Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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I'm kind of in the same funky place Mike mentions, there is so much to do yet, and the pattern to do them in is not as clear as it was in the beginning of the build. When you are starting the build it is easy. You build the frame, hang the front and rear suspension, etc. But as you progress there are a million small jobs to do, and it is easy to get bogged down with these tasks that seem to take forever and accomplish very little.

I have to get myself focused once again, and start wrapping up these tasks in some logical order, so tonight I decided to tackle getting the front of the car wrapped up. The one job I have been avoiding is building the front shock mounts, so today I made up the oval plates that we will weld to the frame to bolt the shock mounts to. The reason I am using these plates is because with a box tubing frame there is really no good way to use bolts and nuts to mount the shock mounts. I am using circa 1950 Ford truck front shock mounts, as they are pretty much the traditional setup rodders have been using for decades. They mount to the frame with two bolts that were 7/16 inch size, but I drilled out the holes to 1/2 inch, and made up two oval plates out of 3/8 inch thick steel plate that I tapped for the 1/2 inch bolts that will secure the shock mounts to these plates.

By welding all around the perimeter of these plates I will have a very thick surface to bolt the mounts too, as opposed to the 3/16 thick walls of the box tubing frame. By tapping threads into the oval plates I can simply run some grade 8 bolts into them and I will have a strong mounting for the shocks.

Here are some pictures of the oval plates I made up, and the truck shock mounts. I will have my Son weld these to the frame for me when we blow the car apart in the next week or so to finalize all of the serious welding.

Another issue I needed to finalize on the front end is where and how my headlights are going to mount. I have already pretty much decided to use the large '27? Chevrolet headlights mounted to a '32 Ford headlight bar. I like to use a Model A or '32 bar because it looks old timey, and is way more solid than the aluminum hot rod type mounts you get at speed shops. I have always used these mounts, and have never had a problem with headlight shake or anything.

The '32 bar was too wide to fit this car, so I took 5 inches out of the middle and inserted a piece of round stock into the bar to temporarily hold the two halves together until I am sure this is the right dimension. It seems to be ok, and next I will fab up some mounts to tie the frame to the bar. For this I will use the ends of the bar that I cut off, just turned around in a different direction.

Here are some shots of where I decided to mount the lights. I wanted them low, and this seems to be the best compromise while still giving clearance for steering and shocks.

Thanks for looking.

Don