Did you make them also? I'm going to a Harbor Freight store tomorrow night might check out some of their metal working tools.
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Did you make them also? I'm going to a Harbor Freight store tomorrow night might check out some of their metal working tools.
I "repurposed" one of the outer pieces I made yesterday, just tipped the flange a little farther to a full 90°. I bent four 4' pieces, not knowing what length I actually needed, so I figured I could make good use of the extras.Quote:
Originally Posted by 53 Chevy5
Harbor Freight is great for the less complicated tools. I don't buy anything electrical from there, I just don't trust Chicago Electric, but the stuff that functions on simple principles is generally acceptable quality for the home shop. I have their English wheel, bead roller, shrinker/stretcher and a few other things. Oh, and the compressor pump too. I usually buy mass quantities of cutoff wheels too, whenever I'm in there.
Your right, I've learned what to stay away from in that store, here is a list I've put together on things not to buy !
Top 10 things you shouldn't buy from Harbor Freight
1) Parachutes
2) Fire Extinguishers
3) Pacemakers
4) Vaccines
5) Condoms
6) Scuba gear
7) Bullet proof vests
8) small nuclear reactors
9) Athletic cups
10) Boomerang
only thing worth carrying out the front door is the cash register .
Was able to get the rocker fully installed today. As you can see, I lap welded it to the remaining portion of the original rocker. I'm aware that this isn't the right way to do it, but after considering the options, I decided that this route will work just fine for me. To keep from distorting the panel I spread my tacks about every 4" or so, work from one end of the panel to the other and go back and do it again beside the previous tacks. Once I had about an inch or less of tacks stacked up, I pulled out the die grinder and knocked the welds about 90% of the way down: not trying to dress the welds at this point, just makes it easier to control the heat build up later on. Less heat means fewer warped spots in the finished product.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4699/...32d33b1e_k.jpgIMG_20180304_153431285 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr
With the top fully welded in place and all the tacks knocked down most of the way I started dressing the welds. Not quite perfect here, but it's much better than when I started. When dressing welds, resist the urge to tip the grinder at an angle, and constantly move across the length of the weld. Keeping the grinder flat against the surface ensures you're only removing the high spots and not digging scars into the panel that will require filler later on.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4776/...fa917b05_k.jpgIMG_20180304_170213386 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr
I also filled all the Cleco holes and ground them smooth. I also resisted the urge to make the front piece that's missing. I'll be much happier with the results if I bend the flange on the same break as I used to make the main panel, otherwise the radius of the bends might not match exactly. Simple realizations, like this, can save your work from looking like you don't know what you're doing, even if you really don't know what you're doing.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4668/...5ac31312_k.jpgIMG_20180304_170150805 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr
Finished up the rocker today. Made a small piece to fit the gap at the front, sorry no pics of the patch, lost my phone for about an hour.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4782/...e791abe9_k.jpgIMG_20180306_172328216 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr
You can see how well the two pieces fit together from this angle. Still have to weld the bottoms together and make the inner piece, but I plan to wait to finish that when I pull the body off the frame.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4609/...43c15725_k.jpgIMG_20180306_172320874 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr
Also did a little work on the rear quarter, where all this rocker business got started. I decided to split the patch I made before, because I wasn't able to form it with the correct radius to match the rest of the fenderwell without splitting it. No matter, I've got a welder to put it back together.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4710/...d84eee18_k.jpgIMG_20180306_174707383 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4784/...215056f5_k.jpgIMG_20180306_174703508 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr
Your doing awesome at making patches !
I appreciate the compliment. After about 13 years of fiddling with this stuff, I finally feel like I'm getting it figured out. Having the right tools for the job is definitely helping me to work on it until I get it right. The only good part of aging, in my humble opinion, is that I just continue to aquire more tools. It's far too easy to get frustrated and settle for less than perfect when you just keep making things worse while trying to fix them. A lot can be accomplished in a short period of time with the right tools.Quote:
Originally Posted by 53 Chevy5
Back to the rear quarter today. Didn't really have a plan, just shooting from the hip trying to figure it out as I went.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4789/...9acfd30e_k.jpgIMG_20180310_141957693 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4774/...385ea719_z.jpgIMG_20180310_142027283 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4777/...59b8f9f8_k.jpgIMG_20180310_153245719 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4797/...47378e74_k.jpgIMG_20180310_154424712 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4783/...da7bf33a_k.jpgIMG_20180310_154530270 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr
It needs some adjustments, as I couldn't really work on it with the fender and door in place for reference, but it's a good start.
Looks like a very good start.
Took a drive this morning to Lynden, WA. It's about 120 miles round trip, almost to Canada, but not quite. Came home with a 3.73, limited slip 8.8 rearend out of a '99 Explorer. Love coming home with goodies for the sedan; every piece gets me that much closer to putting this old girl on the road.
I also ordered a new set of original style rear leaf springs and the Ford 5x4.5 rotors I need for the front end because my kit was sent with Chevy 5x4.75 rotors by mistake. Hope to be finishing up with the body work soon, so these pieces of the puzzle were necessary to continue work once I pull the body.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4795/...95eb9e0e_k.jpgIMG_20180311_152155893 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr
That rearend looks great compared to the one I got, Mine was in the dirt for awhile and needed sandblasting very bad. I'm don't remember for sure what your using for suspension but I have a 4 link and coil overs and I found that a rear sway bar off of a trailblazer fit perfect for me ( I'm posting some pics of it tonight ), If your using leaf springs than I'm sure the 8.8 one should fit just fine..
I'll be using leaf springs. I have a triangulated 4 link kit here in the shop that I got in a parts lot at an estate sale. I considered using it in the sedan, but I've since decided to stick with the leafs. I found brand new springs on eBay last night for about $250 (one of mine has a broken leaf) so I went ahead and ordered the set. Least modification required and it makes for the cheapest way to the finish line. I'll have to move the perches, but it should be fairly easy to get it in there.Quote:
Originally Posted by 53 Chevy5
A couple goodies showed up today, thanks to the FedEx man. The new springs and a couple gallons of Ospho should provide several hours of entertainment in the shop in the coming months.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/821/2...b5664825_k.jpgIMG_20180319_183944063 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/814/3...b02eca86_k.jpgIMG_20180319_184013723 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr
Also picked up the new molasses tank, 6ft diameter and a little over 2ft deep. Should be able to get all 4 doors in there at once and hopefully a fender or two with them. I know for sure I can fit all of the large items in it, which was the whole point to begin with. I'll pack a bunch of smaller stuff around the outside to make the best use of the time.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4777/...dcb7d8dc_k.jpgIMG_20180319_183811726 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr
Wow, that's a big molasses tank if it's the same as what we call a lick tub around here used for a supplement for pasture animals.
I'm unfamiliar with OSPHO rust stopper. Keep us updated on how it works.
Ospho is great stuff, I've been using it for years. It works well in areas where you just can't get to with tools. Spray it on and let it dry, surface rust turns black and becomes a paintable protective layer. I usually pour it into a spray bottle and squirt it on just about everything that's going to be hidden behind another panel, or might not get completely covered when I paint.Quote:
Originally Posted by 53 Chevy5
The tank is just a regular old stock tank, typically used as water troughs for livestock. I've been searching the many classified ads for quite some time for a deal on a large enough tank to fit the sedan's monstrously large fenders and doors. The seller had this one listed for cheap, so I figured I'd better just scoop it up while I had the chance. Molasses works great for getting into the wire edge of the fenders and down into the seems of the door skins where they wrap around the inner structure. Pretty sure I can get the running boards in there, too! I'll throw as much into the tank as I can and let it stew for a couple weeks, then clean it all up and shoot some epoxy primer on everything. This was a must have item to keep myself to my schedule for the build, so I'm pretty excited to have finally located and aquired it.
Got it on 4 wheels now that I have the correct rotors. Assuming the coils compress as much as I think they will with the weight of the engine and all the parts that will be mounted up front, I think it should fall exactly where I wanted it to. I used stock spindles in my set up, so I can easily drop another inch or 2 with relative ease.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/818/3...3fbca4c5_k.jpgIMG_20180320_181003118 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr
The obligatory curb level view:
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/805/4...f4a72384_k.jpgIMG_20180320_181013455 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr
Those body lines look very nice from here.
They're close, but they'll be better before I'm "done".Quote:
Originally Posted by 53 Chevy5
Nice new parts and good metal work on it. You might have to remove a leaf from those springs to keep your butt in the seat. :LOL:
That was my first thought too, but they're actually pretty soft. The originals are dang near perfect, but the driver side spring pack has a broken leaf, so I'll have to wait these out a little and see how I feel about them later on.Quote:
Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe
They probably feel soft until you get them closer to flat due to their length. That's a lot of leaves for a car. Just my opinion so don't take offense. My 40 had half ton 48ish ford pick up front springs in the rear of it. It was an old chassis engineering parallel leaf kit. Man was the ride not great. :LOL:
I'm still alive, just been too busy with life to have any time for the car. Been working a lot of hours because my wife left her job to stay home and focus on our daughter's development. She's almost 2 and a half and still has no interest in speaking, so getting her on track is the primary focus. If I can manage 10 hours of OT every week it's basically like my wife's income isn't missing from the equation, so progress is going to slow down somewhat on the car. But I haven't lost motivation! Hoping to get back in the shop this weekend, just have to figure out how to make better use of my time now that weeknights are mostly off the table.
I salute you and your wife for your focus on your daughter! Being a full time Mom is super cool, and you being willing to make that happen with OT is great! Great job, Dad!
Thanks for keeping us up to date, I was just wondering if you were still at it. I'm glad to hear that your putting your daughter before these earthly projects. Be patient and enjoy their unconditional love.
Thanks for the support guys. She's already starting to make progress and it's only been a week since the wife left work. I'm thinking the TV was doing most of the babysitting, given the leaps and bounds she's already made in just 6 days. Either way, I'm happy with my decision. The car is just my hobby: my family is my passion.
I could've pushed the 'like' button twice on that post.Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW Rodder
Good on ya mate!
You're a good man.
The car will be there waiting. I'm in a similar situation. My wife has been a stay at home mom for over 7 years now. I wouldn't have it any other way especially with all the issues at day cares and not to mention the cost. I have found that lack of sleep enables the extra work to get other stuff done. :LOL: Good choice and take care of your girls!
From me too. The hobby (and us) can wait, the girls need to be first. And like JB said, I wish I could hit the like button a bunch more times.
Well, I'm glad to have found a group of like minded folks who understand my situation. We never wanted anyone else to be spending the majority of the day with her, but bills and adulthood made it necessary. Thankfully, in February, I finally received a long awaited promotion at work, and a near 10% increase in my income along with it. All of the sudden it became realistic for my wife to stay home with Evelynn, so the choice was obvious. Honestly, the overtime probably isn't necessary, considering we're not paying for child care or the wife driving back and forth from work, but it makes me a little more comfortable knowing for sure that we're not trying to make half the incomes stretch farther than when there were two.
Anyhow, keep your eyes peeled this weekend: the wife has informed me I'm not allowed out of the shop until I get something accomplished on the sedan. Updates soon to follow!
She's a keeper! 8-)Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW Rodder
What he said.Quote:
Originally Posted by 34_40
Wasn't quite as productive as I had hoped, the shop was pretty well thrashed and trashed, so I started by getting things back in some type of order. With that done-ish, I was able to get a little done on the car. Managed to get the rear quarter between the door and fender flowing correctly. Cut a slice up the middle and added some more material to widen the bottom out. Picture makes it look too narrow still, its just the shop lights playing tricks with the camera on my phone, it is actually correct now. Still have to make a piece to finish up the bottom, but I was lacking motivation, so that's saved for another day. I work more efficiently when I actually want to be doing it anyways.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/798/4...6ce3a2f0_k.jpgIMG_20180408_152732713 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr
Proper motivation or mood can sure change the way things turn out. I've been there. Nice work. Every bit gets you closer to the end product.
Looks great, and I agree, if you don't feel like being out in the shop, your better off staying on the couch. I've had to redo a lot of stuff because of a poor attitude.
Those lights can be tricky. I asked my barber why my hair has gotten so grey since I started seeing him.................he blames it on the light over the chair................:whacked:
I started loosing my hair when I was in highschool, so naturally I just went ahead and buzzed it all the way down. Worked out great when I was on deployment in the Navy: never had to wait in line for the ship's barber, just did it myself hanging my head over the trash can.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter
I'm not going bald, I just have rebellious follicles: it's not my fault my hair doesn't want to stick around!
Continued cleaning up the shop this weekend, I'm usually pretty good about cleaning up when I'm done for the night, but having a child has caused me to head inside the moment I realize how long I've left the wife to parent on her own. So, what do you do when the shop is spotless for the first time in months? Cover everything in paint dust! My current goal is to have the main body ready for epoxy primer as soon as the weather is suitable for spraying. That means all the paint has to be stripped before that day comes, and I've been putting off stripping the roof for too long, so out came the stripping wheel and the respirator.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/810/4...6b83e74a_k.jpgIMG_20180415_183159580 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr
I hadn't used a stripping wheel for over a decade, and at that time they didn't hold up too well. I figured I'd give it another shot, and I can honestly say I won't be removing paint any other way ever again. Took me 45 minutes to get this far: would have taken several hours to do it with the DA
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/814/4...38bde0e2_k.jpgIMG_20180415_182926668 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr
What's the stripping wheel look like? What tool are you using to run it? That's some good progress for 45 minutes!
I corrected my last post to clarify that the 45 minutes was only on the passenger side of the roof, not the entire passenger side shown in the first picture.Quote:
Originally Posted by firebird77clone
Google "Wagner paint eater" . The purple discs are supposed to be the best, but 3M offers some similar stripping wheels in black. I found that the 3M ones are working just fine for me on my 4" grinder. It's soft enough that it doesn't scar the metal any more than sand paper would, very minimal sparking once it's through the paint.
Same as with any other grinding/sanding disc: if you resist the urge to tip the grinder the disc will last for quite a bit longer than you would expect, and the results are cleaner.