That is a really nice truck!
Printable View
That is a really nice truck!
Here lately I've been thinking of just leaving this car in the trailer and not messing with it this year. I just can't seem to do that. We are saving to buy a house, and once we have that I'm sure there will be repairs and such so i doubt there will be project money to play with. I have some time off at the end of April begining of May. My plan is to get the frame out from under neath the body, box it, and make my X member. This is the biggest part to be done besides redoing the floor and bottom of fire wall.
I have some questions for you guys. On the stock 35-40 X members, the floor bolts to the top of the X member. All the after market X members I see in different frames don't appear to have any attaching points for the floor. I plan on trying to still bolt the floor to the new X member. Is that a bad idea? I'm guessing it will just help keep the structual integrity of the body. Thoughts welcome please.
Also, I am trying to decide what tire and wheel combo to go with. The 14's in the front need to go I'm pretty sure. As I get the car lower I think that small tire won't help and I bet with my bigger brakes, the 14" wheel won't fit any way. In my searches I found a tire size comparison chart that might help find a tire size during a build.
Tire Sizes
I had big plans of doing 2 turbos and an aluminum intake and on and on. Right now I think I will buy what it needs to get it drivable again. I can always do the other stuff later. I would really like to do a different rear suspension, but that may have to wait to.
That is one great chart that summarizes tire sizes, Ryan. Thanks for posting.Quote:
Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe
I figure maybe I'll remember I put it here for future use. :LOL:
Ryan, I've wondered the same thing about the aftermarket X members. I'm not sure about the '40 but both my '37 and the '39 I had in highschool had a removable trans cover and wood toe boards. I'm sure they needed to bolt the other part of the floor to the X member for structural integrity, like you said.Quote:
Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe
On my '37, now that I've welded in all new floors, firewall, etc with no removable panels, it may not need to be bolted to the X member but I did it anyway. I'll be curious to hear others thoughts on this, too.
My plan is to tie in the floor to the new X member some how. I don't think it'll be too hard. I know my floor is going to have to be cut and rearranged to get the 46rh in there, so I can modify or add new bolt holes where needed. I spent my break at work tonight looking at after market chassis for 35-40's and none of them I saw show or say anything about the floor mounting provisions. Kind of weird IMO.
Quote:
Originally Posted by randyr
My '40 and tech's '48 were the same
Ryan, take advantage of the free time and work on the 40. Ease off on the wild motor daydreams and get the frame done. Then you need to get the Hemi in running shape. Once you take your first ride, you will be pumped. Other mods can happen later, the important thing is to get the blood flowing again.
Yeah, there might be some blood flowing for sure! On Monday I opened the side door on my trailer where the 40 is and I heard a weird noise. I was like hmmmm. I've heard that before.......... Sounds like, uh, baby oppossum, or raccoon. Hmmm, hopefully they're under the trailer. Nope. Hmm, hopefully they're behind the 40. Nope. SOB! Surely they're not in the 40. Crap! Yep, there is a momma coon and who knows how many little shit bags in the trunk! I'm so tempted to pop her with my old nagant pistol but I don't want to fill any holes. :LOL: So now I have to figure out how to get them out because I do plan to start frame work next week. I should be ordering the rear suspension kit today. Now just to decide what size tubing to use for the X member.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scooting
Two words: Animal Control
When you say they're the same, the X members are the same brand or? I'm still trying to gather info on this area. Thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by NTFDAY
I ordered the triangulated 4 link last night, so hopefully it'll get here by next Tuesday or so. I also think I decided to go with 1 5/8" .095 wall tube to make the X brace out of. I have some 10 gauge I'll box the frame with. Then to decide to air bag the rear or what. I have some air bags from a helper kit I can use for mock up for now. We're also going to Vintage Torque Fest next weekend so maybe I'll see some cool 39s and 40s to stare at. :LOL:
Yesterday I got some seats I'm going to run for now. They are black and gray buckets in the front and a split rear sort of. They came out of a GTP Grand Prix. Today I'm going to be getting 2 20' sticks of 1 5/8" .120 wall tube to make my X member out of. I'm gettign excited. :LOL:
Progress is always good
Well guys, I have some good news. I have some good progress on the 40!!! I didn't get nearly as much done as I hoped, but none the less, it's getting worked on again.
First off, I got lucky and the raccoon and her family left on their own so I didn't have to deal with anything other than their phesis. The weather wasn't the greatest last week, but I managed to get around that.
Ok, first off I started by making a dolly to put my body on so I can move it around. Lifting the body up was kind of sketch as the only thing I felt safe using was 2 cherry pickers. I think I'll be borrowing an A-frame to set it back on with. I had to use a floor jack and a block of wood to steady the body but we got it worked out.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...428_195227.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...428_195237.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...428_195246.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...428_195253.jpg
I started removing un needed stuff and taking a lot of measurements. Then I braced it and removed the original X member.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...501_102934.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...501_102948.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...501_103002.jpg
Another of the frame dolly. I made it from things I had laying in my steel rack. I've been saving some of this heavy stuff for a while and it paid off. :LOL:
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...501_104819.jpg
Next I started boxing the frame.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...501_161326.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...501_161342.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...501_161402.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...501_161419.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...505_120229.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...505_120220.jpg
This is where I'm at today. I'm going to get the frame rails boxed to just about half way up the rear swoop up the frame rail, and then build my new X member. Then I will remove the original leaf spring cross member and box the rest. My triangulated 4 link showed up as well. I'm still trying to decide on coil overs or air bags. I'm really leaning towards air bags though. I also went to Torque Fest last weekend and picked up a set of headers for the 354. I'll share some pics as I get them uploaded as there are a lt of them.
Outstanding progress! Way cool... Thanks for the pics also...
WooHoo, Ryan!!! Congrats!! That's exciting! Wish I had some news like that....:(:CRY:
Thanks guys. It feels good to be working on it again.
I like changing the x member and boxing the frame. You are going to make a difference in the chassis stiffness which is a good thing. Charge on!
Thanks Scoot! I found some nice holes in the frame that I never noticed before either. Apparently when who ever hacked off the old spring hanger brackets they also cut into the frame. I cleaned that all up and welded the holes from the inside. I also welded the holes shut on the inside for the un needed hanger bracket since my new mounts will be welded on. Then I cleaned up my boxing plates and the frame some more and started weldong them in. I try to weld a little and then go away so I don't get the frame too hot. It's hard to do that when you're trying to get something done. :LOL:
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...506_121527.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...506_121540.jpg
Tomorrow hopefully I can get the LH rail done this far back and then I can start on the new X member. I'm trying to decide if I want to C notch the frame or not right now. I'm thinking I might as well so it's done. We shall see.
Hey Ryan, are you welding nuts inside the frame rails for your running boards, body bolts etc before boxing the frame? Did you buy prefab boxing plates or make them yourself? Keep up the good work, man!Quote:
Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe
Randy, I've decided to just drill a hole through the frame boxing plates for the running board brackets, and the same for the body mounting bolts. This way if my frame shifts during this recreation, I won't have to monkey around with trying to get the bolts to line up in the welded in nuts. I almost baught premade boxing plates, but I had a partial sheet of 1/8" mild steel hiding behind one of my tool boxes for a while, and a nice Snap-on plasma cutter, so I am just making them. I used the money for boxing plates to buy the rear suspension. I've got to decide what air bags I want to run now and get them so I can get all that set up as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by randyr
Today it was pretty nice out, just a little warm for May. Supposed to be 93* today and 61* with rain tomorrow. :LOL: I found some more small holes from a torch, and one patch that was put in the frame. They did a pretty decent job on the patch. I went ahead and welded it from the back and filled in the torch holes. I also tacked what is left of the X member to the rail so there wouldn't be any weird noises later down the road.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...507_114559.jpg
Last year I purchased a Nu-tech welder and I never have been satisfied with how it welded small material. I finally got a hold of them and they alluded that the lower ground on the welder is for thinner materials. I had looked in the owner's manual but never read that. I switched it and holly cow. Night and day difference.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...507_121058.jpg
Here's where it's at now. Tomorrow my plan is to start on the X member.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...507_124733.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...507_124745.jpg
Excellent work! Mmmm......that Hemi is making my mouth water.
Thanks! I can't wait to hear it run again! It's been a while now.Quote:
Originally Posted by falconvan
That's going to be a sweet ride
Thanks Charlie. No pic worthy progress today. I ground some welds on the boxing plates, and cleaned under it. It was pretty nasty under it. I also dug out the over drive housing and started sliding it on so I can get things prepped for making the X member. Tonight after work I'm going to make a stand for my Eastwood bender so I can have it some what stable and not have it bolted to the floor eating up a 4 foot corner of floor space.
Here's the stand I whipped up for my tubing bender. It's stuff I had laying around, so no cost. The main upright tube was bent so I had to cut it in the place it wasn't bent much.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...508_215611.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...508_215519.jpg
I also figured out what air bags I want to use. Now it's just a matter of scraping the money together. :LOL:
I didn't get as much done this weekend as I wanted to, but I took my time and tried not to ruin too much tube. :LOL: In the pics you can see my first bent tube and yep, it was not right. I ended up getting the 4 main tubes bent for the X member center bent. I have to cut them and fit them next. Settign the bars in there was kind of a pain because my jack stand was in the way, but you get the idea.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...xerMessage.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...rMessage-1.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...rMessage-4.jpg
Lower tubes, got them bent right with each other.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...512_114732.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...512_114748.jpg
Getting the bars set just right on this I thought was going to be cake. But, turns out not so much. :LOL: I've got the LH one welded on and will now move to the RH side. Then do the lowers and remove the engine and trans and get ready to flip the frame to do the bottom.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...513_131859.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...513_131913.jpg
I also ordered air bags for it too. I got to 2500 duals for the front, and 2 2600 duals for the rear. It should ride pretty nice.
The bars look good, Ryan! Always a booger to get the tubes set so they have the bends in the right place, and notched to fit the frame. Sometimes it help to lay something on top of the frame rails to use as a guide to get the center bars straight.
Thanks Dave. I ended up using that gray piece of steel laying on top of the yellow brace behind the trans as a straight edge to do like what you said. I guess hind side, I should have put a slight bend in the bar to match the frame. It definitely took some finessing on the notching. At least the other 3 should go more smooth. :LOL:
Yeah, once you get the angles and everything figured on the first piece the others get a bit easier. Sure does make for a nice strong frame once they're all in place, nice work!
Thanks Dave. I've got a predicament here. I'm changing so much on this car and need to pick a ride height so I can set up my rear suspension. You guys with low rods, what is a good ride height? I'm going to put my running boards on the frame and try to set it where I want it and go from there.
I have mine at 4 inches without me in it. I can't clear speed bumps! But it looks cool! 8-)
Thanks for the reply. I'm guessing mine was 5"-6" before at the lowest point of the running boards by pics. I never measured it to see.
I'd think 5 inches woul dbe about perfect.
Ok thanks. I'll have to get it all set up and then take some pics.
I only had about an hour and a half to work on the car the last 2 days. I did get the RH bar on and I'm thinking I'm going to add some stiffners to help make it even stronger.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...514_153502.jpg
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...514_153519.jpg