62 Savoy project underway

Floor is in. Some final welding and caulking to do but what a difference it makes in the looks of the car! For a used floor pan it turned out well. Not perfect or brand new, but I'm pleased with the results.

I'm getting too old to lay on the floor for an underside picture, so here's the best I could do this morning.

We'd a bit of a debate going on regarding the trunk floor. There are a few pinholes mostly on the right side. Some are above the right frame rail, forward of where the leaf spring shackle mount is. He wants to cut out and replace the section because he feels the sheet metal may be a bit thin there and doesn't want to take a chance on it becoming an issue down the road.

My immediate reaction was to leave it alone, but then thought better of it. He wants to do it the way he feels is best and I sure don't want to dampen the enthusiasm, so I told him to proceed as he sees fit.

Camera died on me this morning when I went out to check on the Savoy. I may not have been able to photograph much because he's been working on straightening out the deck lid. That wouldn't show in a picture.

The one on the car originally was rusted beyond repair and I spent a fair amount of time trying to find another. Every one I found was about as rusted as the one I already had. Finally found one on a car that had been sitting in a yard with cattle roaming around it. The car was beat to death and rusted to nothing but somehow the trunk lid was still rust free. Unfortunately a calf or some such thing had walked across the top of the deck lid. That didn't do the sheet metal a whole lot of good.

Anyway, he's been able to get the reinforcement channels back in line and has the lid pretty well pulled back in shape.

Also replacing a section of the left front lower quarter panel. It's amazing how much crap collects in the bottom of such cavities after 50 years.

We finalized on the body color and the dash board. Body is going the light yellow consistent with that year and the dash kind of a silvery very light blue.

You know, work keeps getting in the way of playing! Finally made it out to the shop today to see how the Savoy's coming. Here are some updates.

Repairs to driver's front rocker panel:

Rear quarter patch

Usual front fender rust. Here's the start of the patching. Fortunately the inner channel was still solid on this side. Not so on the other though!

Other than the terribly rusted deck lid, the driver's door was probably the roughest part of the car. Still solid but the outer skin was beat up pretty good. Starting to pull things back in line.

62's rock! Keep up the good work!

Just checked in to see how it was going,,,looks good!!
Looks familiar...sort of 'dejavue'

Larry, that's quite the project you have here; looks like it is coming along. Keep up the good work.

What happened to that 3 speed Fury I or was it a Belvedere that you picked up locally?

It's hard to believe these '62's are FIFTY YEARS OLD! Your doing GREAT on all that metal work!! Keep the progress photos coming.

Looking great, should be sharp looking when finished. What drive componets are going into it?

Work keeps getting in the way of playing, but I did get out to check on the Savoy this morning. The dash and component trim parts are painted. I like the color!

Lots of sanding on component parts

Third coat of sandable primer. What a difference a coat of primer makes in the looks of the car!

I have been giving the driveline some thought and think I'll be going with a mild 413 and 4 speed. I've an old old Lunati solid lifter cam setup I've had since the 70's, a little long on duration but was pretty steetable. Also have looked several times over the past few months at Edelbrock STR style intakes and sure am intrigued by one of the single carb top units for visual impact. No experience with how driveable they are.

I realized this morning when looking at the car that I should have worked out the motor mount scheme before taking it to the body shop. It was a slant 6 car. Guess I'll be making careful modifications after it's back home.

Ahhhh,,,I remember 'primer' very well. Project looks good..

Your 62 really goods good! What became of the car?

larry looks like it coming along nicely,what did you decide on for a K-frame? 63-65 or later 66-70 V8?

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I sold it, as a roller, to a 'friend', at a reduced price, as he said he was going to put it on the street. I thought that it would be neat to see it on the street, hence the reduced price. He imediately took it to the 'Nats and tried to double his money on it. It did not sell there, so later he traded it for a street-rod project car,, .
I belive it is in the southeast Ohio,Gallioplis area now. I am not sure exactly where,,as I haven't heard from my 'ex-friend'.!!


This is how it looked when I sold it..

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Great shot of the car. I love the way they carry the left front wheel, although it's sure hell on the body. You obviously spent some time tieing yours all together. I know from way back when racing my Lancer wagon, after a good pass the doors wouldn't shut right until the car sat static a while. I've a picture of it somewhere carrying the left front, albeit not nearly as impressive as your 62. We all have friend stories like that it seems. Thanks for posting and your comments!