Back in Black! rpu build thread

Well, I got a little more done, I got all the driver's side panels riveted on! I am happy to say that I am learning to rivet, thanks to the head-start that Skirv gave me!

I got a few things that I needed. Mainly rivets (1/8" aluminum universal head), a rivet set, & a rivet gun. I was going to try to use an air hammer in place of the rivet gun, but even a horrible freight one is $30. So I spent a little extra & got a rivet gun. I honestly don't know what the exact difference really is, but I know since I am new to this I need all the help I can get

The rivet gun is not a top-of-the-line deal, but should be fine for me. They can be had for $100 new. I also got the rivet set, which goes into the gun & sets the rivet.

I practiced with about 25 practice rivets, and was honestly amazed how easy it went! The key seems to be the air pressure, and how long you squeeze the trigger on the gun-pretty simple really!

Here's a pic of the gun, and the rivet set installed to give you an idea of how it works:







The Cliff Notes version of bucking rivets is really simple. I cleco'ed the panels together, & pushed a rivet into a hole. I used a small piece of steel (3/4" thick) set on my welding table as the rivet buck. Put the rivet set on the rivet head, & squeeze the trigger. It really takes very little to set these small aluminum rivets.

I am amazed how rigid the panels became after riveting the parts together. If they stay that way longer than 4 hours I will call a doctor

Here's a few pics of the side I finished. I am really happy to be able to do this by myself, I feel like I am learning something! Once I finish all the riveting, I will scuff pad them to even it out a little & call it good.I hope you like, thanks for looking!

Dan











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amazing work as usual.

 

Shit Dan. It just gets more and more detailed. How about you just call it good enough and finish up now

 

Amazing! As so many of the others have said, I can't even imagine a thing I would change.

Thanks for sharing the construction tricks as well: the rivet details, and especially that bead-roller guide.

 

WOW Dan looks incredible! Well done!

 

bitchen!!

 

very clean!

 

Thank you all, as always it means lots! Pete, believe me I do want to get this done at some point, hopefully before I am too old to be able to get in & out of it

I need a little input on something that is bothering me a little(imagine that). The good news is that it's not bothering me to the point of grabbing the sawzall to chop the whole thing up & starting over.

With the aluminum interior now, the engine turned dash insert bugs me. I love engine turned stuff, but I think that it clashes a little with the aluminum look.....

I did a crude photoshop showing a matching aluminum insert with rivets-what do you think-better or worse???? It might tie in the door panels better, cuz the shape of the dash insert is similar to the riveted door panels. Or am I just over-thinking as usual??

Here's the BEFORE/AFTER:

BEFORE:


AFTER:


What do you think?? It should only take me an extra year or 10 to build an insert

I am going to take my meds now..........



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I think you have a good eye. Do it.

 

Hey, you are supposed be working on your truck bed!! We are waiting for update pics..................

Thanks BTW

 

I know. I'm taking a Dr. Pepper break. You know 10, 2 & 4!

How about putting up a pic showing the back side of your rivets? Do they look good enough to be exposed? I am thinking about riveting my bed together.

 

Alright, just checking!!

I will take some pics for you, they really look like nothing at all. They don't stick far past the panel at all on the inside once they are set. Rivets would look really good I think. I'll pm you a pic tonight

 

This looks so cool!!!

 

The engine turned insert is fine. The aluminum insert is perfect . Since you seem intent on perfection I would sawzall that other thing out pronto .

Keep up the excellent work Dan!

 

Late to this thread but I am totally stunned by the workmanship here... a really great thread to get my creative juices flowing! Why not throw your skills into making a gauge panel from scratch instead of trying to modify a pre-existing part to match? Something like this perhaps?

There's no questioning that it'd be a perfect match to those awesome looking door panels, and you can save the engine turned one for another project (or sell it to someone for whom it'd be a better fit)

Just my dos centavos... keep up the awesome work!

 

The whole thing looks great Dan. Good job by you.

Suggestion - You might want to wait until your dash is painted before you decide to ditch the engine turned insert. It's all bare metal now but with paint, it will have an entirely different look. You may decide the engine turned insert is a better look for a painted dash.

 

Bill, what is this "paint" thing everybody talks about?? I can't seem to get to that point

I agree, I can wait this one out. If I decide I need to change the dash insert I can do it later. At some point I need to stop

I did get all of my interior panels riveted up & done, so that is a HUGE relief! I am happy with the way they came out, and happy because this is the first time I've tried something like this. I can see that the rivet thing is kind of addicting though! I am going to build an aluminum battery box & tool box to go back in the bed soon. I should be done with that by Christmas at this rate

Here's a couple pics of it. Yeah, kind of redundant, but it's done

Thanks for looking!

Dan

 

I've been following the posts of your builds Dan. You've got incredible perserverance! And a great craftsman. Keep up the good work. Perley

 

NOTHING BUT INSPIRATION.....cant wait to see more man.

 

Inspiring to say the least.

 

I TOLD you it was addicting!! HAHA!!!

Do you know what you're going to do for seat cushions and belts yet?

 

DAMN!

Nick.

 

Wow Dan looks killer! Are you leaving the aluminum bare or painting it?

 

Just absolutely gorgeous.

 

What he said.

 

Absolutely incredible build man.......... that is going to be one kick ass hot rod!

 

Very nice!

 

Hey guys, thanks! It is addicting Scoot, I really had fun with this. K13, I'm gonna leave it bare. Originally I was going to make these from steel & paint them, but decided to go this route. Easier to take care of, I can just scuff pad it to freshen it up when needed.

I found this aluminum spray (I forgot the name) that cleans (not polishes) & protects it from corrosion. I went over the panels with steel wool & that stuff, and it really make it look lots better, and it doesn't finger print up now. I actually found it @ Home Depot, it's made for aluminum window frames & that kind of stuff. I tried it & like it so far. You can look & the earlier pics I took & the aluminum looked kind of white. This stuff made it look like aluminum again-go figure

I plan to just do a bottom cushion(I think) & some aircraft style lap belts. If I find they need a back cushion I could always do it later. Now I just gotta find somebody that can make the bottom cushions look right, & not look like a boat cushion.........Florida does have it's challenges....................




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No. The engine turned panel looks right to me. You need contrasts in your car.

Remember...if a little is good, a lot is not necessarily better.

The aluminium is an appropriate material for your seats and interior...form follows function. A rivetted panel for your dash seems to be trying too hard.

Good luck with it. Either way I'm sure you'll make it look right.

Pete

 

Easy for you to say Pete, now that you're actually able to DRIVE your car

I agree with you. At first it was bugging me, now not so much. The aluminum photographs weird, it actually looks lots better to me in person. Now that the aluminum lost its "white" look I like it lots better.

I would like to soon be able to be like you & drive the d@mn thing finally!