Dodge Kingsway rebuild

[cruisindoug]

Coming along well Dennis, catch you at Cooly!

[JBJ]

Hi,

A bit more done.

I guess a lot of you aren't interesed in towcars, or hot rods, but enough contact me & seem to enjoy what I post, to make me keep coming back.

So if you arent interested in cars, just jump over this thread & its postings.

I found I had to assemble the front panels, & they really didnt want to go where I remembered them fitting. So several days playing around, cutting a few bits, bending others, & the front sorta goes together reasonable.

With the rebuild its had, I guess its just to be expected.

One of the down sides of the rebuild has been replacing the 4 doors with those from a different car. They had different shapes at the front edge of the front doors, & didnt align with the the mudguards



So after looking for a few days, I decided to bite the bullet & cut the front edge of the door parallel with the mudguard edge. Sure I now have to weld it up, but that (shouldnt be) difficult.




I put my 2 options of headlight treatment on, the right hand side is an EH Holden unit, like I saw on a USA custom Dodge, & the left hand side is the one that was on the car. Its real pitted in the die casting.




I'm leaning towards the Holden unit at this stage.

I also pulled the grille apart & buffed all the stainless pieces. They came up pretty good.

I also got the air conditioner condensor that fits in front of the radiator. It interfered with the bonnet catch, so I modified the catch, & managed to fit a thermo fan I had in front of the condensor, to be operated when air conditioning is running.



Everything is interfering with the next bit, but I guess thats one of the joys of modifying a car.

Eventually it all fits & works.

Its still fun

JBJ

[kaybee]

G'day Dennis , well I'm watching .....even if no-one else is .....frankly I think there's nothing more relevant to the old caravan movement than having an old car as a towcar....

It's always a pity when others don't make any comment , feels like you're talkin' to yourself sometimes......especially when someone like yourself goes to the trouble of taking the pictures while you're doing the job, loading them up into P/bucket , posting them on here and then doing the follow along story to go with it......there's a bit more than a few minutes involved in it......and then what?, stony silence ......
Eventually the guys who have over the years made the effort to share their stories on here start to think "why bother ?"......and as a result all the interesting things that make a forum worthwhile slowly drop off......and all that seems to be left is the one or two liners , and there's only so many posts you can take about how hard it is to find an old van without exerting yourself ,or how rotten everyone on Ebay is ,etc,etc.....

I reckon nearly everyone could offer up some interesting stories to share.....instead of sitting back and leaving it to someone else......how 'bout it folks?

[neilncheryl]

I guess I better dust my camera off next weekend and do some updates. Keep the photos coming Dennis, I am enjoying them. I like the headlight on the passenger side. Just seems to suit the character of the car better (to me). Keep up the good work and we look forward to catching up with you & Sue soon.
All the best, Neil & Cheryl

[Don Ricardo]

G'day JBJ,

I'm pretty sure a lot more people watch your builds than ever say so. I'm one of them. I'm not greatly into rods myself, but I can and do admire the finished product and I get a lot out of following a thread like yours because I find out about the work that goes into building a car like yours, and also hearing about the way that you go about solving the problems you meet along the way.

Keep the thread going.

Don Ricardo

[Jennison]

I can still picture the dodge as it was at Coledale some years back.....a must watch compulsary thread, please keep the story and photos rolling Dennis
jennison

[boblor]

Hi Dennis
Keep the photos coming, we will appreciate the finish product more knowing the effort and problems you encountered on the way. It's going to look great when complete.
Cheers boblor

[cobber]

G'day JBJ 'n kaybee,

You blokes know I wouldn't buy a hot rod even if you gave it to me free but that doesn't stop me recognising that they are your hobby and appreciating the skill, enthusiasm and determination, not to mention time and money, it takes to make all the wrong bits fit and work in what was once a nice ol' factory made motor car

Anybody who's been posting on this forum for a few years soon gets to wonder if anybody is looking at their posts, comments and feedback often don't happen.... but you only have to click on the top of the respective columns to see that this thread of yours Den has had 8595 “views” (the highest number on the tow car board) and has had 137 “replies” (the second highest on the tow car board).

So somebody is looking and appreciating what you are doing.. so keep those photos coming....... me I go back to your first sentence right at the start of this thread...... and wonder too

Cobber.

[Jellybean]

I agree with all the last few comments Dennis. We are watching with interest. Keep it up.
i like the EH surrounds too.
John

[cruisindoug]

Looking better and better Dennis, you've done a great job getting the panel fit right on the gaurd / door. Takes some time and effort to get that stuff right, but well worth it in the end. If we are voting on the headlight rim , I like the look of the EH one as well. ;D ;D ;D ;D

I can relate to what you said about replies ... I look at my build posts as a record of my (and others' ) work as well as sharing with everyone which helps keep the motivation to keep posting going. I figure if I'm boring everyone eventually someone will tell me to stop

Keep 'em coming ;D ;D

[mgandwartz]

I too have been watching for a while, and getting some good inspiration. Alas also getting ideas I shouldn't.
I started a thread on what I am doing with the morrises but it got deleated. Guess they arn't considered real tow cars. Oh well.
Still, now wondering how I can fit aircon to the van.
Anyway well done, especially this weather, don't really feel like getting into the shed with all this cold and wet around, and i've found it sure ain't good for painting.

[JBJ]

Hi All,

Thanks for the replies.

Cobber I think back to when I was in my early 20's, & found an old T Ford roadster body & chassis in the bush near Majors Creek rubbish tip. I was living in Braidwood at the time. I towed it home in a box trailer.

A guy from Canberra bought it, & over a lot of years completely rebuilt & restored it, finding almost everything at swap meets, & hand making what he couldnt find.
It turned out pretty good I thought.

I've always remembered what he did, & recently was told by a friend I've had for many years, that you build a car for yourself & you will enjoy it. If you build it to impress others, you wont always succeed.

I think that is a true statement.

This ones for me to enjoy, & others to appreciate if they want to.

JBJ

[DC3Td]

Hi Dennis. I`ve been following this story since you first started on the old girl & am impressed as to what you`ve done thus far. As you`re not rebuilding to original spec (& even if you were) i like the personal touches you come up with. All adds to its final great looks. The EH light rims look smart too. gordon

[humpyboy]

I read all the updates as well Dennis, your posts aren't wasted mate, it's been an interesting thread thus far, don't stop now or the mob will come a hunting I'm sure I speak for everyone and say we are looking forward to the finished product actually be a sad day when it's finished will need to find another thread to follow ;D

[Roehm3108]

Hi Dennis
I don't watch too many of the towcar threads, because I am simply not mechanically minded.

But I have had the pleasure of being chauffered around in your Dodge and am watching your rebuild with interest. Don't often comment, cos as a mechanical illiterate, I really can't say much ;D ;D ;D

Look forward to seeing it "in the flesh" next time I am in your area - especially now that I know how to cross that ditch they cut into your driveway ;D

cheers

Ray

[dosse]

G'day Dennis.......I watching this post to and iám impressed keep the photos coming mate. Regards dosse.

Ps Look what you have done Col .......now every-bodys talking.

[kaybee]

Jun 19, 2012 15:54:38 GMT 10 dosse said:

G'day Dennis.......I watching this post to and iám impressed keep the photos coming mate. Regards dosse.

Ps Look what you have done Col .......now every-bodys talking.

...talking is good, that's a start...... .....so now we just need some more folks to share their stories and pics on the forum , that'd be REALLY good...... ......sorry, Dennis for a slight thread hi-jack..... ;D ;D

[JBJ]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for your response.

Sorry I missed most of the old group of SE Qlders at Cooly, but it was a shit of a weekend, & only the group gathering at the Surf Club added any enjoyment to it.

Cest la vie

JBJ

[JBJ]

Hi All,


Well I've been a bit slack since I headed off to Cowra.

I dropped some engine bits into Rick Pacey to get pinstriped & lettered while I was away.

Finally got them back today.









Another brilliant job (in my opinion) & pretty cheap.

I've been working on getting airconditioning plumbed & aligned on motor, as well as buying a few brackets & making others. Plan is to get all under bonnet bits like LPG bits, air con pump, etc, all aligned, fitted, then painted.
Then front gets dissassembled final painted.

Then finally front & engine can be final assembled & got running again.

In the mean time I've got the drivers door primed & pretty close to sraight.

Just have rear RH rear door & guard, & around RH doors to finish, then car is completely in primer & pretty straight.

Its been a long frustrating job, but I'm starting to get motivated again as the weather warms up again.

It will all be fun again I'm sure

JBJ

[Deleted]

Hi Dennis

T'was only a whirlwind visit the other friday but in the short time i had to look around the dodge i could see that this car is going to something special.
Lotsa hard work gone in to it.
Lots still to be done.
Happy to hear /see that the rocker covers have finally turned up.

Thanks for the cuppa and lift back down to Ballina airport. Uneventfull trip home....
The search for a replacement towcar continues....
My days of nut and bolt rebuilds are over..I am looking for a turn key / driveaway/ finished car..

I admire your patience .. skill and determination in your efforts to get the project done. Doesnt get any easier as we get older aye !!!
I also agree with what you say about getting motivated when the weather warms up a bit. Bloody hard to start rolling around in shed and carports working on projects in the cooler months....

Keep at it.
Reddo

[smokenell]

G'day JBJ, just joined the forum looking for a small 50's van to tow behind our '56 Desoto Diplomat Plaza. I had a '56 Dodge back in 1968 so read all your posts with great interest.
Found the Desoto about a month ago and coudn't resist it. It's running a '76 Fairlane 302 Ford, C4 box and diiff. Spent the last couple of weeks sorting brakes andbits and pieces ready for rego in a couple of weeks.
You have certainly done a great job on the Dodge and I wish you well in the finishing stages.
Smokey.

[tamirox]

Thanks Reddo & Smokey ( & all the other well wishers)

I have enjoyed working on modified cars for about 50 years now, so I dont think I will stop yet.

Something about creating & making things work with your own hands I guess.

Its very similar to rebuilding old vans for me, only generally more expensive .


JBJ

[smokenell]

g'day jbj, do you know of any spare original steering wheels to fit my '56 Desoto?
Smokey

[kaybee]

G'day Dennis, nothin' wrong with a little slack time now and then .....but it looks like you're still making good progress all the same. Keep up the good work....cheers, Col

[JBJ]

Hi Smokey,

When I bought mine it had HQ column & aftermarket wheel.

The one I got from Tara ,I sold the left over bits to a young guy who used the running gear in a rod.

I think he used the steering as it was.

So cant help, but theres a few bits out there still as I'm finding.

I'll contact you if I come across one..

JBJ