Here is the air cleaner. I stripped it to bare metal, then refinished it with gloss black. Then I applied the decal and installed a new air filter. I have it on the car just to get it out of my basement before I damage it (my basement is cluttered with DeSoto parts!).
I replaced the right rear vent window. The hasp was broken, and I thought I'd just replace the hasp. However, the window still didn't seal tightly, so I put a whole window in from a donor car in Iowa.
Here is what the inner door looks like. I took off the panels to work on them. Wait until you see the next pictures!!!
I took the door panels completely apart, installed new vinyl, but couldn't match the color. I had the local paint shop mix me some vinyl paint. Then I made Masonite cutouts to replace the rotted cardboard panels, and installed the material and new vinyl. I painted them (the color is still not as pale as the original, but is nice). Then I took the best pieces of several parts cars and re-installed the chrome and stainless parts. I still haven't done the back doors. That will be a bad-weather project.
I couldn't find a nice battery bracket, so hey, I made my own! I used my Firedome's bracket as a pattern, and welded this one up out of one piece of angle iron and some pipe.
I did manage to get some body work done. The lower color sweep (passenger side only) is completed in Dove Gray. I know, the right way to do this is to get the whole body ready, then paint, but I have to work in sections as my ambition strikes me. This way, I get some satisfaction from seeing a finished panel.
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I had to replace the trunk weatherstrip since each time it rained, I had a trunk full of water!
Go HERE for pictures taken on 2-24-02.
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