May 25

Oh the waiting!! Small things left to do and three large things. I've knocked a few things off my list this time that are impediments to Cowboy.

Door panels are done, even after our discussion about them being "too much." Minion liked them so they stayed.

 

Then, there is much sewing going on.

 

And carpet!

 

 

May 15

It's the middle minion's birthday! I know he's probably a little disappointed we didn't take off work today and take him down to get his learner's permit. It just didn't make sense since he'll be getting one in two weeks when driver's ed starts.

Cowboy installed the headliner today, which took over an hour. I can't say I'm sad I missed that one. I'm sure it was frustrating trying to get a board that's not super flexible in a spot where it needed to be more flexible. He also worked on the lock mechanisms and cleaned up the door handles. 

My mom saw the photos today and simply loves it. She said she wanted a Wonder Woman truck. I'm thinking I need a  Wonder Woman Trans-Am...

May 14

With each car we've learned something new, better painting techniques, which adhesives work best, where to get fabric, what are some new tricks. However, I think is one of the coolest things we've done. This is the headliner for the truck.

And it is AWESOME!

 

Also finished, the dash pad. No sewing tonight, and the minion is a little sad it won't miraculously be finished on his birthday, but he won't have his license for another month so we have time.

 

 

You can see in the photo above where the headliner will be going. I made Cowboy hold it up before I put the resin on it and failed to get a photo.

 

 

Putting the speakers in the dash pad.

 

May 13

Insides! Interior work! We got the dash piece covered in fiberglass. It fills the gap between the top of the new dash and the top of where the original dash was located. I know, all of you auto purists are shaking your heads at the horror of us taking the original Apache dash out.

 All of my years stretching canvas and framing pieces for embroidery helped out today. I stretched the fleece over the dash frame Cowboy made and he and minions coated it in resin and fiberglass. I came back out for the final smoothing over the frame since this falls into the category of "fiddly" things.

I also started cutting out the seat back pieces. They're a nod to the old Captain America shield and the boy seemed excited when I had him check out what it's going to look like.

 

 

Pinning on the fleece before it's stretched on the frame.

Stretching the fleece over the frame.

 

Finished and ready for fiberglass.

 

Minions working for ice cream. They like the goopy jobs.

 

 

Seat backs. (I LOVE THESE!) They would have been sewn tonight, but the pattern took longer than I thought. And I had to help with the fiberglass.

May 12

I don't have pictures from yesterday because Cowboy was spraying clear coat and that's not exciting to photograph. I was paining on bed liner and that stuff gets everywhere so no way was I digging out the camera. Expensive DSLR and epoxy bed liner paint do not mix well.

Today we put the truck back together, at least the body parts. We still have to finish out the interior, install a new windshield, and put in new door glass.  I ripped apart the old seats today and will be working furiously to get them sewn.

But for a sneak peek, here's the boy seeing the whole thing together and what it looks like after paint.

May 10

Paint day! Almost my favorite day in restoration. My favorite is the day we wrap it all up. Which isn't today. Today Cowboy painted. I got to come out later and add stripes and cut the paint stencils.

 

 

 

May 6

This is always Cowboy's favorite part, where the paint starts to go on. He gets all excited like it's Christmas and can hardly wait. He and the boy minions got the primer on Monday night. I will say it is a little weird seeing it in primer again. It just wasn't that long ago that we did this the first time.