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07-20-2004 04:16 PM #1
Roadster Pick-up--the saga continues
Since my last post, I have been diligently thrashing on the metal "cab" portion of my one of a kind roadster pick-up. (made from a cut down sedan body). This body was basically garbage---all of the bottom support structure was rotted out, the lower sections of the cowl were held together by paint, one of the previous owners had welded in a floor section of 1/8" plate, and the body was "tweaked" diagonally about 1 1/4" front to back, vertically. I have bolted the body to a temporary framework made of 2" square tubing which is level and at a comfortable working height, (about 28"). So far, I have cut out all the rot, removed the plate floor, welded new bottoms onto the cowl on both sides, welded in the much butchered firewall, and welded in the top section of the original gas tank which forms the top of the cowl. My plan is to "unitize" this body section as much as I can for added rigidity. You can see that before I got too crazy I welded in a brace at the top of the door openings, so hopefully my doors are going to fit when I get to that stage. I bought a new mig welder, specifically for this job---oddly enough, I have gotten thru 40 years of hot-rodding with only a 180 Amp Lincoln stick welder and an oxy-acetylene torch rig. This is my first time using a mig, so its "learn as I go". So far everything is turning out just like the books say it should. I am really impressed. I have about one more week of welding (which includes reskining both door bottoms), and then my old 7" angle grinder and air sander are going to earn their keep.Old guy hot rodder
I saw last night on fb about John. The world sure lost a great one. I'm going to miss his humor, advice, and perspective from another portion of the world. Rest in Peace Johnboy.
John Norton aka johnboy