SnapOn box restoration - start of metal work

Just want to say MERRY CHRISTMAS to all those who have visited the blog over the past year. My stats say thousands of people have read my posts, which just astounds me -  Thank you!

Earlier this month, I received a Vintage SnapOn Tool box to restore for a GarageJournal.com Forum Member, from Winnipeg. I myself have gotten a lot from being a member of GarageJournal,com and it was time to pay it forward....

Talk about rough! The box had been somewhere that rusted it something BAD. Also looks like the bottom was replaced and gas-welded without any cleanup being done after....

First operation - strip the paint -

Then I did some welding repairs to the front panel - 

...and top panel...

The rustiest areas got EW's Rust Converter - 

Lots of metal work followed....

Then some shrinking and stretching to get the top panel to lay flat - 

Looks better!

Finally, I put a Self-Etch Primer...

Then a High-build primer - 

Next week - PAINT!


Don't forget to check out my website at www.E-tekRestorations.com !

1940 Ford 3rd Brake Light and a new summer toy

Christmas means many things to many people. To me, it meant a 2-week break from my "Regular Job" and therefore, nearly 2 weeks of blissful hands-on work in my shop!!

Of course Christmas also means very different things to my beautiful wife and kids and I have a part to play in making their Christmas dreams come true - so I can't spend EVERY day in the shop!! Oh well....them first is my motto.

So, after a few days at the in-laws, playing Santa, eating, drinking, playing in the snow and sharing their lives, I came back home and got a couple of small things done in the shop.

The owner of the 40 Ford project had cut a hole for a 3rd brake light - which I really like. It just needed a little finishing, so I cleaned up the edges with a file and will roll the edges in ever so slightly.

Also ran the rear lights and fuel tank wiring....and hooked up the 3rd brake light.

Then, for something completely different, I pulled the plugs, shot WD40 in the cylinders and turned the engine by hand in advance of troubleshooting the EEC-IV engine management system -

The plugs were nasty - so I bought a new set, but once it's running a compression and leak-down test will definitely be in order.

Lastly, I moved several engines and some metal-forming tools in order to make room for our new toy....

A rare, 1981 Coachworks Convertible Trans Am!

These were commissioned by GM from 1979 to 1981 by a company called Coachworks. Apaprently fewer than 500 were made and I would guess many fewer remain. They started with a T-top TransAm due to the extra frame stiffening supplied by the factory, then added even more steel (read: weight!) to the frame and cut off the roof. They are failry well finished, with a complete boot and a quality padded top. It needs a little sprucing up, but will definitely be a fun, easy ride for Mrs E-tek this summer! The reincarnation of Farrah! (Y'know, Fawcet, Charlie's Angels, 1970's....) ;)

Make sure you check back often over the holidays - there's going to be a LOT going on and getting done!

Check out my website at www.E-tekRestorations.com 

Continuing on 1940 Ford Custom Console

                           This is where we left the console yesterday -

In order to mount the AC controls and knobs, I had to spend some time getting the holes deep enough to get the rather short switch poles through the half-inch MDF and also opened up enough to accept the knobs. In the end the knobs will be countersunk into the surface, giving it all a custom-finished look.

The entire assembly went in and came out a few times again. Much of the fitting today was spent cutting the sides to go over the tranny hump that widens up towards the front, as well as getting things out of the way in order to fit everything together.

I also had to spend quite a bit of time re-routing wires so that they could be attached to the switches without putting undo strain on the connections.

I have a lot of reservations about the size of the newest cordless drills. I prefer my Black and Decker in which the battery is no bigger than a normal handle. Here I was having trouble getting at a screw between the steering column and console.

....of course these dilemmas are often bitter sweet - often another tool is required to get the job done, like this angled screw bit holder:

 After wiring up the tach, the 12V power source and the power window buttons, as well as attaching the AC knobs to their switches, I screwed it all back together to see what we had:

The space in front of the shifter will be for a pocket  - y'know.. for todays essentials. Unfortunately, there's no room for cup holders! Maybe between the seats, but its pretty narrow there. Oh well, its gonna be a fast show-car:  NO DRINKS =  NO SPILLS!

The console can be covered in a variety of ways, according to the owners wishes. I've see some wrapped in leather with an engine-turned insert looking really good.

Just before closing up for the night, I took the Snap On box parts out of the parts washer, wiped it all dry and repaired the two sliders I had to remove forcefully:

The backside rivet ends protruded a bit and I didn't want them to get hung up in the future, so I hammered the ends flat. After that I also hammered a lot of the damage out of the boxes - but forgot to take pictures!

Lastly, I put the box on a sheet of plastic and gave it a liberal dose of Metal Prep - POR15s phosphate rust fixing agent.

/Wrapping it up keeps the solution active for much longer - like 24 hours, vs, the 20-30 minutes you would get allowing it to evaporate.

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