1960 finishing the restoration assembly starting next week

[Donald H.]

I am getting my 1960 back from body and paint next week and will be starting finish assembly. The body is on a rolling chassis (rear end, front and rear suspension, etc are all done), but the engine and transmission are not in the car. I need some feedback from those of you who have put together a C1, particularly 58-60. I want to try and not have to re-do anything by not following a correct sequence.

Of course I have looked at the AIM, and I may be wrong, but not sure how it could have been the installation sequence followed during the original assembly, e.g. body mounting comes before suspension in the AIM.

So if you have experience please let me know if you see any flaws in my logic.

1. Install firewall insulation
2. Install wiring (dash, front and rear harnesses)
3. Install stuff mounted in the engine compartment and firewall, e.g. voltage regulator, horn relay, wiper motor (wait to install wiper transmissions as I have read that it is easier to get the windshield assembly in with the wiper transmissions not installed)
4. Install exterior trim including top fender, side spears, side emblems, fender and door trim. (easier to do these before guts are back in the doors and kick panels are in place.
5. Install Dash Pad, defrost bezels, speaker grill, grab bar and related
6. Install Windshield
7. Install wiper transmission and other wiper related parts under the dash
8. Install Heater/Defroster
9. Install Cowl Vent and lever assemblies
10. Install Pedal assembly and related parts. e.g. clutch rod)
11. Install Master Cylinder
12. Install Park Brake and Hood release (and related parts)
13. Install Gauge Cluster (including all the attachments that go through the firewall, e.g. oil line, speedo cable, tach cable, etc.)
14. Install Steering (steering plate to the firewall, steering gear/shaft assembly firewall seal etc are all installed)

As far as I can tell, everything else to finish can be done in any sequence without having to go back and re-do anything (take something back apart).

I will probably install the engine and transmission last.

Thanks,

Don

[John H.]

Re: 1960 finishing the restoration assembly starting next week

Of course I have looked at the AIM, and I may be wrong, but not sure how it could have been the installation sequence followed during the original assembly, e.g. body mounting comes before suspension in the AIM.

Don -

The A.I.M. is not an assembly sequence document - those sections are simply numbered sequentially in the order of the UPC Groups that comprised the Engineering Release System, as it was an Engineering reference document provided as an assembly aid.

[Donald H.]

Re: 1960 finishing the restoration assembly starting next week

Don -

The A.I.M. is not an assembly sequence document - those sections are simply numbered sequentially in the order of the UPC Groups that comprised the Engineering Release System, as it was an Engineering reference document provided as an assembly aid.

Thanks,

Make sense.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1960 finishing the restoration assembly starting next week

Don,

I'm doing the same on a '59 presently.

I had the body on a dolly and installed all exterior side & top trim then. Engine & trans were then mounted to the restored chassis, then the body went on with loose body mounts. Then the doors(hinges were already preset in the pillars), adjusting body shims far gaps. Then trunk lid, gas tank & lines/wiring, decklid, etc.

I then installed steering box/column and park brake so I had a easy way to steer & stop it when I move it around the yard in and out of the shop.

Then the front U/L grille/eyebrow trims, brackets, bumpers, and grille. Then I installed both doors' posts and ss trims/fuzzies to get them prepped. Much grinding of the chrome where the trims meet. FYI, some chrome shops don't care how thick their work is. This was a real PITA.

I decided to install dash/forward wiring after the dashpad and windshield are in, but before brake/clutch pedals, etc.

Rich

[Al E.]

Re: 1960 finishing the restoration assembly starting next week

Don,

Please post photos as you go. It will help others see how to move FWD..

Thanks Al

[Philip P.]

Re: 1960 finishing the restoration assembly starting next week

Don, I have never done this, but in working on things over the years it may be easier to install the cowl vent before the windshield and dash, others may have a better idea but that is one thing for me that has been difficult to work around with everything installed.
my 2 cents anyway
Phil

[Donald H.]

Re: 1960 finishing the restoration assembly starting next week

Don, I have never done this, but in working on things over the years it may be easier to install the cowl vent before the windshield and dash, others may have a better idea but that is one thing for me that has been difficult to work around with everything installed.
my 2 cents anyway
Phil

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. My biggest concern is messing up the paint job. Very expensive, and yes base coat/clear coat. The painter and I worked very hard to make the paint job NCRS judging friendly. I'm hoping to take the car to the Altoona Regional in September if I can get it all back together. My objective is not to get 100% deduct for paint, I'll be very happy to get 50% deduct for originality.

So far, I've done most of the work myself, even a lot of the small fiberglass repairs. Since we had to fit a new front end, and I went with the Sermersheim panels and bonding strips, I didn't do that. So the chassis/body has been with the body/paint guy for 8 months. Hope to get back next week. Two photos attached, the first as he was preparing to staring installing the new front panels and second as it was coming out of the paint booth, prior to block sanding and buffing.

The paint is absolutely georgeous, which I know will not fly in the NCRS judging worlds.

[Rob M.]

Re: 1960 finishing the restoration assembly starting next week

Lesson I unfortunately learned myself: be very careful tightening nuts on the grill oval and eyebrows, it very easily cracks the paint...