.

 

[denny shortt]

Right on Luke I want to make sure I have plenty of flotation foam in her. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[utfisherman]

these boats are cool. it is the twin to my first boat. I traded some work on a farm tractor for it. mine had a 50 hp evinrude. we used it for about 10 years. great find. you will enjoy it a lot.

 

[denny shortt]

Luke can you take a pic of the rear splash well? The PO must have removed mine as it is missing in action. thanks. I think I can fab one.

 

[denny shortt]

Is there some kind of speed ring or locking collar on the back of the stud on the emblem?
Removed rusty bolts today it took an hour to get two cleats off Thanks previous owner!!!!

 

[Luke000]

Is there some kind of speed ring or locking collar on the back of the stud on the emblem?
Removed rusty bolts today it took an hour to get two cleats off Thanks previous owner!!!!

Yeah they use these barrel/tubular nut type nameplate retainers: Not sure about size but the style is similar

My PO has silicon-ed over almost every nut on the boat including bolts that he replaced missing hull rivets with haha.

 

[Luke000]

Luke can you take a pic of the rear splash well? The PO must have removed mine as it is missing in action. thanks. I think I can fab one.

I made up a side template yesterday of the splashwell that you will be receiving shortly . It should be a very easy afternoon project with the right tools (TIG welder, sheer, brake). I am actually thinking about making a new one, Mine has some cracks in it that I might try to weld up, if I cant a new one will be made.

Here are some pictures of mine:

 

[Luke000]

I tried to start making a plywood buck for my windshield today, was at it for well over an hour and could not reliably trace all the different curves onto cardboard templates. I also started adding up all the material costs and it is right around 2/3 of what UPD plastics wants for their windshield... It might just be worth forking over the extra for one I know is right rather than try and do my own and run the strong possibility of messing something (the mold or the heat forming)

The other option is doing it out of thin (.125") acrylic but I fear that being a 2" radius for the top bend and a (roughly) 24" radius for the bottom bend that the acrylic wont know what to do and I have heard that the minimum radius to bend acrylic is 200X the diameter and that would be a 25" radius for 1/8 material...

 

[denny shortt]

yes sir,
he may need the old windshield to make the copy, maybe we can get a little off for two, I will help $ with shipping the cracked windshield to UPD

 

[nurseman]

If I am not mistaken, that ratio for bending is for cold bending, not for heat bending. But I could be wrong about that. I totally get where you are coming from about the cost benefit of doing it your self vs. having it done. Sometimes it is worth it to pay a pro... It all comes down to what you are comfortable doing.

 

[denny shortt]

No Title

She's coming along, using a citrus stripper, and 400 grit orbital hook and loop. some tough spots on her, will keep working her till she's clean and then polish her up

 

[Woodonglass]

DS, Think of ALL the FUN and KNOWLEDGE you'll be missing out on!!! Besides Once you have the Pattern and the mold built you might have a thriving business opportunity. I imagine there's a lot of others that could benefit from a NEW windshield that would be less than the PRO's would charge. Or just a set of plans for a windshield template and how to build a form.