Cool McCool's Garage

I admit it, I have the attention span of a 2-year-old.  I went to Schupan Aluminum Sales today to pick up some 1/2″x1/2″ aluminum bar stock to make running board trim for the Diamond T.  That was to be this afternoons project.  On the way home, I stopped at my buddy’s business, “Morris Rose Auto Parts”, my favorite place to shop, to say hi (and see if they had any exciting totals for me to build).   No builders I wanted, but on the way out, in the showroom was a set of aluminum, multi-fit rims.  The rims looked good, no curb rash, and the tires, Discount Tires in store “Arazonian” brand.  All for $300.  Hmmmm…

When I had the new tires installed on the wagon before vacation this fall, I was looking at these EXACT wheels at Belle Tire, thinking when we got home, I should get a set of them, and have the summer tires I took of the Mercury mounted.  I’ve been running the Blizzak knock-off winter tires all year.  And, I was tired of looking at it with the crappy plastic fake mag hub caps.   The wheels alone were just over $80 each, and by the time I had my tires mounted and balanced, I’d be looking at just over $400.  Not bad, but here were wheels, and BETTER tires on them to boot for less! 

We loaded ’em up in the back of the wagon, and I went right home and installed them.   Right away, the car looked so much better I got busy and washed it, and cleaned the glass.  It looks great! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With that out-of-the-way, I got busy and installed the headlight bulbs in the Diamond T, put the windshields in, and hung the grill back in the shell.  The left half I did a quick pass on the buffer to see how well the stainless will polish up, and the result was pretty impressive.  A little more time spent will make the grill look like jewelry. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next, I cut the aluminum bar stock to length, and mocked the strips up on the running boards.  I’d imagined three bars, and one on the face of the running board, but the 1/2″ stock looks goofy on the side, so I may get some 1/4 x 1/2 stock and try that.  Three bars is a classic Art Deco design feature,  but I’m going to cut another strip tomorrow and see how it looks with 4 bars.  At any rate, I’m happy with the way they look on the boards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow I’d like to back the truck out, wash it, and get started buffing these,  the hood trim (made of the same bar stock), and maybe figure out how I’m going to fasten them.  It’s going to be nice out, so probably a trip to the hardware store in the wagon will be in order.  We’ll see if I can stay on task!