After hanging out at the Hot Rod Garage Open House in the morning and about an hour and 45 minute drive I arrived at Shoebox Central for their open house. I met a few cars leaving the event but even with them, the parking lot doesn’t hold too many and it was pretty full.
This post brought to by the 2015 Calendar For Charity, click the image to order.
The second stop on my trip down to Pistons and Paint (see show coverage here and 1st shop visit here) was at Oklahoma City’s Shoebox Central. Owner Chris has owned shoeboxes as far back as high school, so he knows them inside and out. He has a ton of parts cars out back and shelves and shelves of various parts inside, pulled from parts cars, some N.O.S., some reproductions, all kinds of parts for just about anything else you could need.
Shoebox Central is my number 1 stop for anything shoebox or Merc related. Chris has a great selection of parts on hand and is very cool to work with.
Dashes and inner door frames from various shoeboxes and mercs.Tons of parts on hand to replace missing parts on your ride or ones that are damaged.These corner lights and housings got banged up a lot being right where most accidents happen, this stack will ensure you can always find one.1 clean 1950 Ford 4 Door.1 clean 1950 Ford 4 Door.Projects in the work room for the long winter months when folks aren’t buying as many parts. These projects keep Shoebox Central busy and help keep the doors open when folks are spending their money on Christmas instead of on their rides.Bumper guards galoreBumpers too!Dash pieces for Mercs hanging out waiting to dress up another car.2 1951 Ford Dashes1949 Parts car in the boneyard.
As I mentioned in the last post about my 51 Ford, the car needs new wiring. I asked 5 different people and got 4 different answers on who I should go with for the wiring harness and fuse panel for the 51. Which told me that they all were pretty much the same. I decided to go with a panel and wiring kit from Affordable Street Rods in Peabody, KS. This way I not only know who sold me the pieces, but who built them as well, and the cash stays in Kansas. I’m a big fan of buying local when you can.
So I headed down to Peabody, about an hour from my home to pick up the pieces and finally meet the owner Rex Watson in person. I arrived to find Rex and his brother working on this really nice rod.
Apparently a previous owner hadn’t done a good job of welding in some shot mounts so the boys were fixing them.
You know you do a lot of fab when you’ve spent the money for these kool plastic plugs to mimic the real thing. They look great as wall art too.
Outside another project was getting some fresh air.
While another one waits it’s turn to go under the knife.
Days gone by are a reminder with kool toys like this on the someday list.
The wiring kit and fuse panel look really well built and easy to understand, Rex has also reminded me multiple times that if I have any questions he is only a phone call away. Service, I dig it.
A couple of years ago I made my first trip to the Pete And Jake’s complex in Peculiar, MO. What an interesting place! Add to that a kool car show and a ton of pinstripers doing their thing and all of the proceeds going to charity… It’s a must attend event! Here are some photos.
For more info on this year’s event go here. I hope to be able to make it but the day job may have to take priority.
If you’re building a hot rod or street rod you need parts. You can go to the junk yard or swap meet, get dirty, maybe find something maybe not, maybe have to fix it if you do find it, or you can order new stuff. If you are in a time crunch ordering parts can be a life saver. Have a look at my friends over at RJay’s Speed Shop.
For the month of March, RJays is having a 10% sale on all front end components from RJays Parts, Pete & Jakes, Superbell, Heidts & more!