Projects winter project - "so let's chop a 40 coupe (and fab everything else possible...)

DO IT!!!!

 

Travis, Can not see the pix from Irish Mike. . . Got me all excited about crank driven supercharged Caddy V-8 . . . . . .

Dave

 

I didn't scan that, but I like it!!!!

 

I don't post much on here but... you sir, are a craftsman on a higher level...​

 

Travis, Any luck getting that pix from Irish Mike to show up ?

Getting all charged up about crank mounted super charged Caddy V-8 !

Dave

 

im still subscribed and up to my patching on my project and i have to tell ya it builds my confidence you make it look easy your car is looking great

 

Travis, Looking forward to the next update on your coupe.

Dave

 

Hury up on the up dates.

 

Dig the salt flats flavor... That's a massive amount of work done there. Keep it going!
--mika

 

Just read this whole thread. Awesome build. Great work. Looking forward to seeing the finished project.

 

Ok,
here's a quick coupe update.

I have a soft goal of at least finishing the sheetmetal by the end of summer.
There's alot of sheetmetal.



Here's where I left off the back.
The decklid is welded shut,
so all this work is crawling in the door into the rusty cave.



The fenders were welded to the body,
but the bolt flange was never cut off.
I figured it could be handy to weld the inner wheelwells on,
but it was just too nasty.



The plan was to hide the reinforcement in the wheelwells,
so some tube was bent up and welded close to the seam.



Than some triangle brackets were whipped out,
hopefully this will spread the load on the body.



Than a cardboard form was made,
and some light tubing bent to a decent shape.



After that a couple little tabs connected the tube to the body,
than some tabs welded from the tube to the hinges.
(There is a channel drip rail welded to the top part of the body there now too)



The decklid was tacked to the body,
so when that drip channel on the top part was welded on
(from the inside)
I was hoping it would keep its form.



The tacks were cut and there was no popping.
Whew.
Way more rigid than with the temporary hinge base setup.
(which is now the 40's bike rack!)

TP

 

Zibo...........I love it and have been watching from the start damn your amazing.

 

My uncle had conveniently scrapped some old lockers from his work,
and they happened to be a decent 20 gauge sheetmetal,
not that chintzy stuff thats made now.
Only bummer is its painted but that's ok.



Although the back is open,
for some reason I started in the front.



The tricky part,
is first there needs to be a subrail,
attaching the bolt on pads,
than the sheetmetal fills that gap.



There's also the bottom hoop for the firewall,
so now the gap I need to fill is more obvious.


There is a light reveal kinda hammered into the metal.
It's not perfect but I'm not too worried as its inside.
It's all hammered on this stand,
cause I don't have a bead roller yet.


It's nice to not see a big gaping hole.
By the time all the pieces are done,
I'll be way better at freehammering reveal lines!




I started on the back too,
and this will probably be a mistake.


First the subrail pieces...



Its a mistake cause the big tires cannot be removed without
dropping the rearend.
I'll have to radius the fender curve a little more soon.
and covering up such easy work access will make it harder.



I shoulda also wirebrushed the inside,
but wasn't to keen on getting me or the shop dirty.


It's hard to see but I did clean barely enough paint off the edge!

That's where I'm at right now.

TP

 

X2 !! I always enjoy the updates on this amazing transformation !

 

WOW!!!!!!!!

Awesome build!

 

wow nice work

 

How have I never come across this thread before?! You're doing killer work on this thing!

 

Travis, Body is really starting to come together. Looking forward to more progress as you repair that old coupe body. May have to visit again and get some progress shots.

Dave

 

"I shoulda also wirebrushed the inside,
but wasn't to keen on getting me or the shop dirty."

If you blow it apart when all the fab work is done, just give a quick pass on all the underside panels with a sandblaster , a shot of metal prep then prime/paint call er done !

 

Thanks guys!

I dropped off a disassembled '57 chevy truck to the sandblaster/painter we use at work...

http://perichbrothers.blogspot.com/2011/04/hurtlocker-truck-stripper-time.html

http://perichbrothers.blogspot.com/2011/06/la-cucaracha-hurtlocker-truck-returns.html

and if my finances and time permit,
it's a definite possibility to have it professionally done by these guys.
(They use an epoxy primer)

I'm just really cheap when it comes to my own stuff!

TP

 

Hey Zibo, you are the man, I could only dream of having your metal working skills. Keep up the good work. Where are you guys located? Seems like you aren’t too far away from me (El Cajon area). I think you will be very happy with El Dorado, We used to use them when I worked at a VW restoration shop here in town. NEVER had a problem with anything they ever did for us.

 

More Travis more . . . . . Go Man Go !

Dave

 

Go for it, money well spent! The car is way too cool to let it continue rusting! I am just as cheap lol !!So you know how hard this is for me to say

 

Saw this video on here last week and it gave me a little nudge to get a move on the coupe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiIu5gQUT_s

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Thanks Dreddybear!

I don't need the shiny though.
I'd be happy as a 40 footer!

(This was the 50's version of the doug rice coupe,
after the maroon)

My biggest stumbling block is the firewall.
The engine is so set back its tough to make a flat firewall,
without taking up pedal or foot space.



So last week figured a gap filled ugly is better than nothing.



It looks like a smokestack coming out of a mailbox.

The sheetmetal is from a scrapped locker.



Yes,
I tried to wirewheel the paint off the main weld seams,
but it was a half-ass attempt,
and my welder could burn through alot faster.
The trick is to wirebrush right after welding.
Puts those shop fans and respirator to use.



The inside part isn't too bad.
The engine side needs to be trimmed, welded and cleaned up.
With the firewall dimensions set,
the engine can finally be removed.
I've been waiting for this part a long time.

The bummer is my floor space is so crowded I've got to clean the shop first!

TP

 

Nice work

 

I love this car.

 

I think the firewall looks great, cant wait to see it from the other side!!

 

Travis, If you need any volunteer labor to clean the shop just let me know. I assume it would be weekend only. I would love to help.

Dave

 

Just utterly astounding !

 

I'm hooked!