Sleeping through the winter

It is wonderful have The General Lee in my garage. We trailered it to my place a few weeks back. I am taking a break on it right now, but I'll get back to it after the holidays. Santa called to ask if he could take my sleigh this year.. I told him I'd think about it. Merry Christmas!!

Introducing.. The General Lee

As I walked around the car looking at a General Lee in the garage that I know is mine, it dawned on me that the end of this project, and the end of this blog, is drawing closer. With just little things left to accomplish on the car, I feel I don't need to bore the world or the reader of this blog book with minor things. I have one more big thing to do that might come next weekend that I've been waiting for for almost 5 years. To be continued...

Today we got to play with stickers. The door, and General Lee script went on without a hitch. The rebel flag ended up with some wrinkles that will need to be shrunk. I can live with it since it is on top of the car and not the sides.

Putting the decals on we used the soap and water method. First we taped where the decals needed to be. Then just spray and squeegee.. Spray and squeegee.

Grill & Push Bar

Today's focus was getting the grill back on the car and the push bar mounted and secured.

When I went to the paint shop and seen the grill was out I was not too happy. Sure I understood that it might have been necessary, but I was just not looking forward to putting it back in. Needless to say we got it after only a few cuss words.

Next was the push bar. We had it already marked from when we tried it before, so we just had to out it back. I welded it into place on the frame and bolts will be in place there too.

Onward!!

Push Bar

Just prepping the push bar so it is ready when I pick the car up from getting the little touch ups fixed. Expecting a call by Wednesday.

Exterior chrome

I'm just putting all the exterior trim on the car. Once I get that on there I'll be taking the car back to get resprayed at the paint shop. Winter is closing in, but this weeks projects mid 70's!!

After a couple days

I've had a few days away from the car and (although it still irks me about the back panels) I am loving seeing the car orange. The Big Bad Orange paint is just great. My boys love it!

I'm putting the chrome back on the car. I can't put the grill back on because I'm taking the car back for another paint spray in a couple weeks. I'm mad that they took the grill out because they snapped a couple plastic connectors on it. I worked my butt off to get that grill looking good and painted things all nice... I found today that there is a lot of over spray and my efforts of painting around that grill was for nothing.

I am painting the drum breaks for a small accent behind the wheels ( hemi orange ). I'm waiting on the lug nuts to come in to put the Vectors back on the car.
Onward!!!!

Let's do the wave!!!

Big Bad Orange. The car is colored, shiny, and... wavy. I love the fact that the car is painted, I really do. Yet I didn't think the back quarters were that wavy I guess. I went over every inch of that car knowing that some areas were a bit uneven. I was just surprised that the back quarters were the way they were. I felt down the side of the car, primered, sanded, etc. I didn't see the waves in the primer and certainly didn't feel them, yet they are there.

“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying.” Michael Jordan. My two little boys will not know the car isn't show quality and that makes me happy. One day I'll replace the whole back panels with full 1/4's, but for now I'll drive it. I'm happy it is done, just disappointed in myself that I didn't catch some of that key stuff before paint.

Down Time

While the car is away I had to find something to work on this weekend or I just wouldn't feel right. I "Mother"-ed the bumpers and other chrome things I could find. Wasn't much, but it was something that needed to be done eventually anyway.

Goodbye for now

I drove Rusty into the first bay and shut'er off. I had to look back one last time. The next time I'll see the car it will be orange.

Very quiet

Locked and loaded, Rusty made it's way (with our help ofcourse) to the paint shop. I was still sanding some things on the car even up on the trailer. I guess I just wanted things to be a little better than before.

There is an eerie silence in the garage now. I'm excited and nervous all wrapped up into one.

600 grit

Time is flying. I have 't been taking to many photos lately. I have been basically sanding and trying to fix the little imperfections. I reworked many areas and eventually got down to the 600 grit. I went over every inch of this car with it. I didn't realize how big this car was!!!! Any who, the car is prepped and ready for the next level. I have done all I can on the body. It's now time to send it in. I've waited for this moment for years now. Now if the weather will cooperate we'll be in business. Glasses up, cheers!! Onward.

Rusty's new chariot

Dad and I needed a good trailer for different reasons; me for the car, him for his horses' hay. Today we went and bought a nice 2008 model diamond c trailer. We both went in half on it. He will make removable sides for when he needs it and I'll take it when I need it. The ramps slide inside the back of the trailer and the floor is all diamond metal. It was a nice purchase.

Don't sweat the small stuff

I am going to have to start a checklist here real quick. The goal is to tidy up the outside of the car to get paint on it within the next couple weeks.

I welded the fender back in the wheel well, drilled the fender extensions holes, fixed a couple rough areas on the front of the hood, and tried to align the back trunk lid. We still need to adjust it, but time is moving. Dad also hooked up the new tach as well.
Also the trunk lid can now shut and be opened with the new lock and key.
We did go get paint quotes!! I can't wait.

Door panels

I hate messing with these panel clips. I mean it, I hate them. I put the top panels on there but I'll have to take the driver's panel off to put the mirror on there.

I did get to drive the car around the yard. My wife got her very first ride in the car too. She didn't ride in it before the fire. I left some peel outs in great granny's yard. Can't wait to drive on the road. It's going to be fun.