Hot Rods Modified Murray - an update, but only a teaser

Over on www.metalmeet.com there is a thread going about building gas tanks out of aluminum. Hopefully that helps. Awesome fabrication.

 

REALLY!?? AWESOME!! I will check it out!! I had a good thread going here for awhile and I think I have it licked, but it's never too late to keep reading and learning until it's started and/or finished. Thanks for the heads up! OH! And go get that Hemi! It will change your life!

 

I owe the remotivation to you Tony! I'm glad you stopped by. The only thing is, you reinforced a ton of bad vibes I was getting from various things on the car. I guess I just needed someone to say the same things I was thinking and I'm glad you did! It will add an extra 40 hours of metal work, but it will be worth it.

It gets worse though... last night I stared at pictures for about two hours of various angles of the car. I found one angle that I just don't think is flattering and it is going to force me to make a panel change to the rear section of the car where the lower rear and the wheels meet... I will keep everyone posted on that. I can't explain it. It's just something I feel...

UHG!

 

Man, if you are only down to one bad angle with that, I say you are doing pretty damn good, but still even better if you think you can improve it. Almost any car, no matter how good, has at least one "bad" angle - or at least ones that are clearly better than the one in question. But, that is what making sculpture is all about. If you think you can improve it, I say go for it.

 

Thanks for your interest guys. I know this car isn't uber traditional, so I appreciate you guys allowing me to keep posting.[/quote]

Yeah I'm glad they let you keep posting too!! This is definately a project I'm following and learning all I can from. I guess I'm just into fabrication & cool hotrod's, so the traditional question never really comes up for me. I get a heavy dose of both everytime you post, thanks.

Ok now that the hoovering is complete , I got some simple q's:

How did you form the 1" strap into the hoops for the trans tunnel?

Is the sheemetal trans tunnel all one piece (I think it's just a centerline drawn on the metal that's throwing me)?

How did you form the trans tunnel sheetmetal?

It appears the back wall sheetmetal with the beads rolled in it has the convex portion of the bead into the car. Is there any reason for orienting the convex/concave side of the bead one way or the other?

What is your plan for attching the sheetmetal to the substructure? Rossete weld at each cleco hole??

Does the e-brake bracket attach to the chassis?

Keep up the good work. Thanks again for all the help.

 

Quick picture just for fun...

 

Thanks man!

Okay... the answers to your questions...

* That 1" strapping was started around my welding tank and then just muscled for a bit in the vice. Then I just cut off the excess and welded them in place. The shape and height was important because of the drive shaft tunnel.

* the tunnel is made from a single piece of 18 gage. I made a template using some template paper and old-timer gave me and then transferred it over to the metal. It took forever to get the shape just right, but I started it over my rear tire, then used my welding tank for a bit, then I found that my front tire was just the right height (and it's rubber) to keep working the panel until it matched the dimensions of the 1" hoops.

* I drilled holes and fastened everything with clecos. I didn't take any pictures, but now it's welded in place. I started from the outsides and worked in towards the middle, pulling one cleco out at a time. SOLID AS A ROCK! I will do some welds from the bottom side when I stand the body up to finish the sub floor welds.

* The e-brake is attached to the subfloor of the body, not the frame. If the body comes off the frame, it will have to be removed and slid thru the subfloor. Since the front half of the transmission tunnel will be removable (for engine and trans removal and service) this will be no big deal to do. I won't even have to pull the seats out.

I should also mention that the entire floor from the seats foward will all be removable and attached with panhead screws and a mating rivnut in the sub floor. The floor panels will all be dynamatted and/or insulated for noise and heat control since the cut-out exhaust system will run right under my feet. Not sure if I'm doing aluminum or steel for those yet.

Does that help??

 

Here's how I made the tunnel. If anyone can tell me what this paper is, please tell me. The old-timer said it was something he was given a box of, years ago working for the military. It's absolutely PERFECT to work with!





I cut the shape with a plasma cutter because we have one at the shop. Could have just as easily used a shear of cut off wheel.

 

damn.

 

It looks like really thin Chip board. We used to use it a ton in Architecture School when formulating an idea. A drafting place as well as upscale art supply stores should carry it. That is of coarse if it's what I am think of.

 

It's sort of slick like masonite, but thin as heavy poster board. It doesn't absorb water very well, cuts nice and is a little springing like poster board as well. It simulates what would happen when trying to bend a piece of sheetmetal very well. The guy was pretty much a sheetmetal only guy and did a lot of HVAC duct work. Maybe that's a clue.

 

I'll ask my friend Jeremy. He does the sheet metal work for Tony Stewart and his racing team. He may know.

Is there a thin coat of wax on it?

 

Thanks man! Let me know!

Hmmm... wax... not really. It's pretty slippery on both sides though.

 

Sort of like the outside of a gift box only a bit thicker?

 

Yeah, that sounds about right.

OH! And it's 24x36 inches.

 

I have to say I'm glad I asked about an update!!!! Holy Progress batman! Fabrication Pervert is right. Very very nice!
Jay

 

Scooter,
How did you get any of this done with all the traveling and playing with peoples pets and kids?
Was good to see you man.
Car is looking killer as usual.

 

Screw "uber traditional" that thing is downright "uber cool". Love it!!!!!!!

 

Hell yeah! Was great seeing you and the fam (and the pets)!

How'd I do it?? Minimal sleep, making sure I had plenty of food and water in the shop and I tried to put in about 15 hours every day since I've got back from Vegas for the holidays. I managed to do it on most days, but slacked on a few days. I'm fully recovered and ready to do it again! I'm thinking I'll chop the grille shell tonight, mark my axle for drilling and start messing around with the rivets I got today. I've been itching to buck some rivets! Been thinking about drip rails all day too... maybe I'll see what the bead roller can do for me in that department.

 

Looks great Scott!!!!!!
Don't get bogged down by a long list of what in left to do. Make projects out of eack "thing to do" and measure your progress as you complete each "little" project. It helped me get through my build when I felt over whelmed.
.

 

It's funny... I went through all the trouble to make that list and I haven't looked at it SINCE! LOL!

 

It's neat that you have great space, CAD, and tools to do this stuff. What a drag it would be if you were slowed down by inadequate hand tools and stuff.

 

The space is great and the company has been VERY generous by letting me work here. Don't be fooled by the tools though. I still do most things the hard way. I bent the rear floor riser using a big piece of angle, a piece of flat stock and a couple big clamps. I only use the loner tools when I have to. But you're right... in it's entirety, it would never happen if I didn't have access to these things. It's been a HUGE learning experience and it really is a BLAST to try new things. I guess that's how I can work so much and not get burned out. Anyway, I'm thankful and hope that one day I can own all these kind of tools for myself as well as a nice space of my own.

 

I like it! I wasn't too sure about the car the first time I saw you post about it, but I have to say that it's really grown on me. And you've done some really nice fab work on it so far as well!

I bet it's going to be fun to drive with the Hemi... Nice job dude!

 

Great work, really, really nice.

 

Awesome as always.

 

Ahhhhh... All those tools and all that space just gets cluttered with more projects and more tools. Hell you saw my shop! It's all over rated.

 

Right on bro!!!! You better get huslin!!! I wanna paint that bitch in April....I'd be honored to!!!

 

looking good scooter!!!!!

 

Great ideas and excellent execution! You should be proud.