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Author
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Topic: '73 'glass bumper project still alive.......
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DutchD58
Gearhead Posts: 128
From: West Milton, OH
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 07-23-2003 08:52 PM
   
Had a great weekend! There have been a lot of bumps along the way the past two years, but the bumper pattern is now in a coat of gloss black, that I used to check for minor optical flaws, and I have pics posted to the AOL Torino Club (best image host I can find so far), for anyone who's interested, to look at.
I tried to get pics from various angles to try and show all the curves and surfaces, but the black made that a bit of a challenge. I know there are a lot of folks who feel a bumper should be chrome, but
if you use your minds' eye to paint the rest of the car black to match, I think it definitely takes on a more aggressive appearance.
The gloss black will be getting wet sanded, in a day or so, in preparation for a coat of high-luster silver to try and give it a more traditional appearance for a few more pics. After that I'm going to shoot the bottom half in body color to test an idea, then it's off the car for good and onto the bench for mold building prep!
Here's the link: http://groups.aol.com/_cqr/antqrc?mmch_=0 Just go to the photo section and open "OleDutchD's Rides". Kevin
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'73 Gran Torino Sportsroof
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 3984
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 07-23-2003 09:37 PM
Good job,Kevin! Looks like you've put alot of work into it.
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DutchD58
Gearhead Posts: 128
From: West Milton, OH
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 07-24-2003 08:34 PM
Thanks, Mike. As a matter of fact, I sat down not too long ago and did a little quick math on the whole thing..... about 320 man hours to date. That includes everything from conceptual drawings and patterns right up to last weekend. I'm sure it would take a great deal less time in a state-of-the-art shop with CAD/CAM equipment and digitizers. Considering that the only power equipment used on this thing was a scroll saw two years ago, to cut out station templates for the buck, I feel pretty good about it. Now if I could just get it off the car so I can get started on that hood................Kevin ------------------
'73 Gran Torino Sportsroof
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 43151
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 10-10-2003 06:28 PM
Hey, I just saw your car in the letter section of this month's Mustangs and Fords! Very cool!  ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 - '70 Mustang Convertible - '72 Mustang Sprint - '94 F-150
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DutchD58
Gearhead Posts: 128
From: West Milton, OH
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 10-12-2003 10:19 AM
Surprised me, too, Steve. That letter and those pics were for Editor Ford's benefit. He e-mailed me back just over an hour after I sent them to him, and asked if he could publish it all and include my contact info! Gotta admit, it put a big smile on MY face! LOL!!
Anyway, all the pics of the bumper in the various color trials I did this summer are now in my Yahoo photo album. My personal favorite so far (and the last one I tried) is the color-keyed "gold" version. You can find them at: http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/bc/oledutchd Kevin ------------------
'73 Gran Torino Sportsroof
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 3984
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 10-12-2003 09:48 PM
That's cool,Dutch! Was it difficult to build the buck? I want a front spoiler for my 72,but they are N/A. Maybe I can try one myself. I've seen them on older stock cars,but they are the aluminum shovel looking things made in a metal bender{brake}. I want on that has a formed look,ala Mach1.That bumper looks cool. It gives it a newer car look. [This message has been edited by MLariviere (edited 10-12-2003).]
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DutchD58
Gearhead Posts: 128
From: West Milton, OH
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 10-14-2003 08:14 AM
Mike,.... thank you very much. I don't want to say it was difficult, just very tedious at times. My goal was to have less than 1/8" variance between any two points, one side to the other, so I guess you could say the level of difficulty depends on your personal expectations and level of patience. The buck was just a 3-D skeleton of 1/4" furniture grade birch plywood with urethane foam inlaid between the formers to flesh it out. From there on out it was just a matter of measuring, shaping and sanding (with a few revisions along the way) to achieve the desired effect.
As far as the '72 chin spoiler, it's all a matter of personal taste, but the '70/'71 Cyclone spoiler may provide suitable inspiration if you want to try your hand at it.
Let me know if I may be of any help.Kevin ------------------
'73 Gran Torino Sportsroof
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Dubz
Gearhead Posts: 1718
From: Manitoba Canada
Registered: Oct 2002
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posted 10-15-2003 07:13 PM
no rush on anything, but when do you guess you would have the 74 bumpers done? a year, two? (like i said, i'm in no rush, just think one would be really cool)
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DutchD58
Gearhead Posts: 128
From: West Milton, OH
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 10-18-2003 01:55 PM
Heya, Dubz!! Yes, I still plan on getting around to a '74-'76 compatible piece. Fact is, I have a header/headlight/grill assembly for one of those to mock-up to my '73 for that very purpose. As for timetable, 1-2 years is pretty realistic. There are some variables (and additional 'glass projects) at play here that could have an effect on things, so we'll just have to see what happens.
On the bright side of things, any additional design developments/changes should take considerably less time because they'll all be derived from this first pattern (including the chin spoiler), so I won't have to do a great many things all over..
Stay tuned, and we'll see where this goes.........Kevin ------------------
'73 Gran Torino Sportsroof
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