Projects Prefect / Willys /Kadett/Thames Gasser Build.

Ran the Willy’s in today. Was balky firing but the fact that it has been sitting several months and the nature of stack injection it was kinda expected.
Also got the driver side outboard wheel tub support in. I am using door skin adhesive. Ive used it on everything else. Should do well here also

 

Got p***enger side wheel tub support done. For what ever reason it was more difficult to lock into place with the metal adhesive.
Photos are not up loading for what ever reason. I’ll get them later.

 

Finished the side rear behind seat panels. Even got the bead rolling done. Tht completes all the rear sheet metal work now to trans tunnel floor and firewall. It’s done also but tabs and holes have to be drilled and tapped.
Ok. For the second time it’s not loading my photos.

 

Pics

 

Got back yeasterday from Bowling Green. Got a fair amount done on the Kadet.

 

P***enger side front tub bulkhead finished. Now to number as pull back down to finish welding and battery box.

 

I still do not like the way the inside lip sets in an 1/8 of an inch. As small as the peice is I may very well remake and see if I can get that completely flush. I make have to actually make it two pieces so it over laps.

 

I finally got the wheel tub extensions to look correct and the edge laid flat. I took the other 3 versions and s****ed them. The gap was too much for me to accept.
I took the cut off pieces of the back of the wheel tub and matched the bead /seem. Even the inside pieces matched up. Perfect would have been a set of tubs that were tall enough not to need the extension anyway. Mick taught me to always put the tubs as high as practically possible. It allows changes later with out reconstruction and it also allows for a safety/clearance factor.
I am pleased. Body seam sealer /adhesive will take care so I don’t have to have so many rivets.

 

Ok got the lower tub extension on the driver side done. Rocker over laps next. And main floor tabs welded in.

 

Got p***enger rocker seal to floor pan done today. All one piece. Will bolt /rivet in under the edge of floor plate

 

Driver-side seal to floor pan like the other side all one piece.

 

Looking at possibly putting a seal plate ( .040 ) from dash to inside door edge. Use it to seal as much as possible.

 

Also started the process of getting Thames ready for new driver train. Moon tank is going back in front and the rear tank etc is leaving. Also getting ready to drop the mustang box and clean up the tunnel and under front cap area. Got a lot done. Got a lot to go.

 

Had one bolt on Thames body that didn’t tighten up and settle into position. Spent dang near 3 hours getting it out. I gotta get another 2 1/2 long carriage bolt. And install. Didn’t get a chance to start removing steering box but that’s next.

 

Dropped the mustang box. Removed the hand brake mechanism. Managed to tighten all the body mounts back up. Mocked up the Glide /Auto and then made a few measurements.
Will have to cut/and modify the floor pan and bolt in firewall.

 

Loving your rides

 

Thames got the tape measure treatment today. The news is both good and bad. First after removing the dog house and making a few measurements out comes the jig SAW and dbl reciprocating saw. Now the glide can sit as it should. Mid mount plate is literally perfect other than I need to turn it around.
I was pleased with this but then there is that lying tape measure. According to what I am measuring the blown six will not fit with out major Surgery. And since this is the last of its kind that’s out. ( there is a small chance that I have mismeasured and am going to check but if it is out reach I won’t cut it up I’ll put the blown SBC in it.)
Probably look and see if the Prefect has a better chance of the blown six fitting.
Its not that it won’t fit or couldn’t be bolted in. I don’t like any race car that has the harmonic balancer on or past front axle center line. It’s easier on the front end. And usually means it’s light weight.

 

It’s official. The blown six will not go. And I hate it but that’s that. Blown hiborn 2 port/or hat sbc will go back in.
Did the mock up today. This will also have a mid mount plate. I forget who Doug said did these headers but dad gum they are heavy as the hemi set I had in the Opel. Also got to get the adapter plates for the big tubes.
I ordered another drive hub and idler for the Hampton Blower on the sbc.
I forgot to order two blower belt shields. Just thought of that. Still a pretty productive day. Sad in the fac t that I won’t be putting my blown six in either the Prefect or the Thames but Prefect is complete other than wiring harness and fuel system and the Thames is a Unicorn so no I will not compromise the history / body etc at any level I don’t have to.

 

Ok. Final t******* of the mid mount plate is finished. I made some aluminum Feet patterns to test. I will cut and weld and gusset the feet on the mid plate so it’s is supported in Reports of Progress of the frame rails.
I also installed drive shaft and checked pinion /drive shaft angles etc. one small shim under the trans mount and it’s good. Doug had several in inventory and gave them to me so that works.
On another front the rest of my parts for the second Hampton Blower set up came in.Complete idler set up / another drive hub/ base gaskets and screen gasket for topside.

 

Also have figured out how to possibly get the blown six in the Prefect without reconstructing everything. I have relocated radiators before for clearance etc. I have several water pump options and some aluminum tubing will be lighter than long water hoses.

 

Blown 6 is in the Prefect. Looks like I am going to be able use everything. Even the factory steel side mounts if I want. I have a mid plate as well front cap looks to clear and other than the last 12 inches so do the zoomies. Will have to change them to clear tire may put full collectors back on.

 

Ok. I have the front motor plate tacked together and the engine is sitting in centered and full weight on ch***is. What this does do is allows me to decide as to wether to use factory side mounts/ with mid mount plate or just use front and rear -mid mount plate.
I will still have to cut the front cap (small bulge left front corner of the blower). For it to clip perfectly into place.
With the weather change the baseline on the Willy’s changed. So I also get to retune the injectors.

 

Finally got the dash fitted for Kadett. Also marked where the front cap will have to be cut for blower clearance on Prefect.
On a better note also figured out the wondering tune that was haunting me with the Willy’s. Magneto wasn’t tight enough. Had walked around about 25 degrees.

 

Ok. Prefect front cap is clearence and the lower now is well. Gotta decide wether to paint the edge where cut or make a nice formed aluminum cover and use machining screws to attach it like early planes and road race/Boneville etc. cleavland lock into place and all seems well.

 

Rear engine plate feet laid out. Cut and weld. Then trim the excess from around the top side. Need to weld 4 tabs ( 2 front -2 rear. )
Laid plans for headers out. Can’t decide wether to go back as was with zoomies or run a collector this time.

 

Pics p

 

Started headers. Probably going to torch weld these in the end. With me trying to use what I got and the close proxy of the tubes in various curves gonna force the issue.
With added weight trying to go back to a collector even with blower. Gonna need the torque and I added at least 640 lbs from the rail actually more like 750.

 

Collector is tacked. Actually may lengthen the primaries another 6 inches. All those in the known say a 30 in primary would be beneficial. We will see

 

Ok. Front header completely tacked in place. Forgive the ugly MiG /tack welds. I will more than likely torch weld these up. It’s easier to weld dirty /used tubbing with the torch as compared to the MiG or even tig.

 

I’ll also equalize tubes before collectors