As always, very nice work Mark. And thanks for sharing the pics, appreciate it for sure.
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As always, very nice work Mark. And thanks for sharing the pics, appreciate it for sure.
Thank You Sir. Very much appreciated!
I took the column parts in to Dave's Muffler Shop in Durand this afternoon. We grabbed a chunk of 3 1/2" pipe and worked with the expander to get it to fit the parts. It took about 15 minutes to get the sizes right but this will work. It's bit rougher then I envisioned but it will smooth out with a bit of hammer and sander work.
[img]https://images54.fotki.com/v1642/photos/5/904975/14261461/MVC007F-vi.jpg[/img
I will use the Astro column cover and spot weld it to the inside of the new shroud. This is the approximate depth required to fit the new shroud to the top of the column.
https://images54.fotki.com/v1642/pho...MVC005F-vi.jpg
We made it long so I can fit the bottom then trim the top to length.
Just mocked up on the column I think once this is finished and sprayed satin black it will look very nice.
https://images47.fotki.com/v826/phot...MVC003F-vi.jpg
After some mock up work I found the new "shroud" to be pretty unusable. The expanding left it very unconcentric and trying to smooth it out was next to impossible with simple hand tools. 16ga is nothing to mess with when you can't get enough leverage to work it... I ordered a couple of 4 to 3 1/2" reducers from Speedway. I also bit the bullet and ordered a tubing expander kit from Lisle. This will come in handy for exhaust work anyway and it does have a role in this kind of fab work also.
After dinking around with the shroud mess for a few hours I called it a lost cause. I set up the new, larger adapter plate in the mill and got some work done on that. Making the hole patterns, trimming out the blank and machining it round just like the previous one.
https://images12.fotki.com/v539/phot...MVC002F-vi.jpg
Holes drilled and c'bored.
https://images59.fotki.com/v1640/pho...MVC003F-vi.jpg
I'll be milling an angle on the back side of the adapter to reduce the diameter to better match the shift unit.
This is the back side I will be milling. The pencil line is the size of the shifter unit.
https://images40.fotki.com/v20/photo...MVC005F-vi.jpg
Setting up the rotary table in the mill I needed an adapter to locate the plate concentric to the center of the rotary table. I machined this out of a piece of 1" diameter aluminum stock.
https://images15.fotki.com/v246/phot...MVC016F-vi.jpg
The larger end pilots in the center bore of the table and the small end pilots into the center hole of the plate. I used a long bolt and a couple of spacers to mount the plate to the table.
https://images54.fotki.com/v1642/pho...VC002F1-vi.jpg
After getting the piece aligned in the mill I tipped the mill head so I could cut the 40 degree angle I needed. Sad to say I could only tip the head about 32 degrees because of the Frankenmills' questionable construction...
https://images47.fotki.com/v826/phot...MVC006F-vi.jpg
I got both back angles milled. Not as steep as I was planning but I think they will work.
https://images12.fotki.com/v1641/pho...MVC012F-vi.jpg
https://images47.fotki.com/v826/phot...MVC003F-vi.jpg
I mocked up the adapter plate and I think it will look better then the previous attempt.
https://images15.fotki.com/v398/phot...VC006F1-vi.jpg
It should look great after some cleanup and satin black paint.
https://images15.fotki.com/v398/phot...VC007F1-vi.jpg
Thanks Guys! It turned out real nice.
A week ago Sunday morning I was in the shop at 9:00am. I worked out there for an hour or so and started not feeling well... Anyway, I got sick Sunday morning and was out of commission until Friday afternoon. You name the symptom and I had it. :( Stomach, chills, sweats, aches (even my hair hurt) and the dreaded I.C.B. (Irritable Colon Blow...). Wednesday thru Friday I couldn't keep anything in that went down. Literally, water would run right thru me. I think I lost about 10lbs. I started feeling better Friday morning and have been on the uptake ever since.
I got out in the shop Saturday and got a lot of work done, trying to make up for the rest of the week I lost.
Here are the reducers I got from Speedway. These look real nice, smooth with a clean, even transition. Compared to the "fabbed" one these will work very well.
https://images54.fotki.com/v1642/pho...MVC001F-vi.jpg
The two, side by side... No brainer, right?
https://images12.fotki.com/v1641/pho...MVC002F-vi.jpg
I also got the pipe expander kit I ordered off Amazon. This worked very well and was worth the coin. This will get a lot of use in the shop.
https://images54.fotki.com/v1642/pho...MVC013F-vi.jpg
Expanding the 4" end to slip over the cover bell that came in the adapter kit. This took about 5 minutes once I got the kit set up.
https://images54.fotki.com/v1642/pho...MVC013F-vi.jpg
I didn't have to go far, maybe an eighth of an inch.
https://images40.fotki.com/v992/phot...MVC003F-vi.jpg
Once it was a nice slip fit I slipped it all together on the column. I think this will look much cleaner then that convoluted boot.
https://images54.fotki.com/v1642/pho...MVC016F-vi.jpg
https://images15.fotki.com/v246/phot...MVC008F-vi.jpg
Thanks for looking!
Mark
I got out Sunday morning and finished up the cover. Got it trimmed "almost" to length and mocked up the wheel and paddles.
Cut to length.
https://images12.fotki.com/v1641/pho...MVC001F-vi.jpg
With the paddles and new steering wheel adapter attached.
https://images54.fotki.com/v1642/pho...MVC003F-vi.jpg
https://images15.fotki.com/v246/phot...MVC010F-vi.jpg
With the wheel bolted up.
https://images40.fotki.com/v697/phot...MVC008F-vi.jpg
https://images54.fotki.com/v1642/pho...MVC009F-vi.jpg
I think I am going to paint the column and new cover with a satin black. I have to paint the column because there will be an open wound after I remove the shift lever lump...
https://images15.fotki.com/v398/phot...MVC006F-vi.jpg
That's all for this week... Thanks for following!
Mark
Wow nice fab work
Very nice work and that reducer looks great on there. Is the paddle shift assembly part of the PCS set up?
Thanks a ton guys! Ryan, yes, the paddle unit is part of the PCS system. Look back in post #552. This system will be completely replacing any mechanical shifter needed to put the trans in or out of gear. Eliminating the mechanical shifter frees up a lot of space on the dog house/engine cover and will let me have free range on any mods needed for air cleaner design. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe
Mark
Thanks Mark for your posts, I'm always left in awe of your ability and high standard you set yourself in the finish and details of the products you want to use. I have a friend here building a 1932 Ford Truck with a 500 something cu.in. Chevy engine that is suppose to develop 800 + hp for the street and drag strip. Steve has incorporated a paddle shifter arrangement on the steering column that the owner purchased from Australia Super Car Team for it plus a supercar complete rear axle/diff centre suspension set up for it. I'm not allowed to take photo's of it as it is the owners desire to keep the car on the quite until completely finished. Oh, it is a genuine Henry Ford steel body and deck too in absolutely amazing condition for it's age. Thanks again for your update.
Thank You for the kind words Sir. I appreciate the time you guys spend going thru my posts, as I know you appreciate the time I take to post them. :)
Not even some "close up teaser" pics of the truck? ? ?
With the column fairly well wrapped up, other then paint, it is time to Move on to other things...
I dug out the trans and GV unit tonight. I was curious to see how much of a tear up I would have. I designed and built the K member and trans cross member around a 700R4, not figuring on finding a gear vendor unit for as cheap as I did. I took some measurements off the mock-up 700R4, the TH400 trans and the GV unit.
The 700 was 22.31 from the engine face to the trans mount bolts.
The 400 WITH the GV unit measures 27.31 inches to the trans mount bolts.
Subtracting the 22.31 from the 27.31 ='s 5.00 inches. That is how far I have to move the trans cross member rearward to pick up the trans mounting bolts in the gear vendor unit.
I don't have 5 inches in the cross member tabs welded to the chassis BUT I can flip the cross member 180 degree to move the trans mounting tab to the rear. Doing that gets me 3.50 inches. (the tab WAS 1.75 inches in front of the cross member centerline so, flipping it 180 moves it 1.75 inches BEHIND the centerline. 1.75 plus 1.75 is 3.50. So now all I have to move the cross member is 1.50 inches... Easy. And the GV unit fits in the loop comfortably. No changes ! YA HOO!
https://images59.fotki.com/v1640/pho...MVC006F-vi.jpg
https://images59.fotki.com/v1640/pho...MVC005F-vi.jpg
https://images12.fotki.com/v539/phot...MVC004F-vi.jpg
Now, granted I had planned to use the loop as a driveshaft loop so I will have to think about that one. I may end up moving just the loop...
Mark
Anyone interested in some updates? I couldn't believe it has been almost two years since I last posted in the thread!
I have been picking away at the project since this last post. I got a lot done in early 2017. Front and rear stab bars made and mounted, brake lines ran, lots of work getting the front suspension ready to go. Painted the frame and all of the suspension parts and then it all ground to a halt.
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago and I am back at it with the intent to have the frame done and rolling around by spring. getting the body ready to put on is the goal once it warms up a bit. Still have to finish up the tubs and floor but that work is easy compared to what's been done.
Here are some pics to bring you up to speed. Just ask if you want to see anything in detail. :)
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...VC002Fvi-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...VC014Fvi-1.jpg
Sand blasted everything.
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...VC004Fvi-1.jpg
Prepped and cleaned for Rustoleum Silver Hammered.
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...VC002Fvi-1.jpg
I mixed a little enamel hardener into the Rustoleum and it got as hard as a rock after about an hour dry time. :)
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...VC004Fvi-2.jpg
The control arms and spindles have already been repainted and I need to repaint the rear housing and get the stab bars painted but this was a big one!
A couple of weeks ago some friends came over and we pulled the frame off the rotisserie.
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...KNx9EDKg-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...cnx9EDKg-1.jpg
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Working on getting the driveline bolted together. Ran into a snag with the old gear vendor unit. it is sold and gone and a new one is on it's way from GV.
I am designing an AC compressor bracket that I can fab, just need to get the pulleys sorted out so I can get the placement nailed down.
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...Rqx9EDKg-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...Pdx9EDKg-1.jpg
I worked on the trans itself this afternoon. Putting on a deep sump pan that I picked up at a swap meet. The new pan is an inch deeper then the rusty stocker and I had to order the extension for the filter pick up tube. I made a spacer for the filter bolt today. I turned the spacer out on the lathe. Faced it off to shine it up and bored it out for 5/16ths bolt to pass through it and cut it down to about an inch long. It will bolt between the filter and the valve body. The pan is like brand new. A little dusty but it has never had fluid sitting in it...
Need to order 1" long bolts for the new pan as the stock ones are to short. McMaster Carr here I come!
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...GWx9EDKg-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...Jnx9EDKg-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...Z5x9EDKg-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...LNx9EDKg-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...qnx9EDKg-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...5yx9EDKg-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...8Gx9EDKg-1.jpg
It's getting there! Pulling together all of the fasteners seems to be a full time job! During the build and mock ups I have been getting by with an odd assortment of bolts and nuts but, now that it is going together for the last time I am finding a lot of stuff I need to order!
This is where things are at as of yesterday. Thanks for looking!
Mark
Welcome back. We love updates!
Times 10.. we love updates with photos!
Good to see you posting again too.
Ditto some really great progress and very nice work!
This is a pretty cool project! I’m glad to see you’re plugging away at it.
Not quite what I am going for but that is a bad ast van!
Got some work done the last few days. And another step backwards as well!... The water pump has zero outlets for plumbing the heater or by-pass hoses...
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...rFx9EDKg-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...sFx9EDKg-1.jpg
The pump was on the motor when I picked it up, figured to re-use but it's no good to me without the heater outlets. I will need the suction side for the heater and the by-pass hose is a good thing right? Options with this pump? Drill and tap? Bite it and buy a new pump? I got a new pump...
New pump came in from Summit, I went with cast iron so I have some work to do.
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...pRx9EDKg-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...3Dx9EDKg-1.jpg
This one has some real nice heater and bypass hose fittings on it. Should work just fine
I have also been working out all the fittings I am going to need. I ordered almost 400 bucks worth of -4, -6, -10, & -12 Push-Lok hose and fittings yesterday as well. Pipe plugs, bolts for the trans pan, etc., etc. I knew this day was coming so I have the money. Kind of exciting to be at this point!
I also worked on the deep sump pan yesterday. Drilled and tapped for the temp sender.
This is the spot. I am putting it at the back of the pan and deep enough that it should never be uncovered.
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...qVx9EDKg-1.jpg
Spot faced and pre drilled.
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...5Dx9EDKg-1.jpg
Ran a tap drill in for the 1/8th pipe tap.
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...jTx9EDKg-1.jpg
All done!
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...8Sx9EDKg-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...MVx9EDKg-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...zhx9EDKg-1.jpg
Mark
I got the new water pump painted yesterday.
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...tmx9EDKg-1.jpg
Bolted it up and tried the pulleys on for size... Guess what, yea... The old pump shaft was 5/8th's. The new one is 3/4. Now the pulley won't fit. Is that par for the course or what?
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...7Sx9EDKg-1.jpg
So! What to do?
Get out the step drill man!
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...shx9EDKg-1.jpg
Chucked the drill into the drill press and ran a dummy hole into a sacrificial piece of wood. Then used the 5/8th's step on the drill to locate the pulley and clamp it down while I screwed it to the wood to keep it from moving.
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...Vhx9EDKg-1.jpg
Ran the step drill in to the 3/4" step and it was done.
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...CLx9EDKg-1.jpg
Did the same thing with the spacer
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...GTx9EDKg-1.jpg
and now it all goes together like it was supposed to. :)
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...qVx9EDKg-1.jpg
I have all of the pulleys now and am working on a bracket design to get the AC compressor mounted underneath the alternator. I don't want to make the bracket until I get the engine and trans in place. Just to confirm the placement. I have a TON of parts coming in this week, the Over Drive was shipped Friday so this is starting to come together.
I thought I heard that big cash register in the sky ringing up a sale!! :LOL: And it said, "No Change!" :3dSMILE:Quote:
Originally Posted by astroracer
Thanks for the update and pics.
Great simple fix. I have all the above tools and would have never thought to try that. Sometimes the simple solution is the best and fastest/ cheapest!
Yes Sir, sometimes the simplest solutions never come to mind. I was thinking about what I was going to do when the step drill idea hit me. I went out and got it done. :)
Got a pile of boxes today. Fittings and hoses.
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...Ehx9EDKg-1.jpg
Swapped out the adapters on the trans for these push-loks.
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...HCx9EDKg-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...phx9EDKg-1.jpg
-10 heater fittings. These are equivalent to the 5/8th's hose usually plugged in here. This is the draw side to the heater core.
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...6nx9EDKg-1.jpg
-12 heater fittings are equal to the 3/4 inch hose used here. This is the suction side which draws the water from the heater core.
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...wLx9EDKg-1.jpg
I moved the fitting I took out of the pump up to the intake for the by-pass hose.
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...RCx9EDKg-1.jpg
All of the new brackets will be satin black and I will be blasting the pulleys and painting them satin black as well.
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...5gx9EDKg-1.jpg
I think that will look better then the chrome, what do you think?
Mark
The new GV Unit comes in today! I want to have the trans ready to go tonight. Setting up the OD adapter should go pretty quick. Getting the converter bolted up is the last big thing before engine/trans marriage. I plan to have the engine and trans in place this weekend.
I knew there was a lot to do and I have been thrown a few curve balls. The little things are what takes the time and getting them right just adds to it. :)
Thanks for watching!
Mark
Missed a few installments over the last few days, nothing major though. Just picking away at this thing. :)
Did a lot of picking up and cleaning. Got the trans and GV unit set down on a cart so I can get them bolted to the block.
https://media.fotki.com/2v2EAVM7gx9EDKg.jpg
I'm going to need some help to do that. Everything is just to big and cumbersome to handle by myself.
https://media.fotki.com/2v2EAVMiFx9EDKg.jpg
I rolled out the blasting cabinet tonight and got the engine mounts cleaned up and painted.
https://media.fotki.com/2v2EAqPcWx9EDKg.jpg
About 5 minutes worth of work right here... :)
https://media.fotki.com/2v2EAqPenx9EDKg.jpg
Some black hammered paint and we are good to go.
https://media.fotki.com/2v2EAqPQFx9EDKg.jpg
https://media.fotki.com/2v2EAqPpgx9EDKg.jpg
Getting stuff done, kind of slow but I try to do something every day.
Thanks for watching
Mark
Lookin' good Mark. I like the look of the hammered paint myself. I use it whenever I get the chance on things like brackets / bolts / pulleys.
Not gonna do a lot of talking here...
https://static1.pt-content.com/image...wJx9EDKg-1.jpg
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'Nuff said...
Thanks for the updates.
I haven't gotten a lot of "physical" work done in the last couple of days. I have been chasing down parts to wrap up the rear end assembly and working out bracket designs for the A/C Compressor.
Here are some screen shots of my CAD design for the brackets. I have DXF files out to a local metal shop to have them laser cut out of 1/4" plate steel.
This one is the stationary bracket. It is two pieces and will bolt onto the front of the block and over the fuel pump block off plate. What you don't see are the welded on bungs that the compressor will bolt to.
https://media.fotki.com/2v2E6BKbrx9EDKg.jpg
This is the pivot bracket. It will bolt solid to the compressor and pivot around the top bolt boss to tighten the belt. Tightening the bolt in the slot to lock it down.
https://media.fotki.com/2v2E6BKEqx9EDKg.jpg
As they will be when bolted to the engine.
https://media.fotki.com/2v2E6BKadx9EDKg.jpg
This is a knock off of the Alan Grove 108R brackets. I had to reconfigure the design to get the compressor a bit higher and father out. One to clear the frame and the other to make room for the lower radiator hose to pass thru.
I have been doing a lot part gathering. I need to order springs for the front Vari-Shocks so I have an email out to Alston that I am waiting for info on and a couple others to various suppliers. I knew this was coming when I started the build and now that it is here I find myself a little impatient when I get slowed up... :(
Mark
Hey Mark, I was looking for something else and your thread on the Astro popped up! Hoping all is well with you, and wondering how the project is going? I miss your posts with your great design and fabrication skills!
Take good care!