Restoration Progress Photos

[Bob Bidonde]

I am always interested in seeing how Model A's are restored. Please post some pictures of your Model A restoration when it was or is still underway. Here's some of mine.

[Canton_Model_A's]

Bob, no photos

[Big hammer]

Work in progress ;-)

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Bob, if you need a 'visual fix', then come make a shop visit. You can see almost every facet of the restoration process in one visit. Photographers are welcome.

[Bob Bidonde]

Thanks for the offer Brent.

[Fullraceflathead]

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Very nice restoration!!!

[Fullraceflathead]

That's an incredible offer Brent next time I'm gonna be in Tennessee I'd love to look you up I'd love to see your restoration operation!!!

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by Fullraceflathead

That's an incredible offer Brent next time I'm gonna be in Tennessee I'd love to look you up I'd love to see your restoration operation!!!

You are always welcome.

BTW, I had sent you a PM awhile back about me spending my summers about 75 miles NW of you in Denver, MO. I still have family in Bethany, so I may be in your neck of the woods in the future.

[Oldbluoval]

Lower right hand pic of reveal strikes a memory!!
Did I do your front fenders??….thats where memory fails!!

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Bob, since this kinda stalled I'll add a few of my Shop work areas and some projects....



Looking at the Shop's front door. (the warehouse area is to the far right, and Upholstery Shop is behind the roll-up door directly under the Ford sign.)


One of two of our New Parts Rooms.


These next two pics are the Customer's Project shelves for new or restored parts. After a subcomponent is repaired/restored/replaced, it is placed in a specific labeled plastic tote where it waits until time for installation. There are approximately 44 different totes used throughout each vehicle's restoration process.





These two pix are of the Customer's storage shelves in our Warehouse area that we use for Frame-ups (-we have a seperate set of pallet racks for Service projects). Each customer is assigned an 8' long section (16' high) that stores unrestored items removed from their vehicle along with certain items that are in the process of being restored.






This is our main cleaning area. The tank on the left holds 200° hot caustic for grease and organic debris removal from the parts. The orange cabinet is a jet wash cabinet that rinses the parts after they have been submerged in the Sodium Hydroxide solution for several hours. The blue machine is a RotoBlaster used to mediablast cleaned parts using stainless steel shot about the size of coarsely-ground pepper. The wire cage inside the blaster is used to hold small parts during blasting. The large basket in the forefront is used to hold bulky items such as engine blocks, axle housing or beams, crankshafts, etc. (-sheetmetal items or parts that are too small are mediablasted by hand.)





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[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

This is the main Assembly Shop where we can comfortably assemble about 8 vehicles simultaneously.



These next two pix are a panned view showing sometimes we (uncomfortably ) have more than 8 in this area!




Other random angles...

















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[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

These are a few pix from our Metal Shop where sheetmetal items are repaired after they have been de-rusted, and where Frames are repaired. Each vehicle is mocked up prior to going to the Body Shop.


























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[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

At some time either before and/or during the sheetmetal process, we fabricate & install the wood infrastructure into the body. The goal is to have the body wood installed prior to final mock-up being done in the Metal Shop, -and before it goes to the Body Shop for the final time (-between the Sheetmetal repair and the Wood installation, it does go to the Body Shop to have Epoxy primer applied to the sheetmetal behind the areas where the wood will be installed.) We predominantly use Ash and purchase it from the mill in 5/4", 8/4" and 12/4" thicknesses....





Station Wagon...




68C Cabriolet...


Special Coupe...


DeLuxe Delivery...








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[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

While the sheetmetal and paint work is being done, the mechanical items are rebuilt or restored in the Machine Shop...













After machining/restoring is completed, items such as the axle assemblies, transmissions, steering gear boxes, engines, distributors, starters, generators, brake shoes & components, etc. are all assembled in a room we just happen to call our Assembly Room.
(-each of the drawers in the red cabinet in the background store the tools and/or fixtures for each individual task of the subcomponent restoration.)












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[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

After the sheetmetal repairs are complete, and wood has been installed, all the sheetmetal in moved into the Body Shop...




























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[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

...and when the paint work is complete, the upholstery & trim is sewn and installed into the body, the seat covers are sewn & installed, and the top or roof is installed.
















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[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Hopefully this gives a basic overview of how a Model-A shop does restorations. Feel free to ask questions how or why we do something.

[Fullraceflathead]

Excellent photos and descriptions Brent your vast knowledge and many years of experience definitely shows in your quality and workmanship thank you very much for these photos!!!

[Bob Bidonde]

Oldblueoval! Yes Bill, you did my fenders. Do you remember these? You delivered the fenders back to me at Hershey many moons ago.

[Bob Bidonde]

Brent! Your shop is spectacular! It is very well equipped for all facets of restoration and it is the cleanest shop I have seen. Thanks for sharing your photos. I wish you were closed to the Mason-Dixon Line, so it would be a shorter drive for me to take up your offer for a visit.