Projects Does the HAMB really need another shoebox build thread?

You guys are killing me with all the positive comments. I really am learning as I go along. Lots of HAMB reading, and watching youtube videos. You just have to dive in.

Haven't had much time over the last few weekends to get work done, so what might take some of you a good afternoon is taking me a month. More welding on the floors, but lots left to do…



I'm at the point where I'll take the body back off the frame to clean and paint the underside, finish the welding on the floors (and attempt to fix all my screw-ups), then I can mount the body once-and-for-all.

Backing up a bit, here are some shots of my shenanigans with the taillights. Cut 'em out, slap 'em in, how hard can it be, right? Well, for an idiot like me it was a bit of a struggle…



Right off the bat you can see the contours are not the same as you move down the body…



That's a fairly serious curve for something that on first glance looks pretty straight…





When I hacked this out of the donor car I really should have paid more attention. I guess my grade 3 teacher was right, neatness counts! So I stuck it in the vice and cleaned up the lines…



Lots of highly technical eye-balling to try to get the body lines where I needed them...



First try to get them lined-up, kinda surprised myself. Looking not so bad…



Had to trim off a lot more meat than I originally thought…



Lots of measuring, head-scratching, lining up holes and anything else I could line up. Chalk lines, Sharpie lines, and then I sprayed some primer down so I'd be able to see where to cut...



Talk about stressful. About the only reasonably solid panel on the whole damn car and I cut it. I also had to install the tailpan before I could continue with the taillights...



A Holy Shit moment! The damn thing fit…



I cleaned up the edges before tack welding. Bondo! What a surprise…



Ok, once the first side was in I still had to tackle side 2. I was thinking I must be an idiot, but I got through it...



Yesterday I got in and did some of the finishing. I'm a shitty welder, but my grinding skills are improving...



I don't think Brian Bass has to worry about the competition, but I'm happy enough. Lots left to do...

 

Before I started all this I saw a grinder on sale so I grabbed it. Then I bought a chop saw and it came with… a grinder. Then I bought my welder and lo-and-behold… another grinder. I was thinking I had too many grinders, but now I'm thinking I need at least one more...



Helluva lot easier to have multiples and not have to change wheels/blades etc.

 

That taillight treatment is killer man! Good job

 

Wow!
Great progress,i have a lot to do to catch you...
I dont know do you have any tools that works with compressed air,but ingersoll-rand 90 degree grinder is definetely one of my favorite tools.
Its really light tool and fits in corners or other places where you just cant get access with normal angle grinder.
Keep it up!

 

I dig the dual tail light set up...looks kool

 

Tail lights look great! Been wnating to do the same thing on my Ford. I've had the donor pieces for a while. Was at the Goodguys in Charlotte a few years back and was looking at a Ford that had cut the wind splitters off and blended the rear quarter smooth. I didn't bother looking at the tail lights, may have been late model caddy, and was just looking at the car, my confusion must have been evident because an old timer came up besides me and says, "doesn't look right does it?" He said he used to work for GM in the day, and when Ford made the 49, they loved the addition of the splitters. I told him that I was considering adding another set and he said that he had wanted to do the same thing and that he should get started before I beat him to it. Well, I think you beat the both of us. Now at least there is a specific tech thread for me to copy, damn my lazy ass, Subscribing ASAP. Looks Great!

 

Thanks for the comments.

I saw a photo of a shoebox with dual taillights a bunch of years ago, can't for the life of me remember where I saw it, and can't find it. I think I've looked at every shoebox on Rikster's site, no luck. I've seen a couple where they moved the stock taillights down almost to the bumper, which looks pretty slick too. I looked at a ton of different taillights before I decided to go this route, I'm hoping it'll just be a fairly subtle change once everything else is done, I don't want them to totally define the car.

 

I'm thinking I might have to spring for a compressor.

 

R&C had a illustration of one done with dual tail lights, can't remember what issue though. I think the look is just subtle enough that people not familiar with shoeboxes wouldn't even notice. Now, just what kind of person is unfamiliar with shoeboxes I don't know.

 

Here is one

 

Big A...hate to be the workshop police but you really should run the safety guards on those grinders..ask me how i know!!
your work on your shoebox is lookin great. Theres 1 couple hours down the road from here with chopped top,sun visor and...twin tail-lights just like yours! go figure...

 

That's EXACTLY how I want mine to look!

Seems odd to me that they would run the windsplitter through the skirt like that. Different tastes I guess.

Yeah Fleetmaster, I've got a few scars from trying to grind my fingers off. So far my gloves have taken the brunt (famous last words). Shop safety? Next you'll be telling me I need to wear pants when I weld!

 

You have shown there are no problems, only solutions. Great thread & nice work!


Retirement is underated

 

Great thread, I'm just thankful my Shoebox over here seems to be solid underneath (in the UK all its life, how did that happen???). I think I'd have moved it on if I'd found what you did...

I'm also likin' the twin lamp treatment, I don't recall having seen it before. Cool!

Subscribed.

L.P.

 

you weld with no pants on too? and i thought i was the only one...

 

Welding without pants?
Thats definetely one thing i've never tried
Welding with T-shirt on is an another stupid idea,it works in TV,but not in real life..

 

Really nice thread, I like the way you're presenting it. Glad you're not "laying frame" and are using flathead. I just started to tackle a kind of similar job on my Chevy (just started disassembling it...), but am sure my floors won't be that beautiful.

 

I have been following your build from the beginning since I have a 49 & 50 tudors waiting to have something done to them ! I have to finish my 55 first !
As for the safety stuff , I am for it as well BUT I don't have the guards on my grinders either . I use thick welding gloves and have been bite a few times . They are super dangerous and the one that will get you the most when they kick . The thin cut off blades are the nasty ones ! I have cut through about 5 or 6 pairs of thick welding gloves already . I have been Lucky but have taken a couple good cuts on the fingers already . One went down the center of my finger nail and hurt really good for about 2 weeks . Kept it clean from grinder metal and dirt when working in the garage . Healed up fine . I pick up gloves at yard sales when I find them for grinding . Just be super careful ! I have seen what they can do to people before and it's not pretty at all ! They large grinders are the worst !
When welding , no matter how hot it gets I use a Miller jacket , are sleeves and leather gloves . I even wear a welding Beanie which has many burn marks in it already . It's just the thought of that tiny welding splatter that hits you skin and takes forever to cool down as it melts through your shin ! That shit hurts bad ! I also wear long paints too . BUT each to their own when safety is involved !
I am really glad to see you taking your time to get everything just right ! You're doing a great job on your car . Keep up the great work . I smiled when you talked about your welding but I too and pretty good with a grinder too ! that's a welders friend !
Keep the pictures coming !

Retro Jim

 

Looks great!. Im coming late to the party but wanted to tell you it really looks good.

As for not having experiance or tools, join the club. your work looks very clean and I have found that the cleaner your work is the better it will turn out. P.S. my shop is a mess but I keep my work as clean as possible. I only have 2 grinders

 

Awesome build. Just doing my bit to keep it up the top, but I think you won't have any problems with this falling too far. Plenty of people will be checking it out, I'm sure.

I'm so glad we don't have snow/salt on our roads, although over here, the sea air can play some havoc.

 

Looking good Big A, making me want to go shopping for another 51.

 

Wow, REALLY nice work man! You've certainly saved this car from continuing to rot away. I really dig the dual taillights.

Great to see you at the Pileup, too!


Malcolm

 

great build---kudos

 

Some weekends you work your ass off and never feel like you get anywhere. Some you don't actually work all that hard and it looks like you accomplished a ton. Results-oriented days are good for morale.

A buddy of mine dropped by on Saturday and I was moaning about the next stage in the process... cleaning and painting the underside. Damn a rotisserie would be nice. He says he knows where there's one just sitting behind a friend's barn, and a few hours later...

Sha-winnng...



Hey there's some metal left under there...



Looking a helluva lot better...



I'm going to have to cut out some more cancer around the wheel wells, but should be a bit easier to deal with now. Still need to trim the rear floor braces and some other stuff before painting.

Added a bit of garage art too...

 

That rotisserie will make your life a lot easier,finishing the floors will be easy like eating candy.
I made "poor mans" rotisserie,when i was in early 20's.It worked,but it could been better.
Keep it up!

 

Hey - Why didn't you just go ahead and replace the whole floor? Looks awesome dude.

 

holy crap dude.... couldn't tell that pic before you sent....
You be rollin in spring brother man...

 

looks great man, good score on the whirly gig. You r makin great progress and im still stuck on stupid brackets

 

You're doing a great job ! I will be using your pictures of the floors to have an idea on what mine are suppose to look like when I start mine next summer or fall hopefully . My floors are gone in the front but the rears are ok . I won't have a rotisserie to work from . Mine will be on stands . The rotisserie really makes thing easier when doing so much floors like you have done to your 51 . Keep up the great work !

Retro Jim

 

Damn that does look better than on my phone! I dig the tire also. What's the story behind it ? Did you carry that to the HAMB drags ?