07/17/2026
This was a really rewarding job. A great customer and now friend, Joe, sent me his '30-'31 Model A stainless cowl band to straighten and polish. I am forever grateful for his patience and faith in me, as well as understanding and respecting what is involved in a job like this. While it may look simple, this is one of the most challenging things I have ever done in the past 25 years. After three separate attempts of making a dolly to get behind and inside to remove dents, I struck gold with two pieces of 1/4" plate welded together and shaped into a baby dolly. I made two small notches on the backside to get it into the groove. After chasing a million tiny dents, I narrowed it down to the twists and waves. I had to set it aside and come back to it because I was going cross-eyed. Once it was straightened out, I made a metal jig to support it and sanded it from 120 out to 1,000 grit, not counting the endless hand block sanding between straightening. I polished it myself and it came out bitchin. If you're aware of these, you'll know they are no longer reproduced and finding nice originals isn't easy. This is something I almost threw the rag in on twice but kept fighting it. Thanks again, Joe! Can't wait to see it on your bitchin coupe!
