1957 country sedan build

[1930artdeco]

I live in Lynden. I am going full bore as much as family/house lets me. I just now have to go full bore faster . trying to get her wiring finished by the end of Nov. and then start the welding adventure.

[RICH MUISE]

Just to make sure, from reading your comment,........you did understand what I was suggesting was not to make a form to mold the vinyl, but was actually the base/framework  to adhere the vinyl to. Your problem here will be finding a vinyl that stretches more than the norm to avoid having a sewn seam. Not all vinyls are created equal. A visit to a good upholstery supply shop asking to see their most stretchable line of vinyls is recommended. I had to drive 360 miles to visit Sunbelt Fabrics in Arlington, Tx to find mine.
Case in point: check the pic of my two-toned dash.
https://57fordsforever.com/smf/index.php?topic=3518.msg21046#msg21046
The grey vinyl is a marine grade vinyl I got at Joanne's. It's very tough and thick, and does not stretch real well. No way it was going to work for the top of the dash (tan vinyl), or my console. Note there are no sewn seams.....it's all stretched and glued down. Since I can't sew, and was determined to do it myself, I needed to find a more stretchable vinyl. Thus a trip to the supply store.

[mustang6984]

I live in Lynden. I am going full bore as much as family/house lets me. I just now have to go full bore faster . trying to get her wiring finished by the end of Nov. and then start the welding adventure.

I know Lynden. Almost went to work there as a cop back in the 70's. Nice though quirky little town.
Were I still in Port Angeles I'd come across the water and help you out from time to time, but as you know...I am not.

[1930artdeco]

Ok Rich understand now, I will see what my options are up here.

Mustang, love the town and am slowly getting my feet wet in the local hot rod/car scene. Just got her front windshield in!!!!

[mustang6984]

It is one of the last towns in W. WA that I would have lived in. Pretty straight-laced...but a comfy place.
Get out on I-5 this early summer and head up to the Tulip Festival. Lots of multi-colored Tulips...beautiful.
And in the spring or summer head across the water to Vancouver Island. One of the best places to go for a day or a week. Butchart Gardens is superb place to spend a day. The islanders are some of the best people you will ever mingle with. Stay out of Seattle...it is not safe anymore If you go...be out by the time the sun drops.
If Christmas is a big thing in your home...head over to Leavenworth in the Central Cascades. They have a lighting ceremony there in early December that is well worth the trip to get there. May not be able to get a room this year, but try. The town is a delight!
I have other places as well...shoot me an e- and I will share them. I lived there for nearly 50 years. Spent a lot of time in Vancouver area and on the island as well as all over WA state.

[Fairlane62]

You could take the ferry over to Whidbey island and drive up to Deception Pass park.  Nice scenery and good hiking trails.

James

[mustang6984]

You could take the ferry over to Whidbey island and drive up to Deception Pass park.  Nice scenery and good hiking trails.

James

Yep...great day trip! Views are fine! Do NOT go on a really windy day though!  Take a camera!

[1930artdeco]

Yep, we are already exploring the area. Hit Leavenworth, Victoria already. Need to hit the islands next spring.

[1930artdeco]

Update time. I have most of the wires run and in place now. So now I am starting to hook things up and make thing permanent. Ok, so the original wiring from the front to the back (tail lights etc) is two wires. But Ron Francis's kit is five wires, plus I am
Adding a ground wire due to all of the corrosion.

So I ran the wires in a loom which is quite a bit bigger than the original wiring. How do other people attached their wiring bundle to the tunnel? Mine just won't fit in the original clips. It will obviously get covered buy the insulation and carpet. Just looking for ideas.

Mike

[RICH MUISE]

Let's see if this works.............
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/media/got-my-rearward-wires-run-and-the-second-layer-of-padding-insulation-begun.426078/

The area below the wires, that the wires are "attached to", is the foil covered rubber insulation. I was also using 3/8 Jute under the carpet, so that is what you see on the far side of the wires, sorta made a tunnel and kept the bundle flat.

[abe_lugo]

Rich nice pics that works. 

Mike.  I have power windows on the hardtop and the lines run allied the hump like Rich's picture.
I would have to check my CS bu I believe lost for wagons the wires run along the drivers door under the carpet. If you have extra wire run 2-3 extra in case you add something later.  Or keep the third brake light from the kit.  Might as well double check the fuel sender. 

[RICH MUISE]

Good advice on the extra wire. I ran a heavier gauge wire just in case, and that worked out well, as I almost immediately needed it, so I capped off that "extra wire" with a power supply box I used to feed an electric antenna and trunk release.
Yeah, lots of stuff to think about for the back.......license plate light, third brake light, fuel pump, sending unit, safety impact shut-off switch for fuel pump, power antennae, speakers, trunk light, taillights, brake lights, back-up light,turn lights,trunk release. I got 'em all!!

[terry_208]

I used hot glue to secure the wiring where I wanted it.  Like Rich, I ran a heavy wire and but also extra wires to the rear. 

[1930artdeco]

Rich, did you run the wires individually? I ran mine through 7/16 woven loom so I will follow your advice and build up the floor insulation around it. If I decide to run anything else I will have to hold off a few years or be run a different way. But I will hopefully hook the rear half of the car up this week. It is a tad cold here in the garage.

Mike

[mustang6984]

It is a tad cold here in the garage.
Mike

You can get torpedo heaters in various sizes, they run on Kerosene, and will do the job nicely. I bought one over 17 years ago to heat my 40x30 shop in Dungeness, where temps often were down around 20 in winter. Heated the entire place up to 60+ in about an hour.
My shop here is 50x40, and it heats this up too after about 2 hours of running to around 60 as well.