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

[denny shortt]

Your right wood! When I look at the Lone star forum a lot of el dorados are missing their windshields, BTW I'm planning on painting the bottom of the hull with Tractor Paint. I love TSC and have used the Cub Cadet White and Massey Ferguson Gray for other projects and it holds up well

 

[LastDollar]

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...

After 40+ years of service my windshield gave up. I contacted a local plastic's fabricator and they were able to make the 2 sides with a 90Deg bend with out any distortion. Cost $135 a side. I had contemplated making it my self as a 4 part with 90deg channel on the sides. By the time I priced it out it was more the 2/3 of the $270. Besides it kept the unique look my old Sunchief. The shop did windows, signs and displays.
I like the classic look of the Lone Star and the care you are taking on the restore.

 

[denny shortt]

No Title

Luke we need an update here is my youngster with most of the paint removed and ready for polishing

 

[denny shortt]

No Title

I'm thinking of flotation for the deck and side walls, any suggestions? she came to me bare. I was thinking a bout the pink sheathing from Lowes to fill the sides and fill under the deck floor with pool noodles. I have used noodles before and they are excellent. What plywood thickness should I use for the Deck and sidewalls?

 

[64osby]

Denny do you have your own thread?

 

[denny shortt]

No.. but I'm going to start my own, The first thing that I will put on is this because it is darn cold here and I'm ready for warmer weather. https://video.search.yahoo.com/vide...age=1348139798&fr2=p:s,v:v&fr=ytff1-w3ia&tt=b

 

[GA_Boater]

Denny - Please start a new thread on your project. Your hijacking Luke's thread with your project updates. Thanks.

 

[denny shortt]

wow 64 with 4k + posts I bet you could answer my question about flotation right?

 

[GA_Boater]

wow 64 with 4k + posts I bet you could answer my question about flotation right?

This another reason why you should start your own thread. Don't get riled up over nothing.

 

[denny shortt]

No Title

Sorry

 

[Luke000]

Hello! I am back from my late winter hibernation! I have had a lot of setbacks in the last few months that have kept me from working on the boat, the most damaging one was I lost my work shop/storage for the boat Over the last few months it was hard to get the motivation to work on the boat...BUT the good news is I have since located a new storage place for my boat and it has a TON of tools I could only dream about! Today I am going to drop the seats off at the upholsterer and hopefully get some progress made on those! I also have a meeting with a commercial/architectural class and plastic guy to get some input on a new windshield. I am sure I am forgetting a few updates on the project but when I remember ill fill in more! In the mean time I will leave you with a picture of the El Dorado in her new home Don't think I gave up or forgot about you guys!

 

[Tnstratofam]

Good to see you're still at it. Your Lonestar is one of the threads I look forward to seeing updates on. Glad to hear you found a new place to finish the resto. Looking forward to more updates. Have a good week.

 

[monriverguy]

Glad you made it back to Luke, I am still working on mine when i can, have got mine bare and starting to patch a few hole in the transom, got over 50 percent of the old silicone off,,,,,,Glad you are here to help.................

 

[Luke000]

Well I got a call back from the lady who I dropped my seats off for an estimate to have re-done.... Her estimate for keeping with the two tone (light grey instead of black) and replacing the foam was $742!! that was for the 6 seats. Do you guys think that sounds reasonable? I have some serious sticker shock right now considering that's close to what I paid for the whole boat!

Here is a picture of 3 of the 6 seats for an idea.

 

[Woodonglass]

Uhmmm Yeah, That's about right for 6 seats. Vinyl, Foam and Labor. I'm guess-ti-mating $150 for vinyl, $250 for foam $350 labor. That might even be a little Cheap. That's Why I decided to do my own!!! I was to Cheap to Pay for it!!! Those are pretty easy seats to Sew. You could buy a Machine for $100 bucks and do em yourself and save the Labor Costs!!!!

 

[Corjen1]

I agree, get a machine and do it yourself.....save $$, put another skill in your tool box!!

Between WOG and this link is how I started upholstery....(also because Im cheep)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFt26lYYAkE

Also,check craigslist in your area....looks like there some nice machines in the 100-200 range.

 

[Luke000]

Uhmmm Yeah, That's about right for 6 seats. Vinyl, Foam and Labor. I'm guess-ti-mating $150 for vinyl, $250 for foam $350 labor. That might even be a little Cheap. That's Why I decided to do my own!!! I was to Cheap to Pay for it!!! Those are pretty easy seats to Sew. You could buy a Machine for $100 bucks and do em yourself and save the Labor Costs!!!!

I agree, get a machine and do it yourself.....save $$, put another skill in your tool box!!

Between WOG and this link is how I started upholstery....(also because Im cheep)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFt26lYYAkE

Also,check craigslist in your area....looks like there some nice machines in the 100-200 range.

[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif]Well I can say right now I have never touched a sewing machine before (other than an old singer I garbage picked) So I have no clue how well or bad it would turn out if I tried to do it myself... That is not to say I am against learning something new and saving money but upholstery looks like a black art to me haha, I can barely spell upholstery. I am going to call the lady back and see if she is willing to do it with the old padding that is there or not...it might be able to save me some $$$ (being 21, in college, and working a close to min wage job part time, I don?t have a ton of $$ to spare.)[/FONT]

 

[Tnstratofam]

Are the seats in good enough shape to use for a season or two till more funds become available? Sometimes certain parts of a resto have to be put on hold. Most of us are never truly finished with our boats.

 

[Luke000]

While debating with myself on what to do about the upholstery situation with the seats, I decided to run up to the outboard shop and get some fuel lines and a fitting. I got home, put the motor back together, cleaned the engine compartment, and got it fired up... and that thing run like a champ! The carb rebuilt and ultrasonic bath worked wonders!

 

[Luke000]

Well I think the next thing I am going to tackle on the project is to repair the engine cover. There are 3 bad spots- one where the flywheel cut through it while running, one busted corner, and one good sized chunk out of it. I know i need a fiberglass repair kit but I am unsure what kit to buy- would something like the attached link at the bottom work? Also does anyone have a link to a guide on the steps to perform the repairs (prep and the repair)?

here is the damage-