Oh yeah I will bead roll in stiffening ribs where the red Lines are... also the back edge and bottom get a 90 degree bend.

I know that it is Thanksgiving (happy Thanksgiving!!!) But I did get to work a few hours this morning while everyone was sleeping.

I built the inner doors. The picture shows both inner door sheets of 14 awg welded together at the corners. I cut the access holes out with a 2" hole saw and a cutoff wheel.

Next I'll make the frames, then put on the skins. After all of that I'll be able to finish the cowl edge so it flows into the tops of the doors.

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The cowl is almost done and I've built a frame for the floor and the body. Here is a link to the latest video...

https://youtu.be/C8W40d5eHEI

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This morning I was able to spend 4 hours working on the Packard. The biggest thing that I got done was organizing all of the parts that has come off of the Packard. I brought in a large roll around six shelf cart and nearly filled it up.

I was also able to remove sheet metal from the rear part of the frame. With this uncovered and by scaling internet pictures I have put together a design for the body frame. I will build this frame from 1 1/2" x 3" rectangular tubing with .062 wall. This frame and the cowl will come together next on the original frame.

This week I have been able to collect several parts... nice used engine splash pans from eBay, sheet metal and special steel tubing for fabbing the body and doors, and materials for building tail light housings.

I'm going to be tied up for a few days but I'm looking forward to getting back on the Packard for a long weekend ahead.

I have been able to finish the rust repair on the cowl. It took 3 patches... two along the bottom of each side and one small lower corner of the firewall.

Next step is to attach the steel frame and set it back on the car.

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Finally finished the rust repair to the cowl this weekend. Started to remove the sheet metal covering the back half of the frame and the rear fenders. Now I have to design the body frame that will replace the rotten wood. This will allow me to test fit the cowl to the body.

I am also looking at how to build the doors, the back of the passenger area and the floor. After studying the pics above and others I'm definitely going to incorporate some of the design cues of the original speedster. I will not be able to closely copy it because of what I have to start with.

I have set a goal for this project... I want my wife and I to drive her at Cruising The Coast in Mississippi in October of 2018. That leaves me 22 months to build a car from a rough start.

West, thank you for the cowl pics... I'm now scratching my head and can't wait to get back to my shop for laying out a new plan for the cowl edge and the door construction. I do like how the "shiny" (stainless steel) strip trims the edge of the dash and flows across the top of the doors. This answers another question I have had.

Your car is beautiful!!!

I wonder if I could be really forward and ask if my wife and I could get a look at it in person? Not only will it help guide my work in the right direction... but most of all it may help my wife visualize the outcome and justify all of the hours I spend in my shop.

Here's another update on the cowl restoration:

https://youtu.be/Opl7C5_5_K4

Making progress bottom right patch panel almost done and bottom left patch panel made and ready to welding in.

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I've just been able to get an hour here and there to work on the cowl. I've made good progress on the frame. I bought a new (not rusted away) dash on EBay. The dash has been fitted to the frame. I discovered that the doors were for a closed car. As you can see in the vid I'm starting to get the left door attached to the cowl frame.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5WmFhkcSE-I

I have been able to get a couple of short stints out in the shop since my last post. I am still focused on the cowl restoration. I have much more to do on the frame that holds the doors and the dashboard.


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yVUZh6W8Wik

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