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Sounds good to me--hard to tell with no exhaust, but don't hear any funny mechanical noises.

thanks Ross, i think its pretty close for right now anyways. till i can drive it and fine tune it.

speaking of which.

been stairing at the pic of when i got the car. i really do like the original paint and how it has aged. i know i have been down this road before, but there is no way i can afford a 10k paint job now or in the next 5 years.

i'm ready to start enjoying my car. so i'm thinking about putting it back together as is. but doing the chrome work and interior. just leaving the paint as is. i kinda like it.

idk. not trying to be lazy or cheap, honestly, i just really like the old weathered look of it. i would be way less nervous about driving it too, and being all pretty much new mechanically...i could drive it anywhere without a worry per say.

its only original once and i'm pretty dang sure the paint is original, just looking at the fenders on that inner fender paint thread and based on what Ross said about the painting technics they used.

i put nufinish on a spot on the trunk lid when i got it.....still shiny in that spot to this date, fyi.

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Patina Cowboys are always looking for more members! Just Saying.

Drive it, enjoy it, and work on things over time.

A car that moves under it's own power is a lot easier to work on then a car that doesn't.

I drove my car around in bare metal for a few months and even hit a couple of local cruise nights.

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I kind of like what you are thinking there! You might try and find something like the owatrol oil that Hans in holland used on his 54 clipper. Clean up the remaining paint that is on there, and put a little oil on the surface rust.
That would be a cool look, and also the original exterior would contrast to the awesome job you did on the chassis and drivetrain.
It would make the care unique and a real conversation starter.

yeah i'm really liking this idea. i don't have the original motor...at least i can brag about the paint being original.

although now i do have a couple holes in the rear of the front fenders from where i was poking on it....meh ads character.

owatrol looks like a good choice....seems hard to find locally via google search. wonder if there is a alternative locally. hmmmmm

absolutely love Hans's car! from the moment i saw it. i was in love.

maybe i can test with something and see if i like it.

Hank

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A very nice patina on that '55 indeed! I think the contrast of the work you have done underneath to get her working sound mechanically and the wabi-sabi: "time earned beauty" finish of the body would be sweet. That was and is my vision for my '52; get it running great and enjoy. Worry free fun.

What I did with the exterior of my car was sand the rough patches and buff in oil. I tried the tire wet kind, and it looked pretty good for a while. I'd like to try an owatrol product or comparable compound but, they are fairly expensive. P.S. Hans's car is amazing.
Try this?
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Flitz-Metal-plastic-and-fiberglass-polish-and-paint-restorer/_/N-25ke?itemIdentifier=510979_0_0_

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http://www.homedepot.com/p/Watco-1-Pt-Natural-Danish-Oil-265503/203164644

seems similar, but not sure about it.

course its only 1 pint. everything else i see is for just wood sealing etc.

cheapest owatrol i can find state side is 34 a quart.

Hank,

There's a lot of people who try to get that "patina" on purpose. Original paint jobs draw my attention at car shows. I enjoy seeing them like that.

Go do you local paint jobber and buy a gallon of the cheapest matt clear you can find.