Fear Commitment? It's a Chassis Update!

2 cool!

 

Thanks fellas! I'll try to make these reports more often.

 

Merry Christmas to me! Look what the brown van elves dropped off today!





I really want to throw some props to Strange Engineering. I debated between the usual axle suppliers for a couple of weeks. I've used them all in the past, Currie, Moser, Dutchman, Mark Williams. I can't say I ever had any bad parts, but they all seemed slow. I finally decided to use Strange after comparing the components in the full axle/bearing kits. Their price was right at the lower end with Dutchman (I think they resell Currie axles). All the others were a bit higher, MW about $100. Strange gave me a choice of bearings and $10 got them pressed on. In the end, I ordered them on Wed afternoon before Thanksgiving. The guy on the phone was very quick answering my questions, walked through my math to make sure I had covered all the bases, gave me the price and told me to look for them around December 10. They came a week early for $30 less than he quoted! Ask me next time and I won't hesitate to point you to Strange.
Now I gotta order some tires....

 

Scotty,
I'm glad I found your build thread again after these years
Your doing a awesome job, and I'm realing enjoying following along with you.
I have'nt seen anyone doing a triangulated 3-link in a long time. I did it on a roadster of mine back in '79 and it worked great. I wonder why more guys don't do it?
Glenn

 

nice build, you have some patience since you work so much and arent home that often. Lots of day dreaming im guessing.

 

Hey Glenn! I saw you pop up the other day and wondered what you've had going. The way my progress has been, you'd think I started it in '79.

You have no idea! I've aleady built my next two cars in my head. No if just one would turn out so cool in real life...

Stay tuned race fans. I start 2 weeks of vacation in 63 hours and 43 minutes.

 

This is getting a little old by now, I guess. I am really learning to appreciate the concentration and attention span a professional welder must have to run a bead for hours at a time.
Anyways, finishing up the frame while I iron out a couple of details on the rear axle.

Three passes to blend out before proceeding...


That's better...


I trimmed a little from the same gusset I used on the other side. Note the hole cut in half. It needs to go away.


A little while later...


Side two... I need to settle down a bit. My welds waver a little and the heat is a bit high.


The back side look great, though! Guess that's a good argument for a little warm up on the scrap before you dig in.


The overhead view...


I have about a dozen more to do in smaller sizes, then flip the frame once more for the bottom side. I've decided to cut the motor mounts off and reweld them. They are sound, just ugly.
I hope to set up the third member tomorrow and get the axle together. Test fit of brakes and axles worked fine. A little more welding to finish out the brackets and it will be ready for paint.
If anyone has a line on reasonably priced tires in the 5.50x18 and 7.00/18 range, I'd love to hear about it.

 

man u do a hell of a job, i know a guy that does all of his chassis(frame, 4 links, mounts, just about everything) but you make his look like shit. I think he just half asses on his tho. And i like the coil over set up you got goin, very nice. Really dont see anything like that.

 

Man, I sure wouldn't complain about welds like those! OH, if I could only do half as good---------Perley

 

I appreciate it fellas. I'm no rockstar fabricator, but I'm pretty proud of what I am getting done. It's all just practice for the next one, anyway, right?

Here's a little more.

I put gussets on the trans cross-member yesterday and then I cut the motor mounts back off. The difference in my welding over the last few month is pretty noticeable, so I decided to make them look better. When I cut them off, I found them perfectly sound, so my welds have seen destructive testing a couple of times now and passed. Now I just need enough practice to make them all presentable.



Before...


After...


Back to the shop. I need to finish out the rear axle housing so I can get it painted and assembled.

 

If I keep up the pace I've been on lately, I might have a chassis soon. I spent last weekend plating the gap between the axle brackets. Still some detail work to call the housing finished. The QA1 rod ends I ordered came in yesterday, so today I swapped out all of the poly/stainless rod ends for these. Much higher level of confidence. This also gave me the last of the parts I needed to finish the rear suspension. The links between the axle and shock rockers are complete now, except for welding. They use the same rod ends in 1" - .058 wall tubes. The tube is only 5 inches, so it's plenty stout. Here's a few pics of the suspension under weight for the first time and one more welded gusset. I have to share it. I just can't get over the improvement I have seen in my welding. Proof that it just takes practice.
I'll try to finish out the frame tomorrow and start disassembly of the engine. I dropped the heads off at the machine shop yesterday for new valve springs and a little "lift". I also checked the deck height on all eight pistons and found something that looks funny, so I am tearing down the short block to check it out. Everything is fresh from the machine shop, all std/std, just a set of 10.5:1 pistons. One is about .025 deeper in the hole than the others. I suspect a short rod or a short piston. We'll see. Here's the eye candy...

Last one, I promise!


Linkage mock up...



Look! The stands are under the axle, not the frame!

 

RAD! I like what you've got here so far.

 

Man its finally coming along, great work and the welds are looking good

Rusty

 

Great work, nice welds, cool suspension setup, looks like fun!

 

Gracias, mi amigos!

Rusty! Thought you were coming 'round last month. Where've you been?

Back to the garage, I need to finish that housing so it can get blasted and painted.

 

UPDATE!!!!!! whats new on this beast???

 

You caught me unprepared! I have no photos. That's unusual, huh?

Lot's in progress. I have almost finished out the chassis aside from brakes and steering, so I had a buddy sand blast a bunch of the suspension parts, axle housing, bones, etc and the dash. I filled a few pitted areas on the axle housing and need to grind those back out, then I can paint and assemble the axle. No big change in that arena.

In other news, I tore down my engine to check everything out and found that my OE rods were shit, so I bought a set of SCAT rods from summit, weight matched all the parts and took the crank in to be balanced. That turned ugly but finished it up tonight after adding two pieces of heavy metal to the counterweights. The rotating parts are within 2 grams and the crank is within two grams, the block has been decked to -.010 and new bearing throughout. Heads were lightly ported (exhaust and bowls) with new springs and retainers for well over .600 lift. Did up some valve covers, too. Tomorrow will be about trial assembly to check the clearances again, then tear down for rings and assembly lube.

I hope that isn't so detailed it put you to sleep, but I'm stoked about all the little stuff I've gotten done lately. Maybe I'll have some ey candy this weekend.

 

ZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZ..... uh....hello....who's there?

 

You have entirely too much time on your hands if you just came over here to harass me.

I did get my cam installed today, tho!

 

its the weekend! Where are those pics man? I am really diggin on your build up.

 

Roundup?

 

Damn, busted again! Sorry, been tied up with the wife's Falcon and that Opel GT 5.0/3-link conversion.

Thanks KC. I need a little push once in a while.

No, Rusty. Still putting the roller together. Waiting for an intake and trying to get the suspension parts painted. Maybe I'll shoot some primer today.

 

Nice work Scotty, Great build thread, I'll be keeping an eye out for updates.

 

Man......wow! I LOVE that rear suspension set up and those gusset plates are a work of art! We need to see more...... cam or no cam!!
Doc.

 

I just got a look at this. You have some serious talent

 

OK, just to prove I haven't given up, here is a teaser. Shot these parts in Valspar primer yesterday. This stuff is very slow to dry, so I'm waiting another day to top coat. Should be in a nice low gloss black by this time tomorrow.

 

How do you like my new swing set?



Here, this one is even better...



I shot everything with Valspar Tractor Restoration series enamel. It is easy paint to apply. I used the low gloss black. A few google searches turned up some good tips on application. I added hardner and naptha for reducer at 16:1:1. I was surprised at how fast it dried in 80% humidity. I was able to pick everything up and move it inside after only 2 hours. The primer took six.
I also like this paint because it is available in aresol cans, too. It came in handy. I mixed barely enough paint to finish and then found a thin spot on each of my backing plates as I was putting them away. A few quick squirts of the aresol covered and blended perfectly. An hour later there is no sign of a touch up. That will come in handy on small parts.
I'll give it a few days to cure and get on with assembly of the rear suspension parts. Time will tell if a second coat was needed. I opted to go heavy in one coat due to 24 hour span between coats.

Now it is time to get ready for the Round Up. See Y'all there!

 

Very inspiring work and ingenuity. It sure gets me fired yp.

 

Thanks! I was hoping to be home on vacation next week to work on it, but plans change. I'll squeeze in a weekend when i can and will have two weeks off in late June. It's about time for wheels and brakes. I'm ready!

 

Do what I did and take an adult course at night at a local technical school. It was a lot of fun! It was 12 weeks , 3 hours long, 2 nights a week. I took the basic course leared mig, tig , and stick. I'm going back in the fall for the advanced class.
P.S I'm loving this build!