3500GT Barnfind

Flaminiagt, your car looks fantastic....you can definately see the family resemblence. After I had the glass installed on my car, I had someone help me hold the trim pieces in their mounting positions. I marked the stud mounting locations on the glass with a "Sharpie" pen. I numbered the marks on the glass and the trim pieces. This was important because the spacers are all identical. I used an awl to make the first hole (along with a rubber protectant to lubricate the hole). After I made the pilot hole, I used a tire plug tool to enlarge the hole (along with more lubricant). The tire plug tool has a T-handle and is like a file for enlarging holes in rubber. I would recommending test fitting your chrome trim to see if the studs will pass all the way through the window gasket. If they do not, I would have a welder lengthen the studs by cutting them in half and adding 50% more than the original stud length. I could not believe how easy it was to install the trim, once the studs were long enough. If you need pictures, I will be happy to post them, after I get the remaining pieces back from my welder.
Thanks for the kind words about my car and post. I always enjoy hearing about other peoples restoration projects. Good luck with yours and let me know if there is anything else that I can do to help.

 

The carpet is installed. We should have the rest of the interior installed next week. I finished using the Eastwood scratch removal and glass polishing kit on the front windshield. I probably spent a dozen hours (with the assistance of my son and brother) trying to remove the scratch and subsequent haze created by the product. It worked pretty good. You can still see a faint outline of the original scratch if you look for it. Previously it was very visible. Now, the scratch can not be felt....before, if you ran a finger nail over the scratch, it got caught. The haze, created by removing the scratch, polished out...after a lot of work.
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Marcel, I took dozens of before and after pictures of the carpet. They definately came in handy, while trying to figure out the order in which the carpet must be installed. When the time comes, if there is anything that I can do to help, please let me know. I kept all of my original materials (carpet, leather, etc.) to pass on to the next owner. I hope you are enjoying your beautiful car.

Walter and Frank, my pictures are terrible....but better than nothing. I keep forgetting to bring my real camera with me to the shop. I am using my Motorola cell phone camera. It is a modern cell phone and probably has a decent camera. The latest pictures are with me resting an arm against the door, to keep them from going out of focus. There is probably a setting on the phone to keep this from happening...any ideas? My son takes great pictures with his cell phone, but he is back in school.

 

Ivan, will do...thanks. Pete, what you said makes sense. Mine does not have a flash. When I am done, I have a friend that is a professional photographer who will take pictures of the car for me. I will bring my real camera tomorrow.

 

At least it isn't my whole car for sale this time...http://www.ebay.com/itm/ALFA-ROMEO-1900-FERRARI-250-MASERATI-3500-LIGHTS-License-Plate-Tail-OEM-TOURING-/190719495988?hash=item2c67c48f34&item=190719495988&pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr

 

Per a couple of requests and for future 3500GT owners, here is a brief DIY on how to install the front and rear windshield trim, if the gasket is too thick. After having the welder attach a bolt that is the same thread as the original studs (and having him cut the original studs in half so you are not trying to thread onto damaged threads), mark the locations for the studs to go through the gasket. It is best to start with the side pieces. Use an awl to start the pilot holes. A lubricant, such as "Armour All", is beneficial. Next, use a small file or tire plug tool to enlarge the hole. I strongly recommend against using a drill, since you are almost touching the glass, as you are making the pilot holes. Cut the head off the bolt with a pair of side cuts and remove the nut that you had the welder install (prior to welding the bolt to the stud). The nut will clean the threads that you just damaged by cutting the bolt head off. Carefully push the lengthened studs through the pilot holes (be generous with the lubricant). Clean the rubber off the ends of the studs and attach the nut. Draw the nut down firm. Snip the excess stud off with the side cuts, leaving enough room to install the original brass acorn nut over the other nut. By using two nuts, you will have enough extra stud protruding into the interior of the car so that if you have to remove the trim again, it won't be a problem.
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Here are a couple pictures of the exterior and interior, using a real camera. Notice what a quality job the shop did, that installed the Pioneer 8-track, which I removed from the dash board. They crushed the paper vent hose and the wires were twisted and taped. I'm sure the owner never saw how badly they butchered the dashboard.
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Thanks guys. A real camera seems to help.

 

Thanks Pete.

 

Pete, I should have the rest of the chrome trim back from the welder by the end of the week. I will post pictures when it is all done. I am amazed how easy it is to install, with the studs lengthened. The lower front trim piece on my car never had nuts attached to it (because they would have hit the dashboard). The only thing holding that piece in place was the one inch wide spacers. I had the studs lengthened and I am going to try and attach nuts to mine.

 

I am bringing the car home tomorrow, to finish. No more excuses for crappy cell phone pictures.
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a6zagato, thank you for the kind words.

 

Thanks Walter. I just got the car home after Brian did the final buff. The paint looks like glass. He did an amazing job, as did Joe Anino (my upholstery guy). I can not believe it is the same car.
I still need to finish assembling the window trim. The piece of trim on the rear window, that the glass installer broke the stud off, has proven to be a problem. The welder tried to weld it, without damaging the chrome. The weld was not strong enough to install. Brian had the great idea to have the welder weld the stud to a piece of sheet metal and then epoxy the sheet metal to the chrome trim. We did that and it appears to be solid. I will install it this weekend.
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