70 Boss 302 - Night Mission build blog

[SWPruett]

Lots of neat stuff going on in the shop lately!  Doing some 3D scanning of our custom bumper, gapping doors, filling antenna hole and finally got the Harley headlight conversion worked out!

http://1970boss302.blogspot.com/2019/04/...pping.html

[SWPruett]

You're right.  On the west coast rust is not as big of a concern.  I got lucky, at least with rust.  My Mach 1 only needed a small patch in the floor on the drivers side near where the driver would rest his right foot.  It was less than a square foot in size.

Oh what I would give to see nice sheet metal like that again!  You are truly lucky to have such a solid machine to enjoy!  Some of the stuff we have to "rebuild" is painful!

Hey Man I just looked at your profile, and realized you are from Michigan. I was originally born, and raised just south of Chicago, Kankakee Il. and boy do I remember "RUST" I took Auto Body repair, at the Career Center, in 76" & 77". I can remember 1980 Camaro's when they were about 5 years old. You could walk up, and reach into the trunk from the side, and never have to open the lid. We cut squares of sheet metal, and brazed pieces in, to make repairs. As doing Floor pans was pretty much unheard of. And it was just gonna rust again anyway! Man have things changed. Living in Arkansas for the last 35+ years has kinda spoiled me. As you don't see much rust down here. Unless it's sat on the ground for 30 years. Then the body will look great, but there won't be any floors in it. LOL!

JTS

JTS,

Actually, I am from deep South Texas originally, but indeed I live in "occupied" SE Michigan.  Can't argue that this is the automotive capital of the world and naturally, that's what brought me here!

I have never been smart enough to move to a "low rust" area like you did!  The Texas Gulf Coast is a killer environment for rust.  Atmosphere is basically low-grade battery acid with all the salt water.  Then a swing through Colorado and finally here in Michigan.  Salted roads..........UGH!

[JTS71 Mach1]

I have never really figured out if moving to Arkansas, was the smartest thing or not. It did get us away from all the crap, of living 60 miles out of Chicago. The gangs, and drugs were starting to dominate (late70's), plus my EX still lives up there. So 5 to 6 hundred miles away seemed the best place to raise my kids. At least if they decide to shoot at you in Arkansas, it's cause you screwed up, or are someplace you really shouldn't be. Not like up North, they don't need a reason anymore.

Speaking of the Acidic Atmosphere of south Texas. I lived in Florida for three years, I had never seen a car rust from the top down before. Around the windows, and edges of the hoods, and trunks, craziest thing I'd ever seen. 

We left Florida after one night. My wife, and I were sitting up watching a movie, about 2 am when all of the sudden, they started in front of my house ripping off a 9mm, and drove past the next 2 houses, about 9 shots in all. When we first heard the shots my wife says what's that, I grabbed her, and pulled her off the couch into the floor, and told her get down here, that was gun fire! I promptly looked at her, and said were going back to Arkansas, at least if they shoot at you there, they've got a reason. So we moved back 2 weeks later (1993), and been here ever since. 

I miss Chicago for the ability to lay my hands on anything, at the drop of a hat. Cause if it exists, someone in or around Chicago has it. but Arkansas is a heck of a lot safer. Down here everybody knows who the bad guys are. They stand out like a sore thumb.  

The work you're doing is amazing. I wish I had your talents. I recently finished the custom headers, I had to build for my "Jacobra" and they are relatively crude, but a lot better then anything Ford made, and since they don't make headers for a 460 Ford motor in a Jaguar XJS. They'll do just fine. Besides I'm building a Hot Rod, not a show car. I love the work, and meticulous detail you're going through. It's gonna be gorgeous. Keep it up!

JTS

[Steven Harris]

Great work.

Very inspiring!

[combat32]

I like the Harley light conversion.
I havent read it all but working on it

[SWPruett]

I have never really figured out if moving to Arkansas, was the smartest thing or not. It did get us away from all the crap, of living 60 miles out of Chicago. The gangs, and drugs were starting to dominate (late70's), plus my EX still lives up there. So 5 to 6 hundred miles away seemed the best place to raise my kids. At least if they decide to shoot at you in Arkansas, it's cause you screwed up, or are someplace you really shouldn't be. Not like up North, they don't need a reason anymore.

Speaking of the Acidic Atmosphere of south Texas. I lived in Florida for three years, I had never seen a car rust from the top down before. Around the windows, and edges of the hoods, and trunks, craziest thing I'd ever seen. 

We left Florida after one night. My wife, and I were sitting up watching a movie, about 2 am when all of the sudden, they started in front of my house ripping off a 9mm, and drove past the next 2 houses, about 9 shots in all. When we first heard the shots my wife says what's that, I grabbed her, and pulled her off the couch into the floor, and told her get down here, that was gun fire! I promptly looked at her, and said were going back to Arkansas, at least if they shoot at you there, they've got a reason. So we moved back 2 weeks later (1993), and been here ever since. 

I miss Chicago for the ability to lay my hands on anything, at the drop of a hat. Cause if it exists, someone in or around Chicago has it. but Arkansas is a heck of a lot safer. Down here everybody knows who the bad guys are. They stand out like a sore thumb.  

The work you're doing is amazing. I wish I had your talents. I recently finished the custom headers, I had to build for my "Jacobra" and they are relatively crude, but a lot better then anything Ford made, and since they don't make headers for a 460 Ford motor in a Jaguar XJS. They'll do just fine. Besides I'm building a Hot Rod, not a show car. I love the work, and meticulous detail you're going through. It's gonna be gorgeous. Keep it up!

JTS

JTS,

I gotta think that, in hindsight, you must feel like you are right where you need to be!  While I totally get the "convenience factor" of metro areas on many levels, I'll take quiet and safe just about any day!

[SWPruett]

Great work.

Very inspiring!

Thank you!

[SWPruett]

I like the Harley light conversion.
I havent read it all but working on it

Thanks!  It's pretty unique, but not over the top.  Should go easily un-noticed to casual eyes.

[SWPruett]

Getting the blog caught up on lots of goings on in the shop.

http://1970boss302.blogspot.com/2020/03/...-2020.html

[1969_Mach1]

I looked at your blog.  You do extremely nice work.  Everything looks great.

One question comes to mind.  Is finishing this project in the build plan?