Rusty Lee to The General Lee

Welding is done.

2013-04-20T22:44:00.001-04:00

We are very close to having completing my portion of the work. Hoping to get the car done before Memorial Day, May 24.

Just Jump

2013-04-20T22:40:00.001-04:00

Having second thoughts was not going to make this any easier. I decided when the day came, my dad and I would just make the cuts so there would not be any turning back. Using a black marker we made the estimate line cuts and went after it. We wanted to make sure we left enough metal so we didn't cut off too much. It was painful seeing the car in shambles again.

"Sometimes things have to get worse before they get better"

Pics better than words.. Surgery 1/4's

2013-04-20T22:39:00.000-04:00

Back in the Saddle Again

2013-04-20T22:31:00.003-04:00

I had a lot of fun driving the car this past year, but in the back of my mind I was always thinking about those darn fire scars on the back panels. With a couple pennies saved (a lot actually) I was able to purchase two FULL 1/4's for Rusty. I left the panels on the shelf until spring. That is when Rusty was scheduled for 'surgery' again. And so it began..

Great evening

2012-06-22T00:31:00.001-04:00

Love just hanging around my house and seeing the Big Bad Orange paint brighten the surrounding scenery. I'm fortunate to have the car. Even though it's not quite done, it's drivable and kicks some tail. YeeHaw

1st Car Show

2012-06-03T17:50:00.001-04:00

Interior console

2012-05-19T18:12:00.001-04:00

Loving the look of the interior. All lights, blinkers, brakes work ... Just need to hook up the drop down linkage cable and I'll be rolling.

New wires.. Distributor

2012-04-21T20:55:00.001-04:00

Just switching plug wires. I bought some new plugs, MSD wires, and a new MSD distributor. Tomorrow gonna try to hook up lights and gauges. Then hopefully we'll hit the road!!

The little things

2012-03-21T22:01:00.001-04:00

I have been driving the car around my neighborhood. I still don't have my blinkers, brake lights, and gauges up and running yet or I'd venture a lot farther away from home. I'm hoping I get the car over to my parents soon to finish the small things. Onward!!

Mopar Lloyd Mats

2012-02-27T20:45:00.001-05:00

My Lloyd Mats came in today. Mopar logo with neon blue thread. Ordered through Summit and asked which blue was closest to Mopar blue. These look great. I went with a slate grey mat to offset all the black in the car. I got the set of four but only the front are embroidered. These are very nice quality. 157.00 for mats?! Well, I was gonna spend it on something, why not mats.

Plate Day

2012-02-26T18:08:00.001-05:00

And now we wait for spring to roll out of the garage..

New Shifter Knob

2012-02-19T10:00:00.001-05:00

I received a nice McPhail skull painted shifter knob for Christmas. I really liked it and since the B&M handle was a dulled and crispy from the fire I thought it would atleast brighten the car's inside a bit. My dad tapped it out and it fits like a glove. We're getting closer to those spring temps!!!

Patience

2012-01-15T23:39:00.001-05:00

March is the month that will finally have The General rolling down the road. Can't wait for that Maiden Voyage to ANYWHERE!! I've been starting it through the cold season. Will need new plugs and will change oil before launch. Come on March!!!

Sleeping through the winter

2011-12-03T19:18:00.001-05:00

It is wonderful have The General Lee in my garage. We trailered it to my place a few weeks back. I am taking a break on it right now, but I'll get back to it after the holidays. Santa called to ask if he could take my sleigh this year.. I told him I'd think about it. Merry Christmas!!

Introducing.. The General Lee

2011-10-23T18:29:00.001-04:00

As I walked around the car looking at a General Lee in the garage that I know is mine, it dawned on me that the end of this project, and the end of this blog, is drawing closer. With just little things left to accomplish on the car, I feel I don't need to bore the world or the reader of this blog book with minor things. I have one more big thing to do that might come next weekend that I've been waiting for for almost 5 years. To be continued...

2011-10-23T18:22:00.001-04:00

Today we got to play with stickers. The door, and General Lee script went on without a hitch. The rebel flag ended up with some wrinkles that will need to be shrunk. I can live with it since it is on top of the car and not the sides.

Putting the decals on we used the soap and water method. First we taped where the decals needed to be. Then just spray and squeegee.. Spray and squeegee.

Grill & Push Bar

2011-10-22T22:29:00.001-04:00

Today's focus was getting the grill back on the car and the push bar mounted and secured.

When I went to the paint shop and seen the grill was out I was not too happy. Sure I understood that it might have been necessary, but I was just not looking forward to putting it back in. Needless to say we got it after only a few cuss words.

Next was the push bar. We had it already marked from when we tried it before, so we just had to out it back. I welded it into place on the frame and bolts will be in place there too.

Onward!!

Push Bar

2011-10-16T21:36:00.001-04:00

Just prepping the push bar so it is ready when I pick the car up from getting the little touch ups fixed. Expecting a call by Wednesday.

Exterior chrome

2011-10-09T17:01:00.001-04:00

I'm just putting all the exterior trim on the car. Once I get that on there I'll be taking the car back to get resprayed at the paint shop. Winter is closing in, but this weeks projects mid 70's!!

After a couple days

2011-10-02T22:39:00.001-04:00

I've had a few days away from the car and (although it still irks me about the back panels) I am loving seeing the car orange. The Big Bad Orange paint is just great. My boys love it!

I'm putting the chrome back on the car. I can't put the grill back on because I'm taking the car back for another paint spray in a couple weeks. I'm mad that they took the grill out because they snapped a couple plastic connectors on it. I worked my butt off to get that grill looking good and painted things all nice... I found today that there is a lot of over spray and my efforts of painting around that grill was for nothing.

I am painting the drum breaks for a small accent behind the wheels ( hemi orange ). I'm waiting on the lug nuts to come in to put the Vectors back on the car.
Onward!!!!

Let's do the wave!!!

2011-09-28T20:51:00.002-04:00

Big Bad Orange. The car is colored, shiny, and... wavy. I love the fact that the car is painted, I really do. Yet I didn't think the back quarters were that wavy I guess. I went over every inch of that car knowing that some areas were a bit uneven. I was just surprised that the back quarters were the way they were. I felt down the side of the car, primered, sanded, etc. I didn't see the waves in the primer and certainly didn't feel them, yet they are there.

“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying.” Michael Jordan. My two little boys will not know the car isn't show quality and that makes me happy. One day I'll replace the whole back panels with full 1/4's, but for now I'll drive it. I'm happy it is done, just disappointed in myself that I didn't catch some of that key stuff before paint.

Down Time

2011-09-25T23:57:00.001-04:00

While the car is away I had to find something to work on this weekend or I just wouldn't feel right. I "Mother"-ed the bumpers and other chrome things I could find. Wasn't much, but it was something that needed to be done eventually anyway.

Goodbye for now

2011-09-23T18:24:00.001-04:00

I drove Rusty into the first bay and shut'er off. I had to look back one last time. The next time I'll see the car it will be orange.

Very quiet

2011-09-23T18:22:00.001-04:00

Locked and loaded, Rusty made it's way (with our help ofcourse) to the paint shop. I was still sanding some things on the car even up on the trailer. I guess I just wanted things to be a little better than before.

There is an eerie silence in the garage now. I'm excited and nervous all wrapped up into one.

600 grit

2011-09-22T19:11:00.001-04:00

Time is flying. I have 't been taking to many photos lately. I have been basically sanding and trying to fix the little imperfections. I reworked many areas and eventually got down to the 600 grit. I went over every inch of this car with it. I didn't realize how big this car was!!!! Any who, the car is prepped and ready for the next level. I have done all I can on the body. It's now time to send it in. I've waited for this moment for years now. Now if the weather will cooperate we'll be in business. Glasses up, cheers!! Onward.